Pesticides are vital for managing pests that reduce crop yield, spread disease, clog waterways, or otherwise jeopardize our quality of life. Common types of pesticides include herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and insecticides. The goal of pesticide applicator certification and licensing is to protect people, property, the food supply, and the environment from pests and pesticide misuse by ensuring applicator competency.

In North Carolina, you need a pesticide license to apply pesticides for compensation on someone else's property or if you sell restricted-use pesticides (RUPs). Consultants who recommend pesticide treatments must also have a license. To obtain a license, you must first be certified. The certification process (training and testing) varies depending on whether you're applying pesticides indoors (structural) or outdoors. Farmers (private applicators) who want to apply RUPs to their crops must also be certified, but they do not need to be licensed.

This publication explains the certification and licensing procedures for private, public, and commercial (nonstructural) pesticide applicators in North Carolina. It also explains the roles of the two certification and licensing entities: the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division. Certification and licensing information for structural pesticide applicators is available in a separate publication titled Structural Pest Control: A Certification Manual for North Carolina, which can be purchased through the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program.

Pesticides are classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as either general use or restricted use. General-use pesticides (GUPs) can be purchased at retail stores without restrictions. The user must follow the label directions when applying GUPs, but recordkeeping is not required. RUPs, on the other hand, are considered to have greater potential for harm to humans, the environment, or both. A certificate or license is required to purchase and use them. RUPs can be sold only by licensed pesticide dealers. Recordkeeping is required for their sale and application. RUPs are indicated on the front of the label, as shown in the following example.

NC State Extension's North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program conducts two-day Pesticide Safety Schools to prepare prospective applicators for the private and commercial applicator pesticide exams administered by the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides, Pesticide Section. Attendance at a Pesticide Safety School is not required for certification. Contact information for both organizations appears at the end of this publication.

Pesticide applicators seeking certification must take the appropriate exam(s), either online or in person. To find upcoming exam dates, exam fees, and to register for an exam, visit the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides, Pesticide Section. Exam questions are based on information found in training manuals that can be purchased from the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education eStore. Order the manuals at least three weeks before taking an exam to allow sufficient time to receive, read, and review the information. Some exams are available in Spanish. All exams have applicable fees. For in-person exams, bring the following items to the exam site:

• No. 2 pencil
• Nonprogrammable calculator (smartphones are prohibited)
• Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license
• A check or money order for the exam fee (made payable to NCDA&CS)

A minimum score of 70% is required for certification. Results are available through the NCDA&CS website in 7 to 10 business days. Except for structural licensing exams (which must be preapproved by the NCDA&CS), there is no waiting period to retake a failed exam and no limit to the number of retakes.

A private pesticide applicator is anyone who uses—or supervises the use of—any RUP on their own property or rented property to produce an agricultural commodity. An agricultural commodity is any plant or part of a plant, or any animal or animal product, produced for sale, feed, food, or other uses. Examples of private applicators include farmers, nursery operators, Christmas tree growers, sod producers, and beekeepers. A private applicator may apply RUPs for a neighbor if it is considered a trading of services between two producers of agricultural commodities.

A private applicator must be at least 18 years old to participate in a certification program. Likewise, noncertified applicators working under the supervision of a certified private applicator must be at least 18 years old. Noncertified applicators who are 16 or older, however, may apply pesticides under the supervision of an immediate family member who is a certified applicator. This exception does NOT apply to aerial applications of an RUP or the use of fumigants. Any other person working under the direct supervision of a certified private applicator, such as a pesticide handler who is required to apply pesticides as part of their assigned duties, is subject to the EPA's Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements and must be at least 18 years old.

Requirements for Initial Certification

• Pass the 50-question, closed-book, multiple-choice Private Applicator Exam (exam fee required) based on the North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual.
• After obtaining a passing score (70% minimum), the NCDA&CS will provide an attestation form (application for Private Pesticide Certification). The attestation form is a legal document that attests to the applicant's involvement in producing an agricultural commodity.
• Submit the attestation form and specified fee to NCDA&CS. The NCDA&CS will send a Private Applicator Certification Card upon receipt of the signed form and payment. This card expires on December 31 of the third year following the year of initial certification.

