My name is Rhonda, and I am with Commonwealth Exterminators, a licensed pest control company in Virginia. We employ 11 certified pesticide applicators across the Commonwealth.

We fully support the VPMA Petition for Rulemaking to create a new certification category that separates area-wide public health pest control from non-area-wide (backyard) mosquito control.

This change will make certification requirements more relevant and achievable for commercial applicators, while maintaining high standards for safety and professionalism. Many technicians struggle to pass the current Category 8 exam because it includes questions unrelated to the work they perform. This adjustment would allow them to advance their careers and strengthen our industry’s capacity to protect public health.

Thank you for considering this important issue. We urge the Board to approve the petition.”