PA1 & PA6 spraying certification: what it is and why it matters
4 min read · Updated June 2026
If anyone is going to spray weedkiller, moss treatment or certain other products on your pitch, they need to hold the right pesticide application certificates. It is not optional and it is not bureaucracy for its own sake — it is the law, and it protects players, wildlife and watercourses.
This short guide explains what PA1 and PA6 are, when they apply, and why every contractor on Fix My Pitch who does spraying work is checked for them.
What PA1 and PA6 actually mean
PA1 is the foundation module — it covers the safe handling, storage, transport and legal responsibilities around professional pesticides. Everyone applying these products needs it as a base.
PA6 is the practical module for handheld and knapsack application, which is the method used for most pitch weed and moss work. There are other modules (for boom sprayers and so on), but PA1 plus PA6 is the combination that covers typical sports-turf spraying.
When is it legally required?
Anyone applying professional plant protection products as part of their work generally needs the relevant certification. That covers selective weed control, many moss treatments and some nutrition sprays. Routine fertiliser spreading and mechanical work do not require it — but the moment a regulated product is sprayed, the certificate matters.
On Fix My Pitch, services that involve spraying regulated products are flagged, and the landing pages note that PA1/PA6 certification is required where the work calls for it.
Why you should always check
Using an uncertified applicator puts the liability — and the risk — on you. Beyond the legal exposure, an untrained applicator is more likely to misjudge dose, timing or conditions, which can scorch the sward, harm wildlife or contaminate drainage. Verified credentials are a simple way to avoid all of that.
Common questions
Does every contractor need PA1 and PA6?
Only those applying regulated pesticides. A contractor who only mows, aerates or marks lines does not need them — but anyone spraying weedkiller or regulated moss treatments does.
How do I know a contractor is certified?
On Fix My Pitch, contractors are document-checked before listing, and spraying services require valid PA1/PA6 evidence. You can also ask to see certificates directly.
Is moss treatment always a sprayed product?
Not always, but many effective moss treatments are regulated products that require certification to apply. Mechanical removal does not, but a chemical treatment usually does.
Get this done by a verified contractor near you — post one brief, compare quotes, no lead fees.
Post a brief →Find a verified contractor
Browse specialists for the work in this guide, or jump straight to your area.
Keep reading
How much does sports pitch maintenance cost in the UK?
Indicative UK price ranges for the main pitch jobs — mowing, aeration, renovation, drainage, marking and spraying — and what drives them.
End-of-season pitch renovation: the complete guide
The full end-of-season programme — scarify or Koro, aerate, overseed, top dress and feed — with timing and realistic costs.