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Recertification Seminars

Pesticide certification and registration credentials for private and commercial applicators expire every three years on December 31. Applicators have the option to either:

  1. Retaking the applicable exams.
  2. Earning recertification seminar credits.

Recertification Seminar How-To

  • Seminar credits can be earned by attending MDARD approved events or trainings. Seminars vary from online courses and training to live webinars and in-person events.

    Applicators can anonymously alert MDARD to concerns or provide feedback about a specific seminar by emailing MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov or filling out the Seminar Evaluation Form

  • Seminars are approved by MDARD and hosted by various public facing stakeholders. A seminar host can apply for seminar credits at their event by submitting the Form to Request Seminar Pesticide Credits.

    Please view the Hosting Pesticide Applicator Seminars Guidance Document and the Topics Not Eligible for Pesticide Recertification Credits before requesting seminar credits. If you need assistance developing a training agenda, see the Sample Training Agenda(s) for Pesticide Recertification Credits.

    Applicators and hosts can report or refute attendance or participation concerns to MDARD by emailing MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov.

  • To renew by recertification seminar credits, an applicator must:

    • Earn credits while their credential is valid and before it expires.
    • Earn the following minimum number of required for the core or category-specific credential.
      • Private applicators need to earn a minimum of 16 private core credits.
      • Commercial and registered applicators need to earn 8 commercial core and 8 credits in each category listed on their credential.
      • Applicators with aerial or fumigation standards need to earn 2 credits for each standard.

    Credits earned at a seminar cannot be split across categories. Applicators must choose one approved category to apply earned credits. For example, if a seminar is approved for 4 credits in the commercial core and category 3A, the seminar cannot be split (2 credits to core and 2 credits to 3A). The 4 credits can either be applied to the core or 3A. Applicators certified as both private and commercial or registered applicators may apply core credits from one seminar to both credentials.

    It is the applicator’s responsibility to choose and attend seminars approved for the categories in which they are currently certified or registered. To earn credits, applicators must participate in the entire seminar and are responsible for following the host’s attendance or participation procedures. Applicators are also responsible for documenting the seminars they attend and may use the Seminar Attendance Record to track attendance. If a seminar credit is missing from MDARD’s records, applicators need to contact the seminar host.

    Applicators can view the Applicator Credit Report to verify how many credits have been earned according to MDARD’s records.

    To renew a certification or registration credential, the applicable paperwork and fee must be submitted to MDARD. Visit the renewal process webpage for additional information on how to renew a credential.