STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Private pesticide applicators will have new training requirements beginning July 1. The Mississippi Pesticide Safety Education Program has updated its online and face-to-face certification programs to meet this demand.

The new mandated training and competency requirements from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are for applicators who use restricted use pesticides on farmland and need to renew or obtain certification.

The new trainings are designed to provide increased public health and safety benefits by raising safety standards to be consistent with commercial applicators. Trainings consist of video modules covering new safety, environmental protection and application procedures. These modules prepare applicators for the 55-question competency exam, which requires a score of at least 70%.

Mississippi’s online and face-to-face certification programs are developed and delivered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service. For private pesticide applicator online training, visit http://msuext.ms/dkp8h. To learn about upcoming in-person trainings, visit https://extension.msstate.edu/calendar or contact your local Extension office. The new trainings cost $60 per applicant.

The current online training program will be removed at midnight June 21, and the updated modules will go live July 1. The online private applicator training consists of video modules and an online proctored exam. While the video modules are accessible on mobile devices, the online exam will require a laptop or desktop computer, a webcam, adequate internet connection and valid photo identification.

The online test will be proctored by the online proctoring system Honorlock. Alternatively, the private applicator exam can be taken either online or as a paper test at a local MSU Extension office.

MSU is an equal opportunity institution. To request disability accommodation for in-person training, contact the local Extension office. Contact information for each office is available online at http://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices. For online training support, contact the MSU Extension Center for Technology Outreach at 662-325-3226.