Reciprocal Pesticide Licenses

Reciprocity is offered to dealers or applicators that hold active license with like categories to Montana. Not all applicators, license types, or states are eligible for reciprocity. Reciprocal dealer licenses are not required for individuals to sell or distribute pesticides into Montana from out of state. A dealer license is required however, if an individual travels to Montana to market, sell or advise on pesticide products.

To determine if your pesticide license is eligible for reciprocity, please review the state by state list of eligible licenses and categories. States with approved Certification and Training Plans have been reviewed. If your state is not represented in the list, please contact Matt Deaton @ 406-444-3676 for consideration before attempting the MT Out-of-State exam, sending an application, and payment to the department.

• Take and pass the Montana Out-of-State exam.
  • The Out-of-State exam covers the Montana Pesticide Act and Administrative Rules. Administrative rules of Montana (ARM) 4.10: Agricultural Sciences Division. For hard copies of the administrative rules and the Montana State Laws and Regulations Pertaining to the Use of Pesticides Appendix contact MeetingRequests-MTPlants@mt.gov.
  • Testing must be proctored by either your state’s pesticide regulatory department or by area university extension agents. You will need to reach out and inquire of these entities to seek their willingness and availability. They must send an email to MeetingRequests-MTPlants@mt.gov stating they are willing to proctor the exam on behalf of the department. The email must specify your name, intended examination date and their desired mailing address for exam materials. Exam materials must be returned to the Montana Department of Agriculture for scoring.
• Service of Process with Montana must be filed with the Montana Secretary of State.
  • Unless you or your employer have already established service of process, you must complete and submit this form and the $5 filing fee to the Montana Secretary of State.
• Request your state’s pesticide regulatory department to send a Letter of Good Standing directly to the MDA. Letters may be sent to PestLicensing@mt.gov.
• Provide a copy, front and back, of your current pesticide license(s), from your state of residence with your application.
• Submit a completed out of state application with the associated fees.

MT reciprocal licenses must be renewed annually with the appropriate fees and documentation. Renewals will be mailed out each November with the subsequent licensing cycle starting January 1^st. Renewal documentation for reciprocal licenses includes an updated copy of your resident pesticide license, a letter of good standing from your resident state, and the renewal application with the appropriate fees.

If while holding an active MT Reciprocal license your resident pesticide license is canceled, suspended, not renewed, or otherwise made no longer active in your state of residency you must notify the MT Department of Agriculture immediately. Only individuals with an active license in their resident state are eligible for continued reciprocity in MT.