North Dakotans who want to become certified for commercial, public or dealer pesticide application now have an option for an in-person exam.
"This proctored exam is required only for people who want to become certified for commercial, public or dealer application or whose commercial certification has lapsed," says Andrew Thostenson, North Dakota State University Extension pesticide program specialist. "People who want new private certification can complete the online training through their county NDSU Extension office and don't have to take a proctored exam.
"For those already certified but whose certification lapsed April 1, Gov. Doug Burgum issued an executive order that suspends the expiration for the duration of the public health emergency," Thostenson says. "However, state law requires that people who want new commercial, public or dealer certification or whose commercial certification has lapsed must complete the exam proctored in person."
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says: "I encourage those needing a restricted-use pesticide certification to take advantage of this opportunity to do your testing in either Bismarck or Fargo in the next two to three weeks."
Exams will be offered in Fargo and Bismarck in large rooms so applicants and proctors practice physical distancing, Thostenson says. Each room will be sanitized between groups, and other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations will be carried out.
Thostenson encourages people to order the study materials and register for an exam time at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension/pesticides.
Exams will be offered to May 15 on the NDSU campus in Fargo and at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck.
"Applicators and dealers who were certified through April 1, 2020, do not need to do anything now because Gov. Burgum's executive order extended their deadline to recertify," Thostenson says. "This in-person exam is required only for new or lapsed commercial, public and dealer certifications."