Pesticide licence in North Carolina: categories, exam and renewal

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The source is the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, whose Pesticide Section administers the N.C. Pesticide Law of 1971. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.

At a glance

Item	What the department says
Agency	NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, Pesticide Section
License	026 Commercial Ground Applicator
Category for trees and turf	L Ornamental and Turf; H Right-of-Way and G Forest are separate categories
Exams	Core exam US$50, plus category exam US$20 for Ornamental and Turf; online exams add US$26 each
License fee	US$75 per year
Certification period	5 years, with the license renewed annually
Recertification	10 credits for category L over the 5-year period, earned over at least two years

Who needs the license

The department's pesticide license types page says a pesticide license is required for commercial applicators applying any type of pesticide for compensation, and that licenses are renewed annually. License 026, Commercial Ground Applicator, is the one for anyone applying pesticides, non-aerial, for pay on someone else's property under the N.C. Pesticide Law of 1971. The examples given are landscapers and lawn care, mosquito companies for non-structural work, and contractors spraying farms and golf courses. Public operators working for federal, state, county or city employers hold separate licenses at no fee, and a public utility ground applicator license covers employees of a company that operates a right of way for utilities. A consultant license covers giving pesticide advice for a fee and does not allow applying.

Exams and fees

The department's exam page says applicants register ahead for either an online exam or an in-person exam, with online exams adding US$26 per exam for the testing service. In-person exams begin at 1:00 p.m., last up to four hours, and seating is limited, so a registered candidate who cannot attend must give 48 hours notice or may be barred from another exam for 60 days. Candidates bring a government photo ID and a calculator that is not a phone. Exams offered in Spanish include Core and Ornamental and Turf. Study materials come from the NC State Pesticide Safety Education Office. The exam fees page lists US$50 for the Core exam and US$20 for the Ornamental and Turf exam, and a US$75 license fee for the Commercial Ground Applicator license.

Renewal and recertification

License 026 is certified for 5 years with the US$75 fee paid each year. The recertification page lists 10 credits for category L over the 5-year period, 6 for Forest and 4 for Right-of-Way. The credits for each category must be earned over at least two years inside the five. A license holder in several categories earns the credits of the highest category plus three for each additional one. Adding a category does not change the recertification date. Classes can be live or online from the department's approved course calendar, and the course host submits attendance.

Insurance and reciprocity

The pages read set no insurance or bond rule for the ground applicator license. The department's reciprocity page says North Carolina has reciprocal agreements with several states, but only for people who live in another state. A non-resident certified by written exam in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina or Florida can be issued a reciprocal ground applicator license at US$75 per year, on showing a valid certification card. Once the person becomes a North Carolina resident, the North Carolina exams are required. Dealers and consultants have no reciprocity.