Updated National Core Manual from PERC – Soon in Our Store

The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) is ready to release the 3rd edition of the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual and Exam! The manual and exam bank are intended for the certification of commercial and private pesticide applicators in the core competencies related to laws and safety. The revision includes the newly required competencies under the 2017 revised Certification of Pesticide Applicators Rule (40 CFR Part 171).

PERC just concluded an opportunity for certifying authorities to adopt the manual “as is” or modify. A full description of adoption options is provided here. This opportunity is now closed for 2025, but we will offer again in spring/summer 2026. Watch this page for more information.

The general public may purchase printed copies of the new manual in the PERC Store once they are available in November-December.

Core Manual and Exam Creation Team

The manual and exam bank were prepared by Sandra McDonald and Steve Tomasko, with support provided by PERC.

Bilingual Glossary of Terms Applicable to Pesticide Certification and Training

PERC recognized the need for national certification and training resources to be widely accessible to broaden the reach of pesticide safety and certification to Spanish-speaking populations, as well as to standardize Spanish translations across PERC’s works. The Core Manual (Glossary) Spanish translation team was able to create a Bilingual Glossary of 149 Terms Applicable to Pesticide Certification and Training. PERC intends to use this glossary for all future translations of PERC’s works. The glossary provides a “meaning for meaning” translation and offers synonyms to identify alternative translations that may be used. PERC will use this bilingual glossary to translate further works, as well as provide a recommendation for translating pesticide safety and certification-related works. For more information on bilingual glossary sources, click here.

Bilingual Glossary Creation Team

The bilingual glossary team was led by Carmina Hanson, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, with support provided by PERC. The team included nine bilingual subject matter expert translators with expertise in training handlers and/or pesticide applicators, and showcased a diverse range of Spanish-speakers from different countries who have proficiency and knowledge of applicator terminology and language. Please see the glossary for all contributors.

For More Information

Please direct your questions to PERCsupport@ucdavis.edu. Feel free to share with colleagues and peers by forwarding this webpage. Also, check us out on social media for updates!