Don't Miss Out on Credit Meetings

While growers' associations and industry newsletters are great ways to learn about upcoming programs, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) website also hosts a searchable database of meetings that offer pesticide applicator recertification credits. You can filter your search by state, county, license category, date range, and more. This page may seem tricky to navigate at first, but once you've used it a few times, it's an easy and reliable tool.

To access the site, go to PaPlants. Along the left side of your device, you’ll see a long list of blue topics. Click on the option titled "Pesticide Programs" and then click on "Recertification Course Locator." Using the Pesticide Applicator Recertification Course Search page, you'll see search boxes where you can narrow down your results (see image below).

Start by selecting the type of meeting you want to attend. Here’s what the options mean:

• On-site – This means in-person. You attend a meeting or workshop at a specific location on a set date and time.
• Webinar – A live online meeting where you log in at a scheduled time to watch and listen to presenters. Most webinars are also recorded, so you can watch them later. A quiz may be required if you watch the recording.
• Online – Usually a pre-recorded course you can complete on your own schedule. These often include short quizzes or activities.
• Correspondence – A self-guided course done by reading a booklet or set of materials and completing a test that you return by mail or online.

After you select the meeting type, you may further narrow down the search by license category with the drop-down menu (for example, Category PC – Private Applicator or Category 03– Vegetable). Choose "Pennsylvania" under state, and then choose your county. You can also enter a date range to find meetings happening soon. Once you click "Search," a list of approved meetings appears with details such as the date, location, course title, number of credits offered, registration link or contact name, and sponsoring organization.

This online tool is especially useful if you are trying to plan ahead for credit needs or locate last-minute opportunities in your region. Many Extension, grower associations, and industry-hosted meetings appear here once approved by PDA, ensuring that credits earned are officially recognized.

In addition to finding upcoming meetings, the same PDA website also helps license holders keep track of their recertification progress. You can view how many credits you've earned, see when your license expires, and even start the renewal process. Checking this information regularly can help you stay organized and avoid any surprises when it's time to renew your pesticide license.