“During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), is partnering with the Ohio State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to temporarily provide online recertification for pesticide applicators and fertilizer certificate holders whose licenses expired in spring of 2020. The online recertification will be available Monday, July 6. For commercial applicators, it will be available August 10.  For more information or to register for the online recertification, https://pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert

The online option allows private applicators and fertilizer certificate holders due for training by March 31, 2020 and commercial applicators due for training by September 30, 2020 to meet their continuing education requirements. The cost for online training is $35 for private applicators and $10 for fertilizer certification. The price per credit hour for commercial applicators is $15. If you don’t know your license number, please call ODA at 614-728-6987, choose option 1.

Applicators are still required to meet their recertification requirements to renew licenses and certifications.  As a result of HB 197, applicators have until 90 days after the emergency is over or December 1, whichever comes first, to complete their requirements.  Recertification status can be checked online here. Applicators must also submit a completed renewal application and pay an additional fee to the ODA for licensure.

For additional information regarding online recertification, please contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987, and press 1 for licensing recertification or the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program at 614-292-4070.” This press release can be found at https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/resources/June-2020-Applicator-Training?fbclid=IwAR3fxZHrvcVsJJ5BORXdYD9JVMWIcPNgNHULDlO2yzLM167bta2YX65y64k

NOTE: “ If you will be taking the online recertification option and you have already paid Brown County Extension for the in-person recertification class that was cancelled in March, please contact the Brown County Extension Office at 937-378-6716 if you would like reimbursed. We will be calling all those who still need to recertify in Brown County as soon as we have more information about the rescheduling of an in-person meeting.If you have questions you may contact us . The online recertification and additional information can be found at https://pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert