Commercial Applicators
To become a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator (either for-hire or not-for-hire) in Wisconsin, you start by ordering the training materials you need to study for certification. Not sure which category manual you need? Check out the categories here. Self-study (studying on your own) registration includes either a printed manual, an interactive PDF electronic version of the manual, or for some categories, an online course that also comes with a PDF manual. You must pay the training registration fee for each category that you need certification or recertification in. You can purchase these items using your credit card at the PAT Store (link below) or by mail using a check.
Here’s a quick tutorial about how to order from the PAT Store.
Want to pay by check? Download the Commercial Mail Order Form and mail in.
We CANNOT take credit card orders over the phone.
If you order before 2:00 p.m. you will likely receive your order in 2-4 business days.
There are other training materials that you can purchase (live review sessions) or find on our website for free. These are supplemental and not required. You can read more about them on the Products page.
Licensing
Once certified you then need to apply for a license. Licensing is done through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
There are 4 types of licenses:
1) For-hire applicators are people who apply pesticides on other people’s property under contract. ALL for-hire applicators must be licensed.
2) Not-for-hire applicators are people who apply pesticides only on their employer’s property. Only not-for-hire applicators using RUPs need to be licensed.
3) Government applicators are government employees who apply pesticides to property that their employer owns or controls.
4) Educational applicators are people employed by an educational institution who apply pesticides to property that their employer owns or controls.
