License Types

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Pesticide Applicator License Types

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is the authority regulating pesticide use in Minnesota. The MDA certifies applicators as competent and qualified to obtain a license by initial testing; applicators whom the MDA deem as qualified may obtain a pesticide applicator license. The MDA issues different license types with specific catagories depending on the intended application site.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator

Commercial pesticide applicator licenses are for pesticide applicators who apply any pesticide (including herbicides) “for hire”. For hire means you charge or invoice for the service. To become licensed an applicant must:

Complete a New Pesticide Applicator License Application Form
Pay license fee and surcharge before taking certification exams
Pass at least 2 certification exams, CORE and one other category
Aerial Applicators must pass CORE, Aerial and at least one other category.
Meet financial responsibility requirements. See Financial Responsibility Requirements
Recertify to renew license as required; see Pesticide Applicator Recertification Requirements

Pesticide Applicator License Categories

Category Code	Commercial	Noncommercial	Category	For application of
A	Yes	Yes	CORE	basic principles of pesticide regulation and application; required for all licensed applicators
B	Yes	Yes	General Aerial	Pesticides with an aircraft
C	Yes	Yes	Field Crop Pest Management	Herbicides, fungicides and / or insecticides to agricultural crops
E	Yes	Yes	Turf & Ornamentals	Pesticides to non-agricultural areas or for ornamental propagation including lawns, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, nurseries, greenhouses
F	Yes	Yes	Aquatic	Pesticides to surface water or areas where water is present to control aquatic organism , plants
G	Yes	Yes	Forest Spraying	Pesticides in forested areas or forest plantations
H	Yes	Yes	Seed Treatment	Insecticides and fungicides to seed
I	Yes	Yes	Anti-Microbial	pesticide to HVAC ventilation systems, cooling towers and for indoor mold mitigation & remediation
J	Yes	Yes	Rights-of-Way	Pesticides to rights-of-way including roads, utilities, ditch banks and non crop areas adjacent to surface water
K	Yes	Yes	Agricultural Pest Control –Animal	Pesticides to farm buildings and farm animals
L	Yes	Yes	Mosquito and Black Fly Control	Pesticides for mosquito and black fly control
M	No	Yes	Food Processing Pest Management (Noncommercial)	Pesticides to food processing areas (not for hire)
N	Yes	Yes	Stored Grain and Fumigation	Fumigants and other pesticides to stored grain, processed grain, other commodities and facilities (fumigation endorsement for structural applicator)
O	Yes	Yes	Soil Fumigation	Pesticides to soil
P	Yes	Yes	Pocket Gopher	Pesticides for pocket gopher in a non turf area
Q	Yes	Yes	Wood Preservatives	Chemical wood preservatives to lumber such as utility poles, fence posts, structural lumber, and railroad ties
R	Yes	Yes	Sewer Root Control	Pesticides for root control in sewer lines
S	No	Yes	Noncommercial Structural	Pesticides on, in, under or around structures (not for hire)
SPCA	Yes	No	Structural-Master,	Pesticides on, in, under or around structures
SPCA	Yes	No	Structural -Journeyman	Pesticides on, in, under or around structures
SPCA	Yes	No	Fumigant Endorsement	Fumigant in a structure (building or grain facility)

Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator

Noncommercial licenses are for all pesticide applicators that apply restricted use pesticides (RUP) as part of their job on property owned or contracted by their employer. To become licensed an applicant must:

Complete a New Pesticide Applicator License Application Form
Pay license fee and surcharge before taking certification exams (noncommercial government is exempt from paying surcharge); noncommercial government applicators pay $10
Pass at least 2 certification exams, CORE or General Aerial and one other category
Recertify to renew as required. See Pesticide Applicator Recertification Requirements

Structural Pest Control Applicator

Structural Pest Control Applicator licenses are for applicators that apply pesticides on or in structures. To become licensed an applicant must:

Complete a New Pesticide Applicator License Application Form
Pay license fee before taking certification exam
Be employed by a licensed structural pest control company with a Master applicator
Pass a certification exam
Meet financial responsibility requirements. See Financial Responsibility Requirements
Recertify to renew as required. See Pesticide Applicator Recertification Requirements
Categories include Master*, Journeyman and Fumigator.

*To become licensed as a Master, the applicator must work for 2 years as a Journeyman under a Master.

Structural Pest Control Company

Structural Pest Control Company licenses are for companies that apply pesticides in and around structures. To become licensed a company must:

Complete a New Pesticide Applicator License Application Form
Pay license fee and surcharge
Employ at least one licensed Master applicator
Provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance for compensated employees

License fees and surcharges (as of 7/1/07)

License Type	License Fee	ACCRA Surcharge	Total	Duplicate License Fee
Commercial Applicator	$50	$8.25	$58.25	$10
Noncommercial Applicator	$50	$8.25	$58.25	$10
Noncommercial-Government	$10	N/A	$10	$10
Structural Pest Control Applicator	$50	N/A	$50	N/A
Structural Pest Control Company	$200	$33	$233	N/A

Contact Us

Questions regarding a pesticide applicator license call 651-201-6021