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Washington’s Web Based Licensing Program. Hugh Watson Certification & Training WA State Dept. of Agriculture. Why Make These Changes?. Need to move off 15-year old Informix database Desire to create user friendly platform that allows easy transfer of data to Internet
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Washington’s Web Based Licensing Program Hugh Watson Certification & Training WA State Dept. of Agriculture
Why Make These Changes? • Need to move off 15-year old Informix database • Desire to create user friendly platform that allows easy transfer of data to Internet • New database resides on agency’s MS SQL Server • Intranet User Interface uses Web-based dot.net technology • Internet ready for easy customer access to licensing and recertification information • Goal to move away from printing, stuffing and mailing 23,000 license cards/year
Detail of Changes • No longer issuing paper license card • Use of durable, basic plastic card • Contractor used for initial, big mailing • WSDA will begin issuing cards May 14 • Card attached to 81/2” x 11” paper printout of license record • Includes same information as paper card
Plastic Card Example Front Back
Future license updates • Licensee chooses the type of notification: • Mail – printout of updated record • Email – link to website to review license information
Information on-line • Licensee & company information • Recertification attendance records • Searchable recertification course listing • Future ability to renew on line
Licensee Information On-line • Licensee name & number • County of residence • Licenses and categories held • Status(es) of license(s) • Expiration date(s) & recertification cycle(s) • Commercial Operators & SPIs • Current business status of employer
Company Information On-line • Company name, UBI, DBA’s, branches • Name and license information for responsible certified applicator • Physical, mailing and email addresses • Phone and fax numbers • Company employed Commercial Operators • Name, license no. & expiration dates • Insurance expiration dates • Ground, Aerial • Spray equipment
Benefits to Licensees • Quicker access to their license updates • 24/7 access to their credit information • No longer using codes for license types and categories • Ability to sort courses by location, topic and language • Credit records updated more quickly once barcodes used to collect attendance records
Benefits to Companies • More ready access to all their company information • Easier to ensure that insurance information is up-to-date • Can ensure that WSDA has current employee and equipment information • Will help meet legal requirement to notify WSDA within 30 days of any changes
Benefits to Dealers • Can easily verify that a customer holds a current license in the right category to buy Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) • Avoid enforcement action because sold an RUP to an unlicensed or inadequately licensed person
Benefits to Customers • Can verify that a company is licensed to perform pest control • Won’t hire unlicensed company • Will be able to sort companies by location and type of pest control performed
Benefits to WSDA • Will improve efficiency because licensees can find their own information on-line • Better customer service for harder to solve problems • Will reduce incidences of fraud • No forged paper license cards • Employers can verify that employees not licensed
General Benefits • Licensees gain greater familiarity with WSDA website • WSDA can use website more effectively to keep licensees up-to-date on pesticide related issues • Fact sheets • Newsletters • Breaking news regarding problem areas
Implementation Timeline • Began issuing plastic1/8/2007license card via contractor • Internet application on-line2/1/2007 • Ability to search:Summer 2007 • courses by certain criteria • credit status • Using barcodes to collectFall 2007course attendance records • Ability for licensees to:In the Future • Renew on line
Questions? • Hugh Watson (360) 902-2016 hwatson@agr.wa.gov • Certification & Training Staff 1-(877) 301-4555 license@agr.wa.gov • Website: http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/