Which of the following statements is true regarding applicator certification?

The statement that certification restricts pesticide application to the specified categories is true because, under New Mexico pesticide law, certification ensures that applicators possess the necessary knowledge and training to apply pesticides safely and effectively. This certification process delineates specific categories or types of pesticide applications that an applicator is qualified to perform, based on their training and examination results. By enforcing category-specific limitations, the law helps to ensure that only trained individuals handle certain pesticides or conduct particular types of applications, which ultimately protects public health and the environment.

In this context, the other statements do not accurately reflect the legal requirements and structure of pesticide applicator certification in New Mexico. Public applicators typically need to be certified, the ability to provide pesticide services without a license is not permitted under the law, and certification is generally not optional for commercial licenses, as it is a prerequisite for legal pesticide application in commercial settings.