Learn about MDARD's four bureaus, including contact information, by clicking the above link, or view specific information below.
Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.
Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos
Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan
Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.
Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan
Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.
Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).
Materials developed to provide information on how an individual may become a qualified Animal Control Officer.
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
Michigan's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to help protect our environment and wildlife. Michigan is partnering with the federal government to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and valuable to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.
Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.
The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.
Find a licensed firm in Michigan, from pesticide businesses to retail establishments, and more.
For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
Retail Motor Fuel Outlet licensing information, applications and forms.
Information on Weights & Measures service person and agency registration, as well as weights and measures advisories.
Each new, existing, and proposed commercial pesticide or fertilizer bulk storage facility is required to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
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Visit the Renewal Process page for information about how to renew your certification/registration credential.
Have questions about the status of your credential? Contact the Central Licensing Unit at MDARD-PestCert@michigan.gov or 800-292-3939
Can't find the answer to your question on this page? Contact the Pesticide Certification Specialist at MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov.
Private and Commercial Applicator Certification Application
Commercial Applicator Registration Application
Replacement license/certification/registration form
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View the certification flow chart to determine if certification is required.
Individuals growing agricultural commodities who plan to apply or supervise applications of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) must obtain a certified private applicator credential. A person applying a general-use pesticide for a private agricultural purpose does not need to obtain a private credential.
Individuals applying pesticides during the course of their employment must obtain a commercially certified applicator or a registered applicator credential. Some exceptions do exist:
Businesses making pesticide applications on a for hire basis must also obtain a pesticide application business license (PABL). Visit the PABL homepage for more information on applying for a business license.
A private pesticide applicator may apply pesticides on land owned or rented by the applicator or his/her employer; or on property of another for no compensation other than trading of personal services between producers. To become a private applicator:
Commercial applicators apply pesticides as a part of a business making applications for hire or as a part of their routine job duties. To become a commercially certified applicator:
Registered applicators apply pesticides commercially as a part of a business making applications for hire or as a part of their routine job duties. Registered applicators cannot apply restricted use pesticides. To become a registered applicator:
Before an entity can train registered applicators, MDARD must approve the entity’s training program and trainer. The training program must be verifiable and category specific. View the Registered Applicator Information section of this FAQ for additional details.
Check with your employer before completing your application to determine which categories you need for employment. See the Commercial Pesticide Application Certification Categories for a complete list and description of each category.
If you are unsure what category of application is applicable to the services you offer, contact MDARD’s Pesticide Certification Specialist at MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov.
Applicators may apply for as many categories of pesticide certification as they wish. Please be aware a certification credential will not be issued until all examination categories applied for on the application have been passed.
Yes, applicators may hold dual credentials. The certification fee and requirements for both credentials must be met.
Commercial applicators that also apply pesticides for their own on-farm use while growing an agricultural commodity can purchase and apply RUPs under their commercial certification credential.
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MDARD collects a fee to process, print, and mail a certification/registration card to each applicator.
Applicators are responsible for ensuring that the appropriate application and fees have been provided to MDARD to complete a credential. Cash and credit card payments are not accepted. Fees are accepted as check or money orders addressed to “The State of Michigan”. Submit the application and fee together in an envelope addressed to:
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
P.O. Box 30776
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Follow the instructions on the application to ensure MDARD has all required information to process the credential upon submittal.
Initial applicators or applicators adding a category have 6 months to complete the categories marked on the application. After 6 months, the certification/registration application and fee must be provided again. Applicators renewing their credential are in the renewal period for 1 year following the expiration of the credential. If the credential is not renewed, an applicator will start the certification process again as an initial applicator.
Michigan has reciprocal agreements with the states of Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Commercial and private applicators who are residents of these states may be granted reciprocal certification without examination. To obtain Michigan certification credentials as part of a reciprocal agreement, submit an application and the prescribed fee (payable to State of Michigan) to MDARD at the address listed on the application.
For additional information contact MDARD’s Pesticide Section at 800-292-3939 or MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov.
