In Saskatchewan, The Pest Control Products (Saskatchewan) Act requires any individual wanting to purchase and use federally registered, restricted or commercial class pesticides for hire or reward, to hold a Saskatchewan Pesticide Applicator Licence. Additionally, any individual who applies domestic class pesticides for hire or reward, and/or if they employ a person that is paid a wage to apply pesticides as part of their job duties, will require an applicator licence.
A pesticide applicator licence ensures that individuals are trained and knowledgeable in the safe and proper application of pesticides. This helps protect the environment and human health.
Some restricted and commercial class pesticides state on the label that users must hold a pesticide applicator licence or be pest control operators. Where the label states this or similar wording, then only a Saskatchewan Pesticide Applicator Licence holder can purchase and use the pesticide.
Applicator Licence Requirements
- Individuals must demonstrate by completing a pesticide training program, that they are qualified to apply pesticides. A copy of the statement of achievement from the training program will be required.
- Individuals must be 18 years of age or older.
- Individuals must be employed and working under a licensed service company or a government, government agency or local authority (RM, village, town, city).
- Individuals applying for an aerial pesticide applicator licence must provide their pilot’s licence number issued by Transport Canada.
- Licences are not transferable and are issued only to the individual as named on the application form.
- Pesticide applicators must have a copy of their licence in their possession when applying pesticides.
Licence Exemptions
The Pest Control Products (Saskatchewan) Act and The Pest Control Products Regulations, 2015 state in part that an individual may do all or any of the following, without holding a pesticide applicator licence:
- Use or apply pesticides on land they own or rent.
- Use or apply pesticides as part of their duties as an employee of a farm operation or a research or pesticide development organization.
- Without charge, provide a service involving the use or application of pesticides on neighbouring land or premises, in the ordinary exchange of labour and services among farmers.
- Use or apply pesticides under the direct supervision (within auditory hailing distance) of a licensed pesticide applicator, acting within the terms of that licence.
- Use or apply disinfectants, swimming pool bactericides, cleansers, deodorizers, laundry additives, soaps or sanitizers, bactericides used in cutting oils and fuels and algicides used in industrial cooling systems or wood preservatives.
Direct Supervision
A licensed pesticide applicator "directly supervising" a pesticide application operation is responsible for the acts of those individuals they are supervising. Direct supervision means that the licensed applicator is physically present at the application site throughout the entire application and that the individuals being supervised are within visual and auditory hailing distance. This means they are not being supervised using cell phones, walkie talkies or any other electronic device.
Record Keeping
Every holder of a pesticide applicator licence must keep daily records of each operation they perform that involves pesticide use or application, on forms acceptable to the Ministry of Agriculture. View this sample form for reference of an acceptable form.
Pesticide application records must include:
- Name of the person for whom the pesticide was applied.
- Location and size of the area where the pesticide was applied.
- Year, month, day and time at which the pesticide was applied.
- Purpose for which the pesticide was applied.
- Common product name of the pesticide applied, and the registration number assigned to it pursuant to the federal Act.
- Method of application.
- Total quantity of, or the rate of, application of the pesticide applied.
- Quantity and method of disposal of surplus pesticide containers.
- Details of remedial measures taken to respond to pesticide spills or of the clean-up of pesticide spills.
- Meteorological data at the time the pesticide was applied.
- Global Positioning System (GPS) records if such a system was used for the application of the pesticide.
Every holder of a pesticide applicator licence must retain all records for a period of not less than three (3) years from the date of the application.
Pesticide Applicator Training
All individuals must complete a pesticide applicator course to become certified in the appropriate category before applying for a licence. Saskatchewan Polytechnic provides pesticide education in the province.
Training must be recertified every five (5) years by completing a recertification exam or by accumulating fifteen (15) continuing education credits (CEC). CECs are available only for the following categories: aerial, greenhouse, industrial vegetation, landscape, rat control and structural.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic administers and keeps records of CECs. If you or your organization are hosting a continuing education workshop, or for more information on training, contact the Saskatchewan Pesticide Education Program at pest.prog@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-775-7473.
Licence Categories
The following pesticide applicator licence categories are currently available in Saskatchewan:
| Aerial | Application of pesticides by aircraft. |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Application of pesticides by ground application. |
| Aquatic Vegetation | Application of pesticides by ground application for the control of aquatic weeds in standing or running water or in areas left exposed during periods of low water, and includes pesticide applications in lakes, rivers, irrigation canals, ditches and dugouts. |
| Commercial Seed Treatment | Application of pesticides for commercial seed treatment (other than for farmers who own closed-transfer seed treatment equipment for use on their own land, in which case an applicator licence is not required). |
| Forestry | Application of pesticides by ground application in forest management. |
| Fumigation | Application of fumigants for soil fumigation, within enclosed structures or under sheets, and includes fumigation in grain bins and elevators, buildings, railcars, trucks and closed vaults. |
| Greenhouse | Application of pesticides (excluding the use of restricted fumigants that are gases at room temperature) in and immediately around greenhouses and interior plantscapes. |
| Industrial Vegetation | Application of herbicides for controlling weeds on industrial areas (includes roadsides, power lines, pipelines, rights of way, railways, well sites, equipment yards and non-crop land). |
| Landscape | Application of pesticides for the maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf on outdoor residential land and commercial land (includes golf courses, cemeteries, public land and outdoor nurseries for propagation of landscape and garden plants). |
| Mosquito and Biting Fly | Application of insecticides for the control of larval or adult mosquitoes or biting flies. |
| On-Farm Fumigation | For agricultural producers to gain access to and safely use fumigants in their operations. |
| Parks Management | For employees of federal, provincial and regional parks only. |
| Problem Wildlife Control | Application of pesticides by employees of the Government of Saskatchewan only for the control of vertebrate animals. |
| Rat Control | Application of rodenticides in or around buildings or structures for the control of mice and rats. |
| Structural | Application of pesticides (other than herbicides or fumigants) for the prevention or control of pests in or around structures (includes the use of rodenticides on public or private land, but not including the control of plant pests in greenhouses). |
Apply for a Pesticide Applicator Licence
The pesticide applicator licence is $100 annually or $500 for a five (5)-year licence. A five-year licence is available only for new applicators or upon training renewal.
Complete and sign the pesticide applicator licence application form and submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture. Ensure you include a copy of the statement of achievement from the pesticide training program you completed.
Completed forms and supporting documentation can be submitted by email to PL@gov.sk.ca or by mail to:
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Crops and Irrigation Branch
Room 125, 3085 Albert Street
Regina, SK S4S 0B1
Download the Pesticide Applicator Licence Application Form
Renew a Pesticide Applicator Licence
The Ministry of Agriculture mails out licence renewal forms to all current licence holders approximately 45-60 days before the licence expiry date. If you did not receive your renewal, contact us at PL@gov.sk.ca or call 306-787-4662.