Section 355IAC4-1-2.1. Commercial applicators; certification standards and procedures

  1. (a) Initial certification of commercial applicators shall be by written closed book examinations developed by the state chemist. The minimum passing score on all examinations administered by the state chemist shall be seventy-five percent (75%) unless another minimum passing score has been established by the state chemist after consideration of the recommendations of the standards committee described in subsection (c).

  (b) Except for applicators in category 12 and category 13, each certified commercial applicator shall have passed a core examination and a category examination.

  (c) For each examination, the state chemist shall appoint a separate standards committee to develop certification subject matter and standards. Members of this committee shall include, at a minimum, individuals representing the following:

(1) The state chemist.

(2) The Purdue University cooperative extension service.

(3) The largest pesticide user groups covered by that category.

  (d) Initial certification shall remain in force from the date of passing the examination through December 31 of the fourth year following the year during which the examination was passed unless revoked or suspended.

  (e) No examination may be attempted more than three (3) times in any twelve (12) month period. The twelve (12) month period shall commence on the date that the first examination failure occurs.

  (f) The state chemist shall specify examination procedures that must be followed by any individual taking an examination. Failure to comply with these procedures or any unauthorized assistance provided by or received by an individual during the examining period shall be cause for immediate termination of the examining process for all involved individuals and no additional opportunity to take any examinations shall be provided to the involved individuals for a period of five (5) years. (State Chemist of the State of Indiana; 355 IAC 4-1-2.1; filed Nov 21, 1984, 3:33 p.m.: 8 IR 331; filed Nov 22, 1999, 3:39 p.m.: 23 IR 777; readopted filed Nov 21, 2001, 10:17 a.m.: 25 IR 1269; filed Jan 30, 2007, 9:49 a.m.: 20070228-IR-355060063FRA; readopted filed Sep 20, 2007, 1:46 p.m.: 20071010-IR-355070484RFA; readopted filed Sep 25, 2013, 11:08 a.m.: 20131023-IR-355130361RFA)