All certified applicators (with certification prior to July 1, 2025) must view the one-hour “NCDA&CS Required Pesticide Certification & Training Standards Update” video to comply with new EPA regulations before their current certification deadline. Following the U.S. EPA’s update to pesticide applicator certification rules, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has released a mandatory training video. The 1-hour video, titled “NCDA&CS Required Pesticide Certification & Training Standards Update,” is required viewing to maintain your certification and serves as a practical alternative to retesting.

If you are a private or commercial applicator who obtained your certification (passed the Core Exam) prior to July 1, 2025, you are required to complete this update. To remain compliant, you must: (1) View the 1-hour video; and (2) Submit the online verification form once you have finished viewing the video.

This mandatory training must be completed by your standard recertification credit deadline in the year your current certification expires. Failure to complete the training by these dates will require you to retake the certifying exam(s), even if all other recertification credit requirements have been satisfied.

Specific deadlines are determined by your certification type:

• Deadline for Commercial Applicators: June 30th of the year your certification expires
• Deadline for Private Applicators: September 30th of the year your certification expires

The video and verification form (currently available in English only) can be found on the NCDA&CS website here: