Prospective pesticide applicators can gain a foundation of knowledge about safe and proper handling and use of pesticides by attending the “Private Pesticide Applicator Short Course,” a Penn State Extension workshop aimed at those who would like to become certified private pesticide applicators to apply restricted-use pesticides on their farm or property. 

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Dec. 11 and from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Dec. 12 in nine locations simultaneously: 

— Bellefonte: Willowbank Building, Emergency Operations Center conference room, 420 Holmes St. 

— Chambersburg: Penn State Extension’s Franklin County office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane. 

— Coudersport: Penn State Extension’s Potter County office, 216 Gunzberger Building, 1 N. Main St. 

— Dauphin: Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, 1451 Peters Mountain Road. 

— Greensburg: Penn State Extension’s Westmoreland County office, 214 Greensburg-Donohoe Station Road. 

— Leesport: Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road. 

— Martinsburg: Penn State Extension’s Blair County office, 266 Aviation Way. 

— Sunbury: Penn State Extension’s Northumberland County office, 433 Plum Creek Road. 

— York: Penn State Extension’s York County office, 2401 Pleasant Valley Road. 

This event, portions of which may be livestreamed, is designed to help participants prepare for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s private pesticide applicator certification exams. Instructors will review and highlight key material in the Pesticide Core and Supplemental Manual. Small group activities and breaks will take place between chapters. 

Private applicators include those who intend to purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides to the property they or their employer own or rent to produce an agricultural commodity, including nurseries and greenhouses. 

Participants can register for any of the workshops through 11:45 p.m. Dec. 9.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/private-pesticide-applicator-short-course-workshop. 

Organizers point out that the registration fee does not include study materials. All participants are responsible for obtaining their own private pesticide applicator core certification examination training materials for the class. 

Instructors recommend ordering training packets in advance on the Penn State Extension website or by calling the Penn State Publications Distribution Center toll-free at 877-345-0691. 

If participants plan to use study packets that were purchased previously, they should make sure their study materials include the updated manuals. 

This course does not offer the private pesticide applicator licensing exam. To find a convenient location and time for taking the exam and to make a reservation, individuals can visit Pesticide Exam Search on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website.