IMPLEMENTATION OF PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION SCHOOLS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS (FHWA-OK-18-03)

Abstract

Initial pesticide applicator training schools, certification testing, sprayer calibration workshops and on-going yearlycontinuing education sessions comprise the herbicideapplicator training programof theOklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). Six pesticide applicatorcertification schools were conducted by Oklahoma State University (OSU) extension staff in early 2018 to train a total of97ODOT participants.Ninety-one of the attendees atthese workshops passed the Core exam(93.8% pass rate). Of these 91 staff, 79 staff passed the category 6right-of-wayexam (86.8% pass rate). Overall, 79 of 97 staffthat participated in the 2018 certification training schoolspassed both the core and category 6 exams yielding an 81.4%overall success rate in producing category 6 certified applicators inspring of 2018. Inspring 2018, 616ODOT staffwere providedwith pesticide applicator continuing education trainingat 13 on-site workshopsand 3additional applicatorsreceivedceu training in one webinarin August 2018. Records ofODOT personnelparticipatingin the CEU programs were furnished to ODAFFas well asthe ODOT Field Divisiontraining representatives.Participants gainedCEUcredits and knowledge on various Integrated Pest Management (IPM)and Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) topicsincluding plant identification, contemporary pesticideissues, pesticide fate, meso-scale weathermonitoring, as well assuggested products/programs for roadside weed and brush control. Increasedknowledge of the participants should insure continued effective vegetation management skills.