Ontario Pesticide Training

Do you need an Ontario Pesticide Certificate or Licence?

In Ontario, pesticides are grouped into six "schedules".  The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) takes a careful look at every pesticide before it is sold in Ontario.  The MOE then puts each product into one of the six Schedules, depending on how dangerous the product is. Anyone can buy and use Schedules 3, 4 and 6 products on their own property.  These products have the least risk, and are often called "homeowner products".  Schedule 1, 2 and 5 products are more dangerous.  You must have a Pesticides Exterminators Licence or a Grower Pesticide Safety Course certificate before you can buy or use them.

If you are a farmer, and you want to apply Schedule 1, 2 or 5 pesticides to land that you are responsible for farming you must be certified through the Grower Pesticide Safety Course.  Please click on the link to go to the Ontario Pesticide Education Program.

If you want to apply pesticides to property that you don't own or farm, you must be a licensed exterminator.  There are 12 categories of exterminator licences for different types of work.  For example, you may want to do landscape work, residential pest control, or custom agricultural spraying.  Each of these types of work requires a different exterminator licence category. For more information on becoming a licenced exterminator, please click on the link to go to the Ontario Pesticide Training and Certification site.