Licensing?

[ccwmlw]

In my state I was told to be licensed I had to
1. have a degree in a similiar field or
2. have a license from another state or
3. work 2 yrs. under someone with a license.
Can someone give me an idea as to how to qualify for this?
My state is TN.

[MAD MOWERS]

Applicator Licensing

In Tn. you need to call University of Tennessee Agricultural Service. 865/974-7135, fax 865/974-8868. Get a packet and study materials. They will fill you in on all the details.

[ccwmlw]

I was told by the state that I could get certified but still I would have to work under someone that is licensed. To get licensed I had to do one of the above. So how do I get my license unless I go work for someone else, and I do not see the competition in my area helping me out.

[PMI]

If somebody has some insight into ccwmlw's last reply I would appreciate it greatly. I'm in the same situation. You have to work for somebody for x amount of months in Colorado before you can be licensed to operate solo. Is there any way around this? It seems rather strange that you would have to go through this just to spray a weed or apply weed and feed.

[Ric]

Hello

OK this is how I did here in Florida where it takes 3 years under a licensed company. Or a degree and one year.

1st I researched the profit factor of having a Certification. What could it do for me or my company.

2nd I researched the law to see how it read and what the possible loop holes were.

3rd I determined that it was worth getting and realized nothing comes easy.

4th I started looking for a CPO that needed a Job.

5th I registered in the closest college that offered horticulture in night classes.

6th I found and hired a CPO who could sign for the company Licenses.

7th I worked under his Licenses and build a route that made enough money to pay the CPO salary.

8th I finished my college degree and applied for the right to take the certification test.

9th I took the certification and passed first time with a high score. That is a bragging right here in Florida.

Bottom line. Are you willing to do what it takes??? Is it worth it to you??? I think it was worth the cost to me. Yes it will take many years to make up the cost.

[PMI]

Ric,

Thanks for the excellent idea. It never actually occured to me to hire somebody that IS licensed and work under his license. The whole time in my mind I was thinking I would have to go and work for somebody else. It's funny how the simplest solutions are just staring you right in the face and you can't see them.
U da man! Thanks bud.

~Gary

[Ric]

PMI

It worked for me.

[Runner]

Gary,
Just be sure you have clear definition of someone who is licensed, and someone who is certified. There are MANY certified applicators out ther, but only a handful that carry their own license. This seems to be a popular misconception here in Michigan.

[Ric]

Runner

Yes you are right about the misconceptions. Certified and Licensed are two total different things. At one time I was the Licensee and not Certified. Many Certified Pesticide Operators have never been in business for themselves and therefore have never been a Licensee. The Licensee is the owner and in many cases this is in fact not a person but a corporation. A licensee must have a Certified Pesticide Operator In Charge. AKA a Ticket Holder.

I hunted high and low to find my first CPO and had two over the years before I Got my ticket. First ticket holder waited until I got things rolling then put the arm on me. He wanted 50% ownership or he was pulling his ticket. He already had a lawyer write the agreement and gave it to me late Friday afternoon. He gave me until Monday morning to sign. (side note Fla Law you must report loss of CPOIC immediately, But have 24 hrs to report a pesticide poisoning death) Early Monday Morning He came to pick up his ticket because I already had another one hanging on the wall. (that is another story) Once you are in the business and get in group activity you find out how many CPO there really are that are not working in the industry. My night classes at college had 3 that were working on Golf Courses and not using there tickets. My second CPO was a girl with a full book (every ticket you can get) and she had two small children and wanted to stay home with them. She kept the books at her house, so she was a working CPO to keep things legal. After I got my Tickets we found her an other guy Two Towns away Interesting enough it was hard to find her company that wanted to add spraying. BTW I also am one of a dozen irrigation license holder in my county. This is another high margin service if you can get the license.

Bottom Line is Nothing comes easy, but where there is a will there is a way. If it was Easy then every idiot could and would do it.