It has come to my attention that our firm does not have some required certifications. I’ve talked with many other scaper friends who also do not have a pesticide applicators
license or Certified Landscape Professional (Interior) certification.

Who do I need to talk with, and how many of you out there
actually have a licensed pesticide applicator on staff?

Is TPIE the only place to go for the ALCA certificate for CLP and Certified Interiorscape technician?

We want to adhere to required certifications, but after years in business it has never been an issue.

What’s that old saying..."ignorance of the law is no defense"...that certainly applies here. Lots of people speed a bit, roll through stop signs, and so forth, and never get caught or have an accident...and then it happens...

To my knowledge, every state in the U. S. has some sort of licensing requirement for anyone who would like to apply pesticides on other people’s property for hire or as part of a business that they charge for. If you aren’t licensed by now, you should first go out and play PowerBall, and then go immediately to your state’s licensing agency and get legal.

I don’t know what state you’re in (and I’ll guess you won’t be telling here), but in New Jersey, the company has to be licensed and insured as a pesticide applicator business, there must be at least one Licensed Certified Applicator, and every operator (employee who is permitted to apply pesticides on accounts) must also be trained and licensed to do so in the appropriate categories that apply to their type of business (i.e., 3-C Interior Plantscape, 3-A Landscape Ornamentals, etc.). There are study guides, courses, fees to pay, exams to take and recertification credits to accumulate to maintain your licenses in good standing. Other states have similar programs, but each is a bit different, so you need to check with your state’s government for details. Your local extension agent in the county where you live or work can help you to find that info.

Don’t wait, though. I know you feel a bit stressed by this situation, but it’s far easier to get up to speed now than to let it fester and risk both fines and lost business.

As for professional certification, that’s up to you, an optional embellishment on the resume, so to speak. If you feel you’re weak in some area of the business (financials, legal, etc.), you can take a course at a local community college or high school adult ed program and learn the same stuff there without the exam and certification process. Yes, the industry is trying to promote its professional image, but it takes a lot more than a certification course to get people to act in a professional manner, trust me on that.

Clem

If you are referring to "required certifications" in relation to pest control application.......you will need to contact your state government to find out how to obtain that. ALCA probably provides continued education units for pesticide licenses, but I do not believe that the CLP is a requirement per se in relation to becoming a pest control operator (unless there is a state that allows that program to be substituted for their own exam.) In the state of Florida, lawn and ornamental operators are licensed through the department of agriculture. Also in Florida there is usually one certified operator and the other employees are "id cardholders" trained by the certified operator. Best of luck- in some states these licenses are difficult to obtain.

Clem is correct....don’t even begin to apply any registered pesticide if you, or your company does not have a state license that allows you to apply a pesticide.

The other license that may absolutely be required by many states is a landscape contractor’s license for some jobs that your firm may install. (California is a must)

Certification is nice to have,however is not required. ALCA runs that program. Took it over from NCIHC which I co- founded back in the late 1970’s.
Rick W.