Section 250.90  Commercial Applicator and Commercial Not For Hire Applicator:  Certification, Testing and Licensing

a)         A person may make application to the Director to become licensed as a licensed commercial applicator or commercial not for hire applicator only after successfully demonstrating comprehension of the general competency standards (Section 250.110) and one or more of the technical category areas of pesticide use (Section 250.120).

b)         A person establishing qualifications for certification to become a licensed commercial applicator or commercial not for hire applicator for the first time or needing to re-establish qualifications for certification shall apply to the Director for examination in accordance with Sections 10, 11 and 11.1 of the Act.

c)         Closed book examinations for certified commercial or commercial not for hire applicators will be scheduled by the Director at least once annually at various regional locations throughout the State.  Examinations will also be scheduled by prior appointment at appropriate state regional offices at other times during the year.

d)         A person desiring certification or recertification shall demonstrate competency in pesticide use by answering 70% or better of the examination questions correctly.  A person must successfully demonstrate competence in the general competency standard before being permitted to take specific technical category examination(s).

e)         A person may only make two attempts to successfully demonstrate competence in any one normal work day.  The examination can only be taken a maximum of three times within any six month period.

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 6036, effective April 15, 2026)