HOW TO CERTIFY AND BECOME A
LICENSED UTAH PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Utah has three (3) classifications of Pesticide Applicators:
1. Commercial - Any person who uses any pesticide for hire or compensation. A Commercial Pesticide Applicator must be
affiliated with a Commercial Pesticide Business before they can receive their license.
2. Non-Commercial - Any person working as an individual or an employee of a firm, entity, or government agency who uses or
demonstrates the use of any restricted-use pesticide and who does not qualify as a private or commercial applicator.
3. Private - Any person or his employer who uses or supervises the use of any restricted-use pesticide for the purpose of producing
any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him or his employer.
Applicators are categorized in one or more of the categories defined below, based on the application site and the type of work they perform.
1. Agriculture
(a) Plant - Applicators using pesticides to control pests in the production of agricultural crops.
(b) Animal - Applicators using pesticides on animals or places which animals inhabit.
2. Forest - Applicators using pesticides in forests, forest nurseries, or forest seed producing areas.
3. Ornamental and Turf - Applicators using pesticides to control pests in the maintenance and production of ornamental trees, shrubs,
flowers and turf; also pests around sidewalks, driveways and other similar locations.
4. Seed Treatment - Applicators using pesticides on seeds.
5. Aquatic
(a) Surface Water - Applicators applying pesticides to standing or running water, excluding public health-related activities.
(b) Sewer Root Control - Applicators using pesticides to control roots in sewers or in related systems.
6. Right-Of-Way - Applicators using pesticides in maintaining public roads, electric power lines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way, or
other similar areas.
7. Structural and Health-Related - Applicators using pesticides in, on or around food handling establishments, human dwellings,
institutions such as schools, hospitals, industrial establishments, warehouses, storage units and any other structures and adjacent
areas public or private to control household pests, fabric pests, stored-products pests, and vertebrate pests.
8. Public Health - State, federal or other government employees, or persons working under their supervision using, or supervising the use
of, restricted-use pesticides in public health programs for control of pests having medical and public health importance.
9. Regulatory - Limited to state and federal employees, or persons under their direct supervision, who apply pesticides in a mechanical
ejection device, a protective collar, or other methods to control regulated pests. There are two subcategories:
(a) This category is limited to state and federal, employees or persons under their direct supervision, who apply pesticides in a
mechanical ejection device, or other methods to control regulated pests.
(b) This category is limited to state and federal, employees or persons under their direct supervision, who apply pesticides in a
protective collar, or other methods to control regulated pests.
10. Demonstration, Consultation and Research - Individuals who demonstrate to the public the proper use, techniques, benefits, and
methods of restricted-use pesticides. Also persons conducting field research with restricted-use pesticides. In addition they shall meet
the specific standards applicable to their particular activity.
11. Aerial Application - Applicators applying pesticides by aircraft. Aerial applicators are also required to certify in categories of
intended application and present a valid pilot’s license.
PLANT INDUSTRY DIVISION
PESTICIDE PROGRAM
350 North Redwood Road
PO BOX 146500
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84114-6500
TELEPHONE: 801 538 7185
FAX: 801 538 7189
Website: ag.utah.gov
Email: UDAF-
p
esticide
@
utah.
g
ov
12. Vertebrate - Applicators applying pesticides in the control of vertebrate pests.
13. Fumigation/Stored Commodities - Applicators using fumigants to control pests in soil, structures, railroad cars, stored grains,
manufactured products, grain elevators, flour mills, similar areas and items.
14. Wood-Preservation - Applicators who apply wood-preservative pesticides to wood products such as fence posts, electrical poles,
railroad ties or any other form of wood products.
15. Wood-Destroying Organisms - Applicators using pesticides to control termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring or tunneling insects, bees,
wasps, wood decaying fungi and any other pests destroying wood products.
Commercial and Non-Commercial Applicators must take the general/core exam and at least one category test (listed above). The categories
tests should be in the classification for which they will be applying pesticides in their business, or employment. All exams and tests must be
passed with a minimum score of 70%. Applicators may certify in any category, except they must meet the special qualifications for aerial and
demonstration categories. Only UDAF designated officials of the federal and state government can certify in the regulatory category.
Commercial Applicators are required to pay $65.00 for a 3 year license. Non-Commercial and Private Applicators are required to pay $20
for a 3 year license. Licenses obtained between November 1 and December 31 will be valid for the following three years. Licenses obtained
outside of that period (11/1 to 12/31) will be valid for the year they are obtained and the following two years. All fees must be paid before
testing can begin. A check should be made out to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). MasterCard, Visa, Discover or
American Express payments will be accepted in the Salt Lake City office, or by phone (801-538-7185). Cash payments will only be accepted in
the Salt Lake City office and should be for the exact amount. A $15.00 fee will be charged for any replacement license (including re-prints for a
change of address or similar request).
Study materials are available at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food-Plant Industry Division (Pesticide Program) in Salt Lake City or
any district field office. A minimum of two books should be used: National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual, and a category
manual (for categories 1-15 as listed above) for each category in which you wish to be certified.
It is recommended that the books be studied thoroughly. When you are ready to take the tests, make an appointment at the field office nearest
you. Appointments are recommended. Walk-ins are tested on a space-available basis only. All your tests must be taken at the same office,
regardless if you pass, or fail.
While testing; scratch paper, pencil and a calculator will be provided; you will not be allowed to use your own. Cellphones should be left in a
vehicle, or otherwise stored and not brought with you to the test. Use of a cellphone during a testing is grounds for failing. You should allow
yourself a minimum of 3 hours for testing, perhaps longer if you have more than one category. All tests are 50 question tests, except the
General/Core test and Ornamental and turf; they are 100 question tests. All tests not completed by 4:40 P.M., or 20 minutes from office closing,
will be scored and results used. The Test Administrator will issue a temporary license that is good for 30 days after passing the required
category tests. There is no temporary permit for passing the general, or core, test. A permanent license will be mailed within 30 days from the
Salt Lake City office.
The Test Administrator will not be allowed to discuss any of the answers with you if you fail any of the tests, but they may help you with
suggestions of what to study.
With a test score of 65% - 69%, a test may be retaken the same day (Subject to UDAF testing schedule). If the score is below 65% the
recipient must wait 3 days before retaking the test. Testers are allowed three times to pass a test. After the third attempt the applicant
must wait 14 days and pay $15 retest fee for each test failed over three times. The retest fee allows for two more attempts. After 7
attempts, if the exam is not passed, the certification fee must be paid again and the process starts over. Candidates have 60 days to
pass all required exams. After 60 days the certification fee must be paid again and the testing process started over, regardless of
previous results.
Private Applicators are allowed to take an open book exam, which consists of a 50 question Private Applicator Examination. A score of 70%
or above is required to pass the test. The same waiting periods and pass/fail requirements apply to this testing as discussed above for commercial
and non-commercial applicators. The Private Applicator must take the Aerial Application Category and/or the Fumigation Category (categories
are described above) if those categories will apply to the Private Applicator’s operations and application methods. Licenses obtained between
November 1 and December 31 will be valid for the following three years. Licenses obtained outside of that period (11/1 to 12/31) will be valid
for the year they are obtained and the following two years.
Information on Pesticide Application, Licensing, Enforcement, testing center locations and other programs are available on our website;
http://ag.utah.gov/divisions/plant/pesticide/applicators.html.
(Revised October 26, 2012 DSM)
