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DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today said starting on Monday, March 28 pesticide applicator certification exams will be offered at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) campus in Ankeny. Testing will continue to be offered at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s office in the Wallace Building in Des Moines until July 1, 2011.
Those using the new, web-based testing will need obtain a user name and password before they arrive at the test center. Information and obtaining a username and password can be on the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov and then clicking on the “Pesticide Testing” link under “Hot Topics.”
“This change will help make the testing more efficient and is designed to reduce the wait time for those seeking to take a test to become certified for pesticide application,” Northey said. “It is important for those going to the new testing site at DMACC visit our website beforehand to get a username and password to make sure they don’t face any delays at the testing site.”
Each person taking an exam through the DMACC test center will be required to pay a $20 fee for each day of testing. Cash or credit card may be used for paying the fee. Multiple exams may be taken during the same day provided the exams are finished at least 30 minutes before the test center closes.
Exams will be available at the DMACC college test center, 2006 South Ankeny Blvd., Building 6, Room 23, in Ankeny. Directions to and hours of operation for the testing center can be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under the “Pesticide Testing” link.
To become certified, all commercial and public applicators are required to pass exams related to their type of work. All private applicators must also be certified to apply a restricted use pesticide.
Pesticide applicator certification exams will continue to be offered by appointment at existing community college sites throughout the state. In addition, the Department will maintain the approximately 58 winter test sites around the state until additional community college sites are organized. Finally, summer testing will continued to be offered each month at ten different Iowa State University Extension offices across the state.
A full schedule of when tests are offered can be found at www.iowaagriculture.gov/Pesticide/pesticidetesting.asp.
The Department has entered into a 28E agreement with DMACC to cover this new arrangement.
Audio of Secretary Northey discussing the pesticide applicator testing options |
