Private Pesticide Applicator Certification
ATTENTION PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATORS
Do you know your Private Applicator Certification expiration date?
County Extension Offices will no longer send a letter alerting you of when your certification expires.
When is my Expiration Date?
Please check your card to identify when your certification expires. You can self-check your expiration date at: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s website. If your name is not listed, then your certification has expired. If you are unable to check online, please contact either the UW PAT Program: 608-262-7588 or Rock County Extension Office at 608-757-5066 for help.
Not sure if you are a Commercial or Private applicator?
General Information
- 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.
How do I get certification?
Step 1: Purchase Training Materials
Everyone that would like to become Private Pesticide Applicator certified must purchase a manual.
- Each person must have their own manual (printed or pdf), 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.
- Printed Manuals cost $43.
- PDF Manuals cost $35.
Purchase manuals from 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.
Step 2: Learn the Material
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.
- Online training takes approx. 3.5 hours to complete.
- Stopping/starting throughout the training is allowed.
- Take the test at a local County Extension Office or Pearson VUE.
County In-Person Training & Test:
- Registration costs $10 and must be completed in advance through the UW PAT Store.
- Regional Crops and Soils Educators host the event.
- PAT staff join by ZOOM to teach the 3.5 hour class
- Take test following the training
- Dates and locations will be posted once scheduled
- Students must bring manual with certificate to the training
Statewide In-person Training & Test:
- Registration costs $10 and must be completed through the UW PAT Store.
- PAT staff host the event
- PAT staff teach the class
- Take test following the training
- Details will be posted on the Extension Calendar and UW PAT Program website.
Step 3: Take the Exam
The Exam:
- 70 multiple choice questions
- Open book style test
- Printed testing manual provided
- 90 minutes allowed to complete the exam
Testing Options:
County Extension Offices:
- Organized and proctored by County Support Staff
- No cost to attend testing
- 70% exam passing requirement
County In-Person Training & Test:
- Organized and hosted by Regional Crops and Soils Educator
- Registration costs $10
- 50% exam passing requirement
- Dates and locations will be posted once scheduled
On-line Testing:
- Provided through Pearson VUE
- Registration costs $45
- 70% passing requirement
Statewide In-person Training & Test:
- Organized and hosted by the PAT Program
- Registration costs $10
- 50% exam passing requirement
- Details will be posted on the Extension Calendar and UW PAT Program website.
Local In-Person Training/Testing availability:
Jefferson County Extension – [2027 Dates coming soon]
(Training location: Extension Office, 864 Collins Rd, Jefferson, WI 53549)
Rock County Extension – [2027 Dates coming soon]
(Training location: Rock County IT Building, 3605 N County Road F, Janesville, WI 53545)
Walworth County Extension – [2027 Dates coming soon]
(Training location: Extension Office (Room 214), 100 W Walworth St, Elkhorn, WI 53121)
Alternative County and State-wide training/testing calendars can be found here.
Where do I take the test?
If you are not attending a live or zoom training session that includes testing, the Rock County Extension Office offers testing by appointment, January through April, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
You must call the office at 608-757-5066 to schedule your test appointment.
*Self-study testing only, and each person must have their own manual (printed or pdf), as it includes a unique PAT Number on the certificate (needed when handing in the test).
Other local County testing schedules from January through April:
Jefferson County – every Wednesday (920-674-7295)
Walworth County – every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (262-741-4951)
Alternative County offices offering testing through Pearson Vue can be found here.
For further information, please refer to the PAT website here: UW PAT Program.