Passing the exam gets you the license. Continuing education keeps it. Texas agricultural pesticide applicators must earn continuing education units (CEUs) before their license expires, or the license is not renewed.

The numbers differ by license type, and so do the rules on online courses and the penalties for missing a deadline. Many applicators only find this out in the last month before expiration.

This guide summarizes the CEU rules from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas Administrative Code. This site is an independent exam trainer. The licenses are issued by TDA, and we do not sell CEU courses.

In short

  • Commercial and noncommercial applicators need 5 CEUs before each yearly renewal.1
  • Private applicators need 15 CEUs per five-year license, with 2 in laws and 2 in IPM.1
  • One CEU is 50 minutes of instruction.2
  • Keep your certificates for 12 months after the renewal.1
  • If you let a license lapse for more than one year, you must meet the requirements for a new license.3
Contents
  1. Commercial and noncommercial
  2. Private applicators
  3. Online and correspondence courses
  4. Records and audits
  5. Missing the deadline
  6. Dicamba and 2,4-D training
  7. Common questions
  8. Sources

Commercial and noncommercial

Commercial, noncommercial and noncommercial political subdivision applicators renew every year. Before the license expires, they need at least 5 CEUs.2

At least one CEU each must come from two of these three areas: laws and regulations, integrated pest management (IPM) or drift minimization.21

Aerial applicators

If you are certified in the aerial application category, three of the five CEUs must relate to aerial work: one each in laws and regulations, drift minimization and aerial human safety factors.12

Private applicators

Private applicators renew every five years and need 15 CEUs before the license expires. Two must be in laws and regulations and two in IPM.21

Instead of collecting CEUs, a private applicator can pass the Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Exam. A pass earns a certificate of completion worth 15 CEUs. The exam costs $64 per attempt and is given at a Metro testing center. To be eligible, you submit form PA-403 to TDA.14 Metro lists this exam at 125 questions and up to 3 hours.5

Certified private applicators (certified before January 10, 1989) also earn 15 CEUs every five years but pay no renewal fee.6

Online and correspondence courses

Live online classes where the instructor can interact with you, such as Zoom or Teams webinars, count as in-person training.1

Approved internet or correspondence courses are limited:2

LicenseLimit on correspondence credit
Commercial and noncommercialNot allowed to recertify by correspondence two years in a row
PrivateNo more than 10 of the 15 CEUs per five-year cycle

Every activity must be approved by TDA, and each approval lasts one calendar year.2 Check that a course is approved before you pay.

Records and audits

Applicators renew through self-certification. You do not send certificates with the renewal, but you must keep them. Keep each certificate of completion for 12 months after the most recent renewal.12

TDA does audit CEUs. Inspectors can ask for the certificates during an onsite inspection, or request copies by mail.17 A certificate shows the sponsor, date, county, course name and the credit earned.2

Missing the deadline

  1. Without the CEUs, TDA does not renew the license.2
  2. A license renewed late is invalid until TDA has a complete application and the late fee. Applying restricted-use products in that period can bring administrative penalties.3
  3. You cannot retest for a new license in place of recertifying until one year after the expiration.2
  4. If you do not renew within one year, the license is terminated. You must meet the requirements for a new license, which means new exams.32

Dicamba and 2,4-D training

If you apply 2,4-D or dicamba on transgenic auxin herbicide tolerant crops, the rules require an approved auxin training course before application. One CEU per active ingredient is required annually, valid for one year from the course date.8

The course must cover timing, nozzle selection, wind speed, boom height, tank cleanout, buffer zones, drift and inversions.8

Common questions

How many CEUs do I need for a Texas pesticide license?

5 per year for commercial and noncommercial licenses, 15 per five years for private licenses.1

Do webinars count?

Yes, when the instructor can interact with the student, they are treated as in-person training.1

When do I need the CEUs?

Before the license expires.1

How long do I keep my certificates?

12 months after the most recent renewal.1

Can I renew a private license without CEUs?

Yes, by passing the Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Exam.1

Do I need CEUs in my first year?

For agricultural licenses, CEUs are due before the license expires.1 TDA's FAQ mentions a first-year exemption only for structural licenses.1

Sources

The CEU numbers come from TDA's Agricultural Applicator CEU FAQ and 4 TAC 7.24. Rules can change, so check TDA before you renew. Structural pest control CEUs follow different rules and are not covered here.

  1. Texas Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Applicator CEU FAQ (texasagriculture.gov)
  2. 4 Texas Administrative Code 7.24 (applicator recertification) (law.cornell.edu)
  3. 4 Texas Administrative Code 7.25 (expiration and renewal of licenses) (law.cornell.edu)
  4. Texas Department of Agriculture: Pesticide Private Applicator License (texasagriculture.gov)
  5. Metro Institute: Texas Department of Agriculture exams (metroinstitute.com)
  6. Texas Department of Agriculture: Certified Private Certification (texasagriculture.gov)
  7. Texas Department of Agriculture: Pesticide FAQs (texasagriculture.gov)
  8. 4 Texas Administrative Code 7.30 (use restrictions, auxin herbicides) (law.cornell.edu)