Last Chance Private Applicator Opportunities in North-Western Montana

Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist

The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program (PEP) would like to announce multiple last chance private applicator credit opportunities for applicators in need of credits within private applicator training (PAT) District 1. Montana private applicators in PAT District 1 need six private applicator credits prior to the December 31, 2023, deadline to avoid losing their pesticide certification. PAT District 1 includes the following counties and reservations: Lincoln, Flathead, Flathead Reservation, Sanders, Lake, Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli (Fig. 1). Applicators can view their credit information online by entering their last name or license number. Online courses, webinars and onsite trainings within District 1 are available.

PAT District 1 map

Figure 1. Counties within Private Applicator Training District 1.

Onsite Opportunities within Private Applicator Training District 1

Events immediately adjacent to District 1 are marked with an *.

  • *November 29. Browning, MT. Private Pesticide Applicator Initial Training. 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 6 PAT credits. Registration encouraged by November 17th. Walk ins welcome. Contact Kari Lewis at (406) 873-2239 or [email protected]. View online agenda.
  • December 16. Victor, MT. Victor Weed District Office. 2nd Annual Western Montana Winter Weed Program. 9:00 AM - 4: 00 PM. 6 PAT credits. Registration fee $20. Lunch provided. For more information and registration contact Kimberly Richardson ([email protected]; 406-375-6611). 

Webinar Opportunities

An alternative to attending on-site programs are live webinars delivered to individuals attending online from their home or office. You must be present for all attendance checks to obtain pesticide education credits for these events. Events sponsored by MSU are marked with an *.

  • November 30. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. National Right-of-Way Applicator Webinar. 6 PAT credits. Contact Sandra McDonald (970-266-9573; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online.
  • December 1. 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM. Ant Control: Go fast or slow? 1 PAT credit. Contact Ed DeMask (630-768-1404; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online at agenda.
  • December 1. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Turf Weed Identification. 1 PAT credit. Contact Ed DeMask (630-768-1404; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online.
  • December 5. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Beech Leaf and Bark Diseases: Emerging Threats to Beech Trees. 1 PAT credit. Contact Jennifer Lemon (202-566-1589; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online. 
  • *December 7. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Control and Management of Unprotected Birds. 1 PAT credit. Contact Amy Bowser (406-994-5178; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online. 
  • *December 14. 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Pesticides and Pollinators. 1 PAT credit. Contact Amy Bowser (406-994-5178; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online.  
  • December 14. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Seed Treatment Webinar. 1 PAT credit. Contact Beth Thomas (406-438-0097; [email protected]) for more information. Register and view online.  

Online Courses

Online courses consisting of modules and a corresponding quiz can be taken at any time from your office or home for credits. There are 231 online courses available for private applicator credits (usually 1) over a variety of pesticide education topics. View the instructions for using the MDA Course Locator and follow the instructions under 'online programs' and following the link provided. 

End of Cycle Instructions

Each private applicator in District 1 will receive an MDA pesticide license renewal letter by the second week of November. Applicators who have not received a renewal letter by December 1, 2023 should contact their local MSU Extension PAT Coordinator or MDA Licensing Program, Kyra Allison Wright ([email protected]; 406-444-3691). Applicators who have accumulated six or more private applicator credits or who passed a closed book exam in the last year of the cycle should sign the renewal letter and return to the MDA with the $60 license fee. 

For More Information

Contact your MSU Extension agent for more information regarding other last chance programs in your area, or to assess your private applicator credits. For any other pesticide education question contact Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, at the MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program office (406-994-5067, [email protected]). 

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