OREGON PESTICIDE LAWS AND
SAFETY
Pesticides---ans-✔✔include-herbicides,-insecticides,
fungicides,-rodenticides,-and-many-other
substances-used-to-kill,-harm,-or-repel-pests.
General-Use-Pesticides---ans-✔✔may-be-bought-over-the-counter-without-a-pesticide-
license.
Restricted-Use-Pesticides-(RUPs)---ans-✔✔are-a-category-of-products-that-pose-a-higher-
risk-to-people,-animals,-or-the-environment.-They-can-only-be-purchased-by-a-person-with-
a-pesticide-license;-use-requires-supervision-by-a-licensed-applicator.
Pesticide-CERTIFICATION---ans-✔✔the-process-of-demonstrating-a-person-knows-how-
to-handle-and-apply-pesticides-in-a-safe-and-responsible-manner.-valid-for-up-to-five-(5)-
years
Pesticide-LICENSING---ans-✔✔the-process-to-obtain-the-actual-license-that-shows-that
a-person-has-met-certification-requirements-to-make-specific-pesticide-applications-under-
that-license.
PRIVATE-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔needed-to-purchase,-apply,-or-
supervise-the-use-of-restricted-use-pesticides-(RUPs)-on-land-in-agricultural-production-
that-a-person,-or-their-employer-owns,-leases,-or-rents.-This-includes-farmland,-
rangeland,-forests,-greenhouses,-nurseries,-orchards,-etc.
IMMEDIATELY-SUPERVISED-Pesticide-TRAINEE-LICENSE---ans-✔✔for-individuals-
who-work-under-the-supervision-of-a-Commercial-or-Public-Pesticide-Applicator.-
•-Must-be-on-site-at-all-times-with-the-trainee-when-making-pesticide-applications,-and
•-Be-able-to-reach-the-trainee's-location-within-five-minutes.-
•-No-required-exam
Trainees-may-only-make-applications-within-their-supervisor's-categories.
•-The-supervising-applicator-is-responsible-for-training-the-Immediately-Supervised-
Trainee
, PESTICIDE-APPRENTICE-LICENSE---ans-✔✔individuals-who-work-under-the-
supervision-of-a-Commercial-or-Public-Pesticide-Applicator.-
•-The-supervising-applicator-does-not-need-to-be-onsite-when-the-apprentice-is-making-
pesticide-applications,-BUT-the-apprentice-must-be-able-to-reach-the-supervising-
applicator-at-all-times.
•-The-Pesticide-Apprentice-is-not-a-certified-applicator.-In-order-to-renew-this-license,-
beyond-the-first-year,-the-apprentice-will-need-to-attend-eight-(8)-hours-of-approved-
continuing-education-classes.-The-eight-hours-must-consist-of-at-least-four-(4)-hours-of-
CORE-credits.-If-the-apprentice-does-not-accrue-the-required-credit-hours,-they-will-need-
to-retake-the-Laws-&-Safety-exam-to-re-license.
•-Required-exam:-Laws-&-Safety-Apprentices-may-only-make-applications-within-their-
supervisor's-categories.-The-supervising-applicator-is-responsible-for-training-the-
apprentice.
PUBLIC-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔required-of-employees-of-federal-
and-state-agencies,
counties,-cities,-municipalities,-irrigation-districts,-drainage-districts,-soil-and-water-
conservation-districts-or-other-special-districts,-public-utilities,-and-telecommunication-
utilities-who-in-the-course-of-their-work:
•-Use-or-supervise-the-use-of-restricted-use-pesticides,-(RUPs)-and/or;
•-Use-machine-powered-equipment-to-apply-any-pesticides-(general-or-restricted)
•-Apply-pesticides-(including-organic-and-25b-products)-on-the-property-of-any-Oregon-
pre-kindergarten,-public-and-private-K-12-schools,-community-colleges,-federal-Head-
Start-programs,-Oregon-School-for-the-Deaf,-Oregon-Youth-Authority-residential-
academy,-or-education-service-districts
•-Required-exam:-Laws-&-Safety-and-at-least-one-category-exam.
COMMERCIAL-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔Apply-or-supervise-the-
application-of-ANY-pesticide-(general-use,-restricted-use,-organic,-and-25b-products)-on-
the-land-or-property-of-others-while-employed-by-a-Commercial-Pesticide-Operator
IPM---ans-✔✔IPM-is-a-common-sense-strategy-that-integrates-multiple-tactics-to-reduce-
pest-populations-to-an-acceptable-level.-Strategies-include-sanitation,-pest-exclusion,-
cultural,-biological,-mechanical,-chemical-control.-IPM-weighs-the-risks-and-benefits-of-
pest-reduction-methods-to-determine-the-most-environmentally-and-economically-sound-
manner-to-manage-pests
Worker-Protection-Standard-WPS---ans-✔✔protection-of-employees-on-farms,-and-in-
forests,-nurseries,-and-greenhouses-from-occupational-exposure-to-agricultural-
pesticides
WPS-Agricultural-Workers---ans-✔✔performing-tasks-related-to-the-cultivation-and-
harvesting-of-plants,-including-pruning,-sucker-removal,-watering,-and-potting
SAFETY
Pesticides---ans-✔✔include-herbicides,-insecticides,
fungicides,-rodenticides,-and-many-other
substances-used-to-kill,-harm,-or-repel-pests.
