This guidebook will provide answers about the Ontario Pesticide Technician Program.

 

Ontario Regulation 914 of the Ministry of Environment requires that all unlicensed assistants working with licensed exterminators must complete the Pesticide Technician Program in order to legally apply pesticides under indirect supervision.  Indirect supervision means that the licensed exterminator is required to observe the technicians’ work once a week.

 

Unlicensed assistants who do not have technician status must work under direct supervision (i.e. Hand in hand)

 

 

The Pesticide Technician Program consists of two parts:

 

·        Academic component: a written test based on the Technician’s Manual, administered by an accredited examiner.

·        Practical component: a practical test of 5 safety tasks, administered by a licensed exterminator.

 

 

1.      Candidate enrolls with Pesticide Industry Council (PIC) through Landscape Ontario or Pesticide Industry Council (PIRC) through Ontario Professional Pesticide Applicators Association (OPPAA) or through an accredited examiner.

 

            Pesticide Industry Council (PIC) c/o Landscape Ontario

                        7856 Fifth Line South

                        Station Main, Milton, ON L9T 2X8

                        1-800-265-5656

                        Fax 1-905- 875-3942

                        Email pic@hort-trades.com

                        Website: www.hort-trades.com

Pesticide Industry Regulatory Council (PIRC) c/o Ontario Pesticide Applicators Association

            1218 Wilton Ave,

            London, ON N5W 2T9

            1-800-668-7017

            Fax 1-519-455-5915

            Email pirc@oppaa.com

            Website www.oppaa.com

 

2.      After the registration fee is received, a Technician Manual will be sent to the candidate.(A Fee Schedule is attached to the back of this guide)

 

The Academic Component

3.      The Candidate studies the Technician Manual. Optional training will be available through PIC, PIRC, Community Colleges, Associations, employers and private trainers.

4.      When ready the Technician Candidate arranges an exam time and location through PIC, PIRC, or Accredited Examiners.

5.      Candidate writes the academic exam. The exam is open book based on the Technician Manual. Only the training manual will be allowed in the exam room.

6.       Upon successful completion of the academic exam with a pass mark of 75% or greater the candidate will receive a Technician Identification Card signed and dated by the Academic Examiner. This card is not valid until the practical test is completed.

 

Practical Component

7.      Candidate takes the 5 part practical test from a Licensed Exterminator. This test is based on Part I of the Practical Pesticide Safety Training Document (Appendix B of the Technicians Manual). The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in  five practical pesticide safety tasks

1. diluting a concentrated pesticide with a solvent
2. correctly applying a pesticide
3. emergency response procedures for equipment
4. emergency response procedures for pesticide exposure
5. emergency response procedures for handling a spill

 

8. If successful the candidate will provide the Technician Identification Card to the licensed exterminator who will sign, date, and include their license number on the Technician Identification Card.  (The candidate must ensure that a copy of the completed Technician Identification Card is faxed or mailed to the PIC or PIRC within 5 working days in order to be officially registered as a Technician.)

 

The candidate now has Technician status, which is valid for 2 years.

Note: Where a candidate is employed within the industry the practical component must be completed within 30 days of passing the academic component.  If the candidate is not employed they will have 365 days to complete the practical test or the card becomes null and void and the process must be repeated.

 

There are no restrictions on the number of attempts to successfully complete the exam however the examination may not be attempted more than once on the same day unless at a PIRC or PIC approved one day workshop.

 

 

PIC and PIRC will set their own fees but under no circumstances will the fee exceed $115.00.

 

Workshops will be available across Ontario through PIC, PIRC, Community Colleges, Private Trainers and employers.  Dates for workshops will be published on-line at PIC or PIRC.  Training costs are additional.

 

According to regulation 914 the trainee or technician is not allowed to select or recommend a pesticide or select the method or rate of application. They also are not allowed to mix, fill equipment with or apply a Schedule 2 pesticide that is a suspension in air, bird control product or soil fumigant, except in the presence of a licensed exterminator. 

 

A licensed exterminator must supervise a Technician.  Supervision consists of weekly site visits. The technician must carry a work order, invoice, job sheet, logbook or other form of written instructions, which documents the weekly visit. This document must include the location, target pest, name of the pesticide, registration number under the Pesticides Product Act (Canada) and the name and license number of the supervising exterminator.  The technician must keep this record at the job site for at least 30 days. 

It candidate information changes or the technician card is lost or damaged the Technician must notify the PIC or PIRC within 7 days so that the database can be updated and a replacement card issued.