How to Get a Pesticide Applicator’s License 2026: 6 Steps

How do you get a pesticide applicator’s license?

Check whether you need one. Federal law requires certification to use or supervise restricted use pesticides, and your state may require it for other commercial work.
Pick your type: private if you grow an agricultural commodity on land you or your employer own or rent, commercial (or your state’s public or noncommercial version) otherwise.
Choose your categories, such as ornamental and turf or right-of-way. Commercial applicators pass a core exam plus each category.
Get the manuals your state names and study them. Extension services in several states also run courses.
Book and pass the exams. Bring government-issued photo ID; federal rules require an ID check and a proctor.
Apply and pay for the license, and note when and how it must be renewed.

Commercial pesticide applicator license →Private pesticide applicator license →

Who gives the exams in each state

State	Exams given by
California	PSI; county commissioners for private
Florida	Everblue
Georgia	Technical colleges; UGA online course for private
Illinois	IDOA sessions, PSEP workshops, ProctorU
Indiana	Metro Institute
Iowa	IDALS sites, Everblue, colleges
Maryland	MDA
Minnesota	Metro Institute, county partners; UMN for private
Nebraska	NDA sessions, Pearson VUE, UNL training
New York	DEC, testing centers
North Carolina	NCDA&CS sessions, Everblue
Ohio	ODA exam sites
Oklahoma	Pearson VUE
Oregon	Metro Institute
Pennsylvania	PDA sessions, Metro Institute
Texas	Metro Institute
Virginia	DMV centers, VDACS, Everblue
Washington	Metro Institute, WSDA paper sessions
Wisconsin	DATCP sites, Pearson VUE

Remote exams are offered in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. In Georgia the private route is an online course, and Minnesota private applicators can test online. Pennsylvania says all its exams are in person. Each state page has the booking steps and fees.

Pesticide applicator license by state →

The agencies and programs in the table

DATCP: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
DEC: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DMV: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
IDALS: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
IDOA: Illinois Department of Agriculture
MDA: Maryland Department of Agriculture
NCDA&CS: North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
NDA: Nebraska Department of Agriculture
ODA: Ohio Department of Agriculture
PDA: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
PSEP: Pesticide Safety Education Program
UGA: University of Georgia
UMN: University of Minnesota
UNL: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
VDACS: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
WSDA: Washington State Department of Agriculture

Apply first, or test first?

It depends on the state.

Texas, Minnesota and Washington: apply and pay the agency before you can book.
Virginia: the agency sends an authorization letter first.
Florida: you get an exam voucher first.
Ohio: commercial applicators apply first; the Ohio page explains how long the application lasts.
Pennsylvania: no prerequisites to sit the exams.
New York: you show training or experience before you can register.

After you pass

You pay the license fee, and in several states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia, the business you work for needs a license too. Then you keep the certification current by retesting or with continuing education before it expires, which federal rules cap at five years.

How long a pesticide applicator’s certificate lasts →Study manuals and practice questions →

Sources: EPA · eCFR · PDA and 7 more. Checked October 2026.