Private Pesticide Training
Private pesticide training is for those who purchase and/or use restricted use pesticide on land you own, rent, or lease. For initial certification or recertification, you may choose from the following options:
Option 1: Traditional in-person training. The training cost is $60/person. Be sure to bring the following three items with you to the in-person trainings listed:
- Driver's license or photo ID
- Bar-coded recertification form in the mail in December from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. A replacement form is available at the training. Not required, but please bring your dark orange & green private pesticide application card if possible.
- $60 cash (exact change is appreciated) or check made out to University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
In-person private pesticide applicator training sessions are scheduled from January - March every year. Pre-registration is required due to room capacity limitations. Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted.
Option 2: Online private self-study can be taken at https://pested.unl.edu/training-and-certification/private-applicator/. The online option takes 3 to 4 hours and allows for a test-out option at the beginning, and if passed (70% or better score), the rest of the online training is not required. This option is flexible to your schedule (you can start and stop as needed during the online training) and can be taken from home. The online training cost is $60/person. Not available until January 1, 2024.
Option 3: Walk-in testing sessions in Lincoln, that is taking a written, closed-book exam given by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Please visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/applicator_testing.html for a list of available test-only dates, times, and locations. There is no cost to the walk-in testing.
Option 4: Hard copy home self-study and exam is only offered in extraordinary circumstances. Applicators who were unable to attend in-person training, are unable to access the online training, or have a disability accommodation are allowed to take the home self-study and exam. Please contact the UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program at 402-472-1632 to be granted this option. The cost is $75/person.
Chemigation Training
Chemigation training is for those who apply fertilizer and/or chemicals through pivots and subsurface drip irrigation. For initial certification or recertification there are face-to-face and online testing options. These trainings are free.
Option 1: Online chemigation test can be taken at https://pested.unl.edu/training-and-certification/chemigation/. Check when your chemigation applicator certification expires (Click Here) to make sure you need to take the training again, since you get 4 years on your applicator license for chemigation (private pesticide is 3 years).
Option 2: Free in-person trainings are held from January to March every year at different locations. Pre-registration is required due to room capacity limitations. Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted.