What is the PAT Program?
The University of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program develops and provides educational material to help you become certified to apply pesticides in Wisconsin. In order to become certified, you must pay a certification fee to obtain some of these educational materials. You can learn more about the certification process on the “Certification” page.
Before ordering, you should determine whether you are a “commercial” or “private” applicator, because your options are different for each. You can find out the difference between commercial and private applicators by clicking on the “certification” or the “ordering materials” menu link above.
There are many different categories you can get certified in (list of categories here). With your certification fee, you can choose to get a printed manual, a PDF manual, or an online course (for some categories only). Don’t know which to choose? Check out this podcast for an introduction to these choices: What Should I Order?
Having trouble navigating through our online ordering process? Here’s a podcast that explains how to do it.
After you have studied the training material, you will have to take and pass a certification exam to become certified. Note: The UW PAT program does NOT write or process the certification exam. The UW PAT Program does not have access to your test score. The following is a link to DATCP’s exam scheduling site (which also shows the testing centers around the state: Online Pesticide Exam Scheduling.
Ready to order?
Click either of the links below.
PLEASE BE AWARE
Training Registration Certificates for commercial applicators are folded and placed between the front cover and the first page of your manual. DO NOT lose this certificate. You must bring this page with you when you take your certification exam. The exam proctor from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will collect it. Your exam will not be processed without the certificate. Manuals will no longer have this certificate as a tear out page as it was in the past. If you lose this form there is a $10 fee to replace it.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING ONLINE COURSES:
The following information is important if you are enrolled or going to enroll in one of UW PAT Program’s online courses). Access to the course involves a three step process with 3 separate email invites.
Step 1: You will receive an invite to get started. This is a request to set up a guest Identification–essentially what is called a NetID. Step 2: Once you are sent a NetID, you then have to accept the second email invite to activate your NetID. If you do not do this, then we can’t invite you to the course. Step 3: Once you have been granted a NetID and activated it, the PAT Program can then invite you to the course that you purchased. Walk through that you will experience.
This is not the easiest procedure, but due to security and other reasons it is the one that the University has given us. If you received your invite and deleted it please contact Glenn Nice (below) and he will send out another invite.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Role in Certification
DATCP enforces the pesticide laws in Wisconsin. DATCP also writes and administers the certification exams and grants certification. DATCP also issues individual pesticide applicator and pesticide application business licenses in the state. Note: The UW PAT program does NOT write or administer the certification exam. Also, the exam is NOT given at the UW-Madison campus. Exams are given ONLY at DATCP test-only facilities or at training/review sessions. DATCP provides the test location on the receipt you get when you schedule an exam. You need to contact DATCP (see below) for any questions dealing with scheduling an exam, exam results or any other exam-related questions. Following is a link to DATCP’s exam scheduling site (which also shows the testing centers around the state: Online Pesticide Exam Scheduling
Contacts
Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT)
Contact PAT for questions about getting training materials, signing up for live review sessions, or any questions or comments you have about our training material.
Mailing address:
PAT Program
1575 Linden Dr
Madison WI 53706-1597
Program email: PATprogram@mailplus.wisc.edu
Program phone: 608-262-7588
People
Glenn Nice
PAT Program Manager, gnice@wisc.edu or 608-263-6358
Steve Tomasko
PAT Senior Outreach Specialist, stomasko@wisc.edu or 608-265-4315
Jean Siewert
PAT Program Office Support Staff, jean.siewert@wisc.edu or 608-262-7588
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Contact DATCP for questions about certification, licensing, scheduling an exam, exam scores, or issues of pesticide regulations.
General mailing address:
Department of Agriculture
2811 Agriculture Dr.
Madison WI 53708
Pesticide Certification & Licensing program
Phone: 608-224-4548
Website: Bureau of Agrichemical Management
Email: datcppesticideinfo@wi.gov for questions regarding Pesticide Certification and Licensing
Exam scheduling website: Scheduling an Exam
Email: datcpcertexam@wi.gov if you need to schedule an exam or cancel one that you have scheduled (if not using the online exam scheduling site in the link above).
