Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education

If you need licensing information please visit the MDA website.

• Private pesticide applicators apply pesticides to their own land or to sites for the production of agricultural commodities.
  • To check your certification number, status and expiration date, go to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Private Pesticide Applicator Search page. Or call the MDA at 651-201-6633.
• Commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators are licensed to apply pesticides on an employer's or customer's land or sites.
• Structural pesticide applicators apply pesticides on, in, under or around structures.

• Private pesticide applicators — Workshops and other training opportunities
• Commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators — Workshops and other training opportunities
• Structural applicators — Workshops and other training opportunities

• 2022 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam — The exam is required for initial certification or if your private applicator certification has expired. You may recertify by exam instead of attending a workshop.
  • More on exams for private applicators.
• Exams for commercial/noncommercial and structural applicators — Certification exams are one of the requirements to get an initial license.
  • Learn more about exams from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

• Private pesticide applicators — Study manuals
• Commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators — Study manuals
• Structural applicators — Study manuals

• Worker Protection Standard Compliance Assistance Library
• EPA's Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

Many pesticide products on the market require a respirator for safe use. To safely wear a respirator and comply with the pesticide label and the Worker Protection Standard, you must be medically cleared and fit tested. Check with your local clinic about both procedures. If your clinic does not offer these services, here are some online sites where you can complete a medical evaluation without have to visit a medical professional in person. Sites may charge a fee for their services.

Online medical clearance options

• Resptest
• 3M Online Respirator Medical Evaluation
• Respclearance.com
• Or print a medical evaluation form and bring it to a medical provider for review.

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 and how to use them

• Worker Protection Standard Respiratory Protection Guide
• WPS Respiratory Protection Guide: Requirements for Employers of Pesticide Handlers - Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative
• Ag Health and Safety Alliance Respirator Resources
• 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

• Dicamba
• Paraquat

Linda Johns, associate director

Linda has been the UMN Extension PSEE associate director since 2019. Linda directs the UMN Extension PSEE programs for the state of Minnesota. She is dedicated to working closely with Extension faculty and administration to strategically integrate educational efforts.

Jolene Hendrix, commercial and noncommercial program manager

Jolene has been with the UMN PSEE team since February 2020. She holds degrees in environmental science and teaching with additional graduate work in agriculture and natural sciences. In her role, she coordinates with academic, government and industry professionals to develop educational materials and curricula. She also facilitates the pesticide safety certification and recertification training events for the commercial and noncommercial applicators throughout Minnesota.

Tana Haugen-Brown, private applicator program manager

Tana Haugen-Brown has been an Extension educator with the UMN Extension PSEE program since 2009. She develops educational materials and curricula and provides leadership for the private pesticide applicator program. She works with and educates local producers to become certified or recertified.

Lynne Hagen, PSEE program associate

Lynne has worked in horticulture and agriculture-based programs with Extension since 2004. She currently manages special projects and the development of training manuals for the PSEE program.

Mary Sue Stothart, private applicator administrative assistant

Mary Sue Stothart joined the PSEE team in November of 2019 and manages the workshop and exam data for the private applicators. She provides a variety of other support services for the team.

Leah Fleming, commercial, noncommercial administrative assistant

Leah Fleming joined the PSEE team in February of 2022. She provides a variety of support services for the commercial, noncommercial pesticide applicator program. Leah has been with the University of Minnesota since 2018.

Molly Vagle, summer student intern

Molly is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Environmental Science Policy, and Management, with an emphasis on education and communication.

Commercial/noncommercial pesticide program

Jolene C. Hendrix, Extension educator and program manager
jhendrix@umn.edu
763-767-3842 or 904-294-2497

Structural, stored grain and fumigation, and food processing certification

Stephen Kells, co-coordinator and Extension entomologist
kells002@umn.edu
612-625-4798

Minnesota licensing

Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 651-201-6615 or pesticide.licensing@state.mn.us (email is preferred).

Private applicator workshops and exams

Tana Haugen-Brown, Extension educator and 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 NW
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.