Academy · CEU requirements · RI
Rhode Island pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Rhode Island require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Rhode Island sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Commercial certificate (restricted / state-limited use, by category) owe 8 credit hours per category every five years, or re-examination; Commercial licence (general-use pesticides) owe 8 credit hours every five years, or re-examination. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) — Division of Agriculture, Pesticides
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 12 months
- Deadline
- Certificates run to 31 January and licences to 28 February each year. A licence not renewed is lost 60 days after expiry. Within a year of expiry you regain it by re-examination (core plus previous categories); beyond a year you must attend the training course AND re-sit the exams. Miss the five-yearly credits and you attend training and re-test before renewal.
- Accepted formats
- DEM-approved workshops, lectures and seminars, Self-study or correspondence courses meeting 2.16(C)(3)(b) — the DEM page lists approved online sources, Credits approved by any New England state, Academic courses and teaching or publishing, within the caps set in 2.16(C)
- Agency
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) — Division of Agriculture, Pesticides
- Application fee
- $45
- Exam structure
- Two steps, in order. First the Commercial licensing exam: online, closed book, $30.11 fee, studied from the NASDA National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual plus the RI Pesticide Control Act and DEM pesticide rules. Only after passing it can you register for Commercial Certificate (category) exams such as 7A or 7B, which are open book, held monthly and also carry a $30.11 online convenience fee; in-person sittings can be arranged with DEM. Category 7 certification is required to use or supervise restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides in that sub-category. No commercial certification under 18.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial certificate (restricted / state-limited use, by category) | 8 credit hours PER CATEGORY every five years, or re-examination | Five-year period counts from the date of initial certification. One credit hour is 50 consecutive minutes. Source: 250-RICR-40-15-2.16(B)(3). |
| Commercial licence (general-use pesticides) | 8 credit hours every five years, or re-examination | Credits are submitted to DEM with the renewal paperwork in the year you are due; DEM does not track them for you, so keep the certificates. |
Certificates run to 31 January and licences to 28 February each year. A licence not renewed is lost 60 days after expiry. Within a year of expiry you regain it by re-examination (core plus previous categories); beyond a year you must attend the training course AND re-sit the exams. Miss the five-yearly credits and you attend training and re-test before renewal.
Sources
- https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/agriculture/pesticides/pesticide-safety-training
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/250-RICR-40-15-2.7
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/250-RICR-40-15-2.8
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/250-RICR-40-15-2.16
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/250-RICR-40-15-2.17
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/rhode-island/250-RICR-40-15-2.20
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE23/23-25/23-25-13.htm
- https://web.uri.edu/pse/research/pesticide-safety-education-program/
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Rhode Island require for pest control licence renewal?
- Commercial certificate (restricted / state-limited use, by category): 8 credit hours PER CATEGORY every five years, or re-examination. Commercial licence (general-use pesticides): 8 credit hours every five years, or re-examination.
- Who issues pest control licences in Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) — Division of Agriculture, Pesticides
- Do online courses count toward Rhode Island CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: DEM-approved workshops, lectures and seminars, Self-study or correspondence courses meeting 2.16(C)(3)(b) — the DEM page lists approved online sources, Credits approved by any New England state, Academic courses and teaching or publishing, within the caps set in 2.16(C).
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