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North Dakota Pesticide Applicator — Requirements & Free Practice

US-ND · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

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Private Applicator Certification

Individual private applicator certification; the certificate records applicable classes and their expiration dates.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Pesticide Control Board; certification issued by NDSU Extension · Application information

Commodity and structural fumigation endorsement

All of the following:

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • Private General Applicator Exam

    • All of the following:

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ground Application Core (practice unavailable)
        • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ag Pest (practice unavailable)
        • Fumigation (Commodity and Structural) (practice unavailable)
        • Greenhouse (practice unavailable)
        • Home, Industrial and Institutional (practice unavailable)
        • Ornamental & Turf (practice unavailable)
        • Public Health (practice unavailable)
        • Right of Way (practice unavailable)
        • Seed Treatment (practice unavailable)
        • Vertebrate (practice unavailable)
        • Wood Preservatives (practice unavailable)
  • commodity and structural fumigation examination (practice unavailable)
Existing General Certification
Complete the private general qualification before adding the endorsement; currently offered qualifying examinations remain leaves even if already passed.
Fees
Pay the NDSU-set private endorsement certification fee.
Intended Use
Restricted-use fumigants on agricultural commodities and in grain-storage structures.
Vertebrate fumigation endorsement

All of the following:

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • Private General Applicator Exam

    • All of the following:

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ground Application Core (practice unavailable)
        • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ag Pest (practice unavailable)
        • Fumigation (Commodity and Structural) (practice unavailable)
        • Greenhouse (practice unavailable)
        • Home, Industrial and Institutional (practice unavailable)
        • Ornamental & Turf (practice unavailable)
        • Public Health (practice unavailable)
        • Right of Way (practice unavailable)
        • Seed Treatment (practice unavailable)
        • Vertebrate (practice unavailable)
        • Wood Preservatives (practice unavailable)
  • vertebrate examination (practice unavailable)
Existing General Certification
Complete the private general qualification before adding the endorsement; currently offered qualifying examinations remain leaves even if already passed.
Fees
Pay the NDSU-set private endorsement certification fee.
Intended Use
Restricted-use fumigants for burrowing-pest control.
Private aerial or drone application qualification

All of the following:

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • Private General Applicator Exam

    • All of the following:

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ground Application Core (practice unavailable)
        • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)

      • At least one of the following alternatives:

        • Ag Pest (practice unavailable)
        • Fumigation (Commodity and Structural) (practice unavailable)
        • Greenhouse (practice unavailable)
        • Home, Industrial and Institutional (practice unavailable)
        • Ornamental & Turf (practice unavailable)
        • Public Health (practice unavailable)
        • Right of Way (practice unavailable)
        • Seed Treatment (practice unavailable)
        • Vertebrate (practice unavailable)
        • Wood Preservatives (practice unavailable)
  • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)
Aerial Class
Complete the aerial pest-control class requirements applicable to commercial/public applicators; NDSU specifically requires the commercial Air Core exam for own-land drone use.
Aerial Recurring Training
Complete PAASS or another Board-approved program at least every three years before aerial recertification.
Application Method
Fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft, including own-land drone spraying.
Aviation Qualifications
Aircraft registration, aircraft licensing, federal pilot or remote-pilot qualifications, and any associated other-profession examinations are applicant conditions.
Existing Private Qualification
Hold private general certification, including a general qualification accepted through previously passed commercial/public/dealer examinations under NDAC 60-03-01-05.2(2)(c).
Initial private applicator certification

At least one of the following alternatives:

  • Private General Applicator Exam

  • All of the following:

    • At least one of the following alternatives:

      • Ground Application Core (practice unavailable)
      • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)

    • At least one of the following alternatives:

