Application for a certificate of competence in plant protection for the dispensing of plant protection products

The authority accepts the complete application documents and checks the information and the authenticity of the certificates and/or attestations. If all the requirements for the certificate of competence have been met, the authority issues the certificate of competence and a fee notice. Once payment has been received, the authority will send the certificate of competence to the person submitting the application.

The new certificate of competence (SKN) in card format has been required since 26.11.2015.

The application for this must be submitted online. (Please ask your friends or acquaintances for help if you cannot find your way around the internet). Further information can be viewed via the tile of the responsible federal state. The certificate of competence can be applied for with or without registration. Then fill in the mandatory fields with the applicant's details. After entering the security code, you will be taken to the application page. Enter the application type here. The application type "Dispensing" includes the sale of plant protection products. After confirming the required knowledge of German and accepting the privacy policy, you can upload your copies of certificates, such as an assistant's certificate or a certificate of competence. Finally, submit the application using the corresponding button. After submitting your data, a brief message will appear in the online portal to inform you whether your application has been successful. You will not receive a separate e-mail or further confirmation. It is not necessary to send the signed application by post.

Alternatively: If you are unable to upload the certificate yourself, send a copy by post to the relevant office.

Former experts (persons who acquired their expertise in the use of plant protection products before July 6, 2013) or new experts who graduated more than 3 years ago, proof of participation in a recognized training course on plant protection expertise is required in addition to the certificate. If all documents are complete, the application will be processed within 4 to 6 weeks. You will receive a notification and an invoice for 30 euros (40 euros for foreign certificates). It can take up to 2 months to send the certificate of competence card after payment. In addition to the application for a certificate of competence, you must take part in 4 hours of further training over a recurring 3-year period.

Experts from EU member states apply directly to the DLR Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück for the German certificate of competence.

• Online application

Please contact the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück in Bad Kreuznach.

The responsible authority is the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück.

You can prove your expertise

• with a certificate of a recognized professional qualification (e.g. farmer, winegrower, gardener, etc.) or
• a certificate of having successfully passed a certificate of competence examination (e.g. as part of a certificate of competence course) or
• with a certificate of a recognized course of study, possibly in conjunction with an additional certificate (from universities, training institution) or
• with a valid certificate from another EU Member State for the sustainable use of pesticides.

If there are more than three years between the issue of the certificate and the application, a current certificate of further training must also be submitted.

• Certificate of a recognized professional qualification or
• Certificate of successful completion of a certificate of competence examination or
• Certificate of a recognized course of study, if applicable additional certificate (from universities, training institution) or
• Certificate from another EU member state for the sustainable use of pesticides
• If necessary, certified translation of the documents submitted
• If applicable, informal confirmation of costs from the specified invoice recipient
• If applicable, certificate of further specialist training

30.00 Euro

(40.00 euros for foreign certificates due to the higher examination costs)

If there are more than three years between the date of the certificate and the date of application, a current certificate of further training must also be submitted.

2-8 weeks

• Plant Protection Expertise Ordinance (old) of July 28, 1987 (BGBl. I p. 1752), last amended by Article 27 of the Act of December 6, 2011 (BGBl. I p. 2515)

• § Section 3 of the Plant Protection Specialist Ordinance (PflSchSachkV)
• § Section 9 of the Plant Protection Act (PflSchG)
• Plant Protection Specialist Ordinance (PflSchSachkV)
• Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 21, 2009
• State ordinance on agricultural administration fees (special schedule of fees)

• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no

Note: The application completed online can be printed out by the applicant for their own use and kept on file or saved.

• Online application

In addition to the application for a certificate of competence, you must take part in a 4-hour training course over a recurring 3-year period.

You can find dates for further training courses or courses lasting several days to acquire the certificate of competence in the certificate portal.

Certificates of attendance for training courses cost 10 euros and are sent by post together with the invoice after the event. This can also take some time.

The order of processing is not necessarily chronological. Depending on the professional qualification, the review and therefore the processing time may be longer or shorter

17.10.2023

What do the application types "application" and "dispensing" mean?

• "Application" = application of plant protection products.
• "Dispensing" = sale of plant protection products. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of competence in plant protection (journeyman's certificate, certificate of competence, etc.).