Section 026-32-1 - Competency Standards for Certification - Private ApplicatorA. No person shall be certified as a private applicator unless he has fulfilled requirements demonstrating his knowledge of basic subjects including pesticide label comprehension, ability to read and understand pesticide labeling, safety, environmental concerns, stewardship, pest organisms, pesticides, equipment, application techniques, responsibilities for supervisors of non-certified applicators, and applicable laws and regulations. Also required shall be knowledge of current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans (core exam). Applicators must also follow the standards outlined in 40 CFR 171.201 and 40 CFR 171.105(a) (1)-(11) (2023).B. No person shall be certified as a private applicator unless he has demonstrated knowledge of the general principles of pest control for his major commodity, including specific pests of the crop, their life cycle, and proper timing of control measures to be efficacious (Commodity Exam).01-026 C.M.R. ch. 32, § 1