Nevada Pesticide Licensing and Certification

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

Sources checked November 10, 2026

What to know

Nevada requires an applicator license from the Director of the State Department of Agriculture for pest control for hire, plus a business license that expires each December 31. A principal is an owner, officer, partner, member or technician who qualified by examination; every business needs a primary principal, and loses its license 120 days after losing one (30 days for one location of a multi-location business). Principal applicants need 2 years' experience, or 16 biological science credits plus 6 months' experience; operators need only the age of majority and a licensed employer. Principals take a core exam, a separate Nevada laws exam and category exams, passing each at 70 percent with a 10-day retest wait; operators take core and category exams at 65 percent, and agents a presentation-based exam. Cheating bars testing for 6 months. Renewal takes six units a year; principals need one on pesticide laws and may count only three in business management. Licenses are returned within 15 working days after a job ends, and after 2 years away the exams are retaken. Businesses carry liability and property damage insurance; crop damage complaints are due before half the crop is harvested. Qualifying farmers and gardeners are exempt from licensing but not restricted-use rules. Violations are misdemeanors plus fines. Certified applicators must be 18 and renew with 12 units in 4 years; trainee registrations last 90 days.

Where it comes from

• NRS 555.2679, 555.2677, 555.280, 555.300
• NRS 555.277, 555.330, 555.350, 555.351, 555.460
• NAC 555.320, 555.340, 555.380
• NAC 555.350, 555.372, 555.385, 555.395
• NAC 555.280, 555.670, 555.680, 555.685
• LCB File No. R127-23 (applicator trainees)

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