Training & Certification

Information on this page

  • 2025 Private Pesticide Applicator Training opportunities in southeast Nebraska
  • 2025 Dicamba Training – Contact registrant for training opportunity
  • 2025 Online Paraquat Training
  • 2025 Chemigation Applicator Training in southeast Nebraska

2025 Private Pesticide Applicator Training Options in Southeast Nebraska

A private pesticide applicator is a person who uses or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides in the production of agricultural commodities on land owned or rented by them or their employer. Applicators are not eligible to purchase or apply restricted use pesticides until both certified and licensed. In 2024, private applicators have five options to become re-certified for another three years. 

As a reminder, please check if you are up for your 3-year renewal at: http://www.kellysolutions.com/NE/Applicators/index.htm

After completing a training option below, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture will mail you a postcard so you can pay for the $25 license fee.  There is additional training required for use restricted used dicamba herbicides and all paraquat products (see information below).

Option 1. Traditional In-Person Private Application Training

Pre-registration is required due to room capacity limitations and so we have your contact information in case of cancellation due to inclement weather. The training cost is $60/person by check or exact cash to University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted. You must pre-register for these in-person trainings at: https://pears.io/events/unl/ and search for “PSEP and your county name” in the search box. You can also call your local Extension office to register over the phone.

Be sure to bring the following three items with you to the in-person trainings listed: 

  • Driver’s license or photo ID 
  • Bar-coded recertification form you received in the mail in December from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Replacement form is available at the training. Not required, but please bring your dark orange & green private pesticide application card if possible. 
  • $60 cash (exact amount appreciated) or check made out to University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

2025 Trainings (date, time, and location)

You must pre-register at: https://pears.io/events/unl/

  • Jan 20: 1 pm at Saline County Extension Office, 306 W. 3rd St., Wilber
  • Jan. 23: 1 pm at Jefferson County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 56885 PWF Rd, Fairbury
  • Jan. 24: 9 am at Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W. Scott, Beatrice
  • Jan. 30: 1 pm & 6 pm at Seid’s Event Center, 71085 651 Blvd, Falls City
  • Jan 31: 9 am at Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Lincoln
  • Feb. 6: 1 pm & 6 pm at ENREEC, 1071 Co Rd G, Ithaca
  • Feb. 12: 9 am at Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W. Scott, Beatrice
  • Feb. 13: 1 pm & 6 pm at Kimmel Orchard Conference Room, 5995 G Rd, Nebraska City
  • Feb. 19: 1 pm at Tecumseh Community Building, 355 Clay St, Tecumseh
  • Feb. 21: 1 pm at Jefferson County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 56885 PWF Rd, Fairbury
  • Feb. 25: 1 pm & 6 pm at Cass County Fairgrounds, 8420 144th St, Weeping Water
  • Mar. 6: 1pm & 6 pm at Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Lincoln
  • Mar. 26: 6 pm at Saline County Extension Office, 306 W. 3rd St., Wilber
  • List of other in-person trainings throughout Nebraska: https://edmedia.wufoo.com/reports/2025-psep-private-training-dates/

Option 2. Online Self Study

Online private self-study can be taken at pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training. The online option takes 3 to 4 hours and allows for a test-out option at the beginning, and if passed (70% or better score), the rest of the online training is not required. This option is flexible to your schedule and can be taken from home. The online training cost is $60/person. Not available until January 1, 2024.

Option 3. Crop Production Clinics

Crop Production Clinics are offered statewide during the month of January with our local clinic at ENREEC near Mead on January 15 and in Beatrice on January 17. Visit the clinic website at agronomy.unl.edu/cpc to register. The training cost is $95.00/person. (Past)

Option 4. Test-only option

Walk-in testing session in Lincoln, that is taking a written, closed-book exam given by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Please visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/applicator_testing.html for a list of available test-only dates, times, and locations. There is no cost to the walk-in testing.

Option 5. Hard copy home self-study

Hard copy home self-study and exam is only offered in extraordinary circumstances. Applicators who were unable to attend in-person trainings, are unable to access the online training, or have a disability accommodation are allowed to take the home self-study and exam. Please contact the UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program at 402-472-1632 to be granted this option. Cost is $75/person.

2025 Dicamba Training by Registrants

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) decided that dicamba training will be offered by the registrants of that restricted used dicamba product. You can visit NDA’s Dicamba website for more information: https://nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/dicamba.html

2025 Online Paraquat Training

Additional training is required for all Paraquat products.

2025 Chemigation Applicator Trainings (Free) in Southeast Nebraska

Chemigators have two options to be certified in 2025 including the online self-study or an in-person trainings.

Option 1. Online Chemigation Trainings

I have had numerous producers already take the online chemigation training and they stated is worked pretty well and took about 3 hours, which is the same time commitment as the in-person version.

Check when your chemigation applicator certification expires (Click Here) to make sure you need to take the training again, since you get 4 years on your applicator license for chemigation (private pesticide is 3 years).

View all information about how to go through the online training at: https://water.unl.edu/article/agricultural-irrigation/chemigation

Option 2. In-Person Chemigation Training

Free in-person trainings will be held in 2025. Pre-registration is required due to room capacity limitations. Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted. The following trainings can be cancelled at notice due to inclement weather. You much pre-register at: https://go.unl.edu/chemigation2025

2025 Trainings (date, time, and location) – Attend any training, but local NRD representative/trainer varies by location

You must pre-register at: https://go.unl.edu/chemigation2025

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