General Farming Pesticide Certification | Private Applicator Training & Testing

2022-2023

 If you plan on using restricted use pesticides in your fields, you must be certified in Wisconsin.

A private applicator is defined as a person who applies pesticide to produce an agricultural commodity AND pesticides are applied on property that you own, rent or your employer owns or rents. If you as the applicator do not meet BOTH parts of the definition, you are considered a commercial applicator. Example of a commercial applicator is working for a lawn care company or county Highway employee.

Attention Private Applicators!

Certification

Certification is required if you plan to use restricted use pesticides in Wisconsin. Pesticide Applicator Certification is available in 3 different platforms, or you may choose the Self-Study option before testing. To achieve this certification you have to purchase the General Farming Manual and take a test. Training is optional.

Certification is valid for five (5) years.

The General Farming Manual will only be available at the WI Pesticide Applicator Training Online Store. County Extension offices will not have them for sale. Cost is $40/ea. Order via mail with printed form or online.

Those wishing to be certified in Fruit Crops or Greenhouse & Nursery, can take the General Farming training, but then take the exam for those specialized categories.

Training | Optional

In-person, Online or Zoom training will provide the education component required to secure the reduced grade (50% passing score on the test), otherwise you will be marked as a self-study test (70% passing score).

Options

1.  In-Person Training (& Test) – See below for area in-person training sessions with testing. State wide trainings HERE.

Local Scheduled In-Person Train and Test Sites

January 18, 2023 | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Extension Fond du Lac County, 400 University Dr., Fond du Lac, WI 54935.   Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

January 25, 2023  | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Arlington Ag Research Station, N695 Hopkins Rd., Arlington, WI 53911. Lunch on your own. Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

*February, 2, 2023 | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Extension Dodge County, Dodge County Administration Building-Auditorium, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039.  Lunch on your own. Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

*March 3, 2023 – Zoom Training from UW-Madison | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Cost: $10. Location: Extension Dodge County, Dodge County Administration Building-Auditorium, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039.  Lunch on your own. Please send payment to secure your seat to Extension Dodge County at 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039, with contact information. Purchase General Farming Manual here. 

  • January 13, 2023
  • February 3, 2023
  • March 3, 2023
  • April 7, 2023

3. Online Training (static training and available at any time). General Farming Manual and registration is required.  Online training can be taken either by computer or smart phone. Please block approximately 4 hours to complete the training.  Attendance is mandatory, meaning once you start the training you will have to complete the training in one session. Two 15-minute breaks are built into the training.

  • TO REGISTER FOR ONLINE TRAINING:  Go to the UW PAT Store.
    • Select General Farming 100/101.
  • Participant will be emailed a link and password to the training to gain access to the training.
  • To assure attendance, code words provided in the training must be entered at the end to be marked as complete.
  • The code words must be correct to take advantage of the reduced grade (50% passing score), otherwise you will be marked as a self-study test (70% passing score).

Testing

For a full FIVE-YEAR CERTIFICATION, you will need to take the exam in person at a county Extension office, who will proctor the exam. Tests are by appointment only.

  1. Zoom and On-Line training will provide the education component required to secure the reduced 50% passing score on the test. If you choose the Self-Study option (no training) the minimum passing score is 70%.
  2. When taking the in-person exam you will have to provide your certification form (inside the front cover of the manual) with the PAT number to the test proctor (i.e. Extension office) to have your certification processed. If you purchased a book this comes in your manual. If you purchased a pdf or online course, then you will receive it via email.
  3. The private company Pearson Vue also provides the Private Applicator test. To set up a Pearson Vue account, schedule a test or find a testing center near you – https://home.pearsonvue.com/wi/agriculture
    • Receive test results immediately with Pearson Vue
    • Test cost $45/test
    • You have to pass at 70%
    • The manual is provided within the test, you will not be able to use your book.
  4. Call the Extension Dodge County office to schedule an exam at 920-386-3790.

In-Person Local Area Training with Certification Test

January 18, 2023 | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Extension Fond du Lac County, 400 University Dr., Fond du Lac, WI 54935.   Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

January 25, 2023  | 9 AM – 3:30 PM | Arlington Ag Research Station, N695 Hopkins Rd., Arlington, WI 53911. Lunch on your own. Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

*February, 2, 2023 | 9 AM – 3 PM | Extension Dodge County, Dodge County Administration Building-Auditorium, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039.  Lunch on your own. Register and purchase General Farming Manual here. 

State Wide Private and Commercial Events

Sharing is Caring - Click Below to Share
Support Extension