I promise you this isn’t meant to be sarcastic, and if comes across that way, I apologize….but there is a “general standards” section of the test and then a second part of the test in which you pick the “category” (Ag Pest Control, Forest Pest Control, Turf and Ornamental, Right-of-Way, etc) in order to get a Commercial Pesticide Applicators license. You would need this is if you planned to charge somebody a fee for applying pesticides (which by the way is a broad term that includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, miticides, nematicides, defoliants, disinfectants, etc). If you were to charge a fee, then there are other business licensing issues that you would have to address.

If you’re looking to be able to buy Restricted Use Pesticides, then a Commercial Pesticide Applicators license would allow you to do so. But then again, you would have to make sure of the legal ramifications of spraying someone else’s property other than your own, even without charging a fee.

If you’re planning on simply spraying ready-to-use products off the shelf(everyday herbicides) from a big box store that are not RUP, then a license wouldn’t be necessary.

Louisiana does have a private applicators license which would allow you to purchase RUP products and apply them to your property. However, there is still a lot of responsibility when it comes to applying pesticides and understanding what it is you’re applying them for.

Don’t gloss over the materials that are supplied by the LSU Ag Center. They do ask some pretty pointed questions on the test and you might find yourself re-taking it multiple times if you’re not careful. Above all else, whatever the label says on the package is the LAW. An inappropriate application or applying in a manner that is inconsistent with the labeling could land you a fine or worse.

Wish you much luck in your endeavor. As boring as the study materials may seem, you would do yourself a favor to be as well versed as you possibly can.