Though the Virginia Tech Pesticide Program was established in 1964, Virginia’s history of pesticide safety education goes back to the late 1800s. Today the Virginia Cooperative Extension program trains pesticide applicators by blending history with modern safety measures.
VTPP trains more than 20,000 agricultural producers and pest managers in 27 different certification categories of private and commercial pesticide application during a reoccurring four-year cycle.
In Virginia, private and commercial pesticide applicators must be certified using a 14-point core curriculum. The training is based on a 300-page core manual that’s approved by its partner, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
