The information below is intended to help you identify the appropriate pesticide licensing for your situation. If you have any questions, please contact our main office. Once you have identified what you need, learn more about how to get licensed.
Do I need a license?
You need a pesticide license before you:
- Buy, apply, or supervise the use of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). Certain exceptions apply*.
- Apply or supervise the application of any pesticide to someone else’s property (private or public land), except when part of very limited landscape maintenance work that meets specific conditions (see next section of this table below).
- Apply or supervise the application of any pesticide on a school campus as defined in ORS 634.700.
- Apply any pesticide by aircraft (e.g., fixed-wing, helicopter, unmanned aircraft systems).
- Apply or supervise the application of any pesticide as a public employee using power-driven application equipment.
- Apply pesticides for research purposes. Note, in addition to licensing requirements an Experimental Use Permit may be required.
- Advise others on the use of RUPs.
- Sell or distribute RUPs (license required for each facility).
- Own or operate a business, including a non-profit organization, that advertises pesticide application services or that otherwise engages in the application of any pesticide to someone else’s property.
*Exception: Unlicensed individuals can apply and use Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) if they are supervised by a licensed Private Applicator that is their employer or a co-worker. Supervision of pesticide use by noncertified applicators must be permitted by the pesticide labeling, and the pesticide must not be applied via aircraft.
No pesticide license is needed when:
- Applying general use pesticides to property owned or leased by your or your employer, except on a school campus as defined in ORS 634.700.
- As a public employee, applying general use pesticides using application equipment that is not power-driven (e.g., hand-pump backpack sprayer), except when applying on a school campus as defined in ORS 634.700.
- Applying general use pesticides as part of a landscape maintenance service if all of the following criteria are met:
- The use of pesticides is not stated in advertisements or contracts;
- Applications are to small residential lawns or gardens only; no applications can be made to commercial properties;
- No restricted-use pesticides are used; and
- No use of fuel or electric-powered sprayers or spreaders.
- Pesticides are not applied on a school campus as defined in ORS 634.700.
- Under specific conditions*, using Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) under the supervision of a licensed Private Applicator.
- Providing advice only on general use pesticides.
- Selling only general use pesticides at your retail establishment.
*Unlicensed individuals can make ground applications of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) if permitted by the pesticide labeling and they are supervised by a licensed Private Applicator that is their employer or co-worker. The pesticide application must be for the purpose of producing agricultural commodities or forest crops, and must be made on land owned or leased by the individual or the employer of the individual.
Pesticide license types
Individuals and businesses must be licensed by ODA prior to performing certain pesticide-related activities. The license type that a pesticide applicator needs often depends on their employer. For example, private applicators are employed by farms, or own/lease the farm; commercial applicators are employed by businesses (pesticide operator) that apply pesticides to other's property; and public applicators are employed by federal, state, or other governmental bodies. There are also two trainee license types that depend on whether exams have been taken: (1) Apprentice license (Laws and Safety must be passed), and (2) the Immediately Supervised Trainee license (no exam required). More information about specific pesticide license types is listed below.
Additionally, some license types also have license categories, which may limit or specify the type of pesticides that can be used and/or locations where pesticides can be applied.
- Allows you to apply pesticides by aircraft (e.g., fixed-wing, helicopter, unmanned aircraft systems).
- You must meet additional requirements to qualify for an aerial license, including having a commercial, public or private applicator license.
- If you have a commercial or public license, pesticide applications may only be made under the categories/subcategories listed on your license.
- If you have a commercial pesticide applicator license, you must be employed by a business licensed as a commercial pesticide operator with the appropriate license categories.
- Exam required — Aerial exam.
Aerial pesticide applicator responsibilities handout
- Allows you to apply or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides on someone else's property.
- Allows you to apply or supervise the application of any pesticide onto someone else's property.
- Allows you to supervise a licensed pesticide apprentice or licensed immediately supervised trainee.
- Allows you to tell someone how to use a restricted-use pesticide or which restricted-use pesticide will work best (limited to the categories on your license).
- Pesticide application and supervision of use is limited to the categories/subcategories on your license.
- This license is not valid unless you are employed by a business with a commercial pesticide operator license with the appropriate license categories.
- Exam required — Laws and safety and at least one category exam. Exception: if you are seeking a commercial pesticide applicator license with the marine fouling organism license category, at this time only the category exam is required.
Commercial and Public Pesticide Applicator brochure
- Allows a business to engage in the application of pesticides on someone else's property, including advertising and bidding on contracts involving pesticide application services.
- License categories/subcategories must match the type of pesticide work that will be done.
- The business must show proof of insurance for pesticide applications.
- 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.
- This license cannot be issued to a federal, state, or local governmental body as described in ORS 634.116(12).
- Exam required — None.
Commercial Pesticide Operator brochure
- Allows you to offer or supply technical advice, or recommendations to the users of a restricted-use pesticide.
- Obtaining the demonstration and research license category (optional) through examination allows you to create demonstration plots or do research on pesticides.
- If you have a pesticide consultant license, you qualify to apply for the private pesticide applicator license without passing the private pesticide applicator exam.
- Exam required — Consultant exam.
Pesticide Consultant brochure
- Allows a business to sell and distribute restricted-use pesticides to appropriately licensed pesticide users.
