Pesticide License Program
The use and sale of pesticides are regulated for the protection of people and their environment. Pesticides are considered valuable and necessary to provide sufficient quantity of quality foods and to provide protection to humans from vector borne diseases.
The protection from pesticides that are potentially dangerous is in the public interest for all people and their essential needs such as water, air, food, livestock, vegetation, pollinating insects, and shelter. The Montana Pesticides Act was established to help protect these interests and the Montana Department of Agriculture has the responsibility of administering and enforcing the Act.
Click on the specific license type below to obtain information about fees, forms, reports, and other aspects of licensing.
Commercial Applicators are individuals, who by contract or for hire, apply pesticides by aerial, ground, or hand equipment to land, plants, seed, animals, water, structures, or vehicles. Commercial applicators receive specialized training and testing appropriate to categories for which they are licensed. For more information click on Commercial Applicators in tabs below.
Public Utility Applicators apply pesticides to land owned or leased by a public utility. Training and licensing are the same as for commercial applicators. For more information click on Commercial Applicators in the tabs below.
Government Applicators are individuals who apply pesticides for a city, county, or state or other government agency to public land or right-of-way, or as a public service. Government applicators and must meet the same standards as commercial applicators.
Non-Commercial Applicators are individuals who cannot be classified as a commercial, public utility, governmental or private pesticide applicators, but desire to apply restricted-use pesticides. These individuals need to be classified into one of the 11 categories established for commercial applicators and may use restricted-use pesticides on lands owned, rented, or leased by an employer or by the license holder. For more information click on the Commercial Applicators tab below for more information.
Operators are employees of licensed or certified applicators who do not hold a commercial license. These individuals must be licensed as operators under the licensed applicator and may not apply pesticides more than 100 miles from the licensed applicator's physical location. To obtain an operator's license, an individual may: 1) pass a department exam with a score of 80% or better; 2) attend a department training course; or 3) receive training from a certified applicator. Operator licenses must be renewed each calendar year before applying pesticides. Operators may be added under the licensed applicator at renewal or added by using the Operator Application Form listed below. For more information click on Commercial Applicators in the tabs below.
Government Applicators are individuals who apply pesticides for a city, county, or state or other government agency to public land or right-of-way, or as a public service. Government applicators must meet the same standards as commercial applicators.
Government Operators are employees of licensed government applicators who do not hold an applicator license, but make pesticide applications under the direct supervision of the government applicator. These individuals must be licensed as operators under the government applicator and can operate only within their respective governmental jurisdiction. For more information click on Government Applicators in the tabs below.
Nonresidents applying for a license to apply pesticides in Montana under reciprocity must be certified for applying pesticides in their state of residence. Passing our examination on Montana's Rules & Regulations is always required before applying for reciprocity. Look under Reciprocity in the pdf links below for our "Out of State Requirements" to see how to setup an examination as well as the full list of requirements for applying for a Montana reciprocal pesticide license. For more information click on Commercial Applicators in the tabs below.
A Pesticide Dealer is any person who sells, wholesales, exchanges, barters, or gives away any pesticide in or into Montana except products intended only for home, yard, garden, home orchard, ornamental trees, bushes, and lawn. For more information click on Pesticide Dealers in the tabs below.
A Private Applicator is any person who applies restricted use pesticides to their own crop, land or leased lands. For more information click on Private Applicator in the tabs below.
Additional information is available by calling Pesticide Licensing, at (406) 444-4900, or by e-mail at PestLicensing@mt.gov.
Montana Pesticide Licenses
MDA issues licenses to sell or apply pesticides to individuals certified through specialized training and testing designed to protect producers, consumers and the environment. These licenses are issued by type and classification based on appropriate education and testing for each.
Annual Licensing Fees
1. Pesticide Applicator and Dealer License Fees:
- Commercial, Non-Commercial, Public Utility Applicator and Dealer licenses
New and renewed licenses = $85 each - Governmental Applicator and Governmental Dealer licenses *
First 4 licenses, new or renewed, per agency = $70 each Additional licenses, new or renewed, per agency = $15 each
Agencies are not required to pay more than $895 each in licensing fees per year
*Applicants licensing for Federal or Tribal agencies are exempt from all licensing fees
2. Operator Fees (DO NOT list Applicator as an Operators):
- Note: This fee does not apply to a Dealer license
- First 2 Operators added each year = $25 each, per license Additional Operators added each year = $10 each, per license Field Salesperson listed on a Dealer license = no cost
3. Renewal Late Fees:
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- Renewals postmarked after March 1 st , add $25 to the cost of the license (Late fees do not apply to new licenses)
Mail Applications To:
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DIVISION
PO BOX 200201
HELENA MT 59620-0201
Contacts
