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One more casualty of the pandemic is Private Pesticide REcertification, at least as we’ve known it in the past. With face-to-face meetings hosted by OSU Extension presently on hold, at this time it’s impossible to speculate when a traditional Private Pesticide REcertification session may even be scheduled. However, there has been a recent change in the deadline for REcertification, and also several ‘virtual’ opportunities are in the planning stages for 2021.
First, it’s important to note that recently Governor DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 404 extending both the Commercial and Private Pesticide REcertification and Fertilizer REcertification deadline until July 1, 2021. This means Private and Fertilizer Applicators who expire in March 2020 or March 2021 now have until July 1, 2021 to renew and recertify. Commercial applicators expiring in 2020 now have until July 1, 2021. The deadline for commercial applicators expiring in September 2021 is not changed by this bill.
Considering the current inability to offer face-to-face REcertification opportunities, in Fairfield County we are offering two different ‘virtual’ alternatives for gaining REcertification on-line.
The first is a self-paced on-line REcertification opportunity that will become available for both Private Pesticide applicators and Fertilizer certification holders beginning January 11. The course fees for pesticide will be a total of $35 for Private, and $15 per credit hour for Commercial applicators. Fertilizer will cost $15. Once enrolled participants may work at their own pace logging in and out as frequently as they choose until they have gained their necessary credits. More information and registration details may be found on our On-line Recertification page at: https://pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert
For those preferring to complete their Private Pesticide or Fertilizer class in one setting and at no cost, we are offering three such sessions on-line. These sessions will last 3 hours covering all Private Pesticide categories plus one additional hour for those needing Fertilizer REcertification. These three sessions will each be the same, hosted live by OSU Extension, and are being offered free of charge. Dates and times will be:
- January 27, 2021 from 8 a.m. until Noon
- February 23, 2021 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
- March 24, 2021 from 8 a.m. until Noon
More information and registration links for the three ‘live’ session described above may be found linked here.
Private license holders are reminded that you may acquire your training anytime during the 3 year duration of your existing certification, and anyone with a Private Pesticide or Fertilizer license may participate in any of the three locally hosted OSU Extension REcertification sessions this winter. Advance registration is required and details will be posted here soon.
In late spring or early summer once OSU Extension is allowed to host ‘live’ meetings, if need be at that time a face-to-face REcertification meeting may be scheduled.
For more information call OSU Extension at 740-653-5419.