See PESTICIDE REGULATORY SPECIALIST 1

This is the journey-level of the series. Positions at this level perform professional and skilled natural resource pesticide protection. Positions perform complex and highly technical regulatory, training, and outreach functions including but not limited to, enforcement, licensing, registration, technical assistance, education, and waste pesticide disposal.

Under general direction, independently performs professional level assignments and pesticide reviews in one or more of the following: 1) Pesticide inspection and/or enforcement activities, 2) Scientific studies and/or scientific analyses; 3) Training events and activities; 4) Interpretation of policy and technical assistance.

Determines and follows the best strategy, methodology and means to conduct all investigations and inspections authorized by Federal Insecticide, Fungicide Rodenticide Act and state pesticide statutes and rules. Conducts high quality investigations and inspections relating to the manufacture, distribution, storage, disposal, and use of pesticides;

Conducts state pesticide inspections including, but not limited to: pesticide applicator, pesticide dealer, and market place inspections for the legal registration, licensing, use, distribution, transportation and storage of pesticides. Evaluates and makes recommendations and issues Notices of Correction for conditions that are not in compliance;

Samples commercial fertilizers according to program guidelines for adherence to state fertilizer laws and rules, inspects fertilizer facilities for compliance with state fertilizer laws and rules;

Responds to complex inquiries or requests for highly technical assistance requiring a very sound understanding of the pesticide laws/rules, state and federal jurisdictions, and program policies;

Coordinates training events and leads training activities, curriculum updates and delivery for one of the pesticide safety training programs. Supports other training programs. Liaisons with internal and external stakeholders, ensures training materials and props are available, and maintains training records. Develops pesticide safety training videos for the web and to use in training programs;

Serves as specialist in pesticide applicator certification and recertification, including complex exam development, administration, and review and assuring policies and procedures comply with federal and state competency standards. Provides specialized assistance and consultation to the regulated community with limited deviation from established standards;

Reviews and evaluates scientific studies, literature, and other data, and takes action on complex and high-level registrations and applications, including FIFRA Section 24c special local need registrations, FIFRA Section 18 emergency exemptions from registration, and State experimental use permits;

Reviews and evaluates scientific studies, literature, and other data in support of registration requests in order to approve or deny state pesticide and fertilizer registration applications. Reviews, and approves or denies revised pesticide and fertilizer labels intended for marketplace distribution;

Reviews, and approves or denies FIFRA Section 3 pesticide and state basic fertilizer applications for registration; Reviews and approves state pesticide and fertilizer applications for registration (FIFRA Section 25b, spray adjuvant, waste derived, micronutrient); Reviews and approves revised pesticide and fertilizer labels;

Assists in waste pesticide collection events by receiving and properly packing waste pesticide products for disposal;

Develops technical material for website pages and outreach activities for Worker Protection Safety training programs; assists in the administration of handler and worker training verification card program; develops program reports from training surveys and results; conducts program outreach activities; develops and delivers WPS training for field workers and pesticide education presentations at pesticide re-certification events;

Testifies at administrative hearings as a factual witness on investigations, inspections, licensing and registration issues;

Reviews pesticide disposal inventories and provides follow-up with customers. Conducts site-visits to sample, identify and pack unwanted pesticide products;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: rules of evidence and procedures; ambient condition affecting on-target deposition of pesticides; principles of calibration and configuration; best management practices and proper operation of various application apparatuses; modes of action for the main, established pesticide families; environmental pathways, persistence, physicochemical behavior; methods of determining soil texture classifications; principles of pollinator and beneficial insect protection relative to pesticide applications; potential of secondary poisoning of non-target animals; pesticide types and materials approved for organic crop production; pesticide tolerances and exemptions, the general authority of WSDA food safety and produce safety programs; agency policy on “Right of Entry” constraints; sources of potential groundwater/drinking water contamination; backflow/back-siphoning mechanisms; state licensing and recertification requirements for pesticide applicators and dealers, structural pest inspectors, and consultants; federal certification and training rule; federal and state requirements for FIFRA Section 24(c) and Section 18 applications and requests, experimental use permit guidelines; and Worker Protection Standard training requirements.

Ability to: create and carry out a strategic sampling plan; recognize types of phyto-toxicity and various symptoms; recognize evidence of wood destroying organisms.
Take and complete various training programs required by each program, the state, and EPA.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor’s degree which must include at least 25 semester or 40 quarter hours in a natural or physical science,

Four years of professional-level experience in a natural resource, environmental or health regulatory agency, or in the feed, fertilizer or pest management industry which includes two years equal to a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist 1.


Master’s degree in one of the above fields and two years of professional-level experience as required above which includes one year equal to a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist 1.


Ph.D. in the above field will substitute for one-year professional experience as required above and one year as a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist.


Two years of experience as a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist 1.

New class; incorporates 569N Agricultural Chemical Specialist; adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.