Montana Pesticide Applicator — Requirements & Free Practice
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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements
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Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control
Private farm applicator special-use permit; category certifications are additions to this permit, not separate general permits.
Licensing authority: Montana Department of Agriculture · Application information
Private Aerial — initial
Private Aerial category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.4 Private Aerial This category is for applicators who apply RUPs by aircraft including drones. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA for ordering the Aerial Applicator’s Manual unless available at the local MSU Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Aerial — out of state waiver
Private Aerial category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.4 Private Aerial This category is for applicators who apply RUPs by aircraft including drones. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA for ordering the Aerial Applicator’s Manual unless available at the local MSU Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
- Waiver
- MDA may waive the category exam after reviewing an active equivalent category held outside Montana; the identified exam remains a leaf with the waiver as a condition.
Private Aerial renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Earn three approved credits in this category during its five-year cycle; the category must be maintained along with the general permit. Categories first obtained in the final year need no additional credits for that renewal.
- Permit Held
- Hold the general permit and this category certification.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-22.
- Pat
2.5.2 Category Continuing Education Credits, p. 4
Private Aerial — renewal exam
Private Aerial category exam (practice unavailable)
- Cycle
- Category cycle follows the general permit; take the closed-book category examination in the final year.
- Operations
- 2.4.4 Private Aerial This category is for applicators who apply RUPs by aircraft including drones. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA for ordering the Aerial Applicator’s Manual unless available at the local MSU Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Aerial — restoration
Private Aerial category exam (practice unavailable)
- Lapse
- Expired category requires retesting and any prescribed training. MSU exams are closed book within one year and open book thereafter; MDA exams remain closed book.
- Operations
- 2.4.4 Private Aerial This category is for applicators who apply RUPs by aircraft including drones. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA for ordering the Aerial Applicator’s Manual unless available at the local MSU Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Aquatic Pest Control — initial
Private Aquatic Pest Control category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.1 Private Aquatic Pest Control This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of RUPs to standing or running water. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA to order the Aquatic Pest Control Manual unless copies are available at a local Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing grade of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing. Applicators applying general use pesticides or RUPs on waters of the United States are required to obtain a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (MPDES). Applicators applying RUPs to waters of the US will need a private applicator general permit, aquatic category certification as well as an MPDES permit.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Aquatic Pest Control — out of state waiver
Private Aquatic Pest Control category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.1 Private Aquatic Pest Control This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of RUPs to standing or running water. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA to order the Aquatic Pest Control Manual unless copies are available at a local Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing grade of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing. Applicators applying general use pesticides or RUPs on waters of the United States are required to obtain a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (MPDES). Applicators applying RUPs to waters of the US will need a private applicator general permit, aquatic category certification as well as an MPDES permit.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
- Waiver
- MDA may waive the category exam after reviewing an active equivalent category held outside Montana; the identified exam remains a leaf with the waiver as a condition.
Private Aquatic Pest Control renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Earn three approved credits in this category during its five-year cycle; the category must be maintained along with the general permit. Categories first obtained in the final year need no additional credits for that renewal.
- Permit Held
- Hold the general permit and this category certification.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-22.
- Pat
2.5.2 Category Continuing Education Credits, p. 4
Private Aquatic Pest Control — renewal exam
Private Aquatic Pest Control category exam (practice unavailable)
- Cycle
- Category cycle follows the general permit; take the closed-book category examination in the final year.
- Operations
- 2.4.1 Private Aquatic Pest Control This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of RUPs to standing or running water. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA to order the Aquatic Pest Control Manual unless copies are available at a local Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing grade of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing. Applicators applying general use pesticides or RUPs on waters of the United States are required to obtain a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (MPDES). Applicators applying RUPs to waters of the US will need a private applicator general permit, aquatic category certification as well as an MPDES permit.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Aquatic Pest Control — restoration
Private Aquatic Pest Control category exam (practice unavailable)
- Lapse
- Expired category requires retesting and any prescribed training. MSU exams are closed book within one year and open book thereafter; MDA exams remain closed book.