Private Applicator Certification Categories

Once you obtain initial certification by passing the Private Applicator Exam, categories may be added to the private applicator certification by taking a separate 50-question category exam for each category to be added. The three categories include:

• Commodity Fumigation (Z_(CF))—the application of fumigants to control pests in commodity storage structures (steel grain bins, concrete silos with elevators, and bulk flat storages, whether covered with a tarpaulin or inside a structure).
• Soil Fumigation (Z_(SF))—the application of fumigants to control soilborne pests.
• Aerial (Z_(P))—the application of pesticides by aircraft (plane, helicopter, or unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs]) to crops grown on land owned or leased by the applicator. Aerial applicators must meet additional requirements, which are described below.

Private aerial license applicators (pilots or apprentices, as described later in the Commercial Aerial Applicator section) must first meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

Two key differences between private and commercial aerial certification are:

• The certification period for private aerial applicators is three years, compared to two years required for commercial aerial applicators.
• Unlike the requirements for commercial applicators, private aerial applicators do not need a business license as an aerial contractor, and no aircraft inspection is required.

There is no additional certification fee to add categories to a private applicator certification; however, exam fees apply each time you take an exam. Manuals for these categories are available through the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education eStore. Category exams for private applicators—commodity fumigation, soil fumigation, and aerial methods—are open-book. The NCDA&CS provides the manual or book at the exam site; no outside notes or materials are permitted.

Private Applicator Recertification (No Additional Categories)

Private applicators must renew their certification every three years by completing one of the following requirements:

• Earn four hours (two hours of V credit and two hours of X credit) of continuing education units (CEUs) by September 30 of the third year following certification.

OR

• Pay for and pass the private pesticide applicator exam again.

Earning recertification CEUs requires documented attendance at a two-hour pesticide safety class (V credit), offered at many local N.C. Cooperative Extension centers, and at least two hours of specialized training (X credit) any time during the three-year recertification period. Recertification classes for the Private Applicator V category may be conducted only by North Carolina Cooperative Extension. X credit may be earned by attending educational meetings approved by NCDA&CS and conducted by Cooperative Extension, commodity groups, private industry, or other associations.

Private Applicator Recertification (with Additional Categories)

Private applicators with additional certification categories must recertify every three years by completing one of the following requirements:

• Earn four CEUs (two hours of V credit and two hours of X credit) by September 30 of the third year following certification. One of the X credits must be specific to each category.

OR

• Pay for and pass the private applicator and required category exam(s) again.

The private applicator can satisfy up to two X category credits by earning CEUs in the categories held (for example, Soil Fumigation, Z_(SF)). However, if certification is sought in all three private applicator categories—Soil Fumigation, Commodity Fumigation, and Aerial—a total of five CEUs is required: two hours of V credit and one hour of X credit for each certification category (see Table 1).

*Recertification classes for the Private Applicator V category may be conducted only by North Carolina Cooperative Extension. ↲

**Private applicators who have already obtained a commercial aerial applicator license or a commercial license with soil fumigation can add the certification to their existing private applicator certification. ↲

***If certified in multiple categories and any have lapsed, the applicator must pass the exam for the lapsed category or categories only. ↲

Contact your local N.C. Cooperative Extension center or visit the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program or the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division—Pesticide Section for a list of approved courses. After completion of recertification requirements, private applicators will receive a Certification Renewal Application from NCDA&CS. This form must be signed and returned to NCDA&CS, along with a renewal fee (as indicated on the form or on the website). Once the application and payment are processed, certification will be renewed for three years, and a new certification card will be mailed to the applicator.

Single-Purchase, Emergency-Use Permit

A person who did not anticipate the need for an RUP and who has not previously been certified as a private pesticide applicator may obtain a one-time emergency-use permit at the discretion of the pesticide coordinator at their local Extension center. This permit authorizes the purchase and use of one RUP for a single application to a specific crop or site. The approved single-purchase, emergency-use permit must be submitted to the pesticide dealer at the time of purchase. Anyone who uses a one-time emergency-use permit must become certified if planning to use RUPs again.

A commercial pesticide applicator is anyone who uses—or supervises the use of—any pesticide on someone else’s property for compensation. A public operator—a type of commercial pesticide applicator—is any government worker who applies or supervises the application of any pesticide as part of their job (Table 3).

Commercial pesticide applicators and public operators must be licensed by the NCDA&CS. To be eligible for a license, applicators must first become certified by passing the exam(s) with a minimum score of 70%. Applicators must be certified in all categories in which they will operate. Table 2 contains a list of categories and the corresponding letter designations. Training manuals for all certification exams are available from the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education eStore.

