Pesticide Applicators Certification

 

What is the PAT Program?

The University of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program develops and provides educational material to help you become certified to apply pesticides in Wisconsin. In order to become certified, you must pay a certification fee to obtain some of these educational materials.

Online training
You must purchase a manual from the Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Online Store. Those seeking Greenhouse & Nursery or Fruit Crops certification can take this training also. After successful completion of the online training, you will receive a receipt that you must bring when you make your appointment for testing at a participating County Extension Office to get the “attended training” passing rate of 50%.

To navigate the online options, visit the PAT Store at https://patstore.wisc.edu.

  • Scroll down to “Private Applicator Training”
  • Select General Farming 100/101.
  • Then chose B. “Online Private Applicator Training.”

Commercial testing
Another option is to test as a commercial applicator with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Commercial testing is a closed-book test. To schedule, a test with DATCP visit https://pestexam.datcp.wi.gov or call 608-224-4548.

Who needs to get certified?
Finally, be sure to take a moment and see if you actually need to be certified. In some situations, individuals have realized they don’t need certification. Please check the criteria below.

You must be certified if you apply, mix and load, or direct the use of:

  • Restricted-use pesticides (RUPs)
  • Any pesticide on a for-hire basis
  • Any pesticide in or on public schools or school grounds (K-12 public schools)
  • Any pesticide in aquatic environments (may also be a requirement of permit)

You also must be certified if you:
• Conduct pesticide-safety training for agricultural workers or pesticide handlers as required under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

The University of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program, or the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) if you have any questions.

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