- Operations
- 2.4.1 Private Aquatic Pest Control This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of RUPs to standing or running water. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA to order the Aquatic Pest Control Manual unless copies are available at a local Extension office (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing grade of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing. Applicators applying general use pesticides or RUPs on waters of the United States are required to obtain a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (MPDES). Applicators applying RUPs to waters of the US will need a private applicator general permit, aquatic category certification as well as an MPDES permit.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Livestock Protection Collar — initial
Private Livestock Protection Collar category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.3 Private Livestock Protection Collar This category is for applicators who use or supervise the use of sodium fluoroacetate in a protective collar to control predators. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to purchase a study manual, take the category exam and complete onsite training. They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431- 7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Private Livestock Protection Collar — out of state waiver
Private Livestock Protection Collar category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.3 Private Livestock Protection Collar This category is for applicators who use or supervise the use of sodium fluoroacetate in a protective collar to control predators. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to purchase a study manual, take the category exam and complete onsite training. They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431- 7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
- Waiver
- MDA may waive the category exam after reviewing an active equivalent category held outside Montana; the identified exam remains a leaf with the waiver as a condition.
Private Livestock Protection Collar renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Earn three approved credits in this category during its five-year cycle; the category must be maintained along with the general permit. Categories first obtained in the final year need no additional credits for that renewal.
- Permit Held
- Hold the general permit and this category certification.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-22.
- Pat
2.5.2 Category Continuing Education Credits, p. 4
Private Livestock Protection Collar — renewal exam
Private Livestock Protection Collar category exam (practice unavailable)
- Cycle
- Category cycle follows the general permit; take the closed-book category examination in the final year.
- Operations
- 2.4.3 Private Livestock Protection Collar This category is for applicators who use or supervise the use of sodium fluoroacetate in a protective collar to control predators. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to purchase a study manual, take the category exam and complete onsite training. They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431- 7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Private Livestock Protection Collar — restoration
Private Livestock Protection Collar category exam (practice unavailable)
- Lapse
- Expired category requires retesting and any prescribed training. MSU exams are closed book within one year and open book thereafter; MDA exams remain closed book.
- Operations
- 2.4.3 Private Livestock Protection Collar This category is for applicators who use or supervise the use of sodium fluoroacetate in a protective collar to control predators. Once an applicator holds a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to purchase a study manual, take the category exam and complete onsite training. They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431- 7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Restore a general permit expired more than one year, by examination
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Lapse
- More than one year after expiration, examination returns to open book.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
Restore an expired general permit by Initial Private Applicator Training
Ungraded Exam (assessment without a question bank)
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
- Training
- Complete the approved initial training and mandatory ungraded assessment.
Restore a general permit expired less than one year, by examination
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Lapse
- Within one year after expiration, examination is closed book; score at least 70%.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
Private Non Soil Fumigation — initial
Private Non-Soil Fumigation category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.5 Private Non-Soil Fumigation This category is for applicators who apply restricted-use non-soil fumigants to agricultural structures or burrows to manage insects and rodents, respectively. PAT Coordinators need to direct applicators to the Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators available on the MSU Extension online store or you can call the MSU Extension Distribution Center at (406) 994-3273 and ask for publication EB0229 titled "Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators." PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Non Soil Fumigation — out of state waiver
Private Non-Soil Fumigation category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.5 Private Non-Soil Fumigation This category is for applicators who apply restricted-use non-soil fumigants to agricultural structures or burrows to manage insects and rodents, respectively. PAT Coordinators need to direct applicators to the Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators available on the MSU Extension online store or you can call the MSU Extension Distribution Center at (406) 994-3273 and ask for publication EB0229 titled "Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators." PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
- Waiver
- MDA may waive the category exam after reviewing an active equivalent category held outside Montana; the identified exam remains a leaf with the waiver as a condition.
Private Non Soil Fumigation renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Earn three approved credits in this category during its five-year cycle; the category must be maintained along with the general permit. Categories first obtained in the final year need no additional credits for that renewal.
- Permit Held
- Hold the general permit and this category certification.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-22.
- Pat
2.5.2 Category Continuing Education Credits, p. 4
Private Non Soil Fumigation — renewal exam
Private Non-Soil Fumigation category exam (practice unavailable)
- Cycle
- Category cycle follows the general permit; take the closed-book category examination in the final year.
- Operations
- 2.4.5 Private Non-Soil Fumigation This category is for applicators who apply restricted-use non-soil fumigants to agricultural structures or burrows to manage insects and rodents, respectively. PAT Coordinators need to direct applicators to the Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators available on the MSU Extension online store or you can call the MSU Extension Distribution Center at (406) 994-3273 and ask for publication EB0229 titled "Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators." PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Private Non Soil Fumigation — restoration
Private Non-Soil Fumigation category exam (practice unavailable)
- Lapse
- Expired category requires retesting and any prescribed training. MSU exams are closed book within one year and open book thereafter; MDA exams remain closed book.
