Plant Industries
Serving the citizens of Arkansas and the agricultural and business communities by providing information and unbiased enforcement of laws and regulations set by the Arkansas State Plant Board
Private Applicator License
Important Notices:
Please read for important information and changes regarding the Private Applicator certification and licensing program.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is in the process of going paperless and updating the licensing database. This may cause delays in the licensing process. To ensure your application is processed in a timely manner be sure to provide ALL required information on the application form. If you have questions or need immediate assistance, please contact the Pesticide Section at 501-225-1598.
Private Applicator's Restricted Use Pesticide License
The following section explains the steps required to obtain and maintain a Private Applicator’s Restricted Use Pesticide License.
Who qualifies for a Private Applicator’s Restricted Use Pesticide License?
A “Private Applicator” is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides for purpose of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him or his employer. For Example: Farmers/Ranchers/Growers.
Note: This license does not apply to home gardeners.
The following is required to obtain a Private Applicator’s Restricted Use Pesticide License:
Step 1 – Obtain Certification/Recertification:
You must obtain certification/recertification, there are three options to obtain Private Applicator Certification/Recertification (required once every five years):
Option 1:
Attending a Private Applicator Training session provided by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. For a schedule of training sessions please contact your local county extension office or visit their website to find a list of training sessions at this link.
Option 2:
Completing the Private Applicator Online Certification provided by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. The online "Private Applicator Online Certification" can be found at this link.
Option 3:
Passing the Private Applicator Exam provided by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section. Private Applicator Exams are conducted on scheduled testing dates in Little Rock. Preregistration for testing is required. The Preregistration Form for testing can be found at this link.
Additional Training requirements:
- Arkansas Training and Certification Program for Non-Crop Use of Dicamba Herbicides
Any applicator planning to apply dicamba to non-dicamba crops, pasture, and rangeland, or for burndown use will need to first complete the online training provided by the Cooperative Extension Services. Even if applicators have held this certificate in prior seasons, annual renewal is required by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
- Arkansas Training and Certification Program for Enlist One and Enlist Duo Herbicides
Any applicator planning to apply Enlist formulations to labeled crops will need to first complete the online Enlist training provided by the Cooperative Extension Services. Even if applicators have held this certificate in prior seasons, annual renewal is required by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
- Crop Use of New Dicamba Herbicide Formulations In-Person Training
Any applicator planning to apply new Dicamba formulations (Engenia, Fexapan, Tavium, or Xtendimax) before May 26th & in-crop will need to first complete an in-person company training. Applicators can attend any company dicamba training regardless of which new formulation they intend on applying. Even if applicators have held this certificate in prior seasons, annual renewal is required by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Arkansas Pesticide Training 2022
Important Information Regarding Certification/Recertification:
- Keep your certification/recertification current. Remember that certification/recertification refers to the required training sessions conducted by the County Extension Agents.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that private applicators must be recertified at least every five (5) years.
- Your certification/recertification will expire on the last day of the month five (5) years from the latest Private Applicator Training Session date you attended.
- To be eligible for a one-year Private Applicator’s Restricted Use Pesticide License, you must have been certified/recertified within the past forty-eight (48) months.
- To be eligible for a five-year Private Applicator’s Restricted Use Pesticide License, you must have been certified/recertified within the past twelve (12) months, without previously having a license on that certification.
Step 2 – Obtain A License:
First Timers:
Once training is complete, the Private Applicator Application Form DP-25 must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section with the required fee in order to be eligible for a license. There are two options to obtain and submit an application form:
Option 1 – By Mail:
Go to Pesticide Section Forms Website, scroll down to “Application Forms and Associated Fees to be Submitted by Mail:”, open and print the DP-25. Complete the DP-25, sign, date, and mail the DP-25 along with the appropriate fee (check or money order) to:
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section
#1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205.
Make check/money order payable to:
Arkansas State Plant Board
Option 2 – Online:
Go to Pesticide Section Forms Website, scroll down to “Application Forms and Associated Fees to be Submitted Online” and follow the instructions on how to complete and submit the DP-25 along with the appropriate fee online.
Renewals:
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section will mail or email a Renewal Private Applicator Application Form (DP-25) to currently licensed applicators only, approximately 30 days prior to the expiration of the license. There are two options to submit an application form for renewal:
Option 1 – By Mail:
Make any corrections needed, complete any missing information, sign, date, and mail the DP-25 (submitted to you with the renewal notice) along with the appropriate fee (check or money order) to:
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section
#1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205.
Make check/money order payable to:
Arkansas State Plant Board
Option 2 – Online:
Go to Pesticide Section Forms Website, scroll down to “Application Forms and Associated Fees to be Submitted Online” and follow the instructions on how to complete and submit the DP-25 along with the appropriate fee online.
Please note an emailed application form cannot be accepted for the review process.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, Pesticide Section will process your application for a license. To ensure your application is processed in a timely manner be sure to provide ALL required information on the application form. Incomplete applications will result in delays of the licensing process or refund of the application fee. If you have questions or need immediate assistance, please contact the Pesticide Section at 501-225-1598.
The license, once issued, will expire on the last day of the month one (1) or five (5) years from the issuance date.
A license will be issued and mailed or emailed to you, once the application review process is completed. You can view and print your license information online at this link, License Search & Verification.
For Restricted Use Pesticide Dealers:
If you are a licensed Restricted Use Pesticide Dealer and desire to look up currently license Private Applicators, please go to the online License Search & Verification webpage to view all active license holders.
