Private Applicator Certification & Recertification

Terms and Definitions

• Certified Applicator: A certified applicator is any individual who is certified by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) to buy, sell, use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides.
• Private Applicator (PA): A private applicator is an individual who purchases and/or uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use pesticide on their own property or anyone else’s property, as long as they do it without direct compensation for their services. These include farmers, greenhouse and nursery operators.
• Commercial Applicators (CA): Commercial Applicators are all certified pesticide applicators who buy, use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides for any use, or for use on any property other than as defined under the PA. Technicians who work for chartered companies that apply pesticides for a fee(Terminix, Orkin, etc.) must be certified as a CA.
• Charter: A Charter is an instrument issued by TDA authorizing a person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of commercial pest control operations.
• Commercial Pest Control Operators: A person or business entity who engages in the custom application of pesticides or inspection of real property for the purpose of issuing a wood destroying insect infestation inspection report and who has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the pest control licensing and advisory board their qualifications to design and direct pest control and inspection operations. Each person or entity chartered must have a commercial pest control operator, who usually is the owner or operator, for the main supervisory office.
• Licensed Pest Control Operators: Individuals who qualify by passing a licensing exam to supervise the pest control operations at each office or branch office of chartered companies and supervise the application of pesticides in buildings used for food preparation and service, lodging, educational purposes or commercial food processing.