DEQ provides training and certification to land appliers to ensure that biosolids are land applied in a manner that is protective to the environment, the neighbors near the fields and land appliers themselves, as well as complying with the VPA regulations. DEQ also trains local monitors hired by the county or local government to monitor and inspect land application activities within their jurisdiction. 

Maintaining Your Certification

Land Applier Certification is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. In order to maintain this certification, the land applier is required to complete 4 hours of Continuing Education and submit the $100 recertification fee prior to the certificate expiration date.

DEQ uses an online system known as the Certification Accreditation Tracking System (CATS) that allows each land applier to print their certificate, track the status of their certificate and renew their land applier certification. DEQ creates an account in CATS for each new land applier when they earn their initial certification.

CATS sends the land appliers expiration reminders at 1 year, 6 months and 1 month prior to their certificate expiration. If your certification expires on January 31, 2023 and you did not receive the 6 month reminder email from CATS in July, please email Kim Seckman at Kim.Seckman@DEQ.Virginia.gov.

It is never too early to earn your continuing education hours. You may earn credit toward your next certification by attending any of the land applier training courses offered after the issuance date of your current certification. Do not wait until the last minute to earn your credit hours. Remember, there is no fee to attend a class. Fees are required only for obtaining and renewing your certification. If you have earned your credit hours you may renew your certification up to one year prior to the expiation date.

Recertifying in CATS: Login to CATS to record your continuing education hours earned (referred to as contact hours in CATS), pay the $100 renewal fee with a credit card, and print your new certificate. For more details, please view the video demonstration below:

If you are a certified land applier and you have not completed the setup for your account in CATS, please contact Kim Seckman at Kim.Seckman@DEQ.Virginia.gov. (Note: You will need to provide a valid email address in order to establish your CATS account.)

Biosolids Land Applicator Continuing Education Courses

Certified Land Applicator continuing education courses provide the 4 credit hours required for the renewal of the Biosolids Land Applicator Certification. There is no fee to attend the class, but advance registration is required for all classes. Please register by DEQ ELMS, search for biosolids, and choose the Biosolids 201 course for the session you wish to attend. For any questions, please contact Bryan Cauthorn. 

Bryan Cauthorn
Biosolids Compliance Coordinator
Email: Bryan.Cauthorn@DEQ.Virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 664-7860

Continuing Education Courses

Classes will be held at the Blue Ridge Regional Office in Salem on the last Tuesday of January and July. Additional classes will be held at the Piedmont Regional Office in Glen Allen on the last Thursday of January and July.  Class will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the class may be rescheduled to a later date or offered virtually. When registering, please include an email address and phone number so that you can be contacted if in person classes are canceled due to inclement weather or other circumstances. 

*DEQ reserves the right to cancel a scheduled class due to low registration.

Dates: January 30, 2025 and July 31, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
          DEQ Piedmont Regional Office - Training Room
          4949-A Cox Rd
          Glen Allen, VA 23060
          PRO Office Phone: (804)-527-5020
          Map and Directions to PRO  

Dates: January 28, 2025 and July 29, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
          DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office - Large Training Room
          901 Russell Drive
          Salem, VA 24153
          BRRO Office Phone: (540) 562-6700   
          Map & Directions to BRRO

DEQ also offers continuing education classes to organizations with multiple certified land appliers or small groups of certified land appliers interested in training together. This allows the course be held at the facility or a land application site, and content is focused on areas specific to the land appliers in the class. Please contact Bryan Cauthorn to schedule a class. 

Biosolids Land Applicator Certification Training and Exam

DEQ is offering the NEW land appliers training class on October 20 - 22, 2025 (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) at the DEQ Piedmont Regional Office (PRO) in Glen Allen, Virginia:

DEQ Piedmont Regional Office - Training Room
4949-A Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Map and Directions to PRO

To register for the class and the exam, please submit the completed Application Form (available here in MS Word and PDF Form) and use our DEQ ELMS, search for Biosolids, and choose the Biosolids 101 course for the session you wish to attend and Biosolids 102 for the exam. You may wait to pay online for the exam during class time. 

Additionally, please email a copy of the completed form to Bryan Cauthorn at Bryan.Cauthorn@DEQ.Virginia.gov, and call Bryan at (804) 664-7860 to verify your eligibility to sit for the exam.

There is no fee to attend the class if you do not wish to sit for the exam, however registration is still required. Please register by DEQ ELMS, search biosolids, and choose the Biosolids 101 course for the session you wish to attend. Local Monitors are encouraged to both attend the classes and take the exam.

New Land Applicator Course and Exam Daily Schedule

Day 1

  • 8:30 a.m. Roll Call
  • 9:00 a.m. Class begins
  • 11:45 a.m. Break for Lunch **
  • 5:00 p.m. Class dismissed

Day 2

  • 8:30 a.m. Class begins
  • 11:45 a.m. Break for Lunch **
  • 5:00 p.m. Class dismissed

Day 3

  • 8:00 a.m. Review session begins
  • 9:30 a.m. Exam offered

** Lunch will be on your own each day.

Also, if you need continuing education hours, you may attend the Tuesday afternoon session for 4 contact hours. Please register by DEQ ELMS, search biosolids, and choose the Biosolids 201 course for the session you wish to attend. Please plan to arrive early to sign in. Class will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Course Registration for Local Monitors 

Local Monitors are encouraged to attend the Training for New Biosolids Land Applicators detailed above. There is no fee, however registration is required. Please contact Bryan Cauthorn to pre-register.