Your card will be issued within two months of successfully:
If you do not receive your card within 2 months of completing the steps above, contact MDARD-CLU at 800-292-3939. Have questions about the status of your credential? Contact the Central Licensing Unit at MDARD-PestCert@michigan.gov or 800-292-3939
An applicator must carry all three items as proof of certification/registration until the certification card is received. If a certification card is not received within two months of completing the required steps, contact MDARD-CLU at 800-292-3939. Have questions about the status of your credential? Contact the Central Licensing Unit at MDARD-PestCert@michigan.gov or 800-292-3939
Contact MDARD-CLU at 800-292-3939. Have questions about the status of your credential? Contact the Central Licensing Unit at MDARD-PestCert@michigan.gov or 800-292-3939. If you fail to contact MDARD about your credential in a timely manner, you may be charged for a replacement card.
Certification/registration credentials expire every third year on December 31. Your card lists the expiration date in the bottom right corner. MDARD will mail your renewal form three month prior to the expiration of your credential. You can renew either by accruing recertification seminar credits over the 3-year cycle or retake the applicable exams. Visit the Renewal Process web page for further details on how to renew your credential.
Once you are considered a credentialed applicator, you can start accruing recertification seminar credits using your certification/registration number. Visit the Renewal Process web page for additional information on renewing using seminar credits.
The applicable certification exam must be passed and the Private and Commercial Applicator Certification Application and applicable certification fee provided to MDARD. On the application, mark you are adding a category, list the category(ies), and provide your certification number. View the Exam Information section in this FAQ for additional information on how to have your exam proctored.
If utilizing a registered applicator program, view the Registered Applicator Information section of this FAQ for additional information on adding categories.
Complete the Replacement license/certification/registration form and mail it to MDARD (PO Box 30776, Lansing, MI 48909) along with a $10 replacement fee, check or money order made payable to the State of Michigan.
Address changes must be reported in order to insure receipt of any regulation changes, renewal notices or other relevant information. Applicators must report address, name, or contact information changes to MDARD-CLU at 800-292-3939. Have questions about the status of your credential? Contact the Central Licensing Unit at MDARD-PestCert@michigan.gov or 800-292-3939. The email should include your name, certification number, telephone number and new address.
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There is a study manual and exam for each category of pesticide application. Each examination requires a minimum score of 70 percent to pass. All exams are closed book. The questions are true/false and multiple choice.
Some manuals are available in PDF format for free on the PSEP website or are available through your local MSU Extension County Office. County offices carry the more commonly requested manuals, but not all. It is recommended to call ahead to confirm that they have the manual needed.
All study manuals can be purchased through the National Pesticide Safety Education Center.
The core study manuals include the National Core and Michigan addendums. There may be some instances, as in the use of microbicide (category 5B) or domestic animal (7G), when general standard (core) materials and category-specific materials will be combined into one study manual.
There are two ways to have an exam proctored. Both options are by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Remember for both options, you must provide your certification or registration application and applicable fee to MDARD. View the How do I provide my certification/registration application and fee to MDARD section of this FAQ for additional information.
Metro Institute charges a convenience fee to offer increased availability for exam proctoring services. For exams at a testing center, it costs $55 per exam. For online, remotely proctored exams, it costs $65 per exam.
Metro Institute’s proctoring fees are SEPARATE from MDARD’s certification fee. Service fee(s) paid to Metro Institute have nothing to do with MDARD. Therefore, the paper application and appropriate fee also need to be mailed to MDARD at P.O. Box 30776, Lansing, MI 48909.
Yes! You can use a Metro Institute account as a business account to sign up your employees for exam sessions. Be sure to have your employees date of birth, last 4 digits of their social security number, and certification number (if applicable).
Yes, some category exams are combined into one exam. You must pass the entirety of the combined exam to receive all included category certifications.
