Navigation

Public Records Request
Natural Resources Building
P.O. Box 42560
1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Phone: (360) 902-1800

Pesticide/SPI License Categories

Back
Home / Services / Licenses, Permits, and Certificates / Pesticide License and Recertification / Pesticide and SPI Licensing / Pesticide License Types and Categories / Pesticide License Categories

What do you need today?

Pesticide/SPI License Exam Categories

For more information, call toll-free 877-301-4555 or email license@agr.wa.gov.

To qualify for a license, you will need to take and pass one or more exams. The license category, or classification, you need is based on the kind of pest control work you will be doing. Certain license types and specific kinds of applicators will only need one stand-alone exam. Other license types require Washington Laws and Safety plus all categories in which an applicator operates. See the Pesticide License Types page to determine which license type you need.

Categories are defined in rule (Chapter 16-228-1545 WAC).

Jump to

Stand-Alone Exams

(Do not need to take Washington Laws and Safety)

Dealer Manager

Description Language
Qualifies the licensee to act as a dealer manager for a licensed pesticide dealer outlet. There are no substitutions for this exam.

Study material from WSU:
  • Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety (EM012)
 English               

Private Applicator

Description Language
For the use or supervision of the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) for the production of any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by them or their employer. 

Additional requirements:
  • Aquatic category - required if applying pesticides to water that moves off property.
  • Soil fumigation RMM - required for use of soil-applied fumigants on agricultural crops.

Study material from WSU:
  • Private Applicator Pesticide Education Manual (EM020)
 English
Spanish                   

Structural Pest Inspector

Description Language
Required to conduct complete wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspections*. 

Comprised of two exams:
  1. 100-question general knowledge exam and
  2. 50-question practical exam

*Complete WDO inspections are for the purpose of determining evidence of infestation, damage, or conducive conditions as part of the transfer, exchange, or refinancing of any structure in Washington State.

Study material from WSU:
  • Structural Pest Inspector Manual (EM013)
 English

Limited Private Applicator

Description Language
Only valid in eastern Washington.

For the use or supervision of the use of restricted use herbicides on non-production agricultural land.

May also use herbicides in timber areas to control noxious weeds.

May not use restricted use insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, or any aquatic herbicides.

Study materials from WSU:
  • Private Applicator Education Manual (EM020) and
  • Weed Control Training Supplement for Limited Private Applicators and Rancher Private Applicators (EM105E)
 English

Rancher Private Applicator

Description Language
Only valid in eastern Washington.

For the use or supervision of the use of restricted use herbicides and rodenticides on:
  • non-production agricultural land and
  • limited production agricultural land where hay and grain are grown for personal use.
May also use herbicides in timber areas to control noxious weeds.

May not use restricted use insecticides, fungicides, or any aquatic herbicides.

Study materials from WSU:
  • Private Applicator Education Manual (EM020) and
  • Weed Control Training Supplement for Limited Private Applicators and Rancher Private Applicators (EM105E)
 English

Aquatic Antifouling

Description Language
For the use of antifouling paints to control fouling organisms on the bottom of marine vessels.

Study material from WSU and WSDA Exams and Study Materials page:
  • Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety (EM012) - see Aquatic Antifouling Fact Sheet for which portions of this manual to study
  • Aquatic Antifouling Fact Sheet [PDF]
 English

Stump Treatment

Description Language
For the limited use of herbicides on cut stumps only to control resprouting.

Does not include basal applications.

Study materials from WSU:
  • Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety (EM012)
  • Turf and Ornamental Weed Management Principles (EM035) - only study the following sections:
    • "Herbicide Application Principles":
      • Hand Sprayers
      • Sprayer Nozzles
    • "Herbicide Application":
      • Sprayer Delivery Rate
 English

For all other exam categories, you will need to pass Washington Laws and Safety (or substitute**) in addition to applicable category to qualify for license.

Washington Laws and Safety

Description Language
Required for all licenses except:
  • dealer manager,
  • structural pest inspector,
  • private applicator,
  • limited private applicator, and
  • rancher private applicator.
This material is also integrated into the Stump Treatment and Aquatic Antifouling exams.

Must also pass category exam to qualify for license.

Study material from WSU:
  • Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety (EM012)
 English
Spanish

Category Exams

(Washington Laws and Safety also required for license)

Agricultural Insect and Disease Control

Description Language
For the control of insects and diseases in agricultural crops including forest environments.

Does not cover the application of soil-applied fumigants. Refer to the Soil Fumigation RMM category.

Study material from WSU:
  • Introduction to Insect and Disease Management (EM051)
 English

Agricultural Weed Control

Description Language
For the control of weeds in all agricultural crops including forest environments.

Does not cover the application of soil-applied fumigants. Refer to the Soil Fumigation RMM category.

Study material from WSU:
  • Agricultural Weed Management Principles (EM043)
 English
Spanish

Aquatic Pest Control

Description Language
For the control of aquatic pests (fish, insects, and weeds) in aquatic areas including but not limited to canals, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, and water supply pipelines.

Note: Aquatic pesticide applications may require a permit through the Department of Ecology (https://ecology.wa.gov/).

Study material from WSU:
  • Aquatic Pest Control (EM039)
 English

Aquatic Pest Control - Irrigation Districts

Description Language
For the control of aquatic weeds in irrigation district water delivery systems. Pests include but are not limited to moss, algae, cattails, pondweeds, and other emersed and submersed aquatic weeds.

Study material from WSU:
  • Aquatic Pest Control (EM039) - see preface in manual for which sections to study
 English

Cooling Tower

Description Language
For the control of algae, bacteria, etc. in cooling towers and other similar water systems.

Study material:
  • None required. Exam questions based on fictitious label.
 English

Fumigant

Description Language
For the use of fumigants (such as methyl bromide and aluminum phosphide) on stored commodities.

