---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 C.F.R. § 171.107"
title: "40"
number: "171.107"
heading: "Standards for recertification of certified applicators."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/40/171.107"
---

# §171.107. Standards for recertification of certified applicators.

- (a) **Maintenance of continued competency.** Each commercial and private applicator certification shall expire five years after issuance, unless the applicator is recertified in accordance with this section. A certifying authority may establish a shorter certification period. In order for a certified applicator's certification to continue without interruption, the certified applicator must be recertified under this section before the expiration of his or her current certification.
- (b) **Process for recertification.** Minimum standards for recertification by written examination, or through continuing education programs, are as follows:
  - (1) **Written examination.** A certified applicator may be found eligible for recertification upon passing a written examination approved by the certifying authority and that is designed to evaluate whether the certified applicator demonstrates the level of competency required by [§ 171.103](/cfr/40/171.103.md) for commercial applicators or [§ 171.105](/cfr/40/171.105.md) for private applicators. The examination shall conform to the applicable standards for examinations set forth in [§ 171.103(a)(2)](/cfr/40/171.103.md?p=a-2) of this part.
  - (2) **Continuing education programs.** A certified applicator may be found eligible for recertification upon successfully completing a continuing education program pursuant to the certifying authority's EPA-approved certification plan.
    - (i) The quantity, content, and quality of a continuing education program to maintain applicator certification must be sufficient to ensure the applicator continues to demonstrate the level of competency required by [§ 171.103](/cfr/40/171.103.md) for commercial applicators or [§ 171.105](/cfr/40/171.105.md) for private applicators.
    - (ii) Any continuing education course or event relied upon for applicator recertification must be approved by the certifying authority as being suitable for its purpose in the certifying authority's recertification process.
    - (iii) A certifying authority must ensure that any continuing education course or event, including an online or other distance education course or event, relied upon for applicator recertification includes a process to verify the applicator's successful completion of the course or event.

## Notes

### Source

Source: 82 FR 1029, Jan. 4, 2017, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136-136y.

### Source

Source: 39 FR 36449, Oct. 9, 1974, unless otherwise noted.