Pesticide licence in Vermont: categories, exam and renewal
What the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets says about commercial applicator certification, category 3A Ornamental and Shade Trees, the 75% exam pass mark, US$30 per category a year, the 16 credit five-year cycle and reciprocity with five states.
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 Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, which certifies applicators and licenses the companies that employ them under the Vermont Rule for Control of Pesticides. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.
At a glance
| Item | What the agency says |
|---|---|
| Agency | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, pesticide programs |
| Licence for work for hire | Commercial applicator certification, affiliated with a licensed pesticide company |
| Category for trees and turf | 3A Ornamental and Shade Trees; 3B Turf |
| Exam | Core exam plus at least one category exam, closed book, multiple choice, 75% to pass; US$25 per exam in person in Montpelier or US$60 per exam online |
| Fees after passing | US$30 per category a year, maximum US$120 per applicator a year; company license US$75 a year |
| Recertification | Five-year certification; 16 credits for commercial applicators, 8 for private; licenses renewed every year |
| Insurance or bond | Not stated on the pages read |
| Reciprocity | New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Virginia, for residents of those states |
Who needs certification
The agency's applicator types page says commercial applicators are employees of pesticide companies doing work such as landscape, lawn care, tree care, forest pest control and vegetation control in a right-of-way. Using Class A, B or C pesticides on the lands or homes of others, including rented ones, requires commercial certification, and the applicator must be affiliated with a licensed pesticide applicator company. Non-commercial and government applicators cover employees using Class A or B pesticides on their employer's property. Under section 3.01 of the Vermont rule, a business that uses a pesticide on another person's land or home, for pay or free, needs a company license that expires each December 31. The business must report a terminated certified applicator within 30 days.
The category that covers trees and turf
The rule defines Category 3 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control with two parts. Category 3A Ornamental and Shade Trees covers using or supervising pesticides to control pests in the maintenance or production of ornamental and landscape plants including flowers, shrubs and trees. Category 3B Turf covers turf, including golf courses. Category 2 Forest Pest Control and Category 6 Rights-of-way Pest Control are separate. The agency posts a 3A study insert and a category 3 notice with the study materials. For outdoor turf and ornamental applications the rule also requires the applicator to give the customer the product's common name, EPA registration number and proposed rate, and to post a sign for 24 hours.
Exam
The agency's exam page says exams are closed book, multiple choice, with a photo ID check, and the passing grade is 75% or higher. There is no waiting period and no limit on retakes. Exam results stay valid for one year from the first exam. In-person exams run on Wednesday mornings in Montpelier for US$25 per exam, with no walk-ins. Online exams run anytime through an outside proctoring provider for US$60 per exam, on a laptop or desktop with a camera and microphone. A person is not certified until all fees are paid.
Fees
After passing, commercial and non-commercial categories cost US$30 per category per year, to a maximum of US$120 per applicator a year, and licenses are renewed annually. The company license is US$75 a year. Federal government applicators are exempt from fees. A license arrives by mail within two weeks, and a PDF version can be downloaded from the online account.
Recertification
The agency's training and recertification page says certifications run five years. Commercial and non-commercial applicators must earn 16 credits in their categories in that time, and private applicators 8. Sixty clock minutes equal one credit, and partial credits are not accepted. Licenses not renewed within one year of expiry lapse, and a lapsed certification means sitting the exams again. Credits come from approved meetings in or out of Vermont, or from quizzes in the semi-annual applicator newsletter. Vermont has credit reciprocity with all New England states.
Reciprocity
The agency's reciprocal applicator page names New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The applicator must live in the state that issued the certification and hold a current license there. Its example says someone living in Massachusetts but certified in New York does not qualify. A reciprocal license costs US$30 per category that has a Vermont equivalent, to a maximum of US$120 a year, and the company license is US$75. Online renewal is not available for reciprocal applicators.
Sources
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Pesticide applicator types and certification, read October 8, 2026
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Pesticide exam information, read October 8, 2026
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Applicator training and recertification, read October 8, 2026
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Reciprocal applicator information, read October 8, 2026
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Vermont Rule for Control of Pesticides, read October 8, 2026