I hope everybody’s summer was a safe and successful one. We are in that time of year were the busy certification season is on the horizon and many will be seeking certification or recertification in the winter months. Last winter’s training season was a big one. Three years of people getting recertified, but this year should be somewhat back to normal.
Below are some of things that the UW PAT Program would like to make you aware of. Some things are business as usually but some things are changing. Most of the changes are in the private applicator side this year. So, if you are a private applicator this may be of more importance to you than if you are a commercial applicator.
Those seeking commercial certification and purchasing commercial training materials cannot take the private applicator test. Private applicators are people who apply pesticides to; 1) produce an agricultural commodity AND; 2) apply pesticide to property that they or their employers own or rents. If one of these is “no” then you are a commercial applicator and have to go through that process.
Manuals
There are 5 new editions for 2023:
- General Farming, 9th edition for private applicators.
- 1.1 Field & Vegetable, 9th edition for commercial applicators.
- 25.0/107 Soil Fumigation, 3rd edition, subcategory for both the commercial and private applicators.
- 9.9/111 Aerial Application, 6th edition, subcategory for both the commercial and private applicators.
- 26.0/109 Chemigation, 6th edition, subcategory for both the commercial and private applicators.
If you already have the previous edition and it has not been used to take a test, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will take the previous edition. We typically do not see a large disadvantage using the previous edition. Rules and law change slowly and the previous edition is for the most part still effective for studying. DATCP will not however accept two editions past.
Commercial manual prices are to remain the same from 2022. Printed manual is $50.00, the PDF is $40.00 and the online courses in some categories are $60.00. However, the private manuals have increased to $40.00. Sub category manuals remain $15.00 for 2023.
Manuals New for 2023 Information
County Extension offices will no longer be selling the private applicator manuals. To purchase private applicator manuals please go to either:
- The UW PAT Store and purchase manuals online with a credit card, or
- Use commercial applicators mail-in form OR the private applicator mail in form and send a check, dependent on if you are a commercial or private applicator.
- Private applicator manuals will be increasing to $40.00.
Please remember, commercial applicators purchase the commercial applicator training materials and take a commercial test. Private applicators purchase the private applicator training materials, then take a private test.
Private Applicator Certification Expiration Notification
Please know that the County Extension offices will no longer be sending out certification expiration letters. Please be aware of your own certification and when it expires. The date that your private applicator certification end can be found on your certification card. If you can’t see the date due to wear and tear, please check your certification on DATCP’s certification site. You can look yourself up. If you can’t find yourself, then you are not presently certified. If you do not have access to the website, please reach out to the UW PAT program and we can look it up for you.
Additional Training
Remember, attending a training is optional, buying the training materials and testing is not. Each applicator, commercial or private, must have their own training materials. Attending a training is in addition to purchasing the training materials. With the training materials comes a PAT Number, this number must be provided to DATCP (commercial) or county test proctor (private) in the form of a certificate or E-ticket (commercial only, the private applicator system does not have E-tickets).
Commercial. Registration is now open for commercial training with tests around the state and Zoom Webinars. To register, go to the UW PAT Store and select the category you are looking to get certified in. Some categories do not have in-person trainings. If you can’t make one of the in-person training with test, there will be Zooms available in some categories and the online course is still available.
To find a commercial or private training go to the Extension events calendar.
Private Applicator. The UW PAT Program will be traveling around the state providing private applicator training with tests. These are also listed on the Extension events calendar. Training with tests are not offered in every county as has been done in the past. To register for a training with test please go to the UW PAT Store and select General Farming or follow the registration instructions on the event. A few of the training and tests have different registration processes, for example, the Fruit Crop training at the Cranberry School conference has a different registration set up than many of the other private applicator trainings. See the even in the calendar to see how to register.
Private applicators that want additional training and can’t attend one of the in-person training and test, the online training is available again this year. There are also several Zoom Webinars scheduled. Registration for either in-person training with test or the online course (without test) or Zoom Webinar (without test) is all on the UW PAT Store or can be ordered by mail using the mail order form.
Additional Training New in 2023
- Private applicators, training with testing sessions may not be available in your county. Go to the Extension Events calendar to find available training with test sessions or contact UW PAT Program or your county extension office to help locate one.
Testing
Commercial. There are no changes to the commercial testing procedure. Tests are available through one of DATCP’s testing centers or through the private testing company Pearson Vue. Same as last year. Tests will also be given at any in-person training with tests. To schedule a commercial test with DATCP go to their test scheduling site.
To schedule a test with Pearson Vue go to their site to create an account and schedule a test. Pearson Vue has an official online test and over 50 testing centers in Wisconsin. You get your results doing a Pearson Vue test right after the test and your certification is emailed to you within 3 business days. Tests with Pearson Vue cost $45.00/test.
Private Applicators. Certification tests are available at participating County Extension offices. Not all counties are providing the test. Tests are also provided at in-person training with tests. For a list of counties providing the test. Testing is by appointment only; please contact the participating county to identify testing times and locations. Just showing up, may result in a grumpy ride home.
The private applicator certification test is also available through the private testing company Pearson Vue. To schedule a test with Pearson Vue go to their site to create an account and schedule a test. Pearson Vue has an official online test and over 50 testing centers in Wisconsin. Online tests require a webcam, functional microphone, a quiet testing environment, and you will have to download a “lock browser” to take the test. It is recommended that you go to one of their testing centers. You get your results doing a Pearson Vue test right after the test and your certification is emailed to you within 3 business days. You must get 70% to pass in all Pearson Vue tests. The manual is provided on screen in the test. Pearson Vue tests cost $45.00/test.
Testing New in 2023
- Private applicators, please watch your own certification to make sure you know when your certification expires. No more mailed notifications from the county extension office.
- Private applicators, the counties are no longer selling the private applicator manuals. Please go to the UW PAT Store or use the mail in form.
- Private applicators, not every county is providing the test. To find a county that is providing the test follow this link. Tests are by appointment only, do not walk in.
- To register for an in-person training with test or Zoom Webinar or online training go to the UW PAT Store or use the mail order form.
