Hazardous Agricultural Materials Certificate

The requirements to obtain a Hazardous Agricultural Materials (HAM) Certificate changed January 1, 2018.  Please see the information below.

Application

To obtain a HAM Certificate, complete and submit the application below:

CHP 516, Application - Hazardous Agricultural Materials Certificate PDF File  (PDF)

If you are having difficulty viewing the application within your browser, right-click on the link and choose “Save link as...” or "Save file as..." from the menu which appears.   Save the file to a location of your choice. Once the application is saved to your computer, you can either double-click or right-click the file and choose “Open with” to view the file in Adobe Acrobat® Reader.

Requirements

Section 12804.2 of the California Vehicle Code External link (CVC) exempts a person from the requirement to obtain a hazardous materials (HM) or tank endorsement on their driver license, provided the person:

• Is employed in agricultural operation.

• Is driving a vehicle which does not require a commercial driver license and is controlled by a farmer.

• Is transporting agricultural products or machinery to or from a farm.

• Has completed training meeting the requirements outlined in Section 172.704(a) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) External link
  

• Possesses a verification of training document, commonly known as a HAM Certificate, when operating a vehicle requiring the display of placards pursuant to Section 27903 CVC External link

• Is operating the vehicle at a distance of not more than 50 miles from farm to farm or from point of distribution to point of application.

• Is in possession of a CHP 344, Hazardous Materials Transportation Basic Incident Safety Procedures. PDF File  (PDF)

Normally, if a driver license is required to operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles and placards are required to be displayed, a commercial driver license with an HM endorsement is required.  A driver utilizing the provisions of the HAM Certificate is exempted from this requirement.

Changes to the Hazardous Agricultural Material Certificate

On September 30, 2017, Senate Bill 810 was signed by Governor Brown,  which amended Section 12804.2 CVC.  On January 1, 2018, the following changes took effect:

• In lieu of completing a hazardous agricultural materials transportation program offered or approved by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the person requiring a HAM Certificate must provide proof of training meeting the requirements of Section 172.704(d), Title  49 CFR. External link  

• This training must be conducted at least once every three years.

• The HM training can be completed at the discretion of the applicant. 

• Standardized training is available from numerous sources including consultants or organizations, on line, or other commercially-available training products.  The training may also be developed and conducted internally.  The existing CHP-approved HAM Certificate training will no longer be offered.  The training meeting the requirements of Title 49 CFR, will now be used to fulfill the training requirements for the HAM Certificate.

• The training indicated above is not a new requirement.  Every person operating a vehicle carrying HM must be trained according to the requirements set forth in Title 49, CFR.

• The HAM Certificate was previously provided to the applicant at the conclusion of the CHP-approved training program.  Persons requesting a HAM Certificate will submit by mail, an application and copy of their record of current training meeting the requirements of Section 172.704(d) of Title 49 CFR External link , directly to the CHP for review.

• Upon receipt and validation, the CHP will send, by mail, a HAM Certificate to the applicant which will be valid for three years.

• Once the completed document is received by the applicant, the submission process to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will remain unchanged.  Additionally, the DMV will require the applicant  to complete and submit a medical questionnaire External link .  Please note, pursuant to Section 12515(b) CVC External link , the DMV can only accept or process a HAM Certificate for drivers which are at least 21 years of age.

Additional Information

The HAM Certificate is necessary only if a driver license is required to operate the vehicle or combination of vehicles.
Section 36300 CVC External link allows a person to operate an implement of husbandry (IOH) incidentally over a highway, under certain circumstances, without possessing a driver license; however, Section 36305 CVC External link requires a person to possess, at minimum, a valid class C driver license when operating an IOH in either of the following circumstances:

An IOH is being operated at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour when in combination with another vehicle.  For example, a crop duster nurse rig towing a loader/conveyer.

• An IOH is towing any fertilizer applicator rig, anhydrous ammonia nurse rig, or trap wagon, regardless of speed.  For example, a farm tractor towing a trap wagon.