(a) An apprentice is a beginning employee, whose training
program is the responsibility of the responsible certified commercial
applicator or certified noncommercial applicator and who may be trained
by and work under the direct supervision of licensed certified applicators
and technicians.
(b) An apprentice must be at least 16 years of age.
(c) An apprentice must be able to demonstrate proficiency
in reading EPA approved pesticide labels and warnings.
(d) An apprentice registration application for technician
license must be submitted within ten (10) days of beginning employment
and training. Any training completed prior to the date of hire will
not count towards required training needed to test and work without
physically present supervision.
(e) The application must be submitted on the form prescribed
by the department.
(f) A fee shall be charged for each application.
(g) An apprentice card will be issued by the department
and valid until the end of the month one (1) year from the month the
date employment began when all of the above requirements are met and
processed. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may
result in a change of the effective date of employment.
(h) Apprentices must not perform any pest control work
without the physical presence of a licensed technician or a certified
applicator. Upon completion of and documentation of the required study
and on-the-job training and demonstrating competency in each area,
the apprentice may work alone so long as a certified applicator is
physically present for personal instruction three (3) days a week
and the apprentice carries their registration card at all times.
(i) The studies and job training required for an apprentice
are as follows:
(1) complete at least two (2) hours of classroom training
in each of the following general standards training subjects:
(A) federal and state laws regulating structural pest
control and pesticide application;
(B) recognition of pests and pest damage;
(C) pesticide labels and label comprehension;
(D) pesticide safety;
(E) environmental protection;
(F) application equipment and techniques;
(G) pesticide formulations and actions;
(H) emergency procedures, pesticide cleanup, and procedures
for immediate reporting of spills and misapplication;
(I) basic principles of mathematics, chemistry, toxicology,
and entomology; and
(J) non-chemical pest control techniques, including
biological, mechanical and integrated pest management techniques.
(2) Complete forty (40) hours of verifiable on-the-job
training and eight (8) hours of classroom training in each license
category in which the apprentice is to provide pest control services.
The responsible certified commercial applicator or certified noncommercial
applicator must certify in the training records of each apprentice
that the apprentice has completed the required training and has demonstrated
competency in each category in which the apprentice is to provide
service.
(3) The twenty (20) classroom hours of general standards
training, forty (40) hours of verifiable on-the-job training, and
eight (8) hours of classroom training in each license category must
be completed and documented on the verifiable training record prior
to the apprentice taking the category exam and a license being issued.
(4) A student currently enrolled in or who has attended
or graduated within the past twelve (12) months from an accredited
school or university studying relevant materials may be credited with
those courses toward classroom training hours for apprenticeship,
if those hours have been provided by the school or university and
documentation is provided which shows the student passed the class(es)
submitted.
(5) An apprentice may maintain an apprentice card for
a maximum of twelve (12) months. If an apprentice has not met the
requirements to become a licensed technician in the twelve (12) month
period, the apprentice must be re-registered as an apprentice and
must repeat all training requirements for an apprentice. Previous
training credit from previous apprentice registrations may not be
applied to this requirement.
(j) A responsible certified commercial applicator or
certified noncommercial applicator must maintain the verifiable training
records and certification for each apprentice in the business files
for two (2) calendar years after the calendar year in which the training
or certification was completed. The verifiable training records form
shall be prescribed by the department and must include, but is not
limited to, the following:
(1) date training received;
(2) number of hours of training;
(3) subject of training;
(4) printed name, signature, and license number of
trainer;
(5) designation of on-the-job training or classroom
training;
(6) competency evaluation by the responsible certified
applicator;
(7) printed name, signature, and license number of
the trainer if the training was provided by a registered licensee
of the business; or if a training event is completed outside of the
business by a third-party trainer, proof of completion of the training
must be maintained with the verifiable training records and referenced
therein; and
(8) printed name, signature, and license number of
the responsible certified applicator.
(k) When an apprentice changes employers due to a business
acquisition or sale, or a change in the current employer's tax identification
number, the employer who maintains the verifiable training records
must make the verifiable training records available to the apprentice
or the new employer within twenty (20) days of written request.
(l) It is a violation of this section for a business
licensee or certified noncommercial applicator to allow an apprentice
to perform work in a category in which the apprentice has not been
properly trained. A certified applicator registered with the business
must be physically present to give verbal instructions to an apprentice
at least three (3) days a week and available during operating hours
for questions and instructions as needed.
(m) An apprentice becomes a licensed technician by:
(1) completing a minimum six (6) hour technician training
course approved by the department in general training at least one
(1) time prior to taking the examination;
(2) completing all training listed under subsection
(i) of this section; and
(3) making a minimum passing grade of at least 70%
on the technician examination.
(A) The examination may be taken as many times as necessary
in the twelve (12) month period the employee holds an apprentice registration
card.
(B) There shall be a fee charged per examination.
(C) The Technician Training Manual may be obtained
from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
(D) An individual must pass each category examination
in which the apprentice applies to become licensed. Re-examination
is not necessary if the license is renewed annually.
(E) Persons making a passing grade and who qualify
for a technician license will be issued a license upon issuance of
the grades.
(n) All testing procedures shall be governed by §7.125
of this chapter (relating to Examinations).
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