The Aerial General Standards Core Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator or Operator in the State of Illinois to perform aerial pesticide applications, including the use of drones.
This is a closed-book exam administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%. Applicants seeking an applicator license must pass the Aerial General Standards Exam before taking the category exam.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Aquatics Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in standing or running water.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Demonstration & Research Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use during 1) a demonstration of pesticide and equipment use, or 2) research with experimental pesticides or off-label uses.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Field Crops Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in corn, soybeans, small grains, forages, grasslands, industrial hemp, etc.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Forest Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in forests, forest nurseries, and forest seed-producing areas.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Fruit Crops Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in fruit and nut crops.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The General Standards Core Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator or Operator in the State of Illinois.
This is a closed-book exam administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%. Applicants seeking an applicator license must pass the General Standards Exam before taking the category exam.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 16, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Grain Facility Category Exam (Commercial Not-for-Hire only) is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in and around grain elevators or similar grain holding facilities, conveyances, and transportation facilities.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Livestock Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide applied to livestock or livestock barns.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. It is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Mar. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Mosquito Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for insecticides applied to control mosquitoes.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Ornamentals Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use on trees, shrubs, and ornamental plantings.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Dealer Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Dealer in the State of Illinois to sell restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) or general-use pesticides for the production of an agricultural commodity in containers with capacities of 2½ gallons or more, or 10 pounds or more.
This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
This tutorial is provided to Pesticide License test takers to get familiar with the navigation options in the certification exams. Note that this is entirely optional and does not provide any subject matter review.
The Plant Management Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use on portable plants used for interior landscaping and environmental enhancement.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Rights-of-Way Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for chemical weed control on non-crop sites such as parking lots, along roads, in access rights-of-way, and in fence lines.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Seed Treatment Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use on seeds.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Sewer Line Root Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in Illinois for the chemical control of roots in sewer lines.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Turfgrass Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use on turf areas and sod farms.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Vegetable Crops Category Exam is required to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator in the State of Illinois for pesticide use in vegetable crops and medical/recreational cannabis.
Categories dictate the area(s) to which a company may legally apply pesticides. This closed-book exam is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.
Exam Time Limit: 3 hours
Exam Available: Oct. 15, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Exam Fee: $12.6 per attempt proctor fee
To sign up for exams, please see Commercial Exam Enrollment. Questions about online exams? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.