- Operations
- 2.4.5 Private Non-Soil Fumigation This category is for applicators who apply restricted-use non-soil fumigants to agricultural structures or burrows to manage insects and rodents, respectively. PAT Coordinators need to direct applicators to the Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators available on the MSU Extension online store or you can call the MSU Extension Distribution Center at (406) 994-3273 and ask for publication EB0229 titled "Non-Soil Agricultural Fumigation Manual for Private Applicators." PAT Coordinators will test out private applicators in this category at local MSU Extension offices. This is an open book exam with a passing rate of 70%; only the category manual is allowed as a resource during testing.
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- Use the designated category manual for initial examination preparation.
Initial certification by graded examination
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Book Policy
- Open book for a first permit; only the designated Core Manual and Montana Addendum plus calculator are permitted.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
Initial certification by eight hour training and ungraded assessment
Ungraded Exam (assessment without a question bank)
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
- Training
- Attend the complete approved eight-hour Initial Private Applicator Training; participation in the ungraded examination is mandatory.
Private Sodium Cyanide (M 44) — initial
Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.2 Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of sodium cyanide in mechanical ejection devices to control predators. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to take the category exam and complete onsite training. Applicators will need to purchase the M-44 Training Manual from the MDA (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431-7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Private Sodium Cyanide (M 44) — out of state waiver
Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) category exam (practice unavailable)
- Operations
- 2.4.2 Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of sodium cyanide in mechanical ejection devices to control predators. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to take the category exam and complete onsite training. Applicators will need to purchase the M-44 Training Manual from the MDA (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431-7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
- Waiver
- MDA may waive the category exam after reviewing an active equivalent category held outside Montana; the identified exam remains a leaf with the waiver as a condition.
Private Sodium Cyanide (M 44) renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Earn three approved credits in this category during its five-year cycle; the category must be maintained along with the general permit. Categories first obtained in the final year need no additional credits for that renewal.
- Permit Held
- Hold the general permit and this category certification.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-22.
- Pat
2.5.2 Category Continuing Education Credits, p. 4
Private Sodium Cyanide (M 44) — renewal exam
Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) category exam (practice unavailable)
- Cycle
- Category cycle follows the general permit; take the closed-book category examination in the final year.
- Operations
- 2.4.2 Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of sodium cyanide in mechanical ejection devices to control predators. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to take the category exam and complete onsite training. Applicators will need to purchase the M-44 Training Manual from the MDA (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431-7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Private Sodium Cyanide (M 44) — restoration
Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) category exam (practice unavailable)
- Lapse
- Expired category requires retesting and any prescribed training. MSU exams are closed book within one year and open book thereafter; MDA exams remain closed book.
- Operations
- 2.4.2 Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) This category is for applicators using or supervising the use of sodium cyanide in mechanical ejection devices to control predators. Once an applicator obtains a private applicator general permit, PAT Coordinators should forward applicators to the MDA’s Vertebrate Pest Specialist to take the category exam and complete onsite training. Applicators will need to purchase the M-44 Training Manual from the MDA (purchase online or call Beth Thomas at 406-444-3732). They must pass a closed book exam with an 80% or better. Contact Stephen Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for more information (406-431-7720; svantassel@mt.gov).
- Permit Held
- Hold an active Private Farm General Permit for Agricultural Pest Control.
- Training
- MDA onsite training is additionally required for M-44 and livestock collar applicants.
Private permit based on a current Montana applicator license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Category Limit
- A private category not comparable to an existing Montana category requires its own category certification.
- Documents
- Present government photo ID and Montana pesticide license to a PAT Coordinator; complete the permit application, possess the Montana Addendum and submit fee.
- License Held
- Active Montana government, commercial or noncommercial applicator license with Agricultural Plant Pest certification. Testing is waived.
Montana private permit for an applicant licensed outside Montana, by examination
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
- Prior License
- A license outside Montana does not replace the Montana private certification exam. Category waivers require MDA approval.
Montana private permit for an applicant licensed outside Montana, by initial training
Ungraded Exam (assessment without a question bank)
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
- Prior License
- An out-of-state license holder may attend Initial Private Applicator Training; category waivers require MDA approval.
General permit renewal by examination
- Application
- Submit the signed Application for Private Farm Applicator Special Use Permit with the fee; have the required Core Manual and Montana Addendum.
- Authorized Use
- Restricted-use pesticides for agricultural commodities on land owned, rented or leased by the applicant or employer.
