A plain-English walkthrough of getting certified in Arizona — which license you need, the CORE and category exams, fingerprinting, what it costs, and how to study and pass. Commercial and structural pest management is run by the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division (PMD); agricultural applicators are certified through AZDA's separate agricultural program.
Arizona applicators pass CORE plus at least one category exam, each with a score of 75% or higher. PMD exams are delivered by a contracted testing vendor at testing centers around the state; exam fees are paid to the vendor and are separate from your application fee. New applicants also complete a fingerprint background check through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. (Agricultural certified applicators test directly with AZDA, where there is no exam fee but a certification cost applies.)
The PMD application fee is $55 for a Certified Applicator and $75 for a Certified Qualified Applicator, plus a $10 online handling fee and a $22 fingerprint fee for new applicants. Vendor exam fees are separate. PMD certifications expire May 31 each year and renew with continuing-education units (6 CEUs per year for commercial applicators). Arizona may waive exam requirements for applicators certified in another state under an approved EPA plan — contact the PMD Licensing Division about reciprocity.
Arizona PMD certifications run on a short leash: everything expires May 31 each year, renewed with continuing education — 6 CEUs per year for Certified Applicators, 12 for Certified Qualified Applicators — with a two-year renewal option if you bank double the CEUs up front. Nothing carries over, and missing the CE by the deadline means retesting. (Agricultural applicators certified through the AZDA agricultural program follow a separate clock — 6 CEUs per year commercial, 3 private, no carryover.) Confirm current CEU rules with the PMD before May 31.
Commercial and structural pest management is certified by the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division (PMD). Agricultural applicators are certified through AZDA's separate agricultural applicator program.
You need 75% or higher on the CORE exam and on each category exam.
The PMD application fee is $55 for a Certified Applicator or $75 for a Qualified Applicator, plus a $10 online handling fee and a $22 fingerprint fee for new applicants. Exam fees are paid separately to the testing vendor. Confirm current fees with the PMD.
PMD certifications expire May 31 each year. Commercial applicators renew with 6 continuing-education units per year.
Arizona Department of Agriculture, Pest Management Division (AZDA PMD) administers pesticide applicator certification in Arizona. Official requirements, applications, and scheduling come from the agency directly at https://agriculture.az.gov/pestspest-control.
Start with the National CORE material — the safety, label, and law foundation every state exam draws on. The free practice exams, flashcards, and study guides on this page mirror the real exam format: timed, scored, with a plain-English rationale on every question.
