Nebraska Extension’s Pesticide Education Office is excited to continue offering online training options in 2023. Online training options are available for new and recertifying private pesticide applicators, new and recertifying commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators, and new and recertifying chemigators.

A video tutorial is available to help walk users through the process of getting registered for online training. A written PDF version of this tutorial is also available.

Private Applicator Training

Private applicators can certify for a license or recertify an existing one by completing the online private self-study program. This program allows applicators to complete their certification training on their own time and at their own pace. The Pesticide Education Office continues to make enhancements to this program each year. New for 2023, as part of a pilot project, certain county extension offices have agreed to host computer kiosks that private applicators can use to complete the program. Please contact your county office to inquire.

To take the online private self-study program, please visit https://pested.unl.edu on or after Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. The cost of this program is $50.

There may also be opportunities to attend Zoom training sessions offering certification/recertification hosted by extension educators. These sessions will be listed at https://pested.unl.edu.

Other certification/recertification options for private applicators are also available.

Commercial/Noncommercial Applicator Training

New commercial and noncommercial applicators must pass at least two state exams: one covering the general standards that all applicators have in common, and at least one category exam covering information specific to the type of work an applicator will be doing.

The Pesticide Education Office strongly encourages applicators to prepare for these exams by studying. Our digital exam prep manuals (“FlipBooks”) are a great way to study. These combine the text of our traditional print study manuals with the video reviews shown at in-person initial training sessions — by combining the two, you can save a little money. You must have internet access to use FlipBooks. Once you feel prepared, you can take your exams at a testing-only session or through the Pearson VUE computerized testing service.

Commercial and noncommercial applicators whose licenses expire in 2023 can recertify online, or through one of these other options.

Online recertification training for commercial/noncommercial applicators will be available from Jan. 1 to April 15, 2023. To access this training, please visit https://pested.unl.edu on or after Jan. 1. The online training will be available for $80 and is designed to be completed at one’s own pace. Face-to-face training is $95 with pre-registration.

State law requires an applicator who does not recertify their license before it expires to retake (and pass) their certification exams to regain a valid license.

Chemigation Training

Chemigators who are either seeking certification for the first time or renewing their existing certification can do so through an online training program or a face-to-face training session. There is no cost for chemigation training.