• Private Applicator: A person who applies restricted-use (pesticide label identifies) pesticide to produce an agricultural commodity AND pesticides are applied on property that they own or rent, or their employer owns or rents. If an applicator does not meet BOTH parts of the definition, they are considered commercial applicators. Examples of commercial applicators: Lawn care company or County Highway employee.
• Certification Validity: Certification is valid for 5 years.
• Certification Status Check: Applicators can check certification status here: http://www.kellysolutions.com/WI/Applicators/index.asp.
• Notifying expiring license holders: The PAT Program notifies farmers with expiring certifications, but it’s the farmer’s responsibility to track their status.
• Contact Information: For questions, contact patprogram@mailplus.wisc.edu, 608-262-7588, or 414-399-0373.

Everyone that would like to become Private Pesticide Applicator certified must purchase a manual.

• Each person must have their own manual, as it includes a unique PAT Number on the certificate (needed when handing in the test). Those retaking within a year do not need the certificate.
• Manuals cost $43.

Applicators can only purchase manuals form the PAT Program website:
https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/pat/. For mail orders, use this form: Private Applicator Mail Order Form.

Manuals are delivered within 5-10 days at no charge. There is an additional shipping
charge for rush delivery.

Self-study:

• Self-study students purchase the manual, study independently, and test at a
  designated County Extension Office or Pearson VUE (see below for testing info).

Self-paced Online Training:

• Canvas course is available at PAT website: UW PAT Store
• Course must be completed for the reduction in passing score.
• Online training takes approx. 3.5 hours. Stopping/starting throughout the training is allowed

Extension-hosted Zoom Training (organized and hosted by Regional Crops Educators):

• Registration costs $10 and must be completed in advance through the UW PAT Store.
• Students must bring manual with certificate to the training
• Dates and locations will be posted online.
• Class is taught by Pesticide Application Training program staff over zoom

In-person Training & Test:

• Two in-person trainings will be held in 2025. Registration costs $10 and is available through the UW PAT Program.
• Details will be posted on the Extension Calendar and UW PAT Program website.

Self-study or Self-paced Online:

• A 70% or higher on the exam is required for self-study.
• A 50% or higher on the exam is required for self-paced
  • The course completion confirmation email must be shown to the proctor to be coded as “attended a training.”

County Extension offices (test proctored by county support staff)

• Each Extension Area will designate at least one county to provide testing for self-study individuals.
• Testing counties and contact info will be posted on the UW PAT Program Page.
• County support staff will set testing schedules based on regional needs, with increased frequency from December to May.
• Farmers from other counties can take the test at any participating location.

Pearson VUE Testing:

• Tests can be taken through Pearson VUE for $45, with a 70% passing requirement.

Extension-hosted Zoom Training (organized and hosted by Regional Crops Educator):

• Students must have a manual with a certificate to take the test, test proctored by the Regional Crops Educator after training.

In-person Training & Test:

• Two in-person trainings will be held in 2026. Registration costs $10 and is available through the UW PAT Program.
• Details will be posted on the Extension Calendar and UW PAT Program website.
• Participants receive a completion email after completing the online training.