- January at Fort Wayne Farm Show
- Feb/Mar - an event may be scheduled, but not every year
- August or September at NEPAC Field Day
- December at 4-H Center or Ag Museum - call 260-244-7615 to inquire
applicator categories and links of interest
Private applicators.
are individuals who spray restricted-use pesticides or apply manure from a confined feeding operation (CFO) to their land. Individuals in related capacities may also need a private applicator license (see websites below for details). Individuals may possess a private pesticide applicator license, a private Category 14 (fertilizer applicator) license, or a license with both endorsements.
See below for a link to getting a new private applicator license. You must pass the "Core" pesticide exam, plus send in $20 with an application for a new license. If you are a private fertilizer applicator, that will be a separate exam, or an additional exam if obtaining this endorsement in addition to your pesticide applicator license.
The license is active for five years. Private applicators must attend three private applicator recertification programs (PARPs) within those five years to keep their license active and avoid the need to re-test. No more than two programs may be attended for credit in any one calendar year. One program may be taken online.
RENEWALS: If you have a current private applicator license and you attended 3 PARPs within the 5-year active period of your license, the Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OISC) will send you a renewal form in the fall of the year prior to the expiration of your license. Return the completed renewal form with $20 and you will be issued a new license for the upcoming 5-year period. If you have lost your mailing from OISC with the renewal form, you may log in to their website using your name and the last 4 digits of your SSN (click on the "Applicator Login" tab on left). Note that OISC does not issue plastic license cards anymore; your license will be in paper form.
Commercial applicators.
spray pesticides or apply fertilizer for hire (as a business). Registered technicians (RTs) can spray general-use pesticides under the direct supervision of a commercial applicator at a business. Starting in 2023, RTs cannot apply restricted-use pesticides (RUPs).
The license is active for five years. Commercial applicators must accumulate the required continuing certification hours (CCHs) within those five years in the category or categories on the license to keep the license active and avoid the need to re-test. When you have accumulated the required CCHs near the expiration of your license, complete a license renewal form and submit a license fee to renew your license.
I want to:
- Get a new private applicator license (Apply only to my crops)
- For your convenience, we have Pesticide Applicator Core Training manuals (PPP-C) available for purchase at the Purdue Extension - Whitley County office.
- Private pesticide applicators pass "Core" exam for licensing
- Commercial applicators pass Core exam plus the category exam in which their business will be operating
Check out the links below for further information
- Certification exams at Metro Institute site (schedule an exam)
- Commercial Applicator (for hire) overview
- Commercial Applicator category descriptions and CCHs
- Dicamba information
- Fertilizer Section
- How do I become a Registered Technician (RT) (For-hire application of General Use Pesticides, not restricted use pesticides, under the off-site supervision of a certified applicator)
- Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OISC)
- Office of the Indiana State Chemist - Fertilizer Section
- Office of the Indiana State Chemist - Pesticide Section
- Online PARP certification option (one program of three can be taken for credit online)
- Pesticide Application (RUPs) Record Requirements (Private Applicator/Farmers)
- Pesticide Database Search (NPIRS for Indiana: National Pesticide Information Retrieval System)
- Private Applicator (getting a license, other information)
- Private Applicator Records (OISC - number of programs YOU have attended, the status of license; note some web browsers may not work correctly)
- Private and Commercial Applicators - HOW do I search my records; HOW do I print out a license card?
- Publications
- Purdue Pesticide Programs main website
- Purdue Pesticide Programs Facebook page
- Upcoming Private Applicator Recertification Programs (PARPs)
- Locate programs offering Continuing Certification Hours (CCHs) for commercial applicators
