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Nebraska Pesticide Applicator Testing Sites

For a resident of Nebraska to obtain a new commercial or non-commercial pesticide applicator license, a person needs to do the following:

  • Pass a General Standards (core) exam (60 multiple choice questions, 70% passing)
  • Pass at least one category exam, tied to the sites or pests you will be controlling
  • Complete a license request form
  • Pay the appropriate license fee ($90 for a commercial license)

Register for commercial and noncommercial trainings here.
For PRIVATE applicator online training here.
For information about Pearson VUE testing here.

To prepare for these exams, a person should obtain study manuals through the University of Nebraska Extension at pested.unl.edu. A listing and description of categories can be found at: Categories of Commercial and Noncommercial Pesticide Applicators.

UNL Extension also offers Initial Certification training sessions where videos with a review of training highlights may be viewed prior to taking NDA exams. Please note that exams are based off the content of written manuals and NebGuides, not videos.

Exams taken at UNL Initial Training session and NDA Walk-In testing session are mailed to our offices for grading. Please allow up to 3 weeks for results during the months of February- April as we process exams from across the state.

To check on the status of a pesticide applicator exam, please email agr.pesticide@nebraska.gov and include:

  • Full Name
  • Date of birth
  • Date of exam
  • Location exam was taken

Once all exams are successfully completed, a billing statement for the license will be issued. An applicator is not considered licensed until all necessary exams are completed and the license fee has been collected and processed.

Licenses expire April 15 of the third year after it is obtained or renewed. Renewal of licenses may be accomplished by:

  • Attending an approved continuing education course which includes updates to both General Standards (core) information and category-specific information.
  • Complete a license request form.
  • Pay the appropriate license fee.
Initial Training Schedule
(Exams offered)
For the most up-to-date training information and to register please visit the Pesticide Safety and Education Program website.
DateMeetingCategoriesCityLocation
Recertification Training Schedule
(No exams offered)
For the most up-to-date training information and to register please visit the Pesticide Safety and Education Program website.
DateMeetingCategoriesCityLocation

NDA Walk-in Testing Schedule
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (* unless stated otherwise)

* Last exam will be passed out at 2 p.m. (unless marked otherwise) *

DateCityLocation
4/22/2026HoldregePhelps County Extension Office
4/22/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
4/23/2026Beatrice Gage County Extension Office
4/23/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
5/5/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
5/6/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
5/7/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
5/7/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
5/14/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
5/20/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
5/21/2026Beatrice Gage County Extension Office
5/21/2026HoldregePhelps County Extension Office
6/3/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
6/4/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
6/11/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
6/16/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
6/17/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
6/18/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
6/25/2026HoldregePhelps County Extension Office 
6/25/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
7/1/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
7/14/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
7/15/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
7/16/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
7/16/2026OmahaDouglass County Extension Office
7/23/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
7/29/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
7/30/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
8/6/2026Holdrege Phelps County Extension Office
8/11/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
8/12/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
8/13/2026Lincoln Lancaster County Extension Office
8/13/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
8/20/2026KearneyBuffalo County Extension Office
8/26/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
9/3/2026HoldregePhelps County Extension Office
9/3/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
9/9/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
9/15/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
9/17/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
9/17/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
9/23/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
9/24/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
10/1/2026KearneyBuffalo County Extension Office
10/7/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
10/13/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
10/15/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
10/15/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office
10/21/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
10/22/2026HoldregePhelps County Extension Office
10/29/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
11/4/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
11/5/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
11/10/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
11/12/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
11/18/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
11/19/2026KearneyBuffalo County Extension Office
11/19/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
12/2/2026ScottsbluffPanhandle Research and Extension Center
12/3/2026Holdrege Phelps County Extension Office
12/3/2026Omaha Douglas County Extension Office
12/10/2026LincolnLancaster County Extension Office
12/15/2026NorfolkMadison County Extension
12/16/2026North PlatteWest Central Research and Extension Center
12/17/2026Grand IslandHall County Extension Office
12/17/2026OmahaDouglas County Extension Office

To register for all UNL Initial meetings, go to the UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program site. Registration will begin by Jan. 1, 2025.

To register for all other testing opportunities, click the corresponding link in the table above. In addition to the General Standards exam, categories with * at right are available through Pearson VUE testing sites.

At “testing only” sites, only testing is conducted for initial certification, adding categories or recertifying by exam.

Study material for all exams can be purchased from UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program.

Applicator Categories
1Ag Plant*8Structural Health*
1ASoil Fumigation8WWood Destroying Organism*
2Ag Animal9Public Health
3Forest10Wood Preservation
4Ornamental and Turf*11Structural & Non-soil Fumigation*
5Aquatic12Aerial*
5SSewer Root (metam sodium)14Wildfire Damage Control
6Seed Treatment15Regulatory
7Right-of-Way*16Demonstration/Research

 

NDA Certification Testing Policies

  • The use of study materials is not allowed while taking the exam.
  • Calculators may be used. However, all iPads, cell phones or similar electronic devices that can store, send, or receive data or images must be turned off, kept in pockets or holsters, and will not be allowed on the tabletop
  • The exams are the property of the State of Nebraska. Removal of exams from examination rooms is prohibited. Copying or reproducing the contents of exams (in whole or in part) is unlawful.
  • Persons with special needs or disabilities should notify NDA of accommodations they may require at least 10 days prior to date of the exam.