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Licensing

Aerial applicator license

  • Allows you to apply pesticides by aircraft. ​
  • You must meet the following requirements to qualify for an aerial license:
    • Hold a current and active Oregon commercial, public, or private applicator license. 
    • Hold a valid FAA commercial airman's certificate for the type of aerial equipment that is being used. 
    • Provide your current FAA medical certificate. 
    • Provide documented proof of at least 50 hours of pesticide application flight time. ​
  • Commercial applicators must be employed by a company with a commercial operator's license. 
  • Applications may only be made under the categories listed on your commercial or public license. 
  • Test required — An aerial exam is required for pesticide applications. 

Commercial applicator license

  • Allows you to use pesticides (general or restricted-use) on someone else's property if employed by a company with the commercial operator license.
  • Allows you to use restricted-use pesticides on your own (or your employer's) non-agricultural land.
  • Allows you to supervise a licensed pesticide trainee or apprentice.
  • Allows you to tell someone how to use a restricted-use pesticide or which restricted-use pesticide will work best (limited to categories on your license).
  • Tests required — Laws and safety and at least one category.

Commercial operator license

  • Allows a business to use pesticides on someone else's property.
  • For corporations, at least one employee must be licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator.
  • For sole proprietors or partnerships, the owner or at least one partner must be licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator.
  • Categories must match the type of pesticide work that will be done.
  • The business must show proof of insurance for pesticide applications.
  • This license cannot be issued to a public agency.
  • Test required — None.

Consultant license

  • Allows you to tell someone how to use a restricted-use pesticide or which restricted-use pesticide will work best.
  • The demonstration and research option allows you to create demonstration plots or do research on pesticides.
  • If you have a pesticide consultant license, you may obtain the private pesticide applicator license without passing the private pesticide applicator test.
  • Test required — Consultant.

Dealer license 

  • Allows a business to sell restricted-use pesticides to licensed pesticide users.
  • Test required — None.

Private applicator license

  • Allows you to use restricted-use pesticides on agricultural land, including farmland, ranches, forestland, nurseries, and orchards.
  • Allows you to supervise a co-worker or employee applying a restricted-use pesticide.
  • One license covers all agricultural uses (soil fumigation has additional requirements).
  • Test required — Private pesticide applicator.

Public applicator license

  • You must work for a state or federal agency, county, city, municipality, irrigation district, railroad, public utility, telephone company, school, or other public employer.
  • Allows you to use restricted-use pesticides for your public employer.
  • Allows you to use fuel or electric-powered sprayers or spreaders.
  • Categories must match the type of pesticide work that will be done.
  • Allows you to tell someone how to use restricted-use pesticide or which restricted-use pesticide will work best (limited to categories on your license).
  • May supervise a licensed pesticide trainee or apprentice.
  • Tests required — Laws and safety and at least one category.

Immediately supervised pesticide trainee license

  • Allows you to use pesticides while supervised by a licensed commercial or public pesticide applicator.
  • Supervisor must be on site at all times during spraying with the trainee.
  • Must apply pesticides only in the same category as those authorized by the supervisor's license.
  • Test required — None.

Pesticide apprentice license

  • Allows you to use pesticides while supervised by a licensed commercial or public pesticide applicator.
  • Supervisor must be able to help the trainee by phone or radio during the application.
  • Supervisor does not need to be on site.
  • Must apply pesticides only in the same category as those authorized by the supervisor's license.
  • For license renewal, the apprentice must retake the required test or complete eight hours of continuing education classes each licensing period (a license period is from date of license issue to December 31 of issue year) including the following:
    • Four hours of core classes
    • Four hours of other classes
  • Test required — Laws and safety.

Resources

Commercial aerial pesticide applicator responsibilities handout (2011)

Handout explains record keeping requirements and other application responsibilities for aerial pesticide applicators. Aerial pesticide applicator responsibilities

Commercial and Public Pesticide Applicator brochure (2021)

Brochure summarizes the responsibilities of Commercial and Public Pesticide Applicators. Commercial Pesticide Applicator brochure

Commercial Pesticide Operator brochure (2013)

Brochure explains record keeping requirements and other application responsibilities for commercial operators. Commercial Pesticide Operator brochure

Immediately Supervised Pesticide Trainee brochure (2021)

Brochure explains Immediately Supervised Pesticide Trainee responsibilities. Immediately Supervised Trainee brochure
Practicante de Pesticidas Inmediatamente Supervisado

Pesticide Apprentice brochure (2021)

Brochure includes pesticide Apprentice conditions, license requirements, record keeping responsibilities, and contact information for help. Pesticide Apprentice brochure

Pesticide Consultant brochure (2021)

Brochure explains licensing requirements and other responsibilities for pesticide Consultants. Pesticide Consultant brochure

Pesticide Dealer brochure (2013)

Brochure provides definitions for understanding pesticide Dealer responsibilities and outlines legal requirements for sale and distribution of restricted-use pesticides. Pesticide Dealer brochure

Private Pesticide Applicator brochure (2021)

Brochure provides a summary of responsibilities of Private Pesticide Applicators, including recordkeeping and other legal requirements. Private Pesticide Applicator brochure
Responsabilidades del Aplicador Privado de Pesticidas

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Contact​​​​​ ​

Main Office
Phone: 503-986-4635
Fax: 503-986-4735

License renewals

​Secure fax number: 503-986-4746​​​