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United States · Certification exam

Indiana pesticide applicator license

You pass a written core exam and a category exam, booked through Metro Institute, and the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) at Purdue University issues your certification. An Indiana pesticide applicator license is then renewed every December 31, while the certification behind it runs five years and is kept up with continuing certification hours (CCHs).

  • 3Tries at an exam in 12 months
  • 5 yearsLength of a certification
  • Every December 31When your license renews
Sign up for an exam

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

Indiana license types

  • For-hire commercial applicator, not-for-hire applicator and public applicator.
  • Registered technician (RT), who works under a certified applicator.
  • Category 12 wood-destroying pest inspector and Category 13 limited certification.
  • Private applicator permit, for farmers using restricted use pesticides.
  • Pesticide business license and restricted use pesticide dealer registration.

Since July 1, 2024, Indiana’s Senate Enrolled Act 216 requires you to be at least 18 to apply general use pesticides for hire or use any restricted use pesticide, and anyone applying general use pesticides for hire must be certified and licensed or a registered technician.

How do you get an Indiana pesticide applicator license?

  1. Buy the manuals from Purdue Pesticide Programs.
  2. Book your exams with Metro Institute, at a testing center or remotely proctored. OISC says no paper exams are given after training.
  3. Pass a written core exam, then a category exam. Category 13 is core only. For-hire Category 7b or 12 also needs a hands-on training program.
  4. Send OISC the license application and fee.

You can attempt any exam up to three times in a twelve-month period. OISC’s pages don’t publish question counts or a pass mark.

Metro Institute: Indiana exam sign-up ↗

Indiana license fees

Credential, each yearFee
Business, for-hire, not-for-hire, RT or dealer$45
Public applicatorNo fee
Private applicator permit$20

Keeping your Indiana certification

Certification lasts five years, expiring December 31 of the fourth year after the year you qualified. Licenses are renewed every year on December 31. To recertify without retesting, you earn continuing certification hours (CCHs) in each five-year cycle:

  • 20 hours: Categories 1, 3b, 7a, 7d and 11
  • 15 hours: Categories 3a, 5, 6, 7b and 8
  • 10 hours: Categories 2, 4, 12 and 13
  • 8 hours: registered technicians

No more than half of the hours can come from one program.

Private applicator permits also last five years. You keep one by attending three recertification programs or passing the exam again.

OISC: Continuing Certification Program ↗OISC: License search ↗
Sources: OISC and 6 more. Checked October 2026.

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

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