GEORGIA PESTICIDE APPLICATORS
LATEST PRACTICE GUIDE UPDATED 2026
TESTED SOLUTIONS
⫸ GDA Answer: Georgia Department of Agriculture
⫸ FIFRA Answer: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
1947
Regulate the registration and labeling of pesticides.
Amended in 1972 to include classification systems for types of
pesticides and created requirements for:
-Certification of applicators authorized to apply pesticides
-Safety of workers using pesticides
-Protection of environment from contamination by pesticides
-Creation of EPA to administer FIFRA
⫸ EPA Answer: Environmental Protection Agency
⫸ Endangered Species Act of 1973 Answer: Required EPA to ensure
that using registered pesticides would not harm species placed on
endangered species list.
,⫸ FQPA Answer: Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
Amended FIFRA and directed EPA to regulate pesticides through
establishment of tolerance levels for pesticides from dietary, drinking
water, and non-occupational (residential) exposure in conjunction with
the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
⫸ In order to obtain a registration, EPA and GDA require pesticide
manufactures provide what information to the EPA? Answer: -Toxicity
of the pesticide
-Hazard to the applicator
-Effect on the environment
⫸ OSHA Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1970
Any company with 10 or more employees to keep certain records and
make reports including all work related deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
⫸ SPCA Answer: Structural Pest Control Act
Primary law for the pest management industry in Georgia.
The Department of Agriculture is the enforcement agency for the SPCA.
⫸ Requirements for Georgia SPCA Answer: Company License
-All pest management companies must be licensed before they begin
operation
Certified Operator
,-Every pest management company (branch) must employee at least one
person who has taken and passed the certification exam.
Registered Employees
-all non-certified technicians must be registered, in order to work
without the presence of a certified or registered employee.
Re-certification/re-registration
-All certified and registered employees must be re-certified and re-
registered periodically.
Re-certification
-5 years
-HPC- 25 hours
-WDO- 25 hours
-FUM- 12 hours
Re-registration
-2 years
-HPC- 8 hours
-WDO- 8 hours
-FUM- 3 hours
⫸ Designated Certified Operators (DCO) Categories Answer: WDO-
Wood Destroying Organisms
HPC- Household Pest Control
, FUM- Fumigation
⫸ Contracts for Control of WDO Answer: A contract must be issued for
every WDO service before the work begins.
Copied must be kept for 2 years following the expiration of the contract.
⫸ Comprehensive Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for
Subterranean Termites Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material from
under the building
Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood
designed for ground contact
Removal of all visible and accessible termite tunnels
Application of of an approved termiticide to all exterior and interior soils
⫸ Defined Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for
Subterranean Termites Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material from
under the building
Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood
designed for ground contact
Removal of all accessible termite tunnels
Application of of an approved termiticide
⫸ Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for Subterranean
Termites, Other than Baits Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material
from under the building
LATEST PRACTICE GUIDE UPDATED 2026
TESTED SOLUTIONS
⫸ GDA Answer: Georgia Department of Agriculture
⫸ FIFRA Answer: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
1947
Regulate the registration and labeling of pesticides.
Amended in 1972 to include classification systems for types of
pesticides and created requirements for:
-Certification of applicators authorized to apply pesticides
-Safety of workers using pesticides
-Protection of environment from contamination by pesticides
-Creation of EPA to administer FIFRA
⫸ EPA Answer: Environmental Protection Agency
⫸ Endangered Species Act of 1973 Answer: Required EPA to ensure
that using registered pesticides would not harm species placed on
endangered species list.
,⫸ FQPA Answer: Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
Amended FIFRA and directed EPA to regulate pesticides through
establishment of tolerance levels for pesticides from dietary, drinking
water, and non-occupational (residential) exposure in conjunction with
the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
⫸ In order to obtain a registration, EPA and GDA require pesticide
manufactures provide what information to the EPA? Answer: -Toxicity
of the pesticide
-Hazard to the applicator
-Effect on the environment
⫸ OSHA Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1970
Any company with 10 or more employees to keep certain records and
make reports including all work related deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
⫸ SPCA Answer: Structural Pest Control Act
Primary law for the pest management industry in Georgia.
The Department of Agriculture is the enforcement agency for the SPCA.
⫸ Requirements for Georgia SPCA Answer: Company License
-All pest management companies must be licensed before they begin
operation
Certified Operator
,-Every pest management company (branch) must employee at least one
person who has taken and passed the certification exam.
Registered Employees
-all non-certified technicians must be registered, in order to work
without the presence of a certified or registered employee.
Re-certification/re-registration
-All certified and registered employees must be re-certified and re-
registered periodically.
Re-certification
-5 years
-HPC- 25 hours
-WDO- 25 hours
-FUM- 12 hours
Re-registration
-2 years
-HPC- 8 hours
-WDO- 8 hours
-FUM- 3 hours
⫸ Designated Certified Operators (DCO) Categories Answer: WDO-
Wood Destroying Organisms
HPC- Household Pest Control
, FUM- Fumigation
⫸ Contracts for Control of WDO Answer: A contract must be issued for
every WDO service before the work begins.
Copied must be kept for 2 years following the expiration of the contract.
⫸ Comprehensive Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for
Subterranean Termites Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material from
under the building
Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood
designed for ground contact
Removal of all visible and accessible termite tunnels
Application of of an approved termiticide to all exterior and interior soils
⫸ Defined Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for
Subterranean Termites Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material from
under the building
Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood
designed for ground contact
Removal of all accessible termite tunnels
Application of of an approved termiticide
⫸ Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for Subterranean
Termites, Other than Baits Answer: Removal of all cellulosic material
from under the building