For all exam sessions, only bring your ID to verify your identification and age. All other resources needed to take the exam will be provided by the proctor. Candidates taking a remotely proctored exam are allowed a simple 4 function calculator. Prohibited items to bring to an exam session include:
There are certain technical requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete a remotely proctored exam. Verify you can meet all requirements before scheduling a remotely proctored exam.
The proctor can see both you and your computer screen and is available via real time chat. The proctor will ask you to hold your ID up to the screen to verify your identify. Once your identity has been verified, you may start the exam.
Create an account with Metro Institute to view the complete list of requirements and to run a pre-check on your computer to test for compatibility. If you cannot meet the requirements for remotely proctored testing, do not schedule a remotely proctored exam.
You will receive your score immediately following the scoring of the exam. Metro Institute will email a copy of the Exam Analysis upon completion of the exam to the address used for exam registration. If taking exams in-person, the Exam Analysis will be printed by the proctor.
MDARD can accept a passing exam score for 1 year from the date of the exam.
Initial applicators have 6-months to pass any categories listed on the application provided to MDARD before a new application and fee are due. Applicators renewing their credential have 1 year to renew the credential. Candidates are allowed one exam attempt per category a day. A candidate can retake an exam as many times as they like at this time.
Email the Pesticide Certification Specialist at MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov. Please include your first and last name.
Exam items may be reviewed due to questions that are confusing or improperly stated, the choice of answers yields not correct answer, there is more than one correct answer, and etc. Candidates will not be informed of information about the exam item or how the question affects their overall exam score, only that the item has been placed under review by MDARD. Email any exam item reviews to the Pesticide Certification Specialist at MDARD-Pesticide@michigan.gov or mail a written request to:
MDARD: Attn. Pesticide Certification Specialist
PO Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
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Yes, you registration is still valid for the categories you were trained in. If your new employer wants you to apply pesticides in categories you are not currently registered in, you will need to complete their approved registered applicator training program and provide the Commercial Applicator Registration Application and $45 registration fee to MDARD.
Registered applicators can only apply general use pesticides (no restricted use pesticides). An entity must have an MDARD approved trainer and training program before utilizing registered applicators. It is the approved trainer's responsibility to ensure effective implementation of the approved program.
Individuals must meet all of the following qualifications in order to be an MDARD approved trainer:
Training programs must contain all required elements of Regulation 636, Rule 8, Section 3. Program requirements can also be found in the Registered Applicator Trainer Manual. Training programs must be submitted to MDARD for verification of all required elements.
Contact the Pesticide Certification Specialist Lauren Gott at GottL@michigan.gov for assistance with establishing a training program and how to take the Train the Trainer exam. Upon approval, you will be provided a letter outlining the approved trainers and categories.
You may now begin training registered applicators! Remember, non-certified and registered applicators:
While in the approved training program, non-certified applicators may apply general-use pesticides for two-weeks. These non-certified applicators in training must be directly supervised (see Definitions) by a certified applicator at all times. The Requirements and Procedures for Two-week Training Notification for Non-certified or Non-registered Pesticide Applicators Form must be provided to MDARD BEFORE the applicator in training begins the two-week training period.
The applicant may complete the training requirement before or after taking the commercial core exam. After the non-certified applicator has completed training, the approved trainer must assist the applicator in completing the Commercial Applicator Registration Application, which verifies the applicator’s training. Mail the application and $45 registration fee to:
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Once the training program is completed, the commercial core exam passed, and the application and fee have been provided to MDARD, registered applicators only need to be supervised (see Definitions) by a certified applicator when employed by a commercial pesticide application business. Review the Registered Applicator Trainer Manual for additional details about registered applicator training program requirements.
An individual meeting the trainer qualifications must add the applicable category to their certification credential. If business licensing applies, the category must first be added to the pesticide application business license. A training program including the added category must be submitted and approved by MDARD BEFORE you begin training registered applicators in additional categories. A new approval letter will be generated upon the successful addition of new category. Applicators adding categories to their registration will need to provide the Commercial Applicator Registration Application and $45 registration fee to MDARD.