(1)    Certification requirements.

         1.    No person may use or direct the use of a restricted-use pesticide as a private applicator unless the person is certified as a private applicator in the applicable pesticide use category under this section.

         2.    No person may use or direct the use of any pesticide as a commercial applicator unless the person is all of the following:

            a.    Certified as a commercial applicator in the applicable pesticide use category under this section.

            b.    Licensed as an individual commercial applicator under s. 94.704. This subd. 2. b. does not apply to a private applicator who uses or directs the use of a pesticide as a commercial applicator on an occasional or incidental basis only.

      (b)    Applications for certification shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department and shall specify the category of pesticide use and application for which application for certification is made. Certifications shall be valid for a period of 5 years from date of issuance or renewal, unless terminated or suspended by the department for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of its issuance or for violation of ss. 94.67 to 94.71 or rules or orders issued under ss. 94.67 to 94.71. Certifications may be changed or amended during the 5-year period for which issued by the addition of other categories of pesticide use and application for which the applicator was not certified at the beginning of the certification period, but all the changes or amendments shall expire concurrently with the end of the 5-year certification period.

      (c)    A certified private applicator may be granted an additional 5 years of certification upon the expiration of his or her certification, under one of the certification options under sub. (5). A certified commercial applicator may be granted an additional 5 years of certification upon the expiration of his or her certification, subject to a written examination approved by the department.

      (d)    Except as provided under sub. (4), no commercial applicator may be certified except upon satisfactory completion of a written examination. The examination shall be designed to test the applicant’s competency in each category of pesticide use for which the applicant seeks certification.

   (2)   Certification standards. The department shall, by rule, adopt standards for the training and certification of private and commercial applicators, at least equal to but not to exceed federal standards adopted under the federal act. In the adoption of the standards, separate categories of pesticide use and application may be established for certification purposes depending on the specific types of pesticides used, the purposes for which they are used, types of equipment required in their application, the degree of knowledge and skill required and other factors which may warrant the creation of different categories. The standards shall provide that individuals to be certified must be competent with respect to the use and application of pesticides in the various categories of pesticide use and application for which certification is desired. For commercial applicators, competence in the use and handling of pesticides shall be determined on the basis of written examinations.

   (2m)   Military instruction. Any relevant training that an applicant for certification under this section has obtained in connection with any military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for training for certification under this section if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the training obtained by the applicant is substantially equivalent to the training required for certification.

   (3)   Records; reports. Certified commercial applicators, including nonresident commercial applicators, shall maintain records of amounts, dates, types, places and uses of all pesticides as prescribed by the department. Records shall be kept for 2 years and shall be open to and available for inspection at all reasonable times by the department or cooperating governmental enforcement agencies.

   (4)   Certification of nonresidents.

         1.    The person is certified to use pesticides, in the same or similar pesticide use category, under laws or programs in the person’s state of residence which have requirements for certification equivalent to this section and ss. 94.703 and 94.704 and the rules under this section and ss. 94.703 and 94.704. In order to be certified without examination as a commercial applicator in this state, the person must be certified as a commercial applicator in the person’s state of residence.

         2.    The person’s license or certification in the state of residence has not been denied, suspended or revoked under the federal act or by the state of residence.

      (b)    An application for nonresident certification under par. (a) shall be made on a form provided by the department. The department may require an applicant to submit any information that is reasonably necessary for the administration of this subsection. An application under this subsection shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $75, except that no fee is required for the certification of a nonresident as a private applicator. The department shall deposit the fees collected under this paragraph in the agrichemical management fund.

      (c)    A certification issued under this subsection expires on December 31 of the year of issuance and is not transferable. If the holder of a nonresident certification becomes a resident of this state, the nonresident certification may not be renewed after its expiration date.

   (5)   Private applicators. The department shall certify resident private applicators to use restricted-use pesticides in any of the following ways, as it deems appropriate:

      (a)    Certification by training session. A private applicator may attend a pesticide applicator training session approved by the department. The training shall cover all areas of competency necessary to comply with standards under the federal act. No person seeking certification under this paragraph may be required to take a written examination in order to obtain certification. Upon successful completion of the training session the applicator shall be granted certification for 5 years.

      (b)    Certification by examination. A private applicator may take a written examination approved by the department including all areas of competency necessary to comply with the federal act. Certification for 5 years shall be granted to the applicator upon successful completion of the examination. A private applicator may engage in a self-study program using training materials available in training sessions under par. (a). Written examinations shall be given at a designated department office, county extension office or at a site approved by the department.

      (c)    Certification for emergency use. A person may apply for an emergency use certification. Only one emergency use certification shall be granted to a person. Thereafter, certification under par. (a) or (b) is necessary. The department shall conduct a specific evaluation of the applicant’s ability to use and apply the pesticide safely and correctly and make any other evaluations deemed necessary by the department. The department shall notify the dealer by telephone that the applicant has been granted an emergency use certification. Written notice of the applicant’s responsibility and liability shall be sent by the department to the dealer and the applicant. This certification shall be valid for a onetime specific use only. The department’s evaluation shall be conducted at a designated department office, any University of Wisconsin-Extension office, or any other site approved by the department.

      (d)    Certification for persons of limited English language ability. Persons of limited English language ability shall receive the training necessary to permit them to use and apply restricted-use pesticides. The department shall conduct an oral evaluation of each person to determine competency. Certification under this paragraph shall be required for use of each restricted-use pesticide. Each certificate shall state the specific restricted-use pesticide the person is certified to use or apply.