(225 ILCS 235/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 2205)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2029)

Sec. 5. Certification requirements. No individual shall apply any general use or restricted pesticide while engaged in commercial structural pest control in this State unless the individual is engaged in or has completed the training requirements prescribed by the Department and is certified, or supervised by someone who is certified, by the Department in accordance with this Section.

No individual shall apply any restricted pesticide while engaged in non-commercial structural pest control in this State unless the individual is engaged in or has completed the training requirements prescribed by the Department and is certified or supervised by someone who is certified in accordance with this Section. In addition, any individual at any non-commercial structural pest control location using general use pesticides shall comply with the labeling requirements of the pesticides used at that location.

Each commercial structural pest control location shall be required to employ at least one certified technician at each location. In addition, each non-commercial structural pest control location utilizing restricted pesticides shall be required to employ at least one certified technician at each location. Individuals who are not certified technicians may work under the supervision of a certified technician employed at the commercial or non-commercial location who shall be responsible for their pest control activities. Any technician providing supervision for the use of restricted pesticides must be certified in the sub-category for which he is providing supervision.

A. Any individual engaging in commercial structural pest control and utilizing general use pesticides must:

1. be at least 18 years of age;

2. hold a high school diploma or State of Illinois High School Diploma; and

3. have filed an original application, paid the fee required for examination, and have passed the General Standards examination.

B. Any individual engaging in commercial or non-commercial structural pest control and supervising the use of restricted pesticides in any one of the sub-categories in Section 7 of this Act must:

1. be at least 18 years of age;

2. hold a high school diploma or a State of Illinois High School Diploma; and

3. have:

a. six months of practical experience in structural pest control; or

b. successfully completed a minimum of 16 semester hours, or their equivalent, in entomology or related fields from a recognized college or university; or

c. successfully completed a pest control course, approved by the Department, from a recognized educational institution or other entity.

Each applicant shall have filed an original application and paid the fee required for examination. Every applicant who successfully passes the General Standards examination and at least one sub-category examination shall be certified in each sub-category which he has successfully passed.

A certified technician who wishes to be certified in sub-categories for which he has not been previously certified may apply for any sub-category examination provided he meets the requirements set forth in this Section, files an original application, and pays the fee for examination.

An applicant who fails to pass the General Standards examination or any sub-category examination may reapply for that examination, provided that he files an application and pays the fee required for an original examination. Re-examination applications shall be on forms prescribed by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23.)