Pesticide Handler Training Documents Updated October 2023

Pesticide handler training is required for all employees who handle any pesticides.  For employees using California restricted materials or pesticides in the commercial or research production of an agricultural plant commodity, the employer must ensure the trainer is one of the following at the time of training (trainer licenses or certificates must be valid):

• A California certified applicator (commercial or private) or Agricultural Pest Control Adviser
• A County Biologist License in Pesticide Regulation or Investigation and Environmental Monitoring
• A University of California Extension Advisor
• An individual who has completed an “instructor training” program
• A California Registered Professional Forester
• Other trainer qualification approved by DPR

Employers must train employees before they handle pesticides, update the training to cover new pesticides that will be handled or training topics to be covered, and repeat the training at least annually (12 month period) thereafter.  Employee training must be in a manner the employee can understand, at a location reasonably free from distraction, and be conducted pursuant to the written training program established by the employer.  Trainer(s) must be present throughout the entire presentation and must respond to employee questions.

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has updated the pesticide handler training documents, which are available below:

1. Handler Training Program, PDF (In Spanish, PDF)

2. Handler Training Program, Word (In Spanish, Word)

3. Handler Record, PDF (In Spanish, PDF)

4. Handler Record, Word (In Spanish, Word)

Fieldworker Training Documents

Employers shall assured that each employee assigned to work in a pesticide-treated field be trained within the last 12 months, in a manner the employee understands, before beginning work in the treated field as required by the California Code of Regulations Title III Section 6764.

A "Treated field" means a field that has been treated with a pesticide or had a restricted entry interval or entry restricted period in effect within the last 30 days. A treated field includes associated roads, paths, ditches, borders, and headlands, if the pesticide was also directed to those areas.

Fieldworker training documents are available below in English and Spanish:

1. View the Fieldworker Training Record - English, PDF

2. View the Fieldworker Training Record - Spanish, PDF

Visit DPR's Worker Protection Program website for both handler and fieldworker training record templates to document training of your employees.