General-Use-Pesticides---ans-✔✔may-be-bought-over-the-counter-without-a-pesticide-
license.
Restricted-Use-Pesticides-(RUPs)---ans-✔✔are-a-category-of-products-that-pose-a-higher-
risk-to-people,-animals,-or-the-environment.-They-can-only-be-purchased-by-a-person-with-
a-pesticide-license;-use-requires-supervision-by-a-licensed-applicator.
Pesticide-CERTIFICATION---ans-✔✔the-process-of-demonstrating-a-person-knows-how-
to-handle-and-apply-pesticides-in-a-safe-and-responsible-manner.-valid-for-up-to-five-(5)-
years
Pesticide-LICENSING---ans-✔✔the-process-to-obtain-the-actual-license-that-shows-that
a-person-has-met-certification-requirements-to-make-specific-pesticide-applications-under-
that-license.
PRIVATE-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔needed-to-purchase,-apply,-or-
supervise-the-use-of-restricted-use-pesticides-(RUPs)-on-land-in-agricultural-production-
that-a-person,-or-their-employer-owns,-leases,-or-rents.-This-includes-farmland,-
rangeland,-forests,-greenhouses,-nurseries,-orchards,-etc.
IMMEDIATELY-SUPERVISED-Pesticide-TRAINEE-LICENSE---ans-✔✔for-individuals-
who-work-under-the-supervision-of-a-Commercial-or-Public-Pesticide-Applicator.-
•-Must-be-on-site-at-all-times-with-the-trainee-when-making-pesticide-applications,-and
•-Be-able-to-reach-the-trainee's-location-within-five-minutes.-
•-No-required-exam
Trainees-may-only-make-applications-within-their-supervisor's-categories.
•-The-supervising-applicator-is-responsible-for-training-the-Immediately-Supervised-
Trainee
, PESTICIDE-APPRENTICE-LICENSE---ans-✔✔individuals-who-work-under-the-
supervision-of-a-Commercial-or-Public-Pesticide-Applicator.-
•-The-supervising-applicator-does-not-need-to-be-onsite-when-the-apprentice-is-making-
pesticide-applications,-BUT-the-apprentice-must-be-able-to-reach-the-supervising-
applicator-at-all-times.
•-The-Pesticide-Apprentice-is-not-a-certified-applicator.-In-order-to-renew-this-license,-
beyond-the-first-year,-the-apprentice-will-need-to-attend-eight-(8)-hours-of-approved-
continuing-education-classes.-The-eight-hours-must-consist-of-at-least-four-(4)-hours-of-
CORE-credits.-If-the-apprentice-does-not-accrue-the-required-credit-hours,-they-will-need-
to-retake-the-Laws-&-Safety-exam-to-re-license.
•-Required-exam:-Laws-&-Safety-Apprentices-may-only-make-applications-within-their-
supervisor's-categories.-The-supervising-applicator-is-responsible-for-training-the-
apprentice.
PUBLIC-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔required-of-employees-of-federal-
and-state-agencies,
counties,-cities,-municipalities,-irrigation-districts,-drainage-districts,-soil-and-water-
conservation-districts-or-other-special-districts,-public-utilities,-and-telecommunication-
utilities-who-in-the-course-of-their-work:
•-Use-or-supervise-the-use-of-restricted-use-pesticides,-(RUPs)-and/or;
•-Use-machine-powered-equipment-to-apply-any-pesticides-(general-or-restricted)
•-Apply-pesticides-(including-organic-and-25b-products)-on-the-property-of-any-Oregon-
pre-kindergarten,-public-and-private-K-12-schools,-community-colleges,-federal-Head-
Start-programs,-Oregon-School-for-the-Deaf,-Oregon-Youth-Authority-residential-
academy,-or-education-service-districts
•-Required-exam:-Laws-&-Safety-and-at-least-one-category-exam.
COMMERCIAL-PESTICIDE-APPLICATOR-LICENSE---ans-✔✔Apply-or-supervise-the-
application-of-ANY-pesticide-(general-use,-restricted-use,-organic,-and-25b-products)-on-
the-land-or-property-of-others-while-employed-by-a-Commercial-Pesticide-Operator
IPM---ans-✔✔IPM-is-a-common-sense-strategy-that-integrates-multiple-tactics-to-reduce-
pest-populations-to-an-acceptable-level.-Strategies-include-sanitation,-pest-exclusion,-
cultural,-biological,-mechanical,-chemical-control.-IPM-weighs-the-risks-and-benefits-of-
pest-reduction-methods-to-determine-the-most-environmentally-and-economically-sound-
manner-to-manage-pests
Worker-Protection-Standard-WPS---ans-✔✔protection-of-employees-on-farms,-and-in-
forests,-nurseries,-and-greenhouses-from-occupational-exposure-to-agricultural-
pesticides
WPS-Agricultural-Workers---ans-✔✔performing-tasks-related-to-the-cultivation-and-
harvesting-of-plants,-including-pruning,-sucker-removal,-watering,-and-potting
