This is a very important notice from VDACS:

As a reminder, the expiration dates for all authorization letters for prospective applicators to take the exam(s) to become certified issued on or after December 20, 2019, have been extended to June 30, 2021 or the current date of expiration, whichever is greater. It is imperative that prospective pesticide applicators who were issued an authorization letter to take the exam(s) for certification do so before the expiration date. Prospective applicators that do not take the exam(s) by June 30, 2021 or the current date of expiration, whichever is greater, will be required to submit a new application with appropriate fees to take the exam(s). There will be no additional extensions to the expiration date. Opportunities for testing include the following options (Note: All requirements of the Governors Executive Order are required to be followed including wearing of facial masks; social distancing and disinfection):

    1. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – Prospective applicators (commercial applicators, private applicators and registered technicians) can take their exams at DMV customer service center. All services are by appointment only including pesticide applicator certification testing. Appointments can be scheduled on the DMV website. Select “Appointments” from their home page. When scheduling an appointment, prospective applicators will select the “Learner’s Permit and Other Testing” service type and the location where they will be testing. Applicators will next select the category “Knowledge Testing” and indicate they would like to take the knowledge test for “Dealer Operators, Salesperson, or Pesticide Applicator Certification”. According to the website, three months of appointment slots are available at any time on the calendar. Each day, a new day of appointments is added to the end of the available period. New appointment slots will be posted multiple times every hour. Cancellations can also create earlier availability in the calendar. If you do not see availability, all the posted appointment slots are currently booked. Individuals wanting to take a certification exam(s) at DMV should check the site frequently for availability and are encouraged to look outside their area. Should you need additional information regarding DMV reopening or services available, please contact DMV directly.
    2. Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA) – VPMA is offering limited in person testing opportunities to prospective pesticide applicators. Information regarding testing locations and event registration is available on the VPMA website.
    3. Proctored Testing by Pesticide Investigators – The Office of Pesticide Services Pesticide Investigators are also available to proctor testing of prospective applicators. Contact information for Pesticide Investigators is available on our webpage at  https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about-division-of-consumer-protection.shtml#pesticides

 

Also, the Temporary Registered Technician Requirement allows employees of  licensed pesticide businesses to apply pesticides without obtaining a registered technician certification, for the duration of the state of emergency due to COVID-19, as declared by Governor Northam (Executive Order 51), when these employees meet certain training and testing requirements. This also applies to registered technicians not for hire (any registered technician who uses or supervises the use of pesticides as part of his job duties only on property owned or leased by him or his employer. It also applies to governmental employees who use or supervise the use of pesticides, whether on property owned or leased by them or their employers or not, in the performance of their official duties). Allowing employees to apply pesticides without obtaining a registered technician certification will cease 30 days after Governor Northam rescinds Virginia’s COVID-19 state of emergency. Prospective applicators should not wait until the state of emergency is rescinded to begin the certification process rather should be actively pursuing certification. The certification process may take more than 30 days to complete. Employees who have not completed the certification process within the 30 days after the state of emergency is rescinded will no longer be allowed to apply pesticides until they complete the certification process.

Additional information regarding applicator certification is available by visiting https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides.shtml.  Questions may be directed to opsclrt.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov .