Academy · CEU requirements · AK
Alaska pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Alaska require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Alaska sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Certified applicator (all categories) owe 12 dec-approved ceus before the current certification expires, or retest; Pesticide technician (Category 19) owe certified like other categories; applies general-use pesticides only under a certified applicator. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) — Pesticide Control Program
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 36 months
- Deadline
- Certification is valid for up to three years (one, two or three years on initial certification, depending on test scores). All CEU coursework must be completed before the current certification expires; the renewed certification runs three years from the reissue date.
- Accepted formats
- DEC-approved classes, conferences and meetings, DEC-approved online courses (one CEU per course), Alaska Certified Applicator Conference (UAF Cooperative Extension) — up to 6 CEUs
- Agency
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) — Pesticide Control Program
- Application fee
- $25
- Exam structure
- Core Exam in three sections (General Knowledge, State Regulations, Label Comprehension), all passed at 70% or higher in one sitting, plus at least one Category Exam at 70% on every section. Exams are taken at online testing centres around the state (paper exams by arrangement) and must be taken within 100 days of DEC approval. Testing centres charge their own fee, generally $30–$50 per test. Three failures in a year means a 12-month wait. After passing: $25 DEC fee and proof of liability insurance before the card is issued.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Certified applicator (all categories) | 12 DEC-approved CEUs before the current certification expires, or retest | CEUs must be finished BEFORE expiry — once expired, the only route back is the exams. Renewal also needs the $25 fee and proof of liability insurance. Any certified applicator who fails the Core Exam loses certification. |
| Pesticide technician (Category 19) | Certified like other categories; applies general-use pesticides only under a certified applicator | Must carry the directing applicator's written instructions for each application. DEC does not publish a separate technician CEU figure. |
Sources
- https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/certified-applicators/
- https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/certified-applicators/becoming-certified/
- https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/certified-applicators/preparing-for-exam/
- https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/certified-applicators/categories/
- https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/certified-applicators/recertification/
- https://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#18.90.300
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Alaska require for pest control licence renewal?
- Certified applicator (all categories): 12 DEC-approved CEUs before the current certification expires, or retest. Pesticide technician (Category 19): Certified like other categories; applies general-use pesticides only under a certified applicator.
- Who issues pest control licences in Alaska?
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) — Pesticide Control Program
- Do online courses count toward Alaska CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: DEC-approved classes, conferences and meetings, DEC-approved online courses (one CEU per course), Alaska Certified Applicator Conference (UAF Cooperative Extension) — up to 6 CEUs.
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