Pesticide licence in New Brunswick: categories, exam and renewal
What New Brunswick's Department of Environment and Local Government says about the Class D applicator certificate at CA$25 a year, the CA$165 pesticide operator licence for the business, self-directed training, NBCC exam scheduling and the pollution liability insurance rule.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 8, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The source is the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government, Authorizations Branch, which issues pesticide applicator certificates and operator licences under the Pesticides Control Act. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.
At a glance
| Item | What the province says |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Environment and Local Government, Authorizations Branch |
| Credentials for work for hire | Pesticide Applicator Certificate for the person (commercial Classes A through K, CA$25 a year) and a Pesticide Operator Licence for the business or individual offering the service (CA$165, issued annually) |
| Class for trees and turf | Class D: non-aerial use in urban or other non-agricultural areas, including lawns, shrubs, trees, parks, school grounds and recreational areas |
| Exam | Self-directed study with national training manuals; exam scheduling is through New Brunswick Community College; exam fee not published on the pages read |
| Renewal | Commercial certificates run to the first day of January after issue; renewal is applied for at least 30 days before expiry |
| Insurance or bond | Operator licence needs limited pollution liability insurance in the amount the Director directs; the amount is not on the pages read |
| Reciprocity | Not stated on the pages read |
Certificate and operator licence
The province's pesticide applicator certificate page says anyone who wants to purchase, sell, store, transport or use a non-domestic pesticide must hold the certificate. Commercial certification, Classes A through K, is issued annually and private Class L certification for up to five years. The pesticide operator page adds that any individual or business offering pesticide application services for a fee or reward must be licensed, and that requirements vary with the type of work, so it points applicants to the Authorizations Branch.
The class that covers trees and turf
The class list sits in General Regulation 96-126 under the Pesticides Control Act. Class D authorizes non-aerial use or application in or on urban or other non-agricultural areas, including lawns, shrubs, trees, parks, school grounds or recreational areas. Class B covers agricultural crops, Christmas tree plantations, tree nurseries and seed orchards. Class C covers forests, woodlands, industrial sites, airports, power lines, pipelines, railways, roadsides and other rights-of-way. Class A is aerial, Class E structural, Class G indoor mist, thermal fog or fumigant, and Class J handling at a pesticide storage area. The training page lists a Landscape manual next to Core, Forestry/Industrial, Structural and Aerial manuals.
Training and exam
The applicator page describes certification training as self-directed through national pesticide applicator training manuals, with training programs for professional lawn care, structural pest control and agricultural use. It lists the exam scheduling contact as New Brunswick Community College. The regulation lets the Director require an applicant to complete courses, pass an exam or take supervised training before a certificate is issued, and asks for a description of practical experience with documentary proof.
Fees and renewal
The regulation sets a fee of CA$25 for a commercial certificate or its renewal regardless of the number of classes, CA$12.50 to add classes and CA$165 for an operator licence or its renewal. The pages list Class L at CA$10 a year in the fee table, while the regulation text gives CA$50 for up to five years. Both a certificate and an operator licence expire on the first day of January after the date of issue, an operator licence is not transferable, and renewal is applied for at least 30 days before expiry unless the Director waives that. An operator also delivers a copy of its yearly pesticide quantity records before February 1.
Insurance
The regulation says an operator licence application includes proof of limited pollution liability insurance in the amount and form the Director directs, and the holder keeps that cover in place for as long as the licence is valid. The licence ends if the cover lapses. The amount is not given on the pages read.