Private pesticide applicators

Certification lasts for three years.

How to get certified

New applicators or those whose certification has lapsed (not currently certified), must take the exam to become certified.

1. Complete the exam as a home study course. Private Pesticide Applicator study manuals (19th Edition; $10) and mail-in exams are available at most county Extension offices, or
2. Complete the exam online.  

Recertify

There are three recertification options

1. Attend a recertification workshop (only for applicators whose certification has not yet expired), or
2. Complete the exam as a home study course. Private Pesticide Applicator study manuals (19th Edition; $10) and mail-in exams are available at most county Extension offices, or
3. Complete the exam online.  

The online test, mail-in test and recertification workshops have the same fee of $75.

Check your certification status

To check your certification number, status and expiration date, go to the MDA Private Pesticide Applicator Search page. Or call the MDA at 651-201-6615.

Recertification workshops

View list of upcoming workshops.

Private Pesticide Applicator recertification workshops are held in January and February each year. The cost for the recertification workshop is $75, paid by check made out to University of Minnesota (no cash or credit cards).

Workshops last about three and a half hours. Arrive before the listed workshop start time. There is no pre-registration, but please arrive early for on-site registration before the workshop begins.

Because the Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires workshop participants to attend the entire workshop to receive credit for recertification, anyone who arrives more than 15 minutes late to the workshop will not receive recertification credit — no exceptions. If you cannot attend the entire workshop, you may attend another workshop (must attend entire workshop – not just parts missed) or take the online or mail-in test.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires all workshop participants to present a government issued photo ID such as your driver's license, passport, etc.

Bring your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification card or number. This will assist in the on-site registration process. If you have misplaced your certification card you may obtain your certification number from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website or 651-201-6615.

If you are not a currently certified private applicator, you must certify by taking either the online or mail-in exam 

If you are not currently certified (i.e. certified through March 1, 2020) you cannot become certified by attending a recertification workshop. To become certified, take the online or mail-in test.

Upcoming workshops

Workshops are held in January and February each year. View list of upcoming workshops. Did you miss a workshop but still wish to recertify or get certified? Take the online or mail-in exam.

The exam is required for initial certification or if your certification has expired. You may also recertify by exam instead of attending a workshop. The exam is 50 questions.

2020 exam deadline

• Online exam: October 31, 2020. All online exam attempts must be completed by October 31, 2020. The online exam will shut down at midnight on October 31, 2020.
• Mail-in exams: October 31, 2020. It must be mailed and postmarked no later than October 31, 2020. No further exam attempts, including second and third attempts, may be made after October 31, 2020.

Online exam

Computer requirements

• Your own email address: An individual email account is required to register - DO NOT USE someone else's email address. You must use your own email address when registering. NOTE: If you use someone else's email address the certification won't be issued in your name and then you will need to register, pay and take the exam again to become certified. Registration information and exam access is shared with you using the email address you enter when you register.

• Browser: To take this exam you must use one of the following web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari. The exam will not work with Internet Explorer. If you only have Internet Explorer you must first download and use another web browser to access the exam.

  • Download Google Chrome web browser.

  • Download Firefox web browser.

  • Also Safari which comes with all Apple products should work as well.

Fee

The private pesticide certification exam fee is $75, payable by credit card. This fee includes three attempts to pass the exam in one calendar year. Once the fee is paid for the online test, you can not switch to a mail-in test or a recertification workshop without paying again.

Register for the online exam

We strongly recommend you have this step-by-step registration guide open as you register for the exam. 

After you have registered and paid, you will see a link allowing immediate access to the exam. In addition you should also receive three emails (check your email junk or spam folder if you can’t find them): 1. registration confirmation, 2. University of Minnesota exam purchase receipt, 3. University of Minnesota guest account info.

Trouble registering?

If you have issues registering, do not register again. Some people experience a delay between registering and gaining exam access; this issue typically resolves itself by the next business day. Your patience is appreciated. Contact us at 763-767-3840 or ppathelp@umn.edu if you have questions. Please provide the email address you registered with, your name, time/date you registered, amount you paid when you registered and phone number we can reach you. Messages answered Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Getting your temporary certificate

After you pass the exam, you can get a temporary certificate to purchase restricted use pesticides before receiving your permanent private pesticide certification card from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Need to retake the online exam?

You need an 80 percent score or better to pass the exam.

• If you scored at least 80 percent, do not retake the exam. Doing so will cause your certification to not go through properly, and you will not receive your certification.

• Remember you only get three attempts for one calendar year. You will need to wait until next year to try again if you fail the exam three times.

