Update on Special Permit Training 2017

CCE has offered NYS DEC Special Permit Training (SPT) in New York for the last 17 seasons, training over 500 farm employees in 2016. Special Permit holders are legally authorized to apply specified federal restricted use pesticides (FRUP) without the direct on-site supervision of a NYS DEC certified pesticide applicator. Special Permits are valid for one season only and must be renewed annually.

The SPT Program is for workers who are not English literate, and therefore unable to sit for the pesticide applicator exam. Workers who are English literate should instead prepare for and take the exam to obtain their certified pesticide applicator license. CCE will be offering trainings to assist with this preparation, and growers are strongly encouraged to send qualified candidates to one of these supplementary training sessions, and then sit for the Private Applicator's Certification Exam.

Discussions are in process between CCE and DEC to obtain approval for Special Permit training in 2017. Please stay tuned for the latest updates, and (we hope) the eventual announcement of training dates and registration information. Regarding possible dates, please contact us if you foresee a repetition of last spring's delays in the approval of H2A applications, as we will take these delays into consideration in setting dates.

EPA final regulations covering pesticide applicator certification were issued in January 2017. A few things to be aware of:

• The new regulations eliminate the provision that allows states to develop and implement Special Permit Training Programs, which will effectively cancel SPT at some point, but possibly not for another 2 or 3 years (see below).
• The prior regulations will remain in force until such time that NYS DEC develops and implements the new regulations (which may take 2-3 years).
• In the meantime, the Special Permit Training Program now falls into an uncertain state regulatory environment.
• Cornell Pesticide Management and Education Program (PMEP) specialists are reviewing the newly published regulations, and we expect to hear more details from them shortly.
• CCE staff is moving forward with SPT for 2017, but at this time we cannot be certain that an SPT program will be approved by the NYS DEC for 2017.
• The situation may become more challenging for 2018 and beyond. As stated earlier, the new regulations will not allow the issuance of Special Permits by states. This means that those farm employees who have held a Special Permit in the past will have two options: to pass the exam and become certified private applicators, or lose the ability to legally apply FRUP's without direct on-site supervision.
• The White House recently issued a statement that the implementation of all new pending federal regulations that have not already been published in the Federal Register will be placed on temporary hold for further review. The new pesticide applicator certification regulations were published in the Federal Register earlier in January but have not yet been implemented. Hence, depending on the exact legal language of the presidential directive, their current status needs further clarification.

Wayne County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training via Zoom

March 22, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.  

March 24, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Workshop without manuals can register by Mar 5,

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

March 29, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 3

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

March 31, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 4

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training via Zoom

March 22, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

March 24, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Workshop without manuals can register by Mar 5,

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

March 29, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 3

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

March 31, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 4

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

Wayne County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam

April 1, 2021
Newark, NY

A Certification Exam will be administered on April 1st at Noon by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. The fee for the exam is $100: bring a check payable to NYSDEC the day of the exam.  You must register with DEC to take the exam. To register for the exam or if you have questions regarding the Certification Process, please contact Chris Wainwright at the Bath DEC office (607) 622-8264.