Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that pesticide license applications and payments can now be completed online through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s new pesticide self-service portal.
“The online pesticide system modernizes the way the Department receives and processes license applications and payments,” said Secretary Naig. “This new system is an example of our continued focus on customer service across the Department. It will be especially helpful for applicators who are looking to get certified for this growing season.”
The system is available starting April 13 and can be accessed at iowaagriculture.force.com/pesticideapplicator.
The self-service portal uses each pesticide applicator’s unique certification number to match their application and payment to their training and testing history.
To apply for a new or renew an existing pesticide applicator license, individuals will use their certification number to log-in to the self-service portal. The licensee can submit their application, test results and payment online.
Once in-person testing resumes, proctored test locations will use each applicator’s unique certification number when uploading the test results to the self-service portal. The portal will link the user’s training and testing information to the application and payment records stored in the online system.
Once the application, payment, training, and testing information are received, the licenses and certifications will be processed and sent directly to the applicant.
By moving the process online, individual pesticide applicators can access their records anytime by logging into the self-service portal. The system also has a public search function that empowers customers and employers to verify that their pesticide applicators are licensed to work in the state of Iowa.
“This system allows the Department to better serve Iowans by giving them real-time access to information that, historically, was stored in paper files,” said Bureau Chief Dr. Gretchen Paluch. “We encourage companies and individuals to take advantage of the new system when applying and renewing their licenses this year.”
For information regarding pesticide applicator licensing and certification, call the Pesticide Bureau at the Iowa Department of Agriculture at 515-281-8591 or email [email protected] .