Commercial Applicator: A licensed applicator who uses any restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) on a contractual or for-hire basis. Also includes any person using restricted- or general-use pesticides for hire or compensation for lawn care, structural pest control, or community-wide outdoor vector control (e.g., mosquito control).
Noncommercial Applicator: A licensed applicator who applies RUPs only on lands owned or controlled by their employer or for a governmental agency or subdivision of the state. Also includes any person using restricted- or general-use pesticides for community-wide outdoor vector control (e.g., mosquito control) on behalf of a political subdivision of the state.
Check your pesticide license status
Find your license number, expiration date, and category endorsements.
Initial Certification
How does it work?
If you are seeking a commercial/noncommercial applicator license for the first time, or if your license has expired, you must pass the Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture-administered General Standards exam (category 00), 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.
A list of applicator categories is located at the bottom of this page.
Study materials
Before attempting your certification exam(s), we strongly recommend that you prepare with our study materials. These materials are available for every applicator category (including General Standards) in two formats:
- Print study manuals: These hardcopy manual 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 to accomodate multiple learning styles. This is the same video training presented at our initial in-person training sessions. Purchase of a FlipBook gives you a one-year subscription to the product. Internet access is required to use FlipBooks.
FlipBooks offer significant cost savings over traditional pesticide training.
Training sessions
2024 in-person training sessions have ended.
In-person training sessions for initial certification consist of video reviews of our study manuals, plus an opportunity to take your certification exams.
Other exam opportunities
You can also take certification exam(s) by:
- Attending a walk-in exam session, or
- Utilizing the Pearson VUE computer-based testing service. Exams currently offered through Pearson VUE are categories 00, 01, 04, 07, 08, 08W, 09, 11, and 12. This service charges $55 per exam.
Exam processing
Exams are mailed to the NDA's offices for grading. During the months of February through April, please allow up to 3 weeks for results as NDA processes exam from across the state.
To check on the status of a pesticide applicator exam, please email agr.pesticide@nebraska.gov and include:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Date exam was taken
- Location exam was taken
Once all exams are successfully completed, a billing statement for the license will be issued. An applicator is not considered licensed until all necessary exams are completed and the license fee has been collected and processed.
Recertification
How does it work?
Commercial/noncommercial applicator licenses are valid for 3 years. If you wish to renew your license, you must recertify before it expires. If your license has expired, you will need to retake and pass your certification exams (see Initial Certification above).
You must recertify in General Standards (category 00) and each applicator category in which you wish to maintain certification/licensure. You cannot recertify in a category which does not currently appear on your license. To add a category to an existing license, you must pass that category's exam.
A list of applicator categories is located at the bottom of this page.
Recertification options
The 2024 recertification period has ended.
The following options are available for commercial/noncommercial recertification:
- Recertification training sessions: These in-person sessions are offered from January to April. Each training session covers a select set of applicator categories*.
- Online recertification training program: Categories offered online are 00, 01, 04, 05, 07, 08, 08W, 09, 10, 11, and 14. The last day to complete this program was April 15.
- Extension- or industry-sponsored meetings approved for recertification, such as:
- Retake and pass your certification exams.
*If you need to recertify in a category for which no recertification training sessions are available, you will need to retake and pass the category's exam AND either a) attend the General Standards portion of a recertification training session, or b) retake/pass the General Standards exam. Exams are not offered at recertification sessions.
Additional Applicator Resources
Other Pesticide-Related Training: Information on product-specific training requirements and Worker Protection Standard (WPS) worker and handler training.
Reciprocal Certification with Nebraska: Persons who live outside of Nebraska may obtain a license from the NDA if they hold valid credentials from a state, agency, or tribe with which the NDA has a reciprocal agreement.
Applicator Certification Plan in Indian Country: The EPA certifies private and commercial applicators to legally apply restricted-use pesticides in Indian Country.
Math for Pesticide Applicators: It's never a bad time to brush up on your pesticide math, especially if you are preparing for an applicator certification exam. These resources are meant to help.
Pesticide Product Search: Database of pesticide products registered by the NDA for use in Nebraska. Search by product name, EPA Reg. No., active ingredient, approved site, pest controlled, etc.