I receive many questions from Pest Control Operators (PCO) about issues that they are not sure of. For example, I had a question from a PCO about a separate office space that he was using for storing chemicals. He wanted to know if he had to have a Certified Operator at that location. Based on the definition in Chapter 482.021(2) Business Location means an advertised permanent location in or from which pest control business is solicited, accepted, or conducted. Therefore; I told him that he did not need to have a Certified Operator at that location because it is not considered to be a “Business Location”.

Another question that was asked had to do with the Certified Operator vs. Certified Operator in Charge.

Chapter 482.021
(4) “Certified operator” means an individual holding a current pest control operator’s certificate issued by the department.
(5) “Certified operator in charge” means a certified operator:
(a) Whose primary occupation is the pest control business;
(b)Who is employed full time by a licensee; and
(c) Whose principal duty is the personal supervision of the licensee’s operation in a category or categories of pest control in which the operator is certified.
482.121 Misuse of certificate.–

(1) A certified operator may not allow her or his certificate to be used by a licensee to secure or keep a license unless:
(a) She or he is in charge of the pest control activities of the licensee in the category or categories covered by her or his
certificate;
(b) She or he is a full-time employee of the licensee; and
(c) Her or his primary occupation is with the licensee.
(2) A licensee may not use the certificate of any certified operator to secure or keep a license unless the holder of the certificate is in charge of the pest control activities in the category or categories of the licensee covered by the certificate.
(3) If a certificate is used in violation of this section, the department may revoke the license of the pest control business or the certified operator’s certificate, or both such license and certificate