Training & Certification

Information on this page

2026 Private Pesticide Applicator Training opportunities in Eastern Nebraska
2026 Chemigation Applicator Training in Eastern Nebraska
2026 Dicamba Training – Contact registrant for training opportunity
2026 Online Paraquat Training

2026 Private Pesticide Applicator Training Options in Eastern 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 2026, private applicators have five options to become re-certified for another three years.

Private applicators will receive a letter from the Nebraska Department of Ag in December notifying them if they need to renew. You can also 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. You must pre-register for these in-person trainings at: TBD. 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.

2026 Trainings (date, time, and location)

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Lancaster Extension Office, Lincoln (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Lancaster Extension Office, Lincoln (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Nelson City Auditorium, Nelson (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Thursday, January 29, 2026, Clay County Fairgrounds, Clay Center (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, January 29, 2026, Clay County Fairgrounds, Clay Center (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, January 29, 2026, Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center (ENREEC), Mead (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, January 29, 2026, Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center (ENREEC), Mead (6:00 to 9:00 p.m)
Friday, January 30, 2026, Seid’s Event Center, Falls City (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 5, 2026, Crete Public Library, Crete (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 5, 2026, Crete Public Library, Crete (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Cass County Fairground-Expo Center, Weeping Water (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Cass County Fairground-Expo Center, Weeping Water (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Tecumseh Community Building, Tecumseh (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Tecumseh Community Building, Tecumseh (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Hebron Activity Center, Hebron (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Hebron Activity Center, Hebron (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Nielsen Community Center, West Point (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 12, 2026, Nielsen Community Center, West Point (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Friday, February 13, 2026, Southeast Community College Academic Excellence Center, Beatrice (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Friday, February 13, 2026, Southeast Community College Academic Excellence Center, Beatrice (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Blair Public Library, Blair (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 19, 2026, Blair Public Library, Blair (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 19, 2026, Davenport Community Center, Davenport (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 26, 2026, Dodge County Extension Office, Fremont (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 26, 2026, Dodge County Extension Office, Fremont (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, February 26, 2026, Lancaster Extension Office, Lincoln (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, February 26, 2026, Lancaster Extension Office, Lincoln (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 5, 2026, Dodge County Extension Office, Fremont (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 5, 2026, ESU Building, Auburn (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 5, 2026, ESU Building, Auburn (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Nielsen Community Center, West Point (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Nielsen Community Center, West Point (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 12, 2026, Clay County Fairgrounds, Clay Center (9:00 a.m. to Noon)
Thursday, March 19, 2026, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Fairbury (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 19, 2026, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Fairbury (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Lancaster Extension Office, Lincoln (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.)

You must pre-register at: go.unl.edu/pest26

List of other in-person trainings throughout Nebraska: 2026 Private Pesticide 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 $100/person. Not available until January 1, 2026.

Option 3. Crop Production Clinics

Crop Production Clinics are offered statewide during the month of January. Visit the clinic website at agronomy.unl.edu/cpc to register. The training cost is $110/person.

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.

2026 Chemigation Applicator Trainings (Free) in Eastern Nebraska

Chemigators have two options to be certified in 2026 including the online self-study or an in-person trainings.

Option 1. Online Chemigation Trainings

The online chemigation training takes 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

Access to digital versions of the chemigation training manual, calibration workbook, and calculator
Watch the two short online training help videos
Link to the online chemigation training
Contact the Pesticide Office in Lincoln at pested@unl.edu or 402-472-1632 with issues about the online training

Option 2. In-Person Chemigation Training

Free in-person trainings will be held in 2026. 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.

2026 Trainings (date, time, and location) – Attend any training, but local NRD representative/trainer varies by location

Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2:00 PM, Columbus, Platte County Fairgrounds – Club House
Monday, January 26, 2026, 9:00 AM, Wilber, Saline County Extension Office (306 W 3rd St, Wilber, NE 68465)
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 10:00 AM, West Point, Nielsen Community Center Citizens State Room B
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 1:00 PM, Central City, Fairgrounds
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 1:30 PM, Hastings, Adams County Fairgrounds
Friday, January 30, 2026, 1:00 PM, St. Paul, St. Paul Library Community Room
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 1:00 PM, York, 4-H Building
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00 PM, Davenport, Community Center
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:30 PM, Grand Island, Hall County Extension Office
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00 PM, Ithaca, Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center (ENREEC), 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033
Friday, March 13, 2026, 9:00 AM, Tecumseh, Nemaha NRD Meeting Room
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9:00 AM, Beatrice, Gage County Extension Office (1115 W Scott St, Beatrice, NE 68310)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 9:00 AM, Lincoln, Lancaster County Extension Office

You must pre-register at: go.unl.edu/chemigate26

List of other in-person trainings throughout Nebraska: 2026 Chemigation Dates

2026 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

2026 Online Paraquat Training

Additional training is required for all Paraquat products.

Online Paraquat Training Information