- Each facility must be licensed separately. This includes facilities physically located in a state other than Oregon.
- Exam required — None.
Pesticide Dealer brochure
- Allows you to use restricted-use pesticides on agricultural land, including farmland, ranches, forestland, nurseries, and orchards, that you or your employer owns or leases.
- Allows you to supervise a co-worker or employee using a restricted-use pesticide.
- One license covers all agricultural uses of restricted-use pesticides (soil fumigation has additional requirements).
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Exam required — Private pesticide applicator exam.
Private Pesticide Applicator brochure
Responsabilidades del Aplicador Privado de Pesticidas
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You must be employed by a federal, state, or local governmental body as described in ORS 634.116(12).
- Allows you to apply and supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides.
- Allows you to apply and supervise the application of pesticides applied with power-driven application equipment.
- Pesticide application and supervision of use is limited to the categories/subcategories on your license.
- 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 apprentice or immediately supervised trainee.
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Exam required — Laws and safety and at least one category exam. Exception: if you are seeking a commercial pesticide applicator license with the marine fouling organism license category, at this time only the category exam is required.
Public Pesticide Applicator brochure
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Allows you to apply pesticides while supervised by a licensed commercial or public pesticide applicator.
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Supervisor must be located on-site at all times during the pesticide application, and available at the specific point of pesticide use within five minutes.
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Pesticide applications may only be made under the categories/subcategories on your supervisor's license.
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Exam required — None.
Immediately Supervised Trainee brochure
Practicante de Pesticidas Inmediatamente Supervisado
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Allows you to apply pesticides while supervised by a licensed commercial or public pesticide applicator.
- Supervisor does not need to be on-site, but must be reasonably available for consultation with the license apprentice (e.g., phone or 2-way radio).
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Exam required — Laws and safety exam.
License categories
Licensed Commercial and Public Pesticide Applicators and Pesticide Consultants may only apply specific types of pesticides to the sites that are covered by their license categories. For example, licensed commercial or public pesticide applicators that apply herbicides to a turf or ornamental planting sites need the Ornamental & Turf: Herbicide license category. Exceptions: Trainee, and at this time Private Applicator license types do not have license categories. More information about pesticide license categories is listed below.
The use of pesticides in the production of agricultural crops and livestock, or on agricultural lands, including Christmas trees, commercial nurseries, and rangeland.
Subcategories
- Herbicide: The use of herbicides on agricultural lands, including Christmas tree plantations, commercial nurseries, and rangeland.
- Insecticide/fungicide: The use of insecticides, fungicides or nematicides on agricultural lands, including Christmas tree plantations, commercial nurseries, and rangeland.
- Vertebrate pest: The use of pesticides in agricultural areas for the control of vertebrate pests other than livestock predators.
- Livestock pest: The use of pesticides for the control of livestock pests, such as insects, mites and ticks.
- Soil fumigation: The use of soil applied fumigants on agricultural lands.
The use of pesticides in treating standing or running water.
The use of pesticides in field research and educational demonstrations. Note: an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) may also be required.
The use of pesticides on forest lands or in the production of forest crops (does not include Christmas tree plantations or commercial nurseries).
Subcategories
- General pest: The use of pesticides, other than fumigants, in or around structures, institutions, and industrial facilities, or structures with processed or manufactured products for the control of pests other than wood-destroying pests.
- Structural: The use of pesticides, other than fumigants, in or around structures for the control of wood-destroying pests.
- Moss control: The use of pesticides to control moss and algae on structures, sidewalks and driveways.
- Space fumigation: The use of fumigants in confined areas or structures for the control of pests.
- Wood treatment: The use of pesticides, including fumigants, to treat wood products (lumber, poles, ties) before their use in construction, or to field treat utility poles, pilings, bridge supports and similar elements of construction.
The use of marine anti-fouling paints or coatings on boats or ships.
The use of pesticides in the establishment and maintenance of ornamental planting and turf (does not include Christmas tree plantations, commercial nurseries, sod farms, or forests).
Subcategories
- Herbicide: The use of pesticides in the establishment and maintenance of ornamental plants and turf, including vertebrate pest control.
- Insecticide/fungicide: The use of insecticides and fungicides in the establishment and maintenance or ornamental plants and turf.
The use of pesticides for the control of any pest that may be harmful to the public's health, including mosquitos and other vectors.
This category is only available to Public Applicators. The use of pesticides for the control of plants designated as noxious weeds.
The use of pesticide in right-of-way areas, including, but not limited to, city, county, state and federal roads and highways; Railroads and airports; Electric utilities (transformer stations and substations, switching stations, transmission lines and distribution lines), excluding wind farms; Pipelines; Banks of public bargeways and areas around locks and dams; and Bicycle, bridle, snowmobile and other public recreational paths.
It covers the use of pesticides on the campus of a school (defined in ORS 634.700), excluding applications of pesticides:
- Using power-driven equipment;
- To control wood-destroying pests, bed bugs, lice, fleas, ticks, and adult mosquitoes;
- Classified as restricted use pesticides (RUPs);
- Formulated as total release foggers (except antimicrobial and insecticidal soap products);
- Not registered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture; and
- To locations not covered by the school's adopted integrated pest management plan.
The use of pesticides on seed.