The Pesticide and Fertilizer Program certifies private and commercial applicators to use restricted use pesticide products. The law associated with this area of our program is the Kansas Pesticide Law.

To qualify for certification, a pesticide applicator must show adequate knowledge of the type of pesticide application that he or she intends to perform. By educating, training, and testing persons who apply pesticides, we are able to assure consumers that the person applying pesticides to their lawn, home, or workplace is knowledgeable and qualified.

Do not confuse your commercial applicator certification with a Pesticide Business License.

In some states, commercial certification is all that is needed to make commercial applications, but that is not the case in Kansas.

For you to use your commercial certification to provide pesticide application work for compensation, you need to do one of the following:

• Work as an employee of a business that is properly licensed to perform pesticide application work in the categories of your certification; or
• Obtain your own Pesticide Business License to perform pesticide application work.

Pesticide Applicator Determination

Please read and adhere to the restricted use pesticide (RUP) block at the top of the product label. Some of the RUP labels limit the use of that product to a certified applicator and/or prohibit use by a supervised uncertified applicator. Unless otherwise stated in the RUP block, there is no use of these products (e.g., handling, mixing, loading, application) that may be performed by an individual without a current pesticide applicator certification in the appropriate category or subcategory. This restriction applies to both commercial and private applications.

Note: An applicator is only considered certified when using a pesticide within their certification category or subcategory. When using a pesticide outside of their certification, they are uncertified. Therefore, if an RUP block limits any of the uses to a certified applicator and/or prohibits supervision of an uncertified applicator, those uses may only be performed by an applicator with the proper certification.

Private Pesticide Applicator Certification

A private pesticide applicator certification may only be used to apply or supervise the application of a restricted use pesticide product according to label directions for the purpose of:

• Producing an agricultural commodity
  • On property owned or rented by the private certified applicator or such person's employer; or
  • If applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities, on property owned or rented by another producer of an agricultural commodity.

Private certification may be obtained by passing an open book examination at a county extension office. The complete list of locations can be found at Kansas State University Extension Statewide Locations. Contact the county extension office in advance to ensure the office will be open, and allow 2-3 hours to complete the examination.

The county extension office will collect the $25 fee and mail the completed examination to KDA for grading and issuance of the certification card. Private applicator certification expires on the individual’s birthday in the 5th calendar year after it is issued.

The Private Applicator Manual (MF-531) is available through Kansas State University Extension. Physical copies may be ordered online or in person through the Kansas State University Extension Bookstore. For questions about ordering, the bookstore may be reached at 785-532-5830 or orderpub@ksu.edu.

Recertification notices may be mailed to the applicator’s home address or to the applicator's email address. Please inform KDA of any changes to your address or contact information to make sure you receive your renewal notice.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator - Initial Certification

Initial certification must be accomplished by examination. Applicants must pass the general exam and a category or subcategory exam to become commercially certified.

Please view the handout Commercial Applicator Certification Categories for additional information pertaining to categories or subcategories of certification.

Fees are $45 per exam, including the general exam and any exam retake.

For the current pesticide commercial applicator examination schedule, head to the Pesticide Certification Exam Schedule. Pre-registration is required and is available online.

Commercial Applicator Study Manuals may be found on the Kansas State University Extension website. Physical copies may be ordered online or in person through the Kansas State University Extension Bookstore. For questions about ordering, the bookstore may be reached at 785-532-5830 or orderpub@ksu.edu.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator - Recertification

Recertification for Kansas residents or nonresidents who do not qualify for reciprocity may be accomplished by examination or training.

If electing to recertify by examination, the same steps must be followed as Initial Certification. 

Applicators electing to recertify by training must earn:

• 3, 5 or 7 category or subcategory credits, and
• 1 core hour

Please view the the handout Commercial Applicator Recertification Information for additional information pertaining to recertification requirements.

Commercial applicators may attend training at any point during the current certification period and are encouraged to attend training events as they are made available.

Commercial applicators have until December 31 of the year of expiration to earn recertification training credits. While training makes you eligible for renewal, it will not automatically renew your certification. To renew, submit the appropriate fees and application(s) to KDA, or login to your KDA portal account to complete the renewal process online.

Failure to renew on or before 30 days following expiration of the certification period will result in an automatic forfeiture of all earned credits, and you must renew your certification by examination. Recertification by examination is the same as above.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator - Reciprocal

Reciprocal agreements between states allow Kansas residents to reciprocate to selected other states and non-residents to reciprocate to Kansas. If you are out of state with a current certification in your home state, and we have a reciprocal agreement with your state, then you will not need to take the examination for the associated category(s) or subcategory(s), but you will have to pay the certification fee for each category or subcategory. Non-commercial applicators are not eligible for reciprocation into Kansas.

Submit the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Application with payment and we will request the verification directly from the state. Once we have received verification, we will issue the certification and email it to you.

Information sheets are listed below to help determine if you qualify for reciprocation of your certification.

• Indiana - Reciprocal Requirements
• Minnesota - Reciprocal Requirements
• Missouri - Reciprocal Requirements
• Nebraska - Reciprocal Requirements
• Oklahoma - Reciprocal Requirements
• Texas - Reciprocal Requirements