2026 Pesticide Applicator School
N.C. Cooperative Extension—Avery County Center (661 Vale Road, Newland, NC) will host a pesticide applicator school on Wednesday and Thursday, March 4th and 5th, 2026. The school will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. andend approximately at 4:00 p.m. On Thursday, March 5th, the school will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. Exams will be administered at 1:00 p.m.
In order to legally purchase and apply “restricted use pesticides,” youmust be certified and licensed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. If you need a pesticide license to purchase restricted-use pesticides, apply pesticides as part of your job, or you are, or want to be, a commercial applicator, you will need to attend the pesticide school and take an exam to obtain a license.
There will not be a fee for the pesticide school in 2026.
The fee schedule is listed below (these fees apply to all test participants regardless of license type):
· Core, Dealer, Worker Protection Designated Trainer, Aerial, and Consultant. $50.00 each
· Ornamental and Turf, Right of Way, Forestry, Public Health, Ag Pest Animal, Pet Grooming, Poultry, Ag Pest Plant, Seed Treatment, Demonstration and Research, Wood Treatment, Regulatory, and Aquatic $20.00 each
· Private $10.00
All exam fees will be collected on the day of the exam; check or money order payable to NCDA&CS or exact cash (unable to make change) are the only acceptable forms of payment at this time. Receipts will be provided. We are unable to accept any form of Credit or Debit cards at this time for in-person exams. Testers will need to bring their own pencils and calculators (you cannot use your phone as a calculator).
Participants must register online at the link listed below:
https://apps.ncagr.gov/AgRSysPortalV2/exam/registration
Our office has a limited number of Pesticide education books necessary to pass the exam. These are loaned out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact N.C. Cooperative Extension-Avery County Center at 828-733-8270 for additional information and instructions on registering for the Pesticide School and Exam.
N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations to participate in Extension sponsored programs and events. Please contact the county Extension office or campus department offering the program at least 14 days prior to the event to make arrangements.