---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 136i"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "136i"
heading: "Use of restricted use pesticides; applicators"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/136i"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Insecticides and Environmental Pesticide Control"
  - "Subchapter II — Environmental Pesticide Control"
---

# §136i. Use of restricted use pesticides; applicators

- (a) **Certification procedure—**
  - (1) **Federal certification—** In any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) for which a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) plan for applicator certification has not been approved by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b), the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b), in consultation with the Governor of such [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa), shall conduct a program for the certification of applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u). Such program shall conform to the requirements imposed upon the [States](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) under the provisions of [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section and shall not require [private applicators](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2) to take any examination to establish competency in the use of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u). Prior to the implementation of the program, the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall publish in the Federal Register for review and comment a summary of the Federal plan for applicator certification and shall make generally available within the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) copies of the plan. The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall hold public hearings at one or more locations within the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) if so requested by the Governor of such [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) during the thirty days following publication of the Federal Register notice inviting comment on the Federal plan. The hearings shall be held within thirty days following receipt of the request from the Governor. In any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) in which the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) conducts a certification program, the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) may require any [person](/usc/7/136.md?p=s) engaging in the commercial application, sale, offering for sale, holding for sale, or distribution of any [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) one or more uses of which have been classified for restricted use to maintain such records and submit such reports concerning the commercial application, sale, or distribution of such [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) as the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) may by regulation prescribe. Subject to [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall prescribe standards for the certification of applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u). Such standards shall provide that to be certified, an individual must be determined to be competent with respect to the use and handling of the [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u), or to the use and handling of the [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or class of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) covered by such individual’s certification. The certification standard for a [private applicator](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2) shall, under a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) plan submitted for approval, be deemed fulfilled by the applicator completing a certification form. The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall further assure that such form contains adequate information and affirmations to carry out the intent of this subchapter, and may include in the form an affirmation that the [private applicator](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2) has completed a training program approved by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) so long as the program does not require the [private applicator](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2) to take, pursuant to a requirement prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b), any examination to establish competency in the use of the [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u). The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) may require any [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) [dealer](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-6) participating in a certification program to be licensed under a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) licensing program approved by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b).
  - (2) **State certification—** If any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa), at any time, desires to certify applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u), the Governor of such [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) shall submit a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) plan for such purpose. The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall approve the plan submitted by any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa), or any modification thereof, if such plan in the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b)’s judgment—
    - (A) designates a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) agency as the agency responsible for administering the plan throughout the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa);
    - (B) contains satisfactory assurances that such agency has or will have the legal authority and qualified personnel necessary to carry out the plan;
    - (C) gives satisfactory assurances that the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) will devote adequate funds to the administration of the plan;
    - (D) provides that the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) agency will make such reports to the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) in such form and containing such information as the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) may from time to time require; and
    - (E) contains satisfactory assurances that [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) standards for the certification of applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) conform with those standards prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).

    Any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) certification program under this section shall be maintained in accordance with the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) plan approved under this section.

- (b) **State plans—** If the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) rejects a plan submitted under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall afford the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) submitting the plan due notice and opportunity for hearing before so doing. If the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) approves a plan submitted under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), then such [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) shall certify applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) with respect to such [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa). Whenever the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) determines that a [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) is not administering the certification program in accordance with the plan approved under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall so notify the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) and provide for a hearing at the request of the [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa), and, if appropriate corrective action is not taken within a reasonable time, not to exceed ninety days, the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall withdraw approval of such plan.
- (c) **Instruction in integrated pest management techniques—** Standards prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) for the certification of applicators of [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) under [subsection (a)](#a), and [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) plans submitted to the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) under [subsection (a)](#a), shall include provisions for making instructional materials concerning integrated [pest](/usc/7/136.md?p=t) management techniques available to individuals at their request in accordance with the provisions of [section 136u(c) of this title](/usc/7/136u.md?p=c), but such plans may not require that any individual receive instruction concerning such techniques or to be shown to be competent with respect to the use of such techniques. The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) and [States](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) implementing such plans shall provide that all interested individuals are notified on the availability of such instructional materials.
- (d) **In general—** No regulations prescribed by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) for carrying out the provisions of this subchapter shall require any [private applicator](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2) to maintain any records or file any reports or other documents.
- (e) **Separate standards—** When establishing or approving standards for licensing or certification, the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) shall establish separate standards for commercial and [private applicators](/usc/7/136.md?p=e-2).

## Source credit

(June 25, 1947, ch. 125, § 11, formerly §§ 4, 11, as added Pub. L. 92–516, § 2, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 983, 989; amended Pub. L. 94–140, §§ 5, 11, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 753, 754; Pub. L. 95–396, § 9, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 827; Pub. L. 100–532, title VIII, § 801(c), (q)(1)(A)–(C), Oct. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 2681, 2683; Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1006(a)(6), (b)(1), (2), (3)(K), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1895, 1896.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(q)(1)(A), transferred subsecs. (a) to (c) of section 4 of act June 25, 1947, which was classified to section 136b of this title, to subsecs. (a) to (c) of this section.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 11 of act June 25, 1947, was classified to section 135i of this title prior to amendment of act June 25, 1947, by Pub. L. 92–516.

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(a)(6)(A), substituted “applicators” for “appplicators” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(3)(K), substituted “the applicator” for “his” in ninth sentence and “the Administrator” for “him” before period at end.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(b)(2), substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(a)(6)(B), (b)(1), substituted “subsection (a)(2) of this section” for “this paragraph” in two places and “the Administrator” for “he” before “shall afford” and before “shall so notify”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–237, § 1006(a)(6)(C), substituted “subsection (a)” for “subsections (a) and (b)” after “Administrator under”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(q)(1)(A), (C), substituted section catchline for one which read: “Standards applicable to pesticide applicators”, redesignated subsecs. (a) and (b) as (d) and (e), respectively, and transferred subsecs. (a) to (c) of section 136b of this title to subsecs. (a) to (c), respectively, of this section.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–532, § 801(c), substituted “pesticides. Such program” for “pesticides: Provided, That such program” and “certification. The certification” for “certification: Provided, however, That the certification”.

1978—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–396 required that, in any State without a State plan for applicator certification approved by the Administrator, the Administrator, in consultation with the Governor of the State, shall conduct a program for the certification of applicators of pesticides under a Federal plan for applicator certification, and also that in such a State records be maintained and reports submitted by persons engaged in commercial application, sale or distribution of pesticides classified for restricted use.

1975—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–140, § 5, inserted proviso relating to Administrator’s powers and duties with respect to the certification forms and requirement for pesticide dealers participating in certification program.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–140, § 11, added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–532 effective on expiration of 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, see section 901 of Pub. L. 100–532, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.

### Effective Date

For effective date of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92–516, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.