Custom Ground Pest Control - Ornamental and Turf Certification

All persons using pesticides professionally in Connecticut must possess an up-to-date certificate issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. An applicant for the ornamental and turf pest control certificate is expected to possess a working knowledge of the kinds of operations performed by the ornamental and turf applicator and the reasons for performing them. Outlined below are areas in which an applicant should be proficient. What information is covered in the exam?

Please open the document below for all of the Identification and Diagnosis Material. This includes what you  are able to treat with the category 3A certification, as well as a good guideline of what to know and study for the exam:

Identification and Diagnosis Material (click here to open detailed PDF)

Questions about what activities can be performed through the various different categories of certification?

Click here for answers to common questions surrounding what activities are allowed with each category.

Additional Resources Linked Below:

How Poisonous are Pesticides

Useful Telephone Contacts

Reference Material:

1. Required and Additional Study Materials for Pesticide Supervisors

2. "Turfgrass Nutrient and Integrated Pest Management Manual" edited by Timothy Abbey -Click on book title

3. "Integrated Pest Management for Insects and Related Pests on Ornamental Plants: A Guide for Arborists and Grounds Keepers" Order number 94-16 
   Available from: University of Connecticut

4. Pesticide Applicator Training Manual - Ornamentals and Turf (Category 3)
   Available from: University of Cornell

5. "The New UMASS Extension Management Guide For Woody Ornamentals" includes: 2001-2002 edition of "The Professional Management Guide for Insects, Diseases, and Weeds of Trees and Shrubs" AND/OR "Strategies for Plant Health Management of Woody Ornamentals"

Sample Questions:

The following sample questions may have more than one correct answer:

1. Insects that feed on grass roots include:
   1. Japanese beetle larvae
   2. sod webworms
   3. chinch bugs
   4. white grubs
2. Milky spore disease
   1. principally infects Kentucky bluegrass
   2. is an infectious disease of the Japanese beetle
   3. only occurs in cool damp weather
   4. gives a white milky appearance to the infected host
3. Pesticides that particularly affect the acetylcholine of nerve junctions are:
   1. phenoxy herbicides
   2. organophosphates
   3. chlorinated hydrocarbons
   4. dinitrophenols
4. Early symptoms of pesticide poisoning may include:
   1. headache
   2. dizziness
   3. nausea
   4. restlessness
5. How much pesticide containing 20% active ingredient must be used to provide two pounds of actual chemical per acre?
   1. 2
   2. 5
   3. 10
   4. 20

Contact Information for Ornamental & Turf Certification Classes:

UConn Extension Ornamental and Turf Course
Alyssa Siegel-Miles at UConn Cooperative Extension
Email:  alyssa.siegel-miles@uconn.edu
The classes are in the fall from October through December, and in winter from January through March.

Here is the link to their website with more information: 

Ornamental and Turf Online Short Course | Integrated Pest Management (uconn.edu)

Town of Southbury Park and Recreation Class "Preparation for CT license exam 3A, Custom Grounds"
Register Here Dates for 2022 class are 6:00-8:00 pm on November 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 28, December 1, 5
Located in Parks and Recreation Building
561 Main Street South
Southbury, CT 06488
Instructor: Mark Kokinchak Email: mark.kokinchak@gmail.com 

For more information, please call the Pesticide Management Program at (860) 424-3369 or email deep.pesticideprogram@ct.gov

Pesticide Certification

Content Last Updated on July 19, 2023