Pesticide Applicator License Exam Requirements by State
Every state certifies pesticide applicators with a core exam on the federal competencies and its own pesticide law, usually followed by a category exam. Of the 29 core exams below, in 26 states, 20 of the 25 with a published pass mark require 70%. "Not published" means the state agency or its exam provider does not publish that number.
Each state's name links to its requirements page, with who takes which exam; each exam's name links to its practice test. Each row's sources were checked on the date in the last column.
| State | Core exam | Given by | Questions | Time limit | Pass mark | Exam fee | Sources as of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | General Standards Test | ADAI, on paper in Montgomery or by computer at testing sites around Alabama | 50 | Not published | Not published | $75 per exam on paper; $125 per exam by computer (Alabama Extension) | |
| Alaska | Core Exam | online testing centers around Alaska (paper exam by arranged proctor if needed), for DEC | Not published | 80 min | 70% on each of the three sections, in one sitting | testing centers generally charge $30 to $50 per test; $25 DEC fee after passing | |
| California | Laws, Regulations, and Basic Principles | DPR, by computer at testing centers | Not published | Not published | 70% | $115 | |
| Delaware | Core | DDA, in person at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington | Not published | Not published | 70% | $30 exam fee for commercial applicators (waived at first for private and government applicators) | |
| Florida | General Standards (Core) | Everblue, for FDACS | Not published | Not published | 70% | $32 remote, $59 at a test center | |
| Georgia | General Standards | Georgia technical colleges, by computer, for GDA | Not published | Not published | 70% | $45 per exam attempt | |
| Idaho | Applicator Core Competency (CO) | ISDA staff or an authorized agent; ISDA's schedule lists ISDA sessions and Metro Institute remote and testing-center sessions | Not published | Not published | 70% | Check with the agency | |
| Illinois | General Standards | IDOA, in person or online through ProctorU | 100 | 180 min | 70% | Free in person; about $12.60 per online attempt | |
| Illinois | General Standards (structural) | IDPH, at Department exam sites | Not published | Not published | 70% | Check with the agency | |
| Kansas | General | KDA, monthly at exam sites in Cimarron, Hays, Olathe, Topeka and Wichita | Not published | Not published | 75% | $45 per exam attempt | |
| Louisiana | General Standards | LDAF, in person in Baton Rouge or online through its testing vendor | Not published | Not published | 70% | General Standards is free; $50 for other exams (online vendor fee extra) | |
| Louisiana | Structural General Standards (SGS) | LDAF, by computer in Baton Rouge or online through Everblue | 75 | Not published | Not published | Check with the agency | |
| Maine | Core and Regulations | Maine Board of Pesticides Control (Board staff schedule the exams) | Not published | Not published | 80% on each exam | $10 per core, category or subcategory exam (waived for government employees) | |
| Massachusetts | Applicator License (Core) | MDAR, online with a webcam-proctored exam through Everblue | 125 | 120 min | 87 of 125 (70%) | $75 exam registration plus a $28 online exam fee | |
| Missouri | CORE | Pearson VUE, by computer, for MDA | Not published | Not published | 70% | $45 per exam (Pearson VUE) | |
| Montana | Core | MDA field offices by appointment, or by computer through Metro Institute | Not published | Not published | 80% | Check with the agency | |
| Nevada | Core and Laws | NDA, by appointment at its Las Vegas, Sparks and Elko offices | Not published | Not published | 70% on each exam for principals (operators 65%) | $50 per exam ($35 to retake) | |
| New Jersey | Core | Rutgers, for NJDEP, in person | Not published | 105 min | 75% | $135 core and category exam payment through Rutgers | |
| New York | Core | DEC, online, at test centers or on paper | 50 | 90 min | 35 of 50 (70%), with 7 of 10 label questions | $100 for core plus one category at one sitting | |
| North Carolina | Core | NCDA&CS, in person or online through Everblue | Not published | Not published | 70% | $50; online adds $26 | |
| Ohio | Commercial Core | ODA, proctored by its inspectors at sites around Ohio | 90 | Not published | 70% | No exam fee at ODA sites | |
| Pennsylvania | Core | PDA, on paper or at Metro test centers | 50 | Not published | 35 of 50 (70%) | $50 on paper; computer exams cost more | |
| Rhode Island | Commercial Licensing (Core) | RIDEM, online | Not published | Not published | Not published | $26.13 to take the online exam (RIDEM) | |
| Texas | General Standards (agricultural) | Metro Institute, for TDA | Not published | Not published | 70% | $64 | |
| Texas | General Standards (structural) | Metro Institute, for TDA | Not published | Not published | 70% | $64 | |
| Vermont | Core | VAAFM (register at least 7 days ahead) | Not published | Not published | 75% | Check with the agency | |
| Virginia | Commercial Core | VDACS, at DMV centers, by appointment or remotely through Everblue | Not published | Not published | Not published | $25 application; Everblue charges extra | |
| Washington | Laws and Safety | WSDA, by computer at Metro Institute centers and some WSU Extension offices | Not published | Not published | 70% | Up to $65 per computer-based exam | |
| West Virginia | General Standards (Core) | WVDA, on set dates each month at six locations around the state | 50 | 60 min | 70% | $20 per exam (waived for government employees) |
In Arizona, take the national core practice exam. It also fits the core exams in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Iowa and North Dakota, which are set by the same federal standards but may add state law questions. Which States Use the National Pesticide Core Exam
Questions
What score passes a state pesticide applicator core exam?
20 of the 25 core exams listed here that publish a pass mark require 70%, and the others require 75% and 80% (state pesticide agencies and their exam providers, sources checked November 10, 2026). 4 of the 29 exams do not publish a pass mark.
How many questions are on a pesticide applicator core exam?
8 of the 29 core exams listed here publish a question count and 6 publish a time limit (state pesticide agencies and their exam providers, sources checked November 10, 2026). The table shows "Not published" where the state agency or its exam provider gives no number.
Is the pesticide core exam the same in every state?
No. Every state tests the same federal core competencies (40 CFR 171.103): labels, safety, the environment, pests, formulations, equipment, application methods, laws and supervision. Each state adds questions on its own pesticide law and rules, and sets its own length, time limit, pass mark and fee.
Do I need more than the core exam?
Usually, yes. Most states license commercial applicators only after the core exam and at least one category exam for the kind of work they do. Each state page linked in the table says which exams that state requires.
An independent study aid, not affiliated with the Texas Department of Agriculture, Metro Institute, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Everblue, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Pesticide Board, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Maine Board of Pesticides Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Louisiana Structural Pest Control Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, North Dakota State University, PSI, or any state pesticide agency. Check your state agency for current requirements before you apply.