Study material from WSU:
  • Stored Grain Pest Control (EM001) - only study the following chapter:
    • "Controlling Pest Infestations"
 English

Interior Plantscaping

Description Language
For the control of insects and diseases in interior plantscapes.

Study material from WSU:
  • Interior Plantscape Pest Control (MISC0176)
 English

Livestock Pest Control

Description Language
For the control of external and internal pests of animals, with the exception of viruses, in livestock and livestock premises.

Study material from WSU:
  • Livestock Pests Study Guide (MISC0052E)
 English

Ornamental Insect and Disease Control

Description Language
For the control of insects and diseases in ornamental, turf, and right-of-way situations including but not limited to golf courses, parks, schools, yards, gardens, greenhouses, hospitals, and rest homes.

Includes but not limited to the use of insecticides, miticides, fungicides, bactericides, molluscicides, and nematocides.

Does not include perimeter treatments around structures.

Study material from WSU:
  • Introduction to Insect and Disease Management (EM051)
 English

PCO General

Description Language
For the control of insects, spiders, birds, rodents, and animal pests in and around areas including but not limited to residences, public buildings and grounds, commercial buildings and grounds, disposal sites, animal feed lots, and farmsteads, including buildings and transportation equipment.

Does not include the control of ornamental pests, structurally destructive pests, or the inspection of properties for real estate transactions.

Businesses that amend structures for pest control are required to register as a contractor with the Department of Labor & Industries. See https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/.

Study material from WSU:
  • Pest Management Study Manual for Pest Control Operators (EM019)
 English

PCO Structural

Description Language
For the control of structurally destructive pests including but not limited to fungus, termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles.

Allows licensees to add the structural pest inspector license at no charge to perform only specific wood-destroying organism inspections.

Study material from WSU:
  • Pest Management Study Manual for Pest Control Operators (EM019)
 English

Pest Animal Control

Description Language
For the control of pest animals in agricultural situations.

Trapping animals does not require a pesticide license but may require a permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

To provide professional wildlife trapping services for a fee, you must be certified through WDFW's Wildlife Control Operator training program. Find more information on this program on WDFW's Wildlife Control Operator page.

For additional resources on mitigating wildlife on private property, visit the WDFW Nuisance Wildlife page at (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/nuisance-wildlife) or contact specialtrapping@dfw.wa.gov.

Study material from WSU:
  • PNW Wildlife Management Basics (EM008)
 English

Post-Harvest Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables

Description Language
For the use of pesticides to control organisms such as fungus and diseases in stored fruits and vegetables.

Does not allow use of fumigants. Refer to the Fumigant or Stored Grain categories.

Study material:
  • None required. Exam questions based on fictitious label.
 English

Potato Sprout Inhibitor

Description Language
For the use of a pesticide to control sprouting in stored potatoes.

Study material: 		English

Public Health Control

Description Language
For the use of pesticides by government employees in public health programs, such as mosquito, rodent, and insect control in situations having medical and public health importance.

Study material from WSU:
  • Public Health Pest Control (EM034)
 English

Right-of-Way Weed Control

Description Language
For the control of weeds, including cut stumps on but not limited to:
  • right-of-way locations such as:
    • city, county, state, and federal roads,
    • highways,
    • railroads,
    • power lines, and
    • irrigation ditches
  • industrial sites such as:
    • airports,
    • industrial parks, and
    • large parking areas.

Does not include the application of pesticides into water. Refer to the Aquatic Pest Control category.

Study material from WSU:
  • Right-of-Way Vegetation Management (EM029)
 English
Spanish

Seed Treatment

Description Language
For the application of pesticides to seeds to control destructive insects and diseases.

Study material from WSU:
  • Seed Treatment (EM002)
 English

Sewer Root Control

Description Language
For the control of roots in sewers.

Study material from WSDA Exams and Study Materials page: 		English

Soil Fumigation RMM

Description Language
For the use of soil-applied fumigants on agricultural crops and non-crop land to control pests including weeds, insects, and diseases.

Study material from WSU:
  • Soil Fumigation (EM055)
 English

Stored Grain

Description Language
For the use of pesticides, including fumigants and rodenticides, in grain storing facilities, railcars, etc.

Study material from WSU:
  • Stored Grain Pest Control (EM001)
 English

Structural and Turf Demossing

Description Language
For the limited control of moss on structures and turf.

Study material from WSU:
  • Structural and Turf Demossing Study Manual (EB1962E)
 English

Sulfur Dioxide Fumigation

Description Language
For the use of sulfur dioxide gas to fumigate wine barrels and corks.

Study material:
  • None required. Exam questions based on fictitious label.
 English

Turf and Ornamental Weed Control

Description Language
For the control of weeds and moss in all ornamental and turf situations which includes but is not limited to golf courses, parks, schools, lawns, yards, gardens, and hospitals.

If doing only stump treatment applications, please refer to Stump Treatment category.

Study material from WSU:
  • Turf and Ornamental Weed Management Principles (EM035)
 English
Spanish

Wood Treatment

Description Language
For the use of wood preservatives for the control of wood damaging pests.

Study material from WSU:
  • Wood Preservation (MISC01015)
 English
Spanish

Exam Substitutions

Exam **Permitted Substitution(s)
Private Applicator Laws and Safety plus one of the following: Agricultural Weed or Agricultural Insect and Disease
Limited Private Applicator Private Applicator or permitted Private Applicator substitution (see above)
Rancher Private Applicator Private Applicator or permitted Private Applicator substitution and Pest Animal Control
Laws and Safety Dealer Manager or Private Applicator

Jump to

Go back to Pesticide/SPI Licensing

Go to Pesticide/SPI License Types

Go to Recertification Requirements