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Kentucky Pesticide Applicator — Requirements & Free Practice

US-KY · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Private Applicator License

Licensing authority: Kentucky Department of Agriculture · Application information

Automatic renewal for the following two calendar years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Automatic renewal
Deemed automatically renewed at issuance for the next two calendar years; recertify after the three-year period through approved training or the optional examination.
Existing license
Private applicator license has been issued after certification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-10-20.

Initial private certification by optional written examination
Private Applicator Written Examination
Additional certification
Additional category certification and licensing are required for restricted-use fumigation or aerial application; those additional credentials are separate category routes.
Age
At least 18 years old.
Examination
Optional 92-question test. There is no minimum score; county extension agents review incorrectly answered questions. A numerical passing threshold is not inferred from the commercial category standard.
License fee
No fee for private applicator licensing.
Use
Restricted-use pesticides for producing agricultural commodities on owned or rented property, employer property, or farmer-neighbor land without compensation other than trading personal services.
Initial private certification by approved training
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Additional certification
Additional category certification and licensing are required for restricted-use fumigation or aerial application; those additional credentials are separate category routes.
Age
At least 18 years old.
Identity
Present government-issued photo identification or a declaration of identity and age.
License fee
No fee for private applicator licensing.
Training
Complete the Department-approved training program covering Section 7(1)(c) competencies; current implementation provides three hours of training every three years.
Use
Restricted-use pesticides for producing agricultural commodities on owned or rented property, employer property, or farmer-neighbor land without compensation other than trading personal services.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-10-20.

Private requalification after failure to renew by January 31
Private Applicator Written Examination
Additional certification
Additional category certification and licensing are required for restricted-use fumigation or aerial application; those additional credentials are separate category routes.
Age
At least 18 years old.
Late renewal
Section 9(2) requires a former license holder who did not renew after January 31 to retest as an initial applicant after paying applicable fines. The private examination is retained; Section 7 separately permits non-examination training for ordinary private certification.
License fee
No fee for private applicator licensing.
Use
Restricted-use pesticides for producing agricultural commodities on owned or rented property, employer property, or farmer-neighbor land without compensation other than trading personal services.
Private recertification after the three year period by optional written examination
Private Applicator Written Examination
Additional certification
Additional category certification and licensing are required for restricted-use fumigation or aerial application; those additional credentials are separate category routes.
Age
At least 18 years old.
Examination
Optional 92-question test. There is no minimum score; county extension agents review incorrectly answered questions. A numerical passing threshold is not inferred from the commercial category standard.
License fee
No fee for private applicator licensing.
Use
Restricted-use pesticides for producing agricultural commodities on owned or rented property, employer property, or farmer-neighbor land without compensation other than trading personal services.
Private recertification after the three year period by approved training
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Additional certification
Additional category certification and licensing are required for restricted-use fumigation or aerial application; those additional credentials are separate category routes.
Age
At least 18 years old.
Identity
Present government-issued photo identification or a declaration of identity and age.
License fee
No fee for private applicator licensing.
Training
Complete the Department-approved training program covering Section 7(1)(c) competencies; current implementation provides three hours of training every three years.
Use
Restricted-use pesticides for producing agricultural commodities on owned or rented property, employer property, or farmer-neighbor land without compensation other than trading personal services.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-10-20.

Private Applicator Written Examination

Provider
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Format
Optional written question test, with review of incorrectly answered questions
Exam questions
92 questions
Passing score
No minimum score; county extension agents review incorrectly answered questions
Examination outline
  • Label and labeling comprehension
    • The general format and terminology of pesticide labels and labeling;
    • Understanding instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appearing on pesticide labels and labeling;
    • Understanding that it is a violation of Federal law to use any registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling;
    • Understanding when a certified applicator shall be physically present at the site of the application based on labeling requirements;
    • Understanding labeling requirements for supervising noncertified applicators working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;
    • Understanding that applicators shall comply with all use restrictions and directions for use contained in pesticide labels and labeling;
    • Understanding that additional certification and licensing is required to use restricted use pesticides for fumigation or aerial application;
    • Understanding the meaning of product classification as either general or restricted use and that a product may be unclassified;
    • Understanding and complying with product-specific notification requirements; and
    • Recognizing and understanding the difference between mandatory and advisory labeling language;
  • Safety
    • Understanding the different natures of the risks of acute toxicity and chronic toxicity, as well as the long term effects of pesticides;
    • Understanding that a pesticide's risk is a function of exposure and the pesticide's toxicity;
    • Recognition of likely ways in which dermal, inhalation, and oral exposure could occur;
    • Common types and causes of pesticide mishaps;
    • Precautions to prevent injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;
    • Need for, and proper use of, protective clothing and personal protective equipment.
    • Symptoms of pesticide poisoning;
    • First aid and other procedures to be followed in case of a pesticide mishap; and
    • Proper identification, storage, transport, handling, mixing procedures, and disposal methods for pesticides and used pesticide containers, including precautions to be taken to prevent children from having access to pesticides and pesticide containers;
  • Environment
    • Weather and other climatic conditions;
    • Types of terrain, soil, or other substrate;
    • Presence of fish, wildlife, and other non-target organisms; and
    • Drainage patterns;
  • Pests
    • The importance of correctly identifying target pests and selecting the proper pesticide product; and
    • Verifying that the labeling does not prohibit the use of the product to control the target pest;
  • Pesticides
    • Types of pesticides;
    • Types of formulations;
    • Compatibility, synergism, persistence, and animal and plant toxicity of the formulations;
    • Hazards and residues associated with use;
    • Factors that influence effectiveness or lead to problems such as pesticide resistance; and
    • Dilution procedures;
  • Equipment
    • Types of equipment and advantages and limitations of each type.
    • Uses, maintenance, and calibration procedures.
  • Application methods
    • Methods used to apply various forms and formulations of pesticides;
    • Knowledge of which application method to use in a given situation and that use of a fumigant or aerial application requires additional certification;
    • How selection of application method and use of a pesticide could result in proper use, unnecessary or ineffective use, and misuse; and
    • Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the environment;
  • Laws and regulations
    • Laws and regulations. Knowledge of all applicable state, tribal, and federal laws and regulations, including understanding the Worker Protection Standard in 40 C.F.R. Part 170 and the circumstances where compliance is required;
  • Responsibilities for supervisors of noncertified applicators
    • Understanding and complying with requirements in 302 KAR 26:070 for private applicators who supervise noncertified applicators using restricted use pesticides;
    • Providing use-specific instructions to noncertified applicators using restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator; and
    • Explaining appropriate State, Tribal, and Federal laws and regulations to noncertified applicators working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;
  • Stewardship
    • Maintaining chemical security for restricted use pesticides; and
    • How to communicate information about pesticide exposures and risks with agricultural workers and handlers and other persons; and
  • Agricultural pest control
    • Specific pests of relevant agricultural commodities;
    • How to avoid contamination of ground and surface waters;
    • Understanding pre-harvest and restricted entry intervals and entry restricted periods and areas;
    • Understanding specific pesticide toxicity and residue potential when pesticides are applied to animal or animal product agricultural commodities; and
    • Relative hazards associated with using pesticides on animals or places in which animals are confined based on formulation, application technique, age of animal, stress, and extent of treatment.
Examination sources