• When you make a second or third attempt to pass the exam, the same exam that you took before will show up when you click on "Re-attempt Quiz."

• Review the manual and answer questions based on the manual.

• Once you are into your second or third attempt, look through the answers you selected the first time and make changes to those you think you got wrong. On questions where you have not changed your original answer, it will show up as "Not Changed Since Last Attempt." It will save those answers too as long as you click on "Save and Continue" at the very bottom of the page before submitting your second or third attempt.

• Be sure to occasionally save your answers by clicking on "Save My Answers." Answers you change will show up as "Answer Saved" once you save them.

• Once you complete all of the questions in your second or third attempt, YOU MUST CLICK "Save and Continue." On the next screen, scroll to the bottom and select "Submit all and finish." It will score your exam and you will know immediately if you have passed or not.

If you have any questions about making a second or third attempt on the exam please email ppathelp@umn.edu.

Ready to retake? Log in with your guest ID and password to make a second or third attempt on the exam.

Mail-in exam

Mail-in test packets are available from most local county Extension offices around mid-December. Please consider calling ahead to check supplies and office hours. Mail-in tests must be received before October 31, 2020.

19th Edition Private Pesticide Applicator Study Manual

The 19th edition is the study manual to use to prepare for the exam. Ensure the study manual you use says “19th edition”--older versions of the manuals do not include all topics and materials covered by the exam. You may download the manual for free or purchase printed copies.

Download the manual

Chapters

• Introduction and table of contents
• 1. Integrated pest management
• 2. Pesticide laws
• 3. The pesticide label
• 4. Pesticide formulations
• 5. Protecting the environment
• 6. Health and safety
• 7. Safe handling: the application process
• 8. Personal protective equipment
• 9. Pesticide application procedures and equipment
• Appendix A: Pesticide toxicities
• Appendix B: Glossary
• Appendix C: Conversions and calculations

Purchase a printed manual

Printed study manuals are available at

• University of Minnesota Bookstores.

  • To purchase in store, please call ahead to the Coffman Memorial Union Bookstore or St. Paul Student Center Bookstore to be sure the study manual is in stock.

  • Order online with credit card.

  • Call 612-301-3989 to place your order with credit card.

  • Download an order form to mail your order.

• Purchase at your local county Extension offices (call ahead to ensure availability).

Fumigation manuals

• For private soil fumigation endorsement purchase the new soil fumigation manual (Category O) from the U of M Bookstores.
• For the private stored grain and fumigation endorsement purchase stored grain and fumigation manual (Category N) from the U of M Bookstores.

In 2019 Minnesota applicators of dicamba products VaporGrip™ Technology (Monsanto, EPA Reg. No. 524-617), FeXapan™ with VaporGrip™ Technology (DowDuPont, EPA Reg. No. 352-913), or Engenia™ (BASF, EPA Reg. No. 7969-345) must undergo special product label-required training in order to comply with Minnesota Pesticide Control Law.

For more information

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture information on dicamba.
• Current dicamba label-required training opportunities are listed with the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers.

Many pesticide products on the market require a respirator for safe use. In order to safely wear a respirator and comply with the Worker Protection Standard, you must be medically cleared and fit tested. Check with your local clinic about both of these procedures. If your clinic does not offer these services, the following options are available: 

Online medical clearance options

• Resptest
• 3M Online Respirator Medical Evaluation
• Respclearance.com

Fit testing

The map below shows places around the state that offer fit testing. Some are small businesses, others include clinics and co-ops. Some of these fit testing sites require you to bring a respirator and others have samples to try. Click on each site on the map for details. 

Learn more about respirators

• Four steps to choosing the right respirator and wearing it safely

• Respiratory Protection for Occupational Users of Pesticides - Rutgers
• Pesticide Worker Protection Standard “How to Comply” Manual - EPA
• WPS Respiratory Protection Guide: Requirements for Employers of Pesticide Handlers - Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative

Private applicator education questions

If you apply restricted use pesticides to your own land or sites for the production of agricultural commodities

Questions about private applicator workshops 

Tana Haugen-Brown, co-coordinator
thbrown@umn.edu
763-260-4423

Questions about mail-in and online exams

ppathelp@umn.edu
763-767-3840

Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education
550 Bunker Lake Blvd
Bunker Hills Activity Center, L-1
Andover, MN 55304

Weather cancellations

Wondering if a private applicator workshop is still on? Contact the Farm Information Line.
1-800-232-9077 or fil@umn.edu.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.