Private Applicator Lic.

[DandBLawnCare]

I am interested in an on-line or in area study program for the Private Applicator Lic. for Texas.

[Paul]

I don't know if they have an on-line study guide but the study book costs $20, you can get it at your local extension office.

[Lawngodfather]

Are you sure you want to be a "private" applicator?

That would be say a farmer etc.. I think you are after "commercial" applicator.

I don't think they have an online study for it but I think Purdue has some things for it. I don't know the site off hand.

I just ordered the manuals read them took test and wham......

[DandBLawnCare]

Private is what the people at the TDA office told I would need. I am not doing the applications as a business, but as a service to existing customers. From what I gather the only difference between them (private & commercial) is the coverage of insurance amounts. You still need to pass the same tests to get either. I do have my study material, but the math formulas are throughing me. Not sure but do you think TX testing is different then MO?

[dan deutekom]

Not being from Texas I don't really know but it sounds to me that you need a commercial license. If you are doing this for customers and getting paid then it is a business!

[Lawngodfather]

Private is for farm use on a "farm" of some sort. Commercial in on some one elses property like a residence or a business. It doesn't matter if you even get paid for it, It doesn't matter if you own the property, what does matter is that it's not your residence or your aunt, uncle, or cousin.

The test and most stuff may be different, but the general guide lines are not. You provide a service at no charge or for a fee, you are still a commercial applicator.

[Nebraska]

Quick search on google lead me to this....maybe it will help?

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/news/pes_faq.htm

and this one
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=commercial+lawn+care+applicator+license+texas
and this one for online accredited recertification courses for TX:
http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/ceu/internet.asp?region=i

[Lawngodfather]

General Licensing Information

The Texas Department of Agriculture licenses applicators using restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides and regulated herbicides in a number of agricultural and rural-use categories.

The Structural Pest Control Board tests and licenses persons and businesses engaged in structural pest control, including termite control. SPCB requires licensing for commercial and certain government and institutional noncommercial uses regardless of the pesticide's classification

For more information on TDA licenses, check out this page
http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/brochures/pes_genbroch.htm

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/brochures/pes_commbroc.htm

Commercial, Noncommercial and Noncommercial Political Subdivision Applicator Licensing

The Texas Department of Agriculture licenses pesticide applicators who use restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides and regulated herbicides for the following purposes:

aerial application
agriculture
aquatic pest control
ornamental plant and turf production
forestry
right-of-way maintenance
research
regulatory pest control
seed treatment, commodity fumigation
education and research
Applicators who license in the ornamental plant and turf pest control category and will apply pesticides to plants, trees, shrubs, grass or other horticultural plants for hire must also have a TDA nursery floral certificate. Contact TDA for more details or download the form.

The Private Applicator License

A private pesticide applicator is someone who uses or supervises the use of restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides to produce an agricultural commodity on:

Personally owned property;
Rented property;
Property owned by his or her employer;
Property under his or her general control; or
The property of another person if applied without compensation, other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities.
An agricultural commodity is a plant or animal grown for sale, lease, barter, feed or human consumption and animals raised for farm or ranch work. No license is required to apply general-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities.