Pesticide applicator certification/licensing
Private applicator
Private Applicator — A licensed applicator who uses any restricted use pesticide (RUP) for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him/her or his/her employer, or to apply on the property of another person without compensation (other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities).
Private applicator certification options are:
- Private Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) sessions — Find dates, locations, and registration info for 2023.
- Online private self-study program — Register here to take our online Private Pesticide Applicator Training program. Obtain certification or recertification for a private applicator license. NOTE: If you start online training in 2023, you must finish it by Dec. 31. Your registration expires after that date, and an additional training fee will be required to restart. A new training link for 2024 will become available on Jan. 1.
- Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics
- Private applicator exam
Private Applicator Recordkeeping Resources — A collection of forms and information to help private applicators track their farm operations, keep their employees safe, and comply with federal regulations.
My current pesticide license status — Check to see if you are listed in the applicator database operated by NDA, or contact NDA at 402-471-2351.
Search for registered pesticides in Nebraska — NDA database of pesticides registered for use in Nebraska.
Commercial/Noncommercial applicator
Commercial Applicator — A licensed applicator who purchases or uses any restricted use pesticide (RUP) on a contractual or “for hire” basis. Commercial applicator shall also include any person using restricted or general use pesticides “for hire” or compensation for lawn care, structural pest control, or community-wide outdoor vector control.
Noncommercial Applicator — A licensed applicator who applies RUPs only on lands owned or controlled by his/her employer or for a governmental agency or subdivision of the state. Also, a licensed applicator who applies either general or restricted use pesticides to control mosquitoes on behalf of a political subdivision of the state.
**Every commercial/noncommercial applicator must certify and recertify in the General Standards (00) category.**
Initial
Certification
If you are seeking a commercial/noncommercial license for the first time, or if your license has expired, you must pass the NDA-administered General Standards exam, plus the exam for each applicator category you need.
If you wish to add an applicator category to your existing license, you must pass that category's exam.
Commercial/Noncommercial Applicator Categories
Preparing for exams
Before attempting your certification exam(s), we strongly recommend that you prepare with our study manuals. These manuals are available for every applicator category (including General Standards) in two formats:
- Print Manuals: These hardcopy manuals can be ordered online with a credit card and are mailed to you.
- Digital FlipBooks: Our FlipBooks are enhanced digital versions of our traditional print manuals. Most have video training embedded within the manual for multiple learning styles. This is the same video training presented at our in-person training sessions (see below). Purchase of a FlipBook gives you a 1-year subscription to the manual. Internet access is required to use FlipBooks.
FlipBooks offer significant cost–savings over traditional pesticide training. For example: A new applicator who needs to get certified in the Aquatic Pest Control (05) category could either:- Purchase the General Standards FlipBook ($60) and the Aquatic Pest Control FlipBook ($50). Total FlipBook training cost: $110; or
- Purchase the General Standards print manual ($30), the Aquatic Pest Control print manual ($20), and attend an in-person training session ($95). Total traditional training cost: $145
In-person training sessions: These training sessions consist of video reviews of the study manual material, followed by exam opportunities.
Taking exams
If you plan to attend an initial training session, you will have the opportunity to take your exams at the session. Otherwise, you can attend a testing-only session or take your exams through Pearson VUE computerized testing service.
Recertification
If your license expires on April 15, you must attend recertification training on or before April 15 to renew your license for another three years. The 2023 recertification period has ended.
The following options are offered for recertification training:
- Recertification training sessions: These in-person sessions are offered from January to April, and are available for most applicator categories*.
- Online recertification training: Categories offered online are 00, 01, 04, 05, 07, 08, 08W, 09, 10, 11, and 14. Recertification must be completed by April 15.
- Extension- or industry-sponsored meetings with recertification opportunities:
*If you need to recertify in a category for which no recertification sessions are available, you will need to retake the General Standards exam and category exam in order to recertify. Exams are not offered at recertification training sessions.
Check current pesticide license status — Are you listed in the applicator database operated by the Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture (NDA)? Check online or contact NDA at 402-471-2351.
Search for registered pesticides in Nebraska — NDA database of pesticides registered for use in Nebraska.
Other pesticide-related trainings
Chemigation
Chemigation is the practice of applying agrichemicals through an irrigation distribution system.
The Nebraska Chemigation Act requires those engaged in chemigation to be trained and certified. The chemigation certification program is administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE).
My current chemigation certification status — Check to see if you are listed in the certified chemigator database operated by the NDEE, or contact NDEE at 402-471-2186.
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a set of federal regulations with the purpose of protecting agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from pesticide exposure. Agricultural employers must train their workers and handlers on WPS protections annually, using EPA-approved training materials. (Certified/licensed pesticide applicators are exempt from this training requirement.) Please note that worker training and handler training are different.
WPS trainers must be qualified. You can qualify to deliver WPS training by:
- Being a certified/licensed pesticide applicator; or
- Completing an EPA-approved
train-the-trainer
course.
The WPS is complex. We strongly recommend reading the How to Comply Manual for full guidance on the WPS. For an overview of some of the major requirements, see the Nebraska publication, Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Establishments, EC3006.
WPS recordkeeping forms are also available.
RUP dicamba label-required training
Dicamba-specific training is required prior to purchasing or applying the products Engenia®, XtendiMax® With VaporGrip Technology, and Tavium® Plus VaporGrip Technology. This training is provided by the products' registrants. For more information about RUP dicamba training, label requirements, best management practices, and recordkeeping forms, please visit the Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture's dicamba information page.
Paraquat label-required training
Applicators need to be aware that a Certified Applicator Training requirement will begin appearing on paraquat product labels in the near future. Once this requirement appears on the label, licensed applicators will be required to pass a paraquat-specific training program in order to purchase or use (mix, load, apply, etc.) the product. An EPA-approved paraquat training program is now available.
EPA is also requiring:
- New closed-system packaging designed to prevent transfer or removal of the paraquat product except directly into proper application equipment.
- Changes to the pesticide label and distribution of supplemental warning materials to highlight the toxicity and risks associated with paraquat products.
- Restricting the use of paraquat to certified pesticide applicators only. Individuals working under the supervision of a certified applicator are prohibited from using paraquat.
Additional Certification Resources
Reciprocal Certification with Nebraska
Persons who live outside of Nebraska may obtain a license from NDA if they hold valid credentials from a state, agency, or tribe with which NDA has a reciprocal agreement.
Applicator Certification Plan in Indian Country
EPA certifies Private and Commercial applicators to legally apply restricted use pesticides in Indian Country.
Math for Pesticide Applicators New
It's never a bad time to brush up on your applicator math, especially if you're preparing for an applicator exam. These resources are meant to help.