Initial Program Agendas 
Initial training programs must be at least 6 hours in length followed by a 40 question exam. 
The following subject areas and topics are required for 6 hour initial training sessions.
Your Private Applicator License:  
What are pesticides and what are Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP's)? 
How to read your license number and why it is important. 
How to keep certified. 
Pesticide fees and where they go! 
What you can and can't do with your license 
Reading and Understanding Pesticide Labels: 
Understanding the format of a label. 
Different names of a pesticide (Trade/Brand, Common, Scientific) 
Active and inert ingredients. 
Signal Words. 
What is PPE and why you should wear it! 
Site restrictions; where you can and cannot use a pesticide. 
Read through a relevant label and highlight certain points 
Pesticide Safety:  
What is toxicity; acute vs. chronic. 
Four routes of exposure. 
Pesticide Formulations and applicator safety: Liquid vs. dry formulations. 
What is an LD50 and Signal Words. 
How your body processes toxic substances. 
Protecting Yourself; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 
Laundering Pesticide Contaminated Clothing. 
Proper Pesticide Storage 
Storage of pesticides in their original containers 
Triple rinsing 
Storage Checklist 
Disposal of empties and excess pesticide 
Pertinent Pesticide Laws:  
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) 
Who are the Affected Employers 
Agricultural Owner Exemptions 
Requirements of Agricultural Owners and Employer 
Duties for Employers of Pesticide Handlers and Agricultural Workers 
Employer/Commercial Applicator Information Exchange 
Additional Duties for Employers of Workers 
Additional Duties for Employers of Handlers 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. 
Montana Pesticides Act and other Montana laws and regulations. 
Federal Recordkeeping Requirements: 
What key elements you need to record. 
How to use calibration formulas to help you keep accurate records. 
Calibration of Backpack, Boom and Broadjet Sprayers:  
The Calibration Strip Method. 
Determining Nozzle Output. 
How to read a nozzle specification sheet. 
Understanding the effects of speed and pressure. 
How many acres can you spray with a given volume. 
How much pesticide do you add to the tank. 
Useful conversions...pints to ounces, gallons to ounces, etc. 
Using calibration formulas to help you keep pesticide records. 
Calibration Exercises 
Pesticides in the Environment:  
Pesticide Properties in regards to environmental contamination 
Solubility. 
Soil binding capabilities (Adsorption). 
How pesticides behave in the soil; leaching, runoff, groundwater contamination. 
Drift. 
Volatilization 
How nozzles and pressure contribute to drift 
Degradation. 
Protecting well sites, surface water and groundwater 
Other Pest and Pesticide Related Topics of Local Interest  
http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/extension/MT_PAT/Guidelines.html