Iowa Code §206.5 — what it says, and how the exam tests it

206.5 Certification requirements — rules. 1. A commercial or public applicator shall not apply any pesticide and a person shall not apply any restricted use pesticide without first complying with the certification requirements of this chapter and such other restrictions as determined by the secretary. 2. a. A commercial applicator shall pay a seventy-five dollar fee for a three-year certification. A public applicator or a private applicator shall pay a fifteen dollar fee for a three-year certification. b. To be initially certified as a commercial, public, or private applicator, a person must complete an educational program which shall consist of an examination required to be passed by the person. After initial certification the commercial, public, or private applicator must renew the certification by completing the educational program which shall consist Tue Dec 09 22:22:25 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 206 (39, 1) 5 PESTICIDES, §206.5 of either an examination or continuing instructional courses. The commercial, public, or private applicator must pass the examination each third year following initial certification or may elect to attend two hours of continuing instructional courses each year. 3. A commercial, public, or private applicator is not required to be certified to apply pesticides for a period of twenty-one days from the date of initial employment if the commercial, public, or private applicator is under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. For the purposes of this section, “under the direct supervision of” means that the application of a pesticide is made by a competent person acting under the instructions and control of a certified applicator who is physically present, by being in sight or hearing distance of the supervised person. 4. A commercial applicator who applies pesticides to agricultural land may, in lieu of the requirement of direct supervision, elect to be exempt from the certification requirements for a commercial applicator for a period of twenty-one days, if the applicator meets the requirements of a private applicator. 5. A person employed by a farmer not solely as a pesticide applicator who applies restricted use pesticides as an incidental part of the person’s general duties or a person who applies restricted use pesticides as an incidental part of a custom farming operation is required to meet the certification…