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United States · Certification exam

Illinois pesticide applicator license

You pass exams set by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), which writes its questions only from the University of Illinois Extension manuals. An Illinois pesticide applicator license lasts three years, and you renew it by passing the exams again. Structural pest control is licensed separately, by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

  • 17License categories
  • FreeExams after PSEP workshops
  • 3 yearsLength of every license
See training and testing options

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Which Illinois pesticide applicator license do you need?

  • Private applicator: pass the 50-question private exam with 35 or more right.
  • Commercial and commercial not-for-hire applicator: pass the 100-question General Standards exam (or Aerial General Standards) with 70 or more, plus one or more 50-question category exams with 35 or more.
  • Commercial and not-for-hire operator: pass General Standards only, and work under a licensed applicator.
  • Dealer: for selling restricted use pesticides, or general use farm pesticides in containers of 2.5 gallons or 10 pounds or more.

Illinois pesticide applicator license fees

License, 3 yearsFee
Commercial applicator$300
Commercial operator$240
Not-for-hire applicator$180
Not-for-hire operator$150
Private applicator$90
Dealer$360

IDOA marks these fees as updated. A duplicate license is $5.

Where you take the Illinois exams

  • Free after each University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) training workshop.
  • Free at IDOA in-person test-only sessions, booked ahead.
  • Online with ProctorU through the PSEP: closed book, 3 hours for any exam, and $12.60 an attempt, with up to $12 more if you book less than 72 hours ahead.

The fee goes to ProctorU. The PSEP says none of it goes to IDOA or University of Illinois Extension, and you pay again for each retake.

IDOA: In-person testing ↗University of Illinois PSEP: Training and testing ↗

Categories, manuals and lookup

Illinois’s categories run from aquatic, field crop and turf to mosquito, soil fumigation and grain facility. Private applicators who fumigate their own grain bins also pass the grain fumigation exam. The PSEP sells the General Standards manual for $20, a workbook for $5 and an online course for $45. You can check any licensee in IDOA’s applicator and operator search.

University of Illinois PSEP: Study materials ↗IDOA: Licensed applicator and operator search ↗
Sources: IDOA · University of Illinois PSEP and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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