- Minimum Age
- At least 18 years to hold a private applicator permit.
- Permit Cycle
- Five-year district recertification cycle; application fees may be prorated.
- Statutory Training
- 80-8-209(5), MCA requires approved renewal training. The MSU policy separately offers renewal by exam; this route retains the identified examination and states the statute’s training condition.
- Timing
- Take the closed-book exam during the last year of the five-year district cycle; score at least 70%.
General permit renewal by continuing education
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
- Credits
- Obtain six MDA-approved private applicator credits in the five-year cycle. Proration: three credits for initial certification on or after July 1 of year three; none for initial certification in the final year.
- Renewal
- Submit the application and appropriate five-year permit renewal fee.
Temporary Permit
Private applicator temporary permit valid for 60 days, issued only at initial general-permit certification while the permanent permit is being processed.
Licensing authority: Montana Department of Agriculture · Application information
Temporary permit after initial exam
- Initial Certification
- Complete initial private general certification by the specified pathway. Temporary permits may be issued only then.
- Issue
- PAT Coordinator may issue the fully completed permit, signed by applicant and coordinator, valid for 60 days.
Temporary permit after initial training
Ungraded Exam (assessment without a question bank)
- Initial Certification
- Complete initial private general certification by the specified pathway. Temporary permits may be issued only then.
- Issue
- PAT Coordinator may issue the fully completed permit, signed by applicant and coordinator, valid for 60 days.
Private Aerial category exam
- Format
- Open-book initial category examination; closed-book recertification
- Passing score
- 70%
Examination outline
- Private Aerial
Examination sources
- Pat
2.4.4 Private Aerial, passage 1
Private Aquatic Pest Control category exam
- Format
- Open-book initial category examination; closed-book recertification
- Passing score
- 70%
Examination outline
- Private Aquatic Pest Control
Examination sources
- Pat
2.4.1 Private Aquatic Pest Control, passage 1
Private Livestock Protection Collar category exam
- Format
- Closed-book category examination
- Passing score
- 80%
Examination outline
- Private Livestock Protection Collar
Examination sources
- Pat
2.4.3 Private Livestock Protection Collar, passage 1
Private Non-Soil Fumigation category exam
- Format
- Open-book initial category examination; closed-book recertification
- Passing score
- 70%
Examination outline
- Private Non-Soil Fumigation
Examination sources
- Pat
2.4.5 Private Non-Soil Fumigation, passage 1
Montana Private Applicator Certification Exam
- Provider
- MSU Extension Private Applicator Training Coordinators
- Format
- 50-question proctored written examination; open or closed book according to initial, renewal, or lapse conditions
- Exam questions
- 50
- Passing score
- 70%
Practice scope
The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.
Pest Management
- Pest identification
- Control methods
- IPM thresholds and resistance
Federal Pesticide Laws and Regulations
- FIFRA registration and lawful use
- Federal protection requirements
- Federal recordkeeping
Pesticide Labeling
- Label parts and identifiers
- Precautions and directions for use
- Mandatory and advisory language and safety data sheets
Pesticide Formulations
- Liquid formulations
- Dry and other formulations
- Adjuvants and compatibility
Pesticide Hazards and First Aid
- Toxicity and exposure
- Poisoning response and first aid
- Heat stress
Personal Protective Equipment
- PPE selection
- Protective clothing and gloves
- Respirators and PPE maintenance
Pesticides in the Environment
- Environmental fate
- Drift, runoff, and leaching
- Nontarget and endangered-species protection
Transportation, Storage, and Security
- Transportation
- Storage
- Security
Emergency or Incident Response
- Emergency planning
- Fire response
- Spill response
Planning the Pesticide Application
- Pesticide selection and compatibility
- Mixing, loading, and container rinsing
- Application cleanup and professionalism
Pesticide Application Procedures
- Application methods and equipment
- Calibration and calculations
- Drift minimization
Montana Certification and Legal Requirements
- Permit eligibility and authorized use
- Certification and recertification
- Supervision, training, and records
- Special-use categories and supervised-family age exception
- Compliance and enforcement
Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44) category exam
- Format
- Closed-book category examination
- Passing score
- 80%
Examination outline
- Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44)
Examination sources
- Pat
2.4.2 Private Sodium Cyanide (M-44), passage 1
Ungraded Exam
This assessment does not have a question bank.
- Format
- Open-book ungraded group written assessment after eight-hour training
- Exam questions
- 50