      • Ag Pest (practice unavailable)
      • Fumigation (Commodity and Structural) (practice unavailable)
      • Greenhouse (practice unavailable)
      • Home, Industrial and Institutional (practice unavailable)
      • Ornamental & Turf (practice unavailable)
      • Public Health (practice unavailable)
      • Right of Way (practice unavailable)
      • Seed Treatment (practice unavailable)
      • Vertebrate (practice unavailable)
      • Wood Preservatives (practice unavailable)
Application
Complete the application on the forms and in the manner required by the Board or its designee.
Emergency Waiver
Under NDCC 4.1-33-07.1 the Board may temporarily waive certification requirements for the duration of a governor-declared statewide disaster or emergency affecting certification.
Examination Passing Grade
At least 70%; retesting is subject to the three-day waiting period.
Fees
Pay required training, education, examination, and certification fees.
Language And Monitoring
Written examinations are monitored and conducted in English; NDSU does not provide oral testing.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old.
Preparation Alternatives
Attend a Board-approved educational seminar, sign its attendance certificate, and pass the private written examination; alternatively complete self-instruction and pass that examination; alternatively submit the passing grade from the dealer, public, or commercial certification examination pathway. Currently offered examinations remain leaves even when passed before application.
Prior Violations
Under NDAC 60-03-01-05.4 certification may be denied for suspension, revocation, or documented pesticide violations within three years; the Board may require an additional demonstration of qualification. An unspecified additional assessment is an applicant condition.
Private Use
Restricted-use pesticides on property owned or rented by the applicant or employer, or on another producer's property without compensation other than traded personal services.
Retake Limit
After three failed private examinations, attendance at another initial training course is required.
Active duty military certification extension
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Apply in writing with certified military orders or other trustworthy proof of active-duty start and end dates.
Discretion
The Board has discretion whether to grant the extension.
Existing Certification
Hold the applicable certificate and be unable to complete recertification because of active-duty military service.
Maximum Extension
Extension may not continue beyond April 1 of the year after return from active duty.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial certification by reciprocity without examination
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Agent Designation
Nonresident applicants must designate NDSU Extension or a duly appointed resident agent for service of process by written power of attorney under NDCC 4.1-33-09.
Eligibility
Nonresident holding a valid certification under a substantially similar approved certification plan; reciprocity eligibility is determined case by case by NDSU. A certificate held elsewhere does not replace the required North Dakota certificate.
Fees
Pay North Dakota certification and applicable agent-designation fees.
Other Jurisdiction Qualification
Present the valid certificate from the jurisdiction where tested or trained; an examination of that jurisdiction is an applicant condition and is not a North Dakota examination leaf.
Photo Identification
Provide government-issued picture identification.
Suspension Or Revocation
North Dakota reciprocity must be suspended or revoked if the home certification is suspended or revoked.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Private fumigation recertification
commodity and structural fumigation examination (practice unavailable)
Existing Certification
Hold the corresponding private certification or endorsement; specialty renewals also require valid general certification.
Private Exam Renewal
NDSU identifies a 60-question retest for the private general examination; no question count is assigned here to private supplemental examinations.
Renewal Interval
Recertify at least every third year.
Training Alternative
A Board-approved seminar may excuse the examination; the Board may require both.
Private general recertification
Private General Applicator Exam
Existing Certification
Hold the corresponding private certification or endorsement; specialty renewals also require valid general certification.
Private Exam Renewal
NDSU identifies a 60-question retest for the private general examination; no question count is assigned here to private supplemental examinations.
Renewal Interval
Recertify at least every third year.
Training Alternative
A Board-approved seminar may excuse the examination; the Board may require both.
Renew reciprocal certification
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Certificate Expiry
The 2026 renewal package requires the home certificate to expire no earlier than December 31, 2026.
Documents
Submit the reciprocal request, current home certificate, government-issued ID, other licenses/reciprocities disclosure, applicable financial-responsibility acknowledgment, and certification fee.
Existing Reciprocity
Already hold a North Dakota reciprocal certificate and maintain the qualifying home-jurisdiction certificate.
Suspension Or Revocation
Loss of the home certificate requires suspension or revocation of North Dakota reciprocal certification.
Violation History
Be prepared to authorize the original certifying jurisdiction to release complaint and violation history to NDSU.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Private vertebrate fumigation recertification
vertebrate examination (practice unavailable)
Existing Certification
Hold the corresponding private certification or endorsement; specialty renewals also require valid general certification.
Private Exam Renewal
NDSU identifies a 60-question retest for the private general examination; no question count is assigned here to private supplemental examinations.
Renewal Interval
Recertify at least every third year.
Training Alternative
A Board-approved seminar may excuse the examination; the Board may require both.
Private soil fumigation qualification

At least one of the following alternatives:

  • Private General Applicator Exam

  • All of the following:

    • At least one of the following alternatives:

      • Ground Application Core (practice unavailable)
      • Air/Ground Core (practice unavailable)

    • At least one of the following alternatives:

      • Ag Pest (practice unavailable)
      • Fumigation (Commodity and Structural) (practice unavailable)
      • Greenhouse (practice unavailable)
      • Home, Industrial and Institutional (practice unavailable)
      • Ornamental & Turf (practice unavailable)
      • Public Health (practice unavailable)
      • Right of Way (practice unavailable)
      • Seed Treatment (practice unavailable)
      • Vertebrate (practice unavailable)
      • Wood Preservatives (practice unavailable)
Existing General Certification
Hold private general certification; currently offered general qualifying examinations remain leaves.
Fees
Pay the fee set by NDSU for this certification.
Soil Fumigation Class
Complete the commercial/public soil-fumigation class requirements. The rule identifies the classification rather than a separately identified currently offered NDSU examination; fulfill the Board-prescribed class requirements as an applicant condition.

