Delaware Pesticide Licensing and Certification

About 5 of every 50 questions on a Delaware Core practice exam come from this topic.

Sources checked November 10, 2026

What to know

Delaware's pesticide law (3 Del. C. ch. 12) is run by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Only a certified applicator, or someone under a certified applicator's direct supervision, may use a restricted use pesticide, and applicants for certification must be at least 18. Certification is classed as commercial or private; a private applicator produces an agricultural commodity on land the applicator owns or rents and needs no business license. Anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another's land or personal property needs a Department license, which stays valid only while the licensee is certified or employs a certified applicator at all times; at least one of its certified applicators needs 2 years of supervised practical experience gained in the previous 3 years, though turf and ornamental applicators are exempt from that requirement and research plots are exempt from licensing. Licensees prove financial responsibility by surety bond or liability insurance (general liability with completed operation coverage), must replace an unsatisfactory bond at once, and lose the license if they no longer employ an experienced certified applicator. Nonresidents appoint the Secretary of State to accept legal process. Commercial exams are written and closed book; 70% passes, one reexam comes at least 45 days later, and no category may be taken more than twice in 12 months. The general standards include applicable State and Federal laws. Commercial certification runs to December 31 each year; 7A needs 18 training hours in the 3 prior calendar years, private applicators 3. A 90-day grace period bars RUP purchase, use and supervision. Licensees register and train every pesticide-handling employee within 45 days, update training yearly, and mark service vehicles.

Where it comes from

• 3 Del. C. §§ 1202, 1216, 1217
• 3 Del. C. §§ 1206-1213
• 3 Del. C. §§ 1220, 1222
• 3 Del. Admin. Code 601-4.0, 5.0, 15.0
• 3 Del. Admin. Code 601-8.0, 9.0, 12.0

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