*The Core Exam is designated as category “E” by the NCDA&CS for licensing purposes. ↲
**Aerial is also considered a license type (see Table 3). ↲

Requirements for Initial Certification

Initial certification in commercial applicator categories requires passing at least two exams: the Core Exam (100 questions), based on the material in the North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual, and a category exam (50 questions). Exam fees apply. Additional certifications may be added by passing the appropriate category exam without retaking the Core Exam. NCDA&CS will provide a Pesticide License Application to anyone eligible for licensing. The signed form must be returned to NCDA&CS along with the licensing fee. The licensing fee is not required for public operators employed by government agencies (see Table 3). Commercial applicator certification expires on December 31 of the fifth year following initial certification. Aerial applicator certification expires on December 31 of the second year following the initial certification.

Requirements for Recertification

There are two recertification options:

• Earn the required number of CEUs by June 30 of the year the certification expires.

OR

• Pay for and pass the Core Exam and category exams again.

The number of recertification credit hours needed and the letter designation for each category are listed in Table 2. Credits for each category must be earned in at least two different calendar years during the five-year certification period. Pesticide recertification CEUs may be earned by attending educational programs that have been preapproved for credits by NCDA&CS. Make sure that the program you participate in includes the required certification category letter designation (see Table 2).

Pesticide recertification credit status (number of credits earned per category) can be checked through the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division—Pesticide Section website. Allow two to three weeks for attendance records to be posted on this website. Credits are not carried over from one (five-year) recertification period to the next. Individuals certified in two or more categories must complete the total number of credits in the category carrying the highest requirement and then three credits in each additional category. For example, Ornamental and Turf (L) requires ten credits, and Aquatic (A) requires six credits. A person certified in both categories must obtain ten credits for Ornamental and Turf and three credits for Aquatic. Note that Demonstration and Research always requires ten credits for renewal, and all of the credits for the additional category must be earned as well. Credits for all categories added during a recertification period must be earned before the expiration date of the initial recertification period. If you are currently certified and add a category in the last year of your certification, no CEUs are required for that category until the new recertification cycle begins. The certification date does not change if additional categories are added.

Licensing

A pesticide license permits the license holder to apply or supervise a pesticide application (see Noncertified Applicator). The North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971 requires each business location to have a licensed pesticide applicator on staff.

All licenses expire on December 31 each year and are renewed annually. Only an individual with a valid certification may renew a pesticide license by submitting a signed application and paying the licensing fee. A commercial applicator must be licensed in any year in which the applicator will be applying pesticides or supervising their use. The license is also required to purchase an RUP.

Table 3 summarizes the five main license types. The NCDA&CS website has a complete list of license types and categories.

*Public Operator is a general license category description. The specific license category for any Public Operator license is determined by the government agency of employment. For Public Operator ground applications, the license types are Federal/State (031), City/County (032), or Public Utility (033). For Public Operator aerial applications, the license types are Federal/State (034), City/County (035), and Public Utility (036). ↲

There are three main licensing designations for individuals who apply pesticides or oversee their application by helicopter, plane, or UAV.

Pilot - Aerial Pesticide Applicators must have completed the requirements for Aerial Apprentice. Traditional pilots (helicopter and plane) must provide FAA license information. UAV pilots must provide FAA107 or equivalent information.

An Apprentice - Aerial Pesticide Applicator must operate under the direct supervision of a licensed pilot and obtain one year and 125 hours of experience to become eligible for a Pilot - Aerial Pesticide Applicator license.

An Aerial Contractor license is required for each aerial pesticide application business. Each aerial pilot or apprentice is required to work under the supervision of a licensed contractor. The pilot or apprentice can either hold their own contractor license or work for a licensed contractor. To be eligible, you must submit an FAA137 Certificate and pass the tests to meet the Pilot - Aerial Pesticide Applicator license requirements. UAV candidates must provide an FAA137 waiver if no certificate is required.

The Pilot, Apprentice, and Contractor must pass the Core Exam, the Aerial Methods Exam, and an exam for any applicable category or categories before applying for a license. All exam fees apply. An aerial applicator can be certified in any category listed in Table 2 except Seed Treatment, Wood Treatment, or Agriculture Pest Animal.

Specialized licensing categories also exist for people who apply pesticides aerially in the public sector based on their area of employment, including Public Utility Aerial Applicator, Federal/State Public Pesticide Operator (Aerial), and County/City Public Pesticide Operator (Aerial). These specialized licenses DO NOT include contractors or other individuals hired to perform the services.