Ag Pest

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Agricultural Pest Control (Plant and Animal)
Examination sources

Air/Ground Core

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • basic laws and safety
Examination sources

Fumigation (Commodity and Structural)

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Commodity and structural fumigation
Examination sources

Greenhouse

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Greenhouse
Examination sources

Ground Application Core

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
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 labeling requirements that a certified applicator must be physically present at the site of the application.
    • Understanding labeling requirements for supervising noncertified applicators working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
    • Understanding that applicators must comply with all use restrictions and directions for use contained in pesticide labels and labeling, including being certified in the certification category appropriate to the type and site of the 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.
    • 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 may 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.
    • 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 indoor and outdoor climatic conditions.
    • Types of terrain, soil, or other substrate.
    • Presence of fish, wildlife, and other non-target organisms.
    • Drainage patterns.
  • Pests
    • The importance of correctly identifying target pests and selecting the proper pesticide product(s) for effective pest control.
    • Verifying that the labeling does not prohibit the use of the product to control the target pest(s).
  • 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.
    • Dilution procedures.
  • Equipment
    • Types of equipment and advantages and limitations of each type.
    • Use, 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, aerial application, sodium cyanide, or sodium fluoroacetate requires additional certification.
    • How selection of application method and use of a pesticide may result in proper use, unnecessary or ineffective use, and misuse.
    • Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the environment.
  • Laws and regulations
  • Responsibilities of supervisors of noncertified applicators
    • Understanding and complying with requirements in Sec. 171.201 of this part for certified commercial applicators who supervise noncertified applicators using restricted use pesticides.
    • The recordkeeping requirements of pesticide safety training for noncertified applicators who use restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
    • Providing use-specific instructions to noncertified applicators using restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
    • Explaining pertinent State, Tribal, and Federal laws and regulations to noncertified applicators who use restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
  • Professionalism
    • Maintaining chemical security for restricted use pesticides.
    • How to communicate information about pesticide exposures and risks with customers and the public.
    • Appropriate product stewardship for certified applicators.
Examination sources

Home, Industrial and Institutional

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Home, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control
Examination sources

Ornamental & Turf

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Ornamental & Turf Pest Control
Examination sources

commodity and structural fumigation examination

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • agricultural commodities and in grain storage structures
Examination sources

Private General Applicator Exam

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Exam questions
30 questions following training; 60 questions without training or on examination renewal
Passing score
At least 70%
Practice scope

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

  • Label and Labeling Comprehension
    • General Label Format and Terminology
    • Instructions, Warnings, Terms, and Symbols
    • Use Consistent with Labeling
    • Physical Presence Requirements
    • Labeling and Supervised Applicators
    • Category-Specific Use Restrictions
    • Product Use Classification
    • Product-Specific Notification
    • Mandatory and Advisory Language
  • Safety
    • Acute and Chronic Toxicity
    • Risk, Toxicity, and Exposure
    • Routes of Exposure
    • Pesticide Mishaps
    • Protection of Applicators and Other People
    • Protective Clothing and PPE
    • Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning
    • First Aid and Mishap Response
    • Identification, Storage, Transport, Mixing, and Disposal
  • Environment
    • Weather and Climatic Conditions
    • Terrain, Soil, and Substrate
    • Fish, Wildlife, and Nontarget Organisms
    • Drainage Patterns
  • Pests
    • Pest Identification and Product Selection
    • Target Pest and Labeling Verification
  • Pesticides
    • Types of Pesticides
    • Types of Formulations
    • Compatibility, Synergism, Persistence, and Toxicity
    • Hazards and Residues
    • Effectiveness and Resistance
    • Dilution Procedures
  • Equipment
    • Equipment Types, Advantages, and Limitations
    • Equipment Use, Maintenance, and Calibration
  • Application Methods
    • Methods for Pesticide Forms and Formulations
    • Method Selection and Additional Certification
    • Proper, Ineffective, and Misuse Outcomes
    • Prevention of Drift and Environmental Loss
  • Laws and Regulations
    • Applicable State and Federal Requirements
  • Responsibilities for Supervisors of Noncertified Applicators
    • Direct Supervision Requirements
    • Use-Specific Instructions
    • Explaining Applicable Laws and Regulations
  • Stewardship
    • Restricted Use Pesticide Security
    • Communicating Exposure and Risk Information
  • Agricultural Pest Control
    • Pests of Agricultural Commodities
    • Ground and Surface Water Protection
    • Preharvest and Restricted-Entry Intervals
    • Animal Commodity Toxicity and Residues
    • Hazards of Pesticide Use on and Around Animals
Examination sources

vertebrate examination

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • restricted use fumigant pesticides for burrowing pest control
Examination sources

Public Health

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Public Health Pest Control
Examination sources

Right of Way

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Right-of-Way
Examination sources

Seed Treatment

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Seed Treatment Pest Control
Examination sources

Vertebrate

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Vertebrate Pest Control
Examination sources

Wood Preservatives

Provider
North Dakota State University Extension
Format
Monitored written examination in English
Passing score
At least 70%
Examination outline
  • Wood Preservatives
Examination sources