Idaho Pesticide Applicator Requirements & FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about Idaho's pesticide certification, and state approved continuing education.

Renewal Deadline: Applicator certifications must be renewed every two years on the anniversary of initial certification.

CE Requirements: Private Applicators - 7 credits; Professional Applicators - 16 credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Pesticide Applicator General Information

State Contact information for licensing questions

Phone: (208) 332-8600
Fax: (208) 334-2170
Email: info@isda.idaho.gov
Web: Idaho Department of Agriculture

What kind of Idaho Pesticide Applicator's Certification do I need?

Private Applicator - Private Applicators use or supervise the use of agricultural chemicals to produce agricultural commodities or forest crops on land owned or operated by the Private Applicator or his employer.

Professional Applicator - Professional Applicators apply or supervise, on site, the application of pesticides on the land or property of another for compensation OR apply pesticides or fertilizers through irrigation systems on the land or property of another for compensation OR offer or supply technical advice or recommendations regarding the use of agricultural pesticides.

For commercial applicators – minimum and maximum categories allowed.

What classifications and categories of applicator's certification does Idaho have?

The Idaho Plant Board recognizes the following classification of applicator licensing:

Private Applicators – an individual who applies or supervises the application of any restricted use pesticides on agricultural commodities on property owned or rented without compensation.

• RU Category: individuals who apply or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities or forest crops on land owned by themselves or their employer
• CH Category: individuals who apply pesticides or fertilizers through irrigation systems they own or their employer owns
• SF Category: individuals who apply fumigation chemicals to soils by application methods including Chemigation

Professional Applicators – apply or supervise the application of pesticides on land or property of another for compensation or apply pesticides/fertilizers through irrigation systems on another individual’s land for compensation or offer/supply technical advice/recommendations regarding the use of agricultural pesticides.

• LS – Law and Safety This exam covers general knowledge of pesticides, their use and disposal, first aid, labeling and laws. Recommended study material: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual.

Agricultural Categories

• *AH – Agricultural Herbicide - Certification in this category allows for herbicide applications in agricultural fields, rights-of-way, forests and rangelands. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Agriculture Herbicide Study Manual, Thirty Common Agricultural Weeds in Idaho, and Agricultural Weed Management Principles.
• *AI – Agricultural Insecticide/Fungicide - Certification in this category allows for insecticide/fungicide applications in agricultural fields, rights-of-way, forests and rangelands. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Agricultural Insect & Plant Disease Manual, and Introduction to Insect & Disease Management.
• CH – Chemigation - For applying chemicals through an irrigation system – except for aquatic pest control applications (For aquatic pest control, the AP Category is required). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Chemigation Educational Materials.
• CP – Commodity Pest Control - For controlling pests in stored commodities such as grain, seeds or wood. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Stored Grain Pest Control.
• *LP – Livestock Pest Control - For treating cattle, sheep or other livestock. Recommended Study Materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Agricultural Insect & Plant Disease Manual, and Livestock Pests Study Guide.
• PC – Potato Cellar Pest Control - For persons who apply sprout inhibitors in potato cellars. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual.
• RC – Rodent Control - For rodent districts, and others, controlling field rodents. Certification in the General Pest Control Category shall exempt the applicant from the need to certify in this category. Suggested study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, General Vertebrate Study Packet, Study Manual for Pest Management Professionals, and Animal Damage Control.
• *SF – Soil Fumigation - Certification in this category allows for applying fumigation chemicals to soils by all application methods including professional Chemigation. Recommended study material: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Soil Fumigation Manual.
• ST – Seed Treatment - For persons doing treatments to protect seeds used for plant reproduction (does not cover fumigation treatments, must have the CP Category). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Seed Treatment.
• SW – Statewide Consultant - For persons who consult or recommend the use of pesticide products in agricultural or forest situations. This is not an applicator category unless accompanied by the Demonstration and Research Category or other specific categories. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Agriculture Herbicide Study Manual, Agricultural Insect & Plant Disease Manual, Agricultural Weed Management Principles, Animal Damage Control, General Vertebrate Study Packet, Introduction to Insect & Disease Management, Livestock Pests Study Guide, Soil Fumigation, Stored Grain Pests Control, and Thirty Common Agricultural Weeds of Idaho.
• DR – Demonstration and Research (A person is only eligible to license in this category by passing the SW examination) - For persons who apply or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides at no charge to demonstrate the action of the pesticide or conduct research with restricted use pesticides. Recommended study materials: See SW (Statewide Consultants Category).RESIDENTIAL/URBAN CATEGORIES:
• AP – Aquatic Pest Control - For irrigation districts, canal companies and others controlling pests on aquatic sites. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Aquatic Pest Control, and Sewer Line Root Control
• *GP – General Pest Control Operator (PCO) - For controlling pests in and around residential, commercial or other buildings, excluding structural destroying pests (structural destroying pest control requires the SP Category). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Study Manual for Pest Management Professionals.
• *OH – Ornamental Herbicide - For persons doing outside urban or residential herbicide applications, with the exception of soil sterilant applications (soil sterilants require the RW or AH Category). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Thirty Common Ornamental Weeds in Idaho, and Turf & Ornamental Weed Management Principles.
• *OI – Ornamental Insecticide/Fungicide - For persons doing outside urban or residential insecticide and fungicide applications, including exterior applications to residential, urban or commercial buildings, excluding structural destroying pests (structural destroying pest control requires the SP Category). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Introduction to Insect & Disease Mgmt.
• *PH – Public Health Pest Control - For mosquito abatement districts and others controlling public health pests. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Public Health Pest Control.
• *RW – Right-of-Way Herbicide - For railroads, highway departments and others controlling roadside weeds on public lands (non-crop). An applicator’s certification in the Agricultural Herbicide (AH) category shall satisfy the requirement to certify in this category. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Agriculture Herbicide Study Manual, Agricultural Weed Management Principles, Thirty Common Right-of-Way Weeds in Idaho.
• *SP – Structural Destroying Pests - For persons controlling wood destroying pests in pre-existing structures such as houses, bridges, buildings or other like structures. Does not include wood treatment with preservatives such as CCA, Penta or other chemicals (wood preservative applications require the WP Category). Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Study Manual for Pest Management Professionals.
• WP – Wood Preservative - For persons applying wood preservatives. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Wood Preservation. GOVERNMENT
• *FE – Forest Environment - Primarily for US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management personnel, contractors, and private industry personnel who control pests on forests and rangelands. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual and Forest Environment Pesticide Study Manual.
• GV – General Vertebrate Control - For US Wildlife Services and Plant Health Inspection Service controlling vertebrates, such as rodents, predators, and birds. Recommended study materials: The Idaho Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, General Vertebrate Study Packet, and Animal Damage Control.