Academy · CEU requirements · CO
Colorado pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Colorado require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Colorado sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Qualified Supervisor / Certified Operator owe 7 core credits plus pest-management credits per licensed category, before the licence expires, or retest; Technician owe verifiable training by the employing commercial applicator to cda standards (8 ccr 1203-2 part 5.02(k), incorporating 40 cfr 171.201(d)). There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) — Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing Program
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 36 months
- Deadline
- Licence valid three years. All CECs must be obtained before the licence expires; there is no grace period for credits. Renewal up to 30 days late with a 10% ($10) late fee; 30 days to six months late requires reinstatement and an extra $100.
- Accepted formats
- CDA-approved CEC workshops (in person), CDA-approved webinars and online courses from approved workshop providers, Retesting in place of credits
- Agency
- Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) — Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing Program
- Application fee
- $100
- Exam structure
- Qualified Supervisor (QS) and Certified Operator (CO) both pass a General Core exam and at least one pest management category exam. Exams are online at proctor locations, run with Metro Institute and CSU Extension; $41.50 per test, booked and paid at least two days ahead. Results are valid one year. Anyone may sit the QS exams, but a QS licence is issued only with documented field experience (8 CCR 1203-2 Parts 8–10); otherwise a CO licence is issued and can be upgraded later without retesting.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Supervisor / Certified Operator | 7 core credits plus pest-management credits per licensed category, before the licence expires, or retest | There is no grace period for credits. Late renewal is possible up to 30 days after expiry ($110) or up to six months by reinstatement ($200) — but only if the credits were earned before expiry. |
| Technician | Verifiable training by the employing commercial applicator to CDA standards (8 CCR 1203-2 Part 5.02(k), incorporating 40 CFR 171.201(d)) | Documented on the CDA Technician Training Documentation Form. Not a CEC requirement. |
Licence valid three years. All CECs must be obtained before the licence expires; there is no grace period for credits. Renewal up to 30 days late with a 10% ($10) late fee; 30 days to six months late requires reinstatement and an extra $100.
Sources
- https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/pesticides/pesticide-license-categories
- https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/pesticides/qs-co-testing-information
- https://ag.colorado.gov/pesticide-licensing-faqs/qualified-supervisor-and-certified-operator-licensing-information
- https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/pesticides/cec-workshops-for-qualified-supervisors-certified-operators-and-private
- https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/pesticides/technician-training-and-non-certified-applicator-resources
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Colorado require for pest control licence renewal?
- Qualified Supervisor / Certified Operator: 7 core credits plus pest-management credits per licensed category, before the licence expires, or retest. Technician: Verifiable training by the employing commercial applicator to CDA standards (8 CCR 1203-2 Part 5.02(k), incorporating 40 CFR 171.201(d)).
- Who issues pest control licences in Colorado?
- Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) — Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing Program
- Do online courses count toward Colorado CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: CDA-approved CEC workshops (in person), CDA-approved webinars and online courses from approved workshop providers, Retesting in place of credits.
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