The Pilot, Apprentice, and Contractor licenses expire on December 31 of the second year following initial certification.

Aerial applicator licenses must be renewed annually, and NCDA&CS must inspect aircraft annually. See Table 2 for recertification requirements.

The North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971 permits an unlicensed pesticide user to apply GUPs and RUPs under the supervision of a licensed applicator. The supervised, unlicensed pesticide user is referred to as a noncertified applicator (nCA). Specific training requirements went into effect in 2025.

Unless stated otherwise on the pesticide label, the supervisor does not have to be physically present at the treatment site during application but must be available to the nCA by reasonable communication (such as phone or radio contact) and able to respond to emergencies. The supervisor and the nCA will be held responsible for any pesticide misuse.

The nCA must be trained to follow the label instructions, be familiar with safe handling techniques, and be aware of pertinent laws and regulations. Training must be completed before the nCA's first application and renewed annually. A state-approved video and other nCA resources are available on the NCDA&CS New Certification & Training Regulations - Pesticide Section website. Other training may be acceptable if the NCDA&CS approves it.

The supervising applicator must do each of the following:

• Be certified in the category of supervision and conduct state-approved training.
• Create the required nCA record before the pesticide application, containing the following information:
  • Name of the nCA and signature.
  • Date the training requirement was met, either initial or annual (the training must have occurred within 12 months of the pesticide application).
  • Name of the person conducting the training.
  • Title or description of the training provided.
• Make the record available for inspection for at least two years following the first pesticide application by the nCA.

Training is NOT REQUIRED if the application

• does not require a license;
• is not for compensation; or
• is performed as part of the duties of the employee on the employer’s property.

The nCA trainer (if that person is not the supervisor) must also meet eligibility requirements. The trainer must

• be a currently certified applicator in the category of supervision; or
• be a certifying authority designated trainer of nCAs or handlers; or
• have completed the EPA's Worker Protection Standard Train-the-Trainer program.

North Carolina has reciprocal agreements with multiple states, which vary by the certification or license types described in this section. This means that a state has agreed to accept the standards of competency (training, testing, and recertification) and enforcement procedures required by another state. Reciprocity varies by certification or license types described in this section. If a nonresident applicator becomes a resident of North Carolina, the terms of reciprocity are no longer an option. In this case, that person must take the appropriate North Carolina exam(s) to become certified and licensed.

Commercial ground applicators can be issued a reciprocal license if they have proof of certification by passing a written examination in Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida. A valid certification card must be presented before a reciprocal license will be issued, and an annual fee applies. Recertification can be maintained through the applicator’s home state or through earning the appropriate number of CEUs in North Carolina.

Private applicators can be issued a reciprocal North Carolina certification, provided they have proof of certification from another state. The reciprocal certification period is three years, and fees apply. A valid certification card must be presented before a reciprocal certification will be issued. Recertification can be maintained through the applicator’s home state or by earning the appropriate number of CEUs in North Carolina.

North Carolina aerial applicators do not have reciprocity with other states. Emergency reciprocity may be granted by the state in which the application will occur upon the declaration of a public health emergency by an appropriate state or local official (such as a State or County Health Director) in Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi only. This limited Aerial Applicator’s license is issued in only the Public Health (B) category. Reciprocal licenses are not available for pesticide dealers and pesticide consultants.

Applicators who are licensed in North Carolina may also qualify for a similar license in other states. A list of state pesticide regulatory agencies can be found at the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website.

Table 4 provides a summary of the options for commercial certification, recertification, licensing, and reciprocity.

*Failure to obtain the necessary category credits within one or more areas of specialization does not invalidate other areas of specialization, nor does it jeopardize commercial applicator certification status, as long as the minimum recertification requirements have been met. ↲

All educational programs for pesticide recertification credit (private and commercial) must be preapproved by the NCDA&CS. Course sponsors may apply for pesticide recertification CEUs by visiting the NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division—Pesticide Section website.

Credit will be given only for pesticide-related topics. The number of credit hours equates to the number of hours of pesticide training scheduled. Approval is sent to the training supervisor via email.

Information on pesticide training manuals and schools:

North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University, Campus Box 7609, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609, (919) 515-3113.

Information on pesticide laws, certification exams, and licensing:

Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, Pesticide Section, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, 1090 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1090, (984) 236-4575.

This publication was prepared in cooperation with the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The authors thank Phyllis Knight, with the North Carolina Pesticide Safety Education Program, and Holly Del Grande and John Feagans, with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, for reviewing this publication.