COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
University of Hawaii at Manoa
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating


Study Packet for the Pesticide Applicator Category:
Commercial 4 Aerial Pest Control
About this packet This packet contains booklets and leaflets about handling restricted use pesticides properly. You may use these as study material for the Restricted Use Pesticide Certification examination for the pesticide applicator category: Commercial 4 Aerial Pest Control.
Commercial 4 Aerial Pest Control Applicators in this category buy, use, or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides applied by aircraft. If the type of work you do is different, you may need to be certified for a different category or an additional category. To get more information about categories of certification, consult one of the pesticide education specialists at these Hawaii Department of Agriculture offices: Hilo 974-4143, Oahu 973-9409 or 973-9424, Maui 873-3960.
The area code is 808.
Why become certified? Being certified as a Commercial 4 applicator allows you to:
  • Buy, use, or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides covered by the Commercial 4 certification.
  • Qualify to conduct pesticide safety training for an agricultural “pesticide handler” or “worker” you employed at the agricultural operation. (This safety training is required by the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The WPS is a federal regulation designed to reduce pesticide exposure of pesticide applicators and field workers who are employed at a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse where a pesticide is used in the production of agricultural plants. Certified applicators meet the qualifications to conduct the safety training.)
You may not need to be certified The Hawaii Pesticides Law prohibits pesticide dealers from selling restricted use pesticides to you unless you are certified by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and have a certification card to prove it. However, you can buy most other pesticides without such a card.
No matter which pesticide you use, follow the directions on the label of your pesticide’s container. Both Hawaii and federal pesticide laws prohibit anyone from using any pesticide “in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.”
Certification Procedure To become certified for the Commercial 4 category, you must pass the two-part examination for certification, complete and submit an application form, and pay the fee. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture staff will score your exam, and if you pass, issue you a plastic-coated card as proof of certification. It will show your name, certification number, the applicator category, and an expiration date. Your certification card will serve as proof of certification when you buy restricted use pesticides.
Examination for certification Make an appointment to take the examination by contacting one of the pesticide education specialists at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture offices listed above. Ask about signing up for the Restricted Use Pesticide Certification examination for Commercial 4 category.
The examination tests your ability to understand and apply information about the following subjects pest management problems: pest identification, development, and management, pesticide formulations and labels, unwanted effects of pesticideson humans, domestic animals, wildlife, air, soil, and water, pesticide use restrictions, calculations, calibration, application equipment, laws and regulations, and safe handling practices. Two parts make up the examination. The core portion of the exam covers subjects common to all Commercial applicator categories. The category portion covers subjects related to the Commercial 4 category.
Application form and fee The person who conducts the examination will collect your application form and the fee. You must be at least 18 years old when you take the exam. The fee for an examination is $25.00. After you pass the exam, there will be an additional fee of $50 for your five-year certification. An application form is included in this packet. I suggest that you fill in as much as you can before you go to the examination site. For advice about filling in the form, consult one of the pesticide education specialists at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture offices listed above.
What's in this packet? A list of links to the on-line booklets and leaflets in a complete packet appears on the next page. 
(Total number of pages when printed is over 400. A hard copy version of this packet is also available. To buy the packet, use the STUDY PACKETS section of our order form or contact Charles Nagamine for more information.)
Questions? This on-line version is made and maintained in our office at the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

To comment, make suggestions, ask questions, or report any problems with this website, please contact Charles Nagamine at:
 
EMAIL charlie@hpirs.stjohn.hawaii.edu
TELEPHONE (808) 956-6007
FAX (808) 956-9675
MAIL P.E.P.S. Dept.
3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 310
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822


Aerial Pest Control
Commercial Applicator Category 4 Study Packet

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