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Private Applicator Certification (PAC): Prep Classes


Weekly / Date

  • November 3

  • November 10

  • November 17

Days

  • Mondays

Time

  • 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (each week)


Class Summary

Take advantage of this opportunity to become a PAC or refresh your knowledge and prepare for the new test!

This three-session class will ensure that your PAC certification remains current and compliant with the latest regulations.

Class participants must attend all three days. Each day builds upon the others.

New California regulations now require private applicators to complete a new test to obtain or renew their PAC certificate (formerly known as the brown card). Certified Private Applicators may possess, use, or supervise the use of pesticides classified as “restricted use pesticides.” They are also qualified to train applicators and fieldworkers who work in fields treated with pesticides.

Recent Changes to PAC Regulation: Under California regulations 3-CCR § 6582, all Private Applicator Certificates issued before January 1, 2024, are considered under new requirements: when those certificates expire, they cannot be renewed under old rules. Holders must now meet the current standard—and pass the latest exam.

Per 3-CCR § 6580, new applicants for PAC must pass the new examination with a score of 70% or higher. The certificate is valid for three years. Renewal is available through six hours of continuing education or by re-examination.

To help you prepare for the new test, the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is offering guided study sessions in Spanish designed to prepare you to take the exam for the first time or to keep your certification current.

Topics include:

  • Reading and understanding pesticide labels

  • Introduction to Integrated Pest Management

  • Pesticide types and uses

  • Laws and regulations

  • Environmental hazards

  • Human hazards

  • Equipment and calibration

  • Personal protective equipment and personal safety

  • Safe pesticide use

Day 1 & 2

Hosted by AgSafe

  • 2-hour topic presentations

  • Practical tips for studying and taking the test

Day 3

Hosted by the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office

  • 2-hour review of topics

  • Information about when and where to take the test

PAC Exam

The exam is administered at the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

  • Offered in English and Spanish

  • Class participants must attend all three days.


Instructor

Angelina Ceja- AgSafe

 
 
 

Veronica Ogunniyi, Napa County Ag Comissioner’s OFfice

 

Impact

  • A state-issued certification shows a commitment to safety, compliance, and professional growth.

  • Holding a PAC license qualifies a person to apply restricted-use pesticides and demonstrates specialized knowledge and responsibility.

  • PAC holders may be trusted to train or oversee others, enhancing their leadership position within the vineyard team.


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What Happens After Harvest – A Field Trip to the Cellar