The U.S. EPA has issued a final rule extending the expiration deadline until Nov. 4, 2023, for states, tribes and federal agencies with existing pesticide applicator certification plans. Once this date passes, only authorities with EPA-approved modified certification plans can continue to certify applicators of restricted use pesticides (RUPs). In 2017, the EPA updated its commercial pesticide certification regulations, setting stronger standards for people who apply RUPs. This included certifying authorities to require those seeking aerial commercial pesticide application licenses to be trained and/or tested on curriculum specific to aerial application. Under FIFRA, authorities are required to have an EPA-approved certification plan to certify applicators of RUPs. Of the nation’s 68 certification programs, the EPA has reviewed all proposed modified plans and has approved seven plans. The final rule and progress of state plan approvals can be found here.