Registration required: Private Pesticide Applicator Training programs geared toward farmers in northwest & west-central Minnesota

Text for this article was written by Tana Haugen-Brown, a UMN Extension pesticide safety and environmental education educator and co-coordinator. It originated from the private applicator training website. Applicators in need of license renewal in 2021 should have received an 8 page document through the mail that would have explained the four different ways that someone can recertify in 2021.

Recertification workshops

Regionally adapted workshops have been scheduled for those accustomed to attending workshops in a specific region. Register soon as a virtual spot is reserved for the first 50 people to register for a workshop and workshops that have fewer than 10 registrants will need to cancel.

Northwest workshops 

• Jan 26, 12:30 to 4:30 PM 
• Jan 28, 8 AM to 12 PM
• Feb 1, 8 AM to 12 PM
  

West-central workshops 

• Feb 3, 12:30 to 4:30 PM
  
• Feb 11, 8 AM to 12 PM
• Feb 22, 8 AM to 12 PM
  

Registration begins on December 28, 2020.

• Private Pesticide Applicator recertification workshops are held in January and February. 
• Workshops last about three and a half hours.
• You MUST pre-register. 
• Cost: $75, payable by credit card when you register.
• Workshops have been designed by region. If workshops in your region are closed because they are full or the dates do not work with your schedule, select a workshop offered in a different region.

Computer requirements

• Use your own email address to register

  • DO NOT USE someone else’s email address. If you use someone else’s email address the certification won’t be issued in your name and you will need to register, pay, and complete the workshop again to become certified.
  • Registration and live-online workshop information is sent to the email address you enter when you register.
• Access to a reliable and stable internet-connected device such as a desktop computer, laptop or tablet.
  • Your device must have a microphone, speaker, and built-in camera or external webcam.
• Google Chrome internet browser. Free download available.
• Download the registration and recertification guide.
  • Use the step-by-step registration instructions for assistance.
  • Go to the live-online workshop section for important information about your workshop after registration is complete.
  • Get your device Zoom ready. Your device needs to be Zoom ready prior to the date of your workshop. The live-online workshop section will assist you with Zoom installation and testing. Download Zoom.

Click here for workshop dates and to register

• If you think you may already have a University account from a past exam or course registration, please call the University’s Helpdesk at 612-301-4357 to reactivate your account or you can reset your password by following the directions on page 2 in the guide.
• Enter your county, date of birth and applicator certification number when prompted.

Trouble registering?

• For all account and login related issues, please contact the University’s Helpdesk at 612-301-4357.
• For any other questions regarding registration, please contact us at 763-767-3840 or ppathelp@umn.edu. We answer messages Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Be on time

• The Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires workshop participants to attend the entire workshop to receive credit for recertification.
• Anyone who arrives or logs in to the workshop more than 15 minutes late will not receive recertification credit — no exceptions. 

Be prepared

• About 2 to 3 days before your scheduled live-online workshop, you will receive an email with the Zoom link, agenda, handouts, and additional information on how to join the workshop. Do not share this email with other applicators.
• You must join the live-online workshop at the designated time. Be prepared to check-in and show your applicator card to your camera when the Registrar calls your name.
• If you have misplaced your certification card you may get your certification number from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website or call 651-201-6615.

Getting your temporary certificate

A temporary certificate will be emailed to you a few days after the workshop. It can be used as temporary proof of workshop completion for 2021 recertification when purchasing restricted-use pesticides. Please allow up to 60 days to receive your new card from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Live-online workshop policies

• All workshops are limited to 50 participants.
• Registration closes when a workshop is full or on the close date, whichever comes first.
• Only pre-registered attendees will be allowed to attend.
• If you do not attend the entire workshop, you will not receive recertification credit, fee credit, or transfer to another workshop. You must register and pay the fee again. There are no exceptions.
• During the workshop, you will be required to interact with the presentations on your device. All participants must respond to at least 80% of the questions during the workshop to be counted as “present.”

Cancellation/Transfer/Refund Policies

Please note that our cancellation and refund policies have changed. We cannot make exceptions to these policies.

• If you wish to cancel or transfer to another workshop, you must request this change BEFORE the registration deadline (see the specific deadline dates in the Workshop Table).
• Canceling: You must cancel before the registration deadline to receive a partial refund.
  • There is a $30 cancellation fee even if requested prior to the registration deadline.
  • No refunds for cancellations after the registration deadline.
• Transferring: You must transfer to another workshop before the registration deadline of the workshop paid for.
  • There is no fee to transfer to another live-online workshop.
  • No transfers after the registration deadline.
  • You cannot transfer from a Zoom workshop to a Canvas self-paced course or exam (online or mail-in).

You must take the online or mail-in exam if:

• You are a new applicator, and you want to become certified.
• Your license has lapsed, and you are not currently certified through March 1, 2021.
• You missed the live-online workshops and wish to recertify.

 Visit the Private Applicator Training program website for more information about the other three ways to recertify or to learn how to obtain your certification for the first time.