Evaluating Pesticide Applicator Training in Spanish: An Oregon Interagency Pilot

This project aimed to evaluate and address barriers for Spanish-speakers seeking pesticide applicator licensing in Oregon, including lack of language-appropriate educational resources. An interagency collaboration between the Hood River Soil & Water Conservation District, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and the Mid-Columbia orchard community, resulted in the first-of-its-kind Spanish language private pesticide applicator pilot training in Oregon. Participants (<i>n</i> = 40) took pesticide licensing examinations in Spanish for both Oregon and Washington immediately after a 2.5 day in-person training. Examinations contained questions based on pesticide labels in English, as testers must prove proficiency in reading and understanding labels. Surveys and interviews were used to evaluate this training. Collaborators identified several barriers to access at every stage of examination-preparation. Over half of the participants (56%) had 6+ years of experience working with pesticides, and 55% reported an educational attainment of 8th grade or less. All participants indicated the training being offered in Spanish was a very important reason for attending. Six testers passed the Washington licensing examination (15%); among that group, two passed the Oregon licensing examination (5%). Spanish-speaking workers face gaps in access from studying to testing for applicator licensing. Recent federal regulatory changes may prompt other states/municipalities to increase Spanish language access for pesticide applicators. The interstate, interagency nature of this collaboration has proven essential in addressing the wide range of unmet needs in Oregon. Low pass rates among participants, however, suggest a need to explore potential program improvements, additional supports, and/or policy changes.