Private Applicator Training and Certification

Licensing of Private Applicators

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) issues private applicator licenses. The general process for acquiring a private license in Nebraska is as follows:

1. An individual becomes certified (or if their existing license is expiring, becomes recertified).
2. The NDA receives the individual's (re)certification form and mails them a postcard requesting payment of the $25 private applicator licensing fee.
3. The individual pays the $25 licensing fee online or by mail.
4. The NDA mails the license, which is valid for three years, to the individual.

To obtain a private applicator license, you must first become certified. To renew an existing license, you must first recertify before the license expires. You can certify or recertify as a private applicator in one of several ways (see below).

Limitations of a Private Applicator License

A standard private applicator license does not entitle its holder to apply RUP fumigants, nor to apply any pesticide from an aircraft. A licensed private applicator may become certified to apply RUP fumigants by passing one or both commercial fumigation category exams, depending on the site(s) to which they plan to apply the fumigants:

• Soil Fumigation (01A): Soil fumigant applications to protect agricultural commodities from soil-borne pests. Does NOT include fumigant applications to rodent burrows for the control of rodent pests.
• Non-Soil and Structural Fumigation (11): Restricted-use pesticide applications made using fumigants in gaseous or solid form, within enclosed gas-tight spaces such as tents, stacks, structures, vehicles, or vessels for a variety of conditions and commodities, including raw agricultural products. Includes fumigant applications to rodent burrows for the control of pests such as prairie dogs.

Need fumigation certification? See the Adding fumigation certification to a private license dropdown menu below.

A person may become certified to apply pesticides from aircraft by becoming certified/licensed as a commercial or noncommercial applicator with the Aerial Pest Control (12) endorsement.