Academy · CEU requirements · MA
Massachusetts pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Massachusetts require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Massachusetts sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Applicator (Core) Licence owe 6 pesticide credits (contact hours) per three-year cycle; Commercial Certification owe 12 pesticide credits per category per three-year cycle. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) — Pesticide Program
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 36 months
- Deadline
- Applicator credentials expire 31 December and renew every year (applications open in October). Late renewal is allowed 1 January – 30 June with a late fee equal to the exam fee; after 30 June re-examination is mandatory. Credits are due at the end of the individual's three-year cycle; MDAR publishes the list of people whose cycle ends 31 December 2026.
- Accepted formats
- MDAR-approved (PACE) live training, in person or online, On-demand (no live interaction) training — no more than half of the credits for any one licence or category
- Agency
- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) — Pesticide Program
- Application fee
- $150
- Exam structure
- Two tiers. Applicator (Core) Licence: 125-question core exam, 2 hours, pass 70% (87 of 125) — for anyone doing general-use pesticide work for hire. Commercial Certification (needed for restricted-use pesticides for hire): core licence first, then a 125-question certification exam per category, 2½ hours, pass 75% (94 of 125); two years of relevant experience required by regulation. All exams are online, webcam-proctored through Everblue Training. Exam registration via EEA ePLACE: $75 core / $125 commercial certification, plus $28 per exam paid to Everblue.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Applicator (Core) Licence | 6 pesticide credits (contact hours) per three-year cycle | A contact hour is 50 consecutive minutes of training. Licence renews annually at $100. |
| Commercial Certification | 12 pesticide credits per category per three-year cycle | Renews annually at $150. Credit certificates must show licence number, category and signature or they are rejected. Submit them at renewal — do not mail them to MDAR. |
Applicator credentials expire 31 December and renew every year (applications open in October). Late renewal is allowed 1 January – 30 June with a late fee equal to the exam fee; after 30 June re-examination is mandatory. Credits are due at the end of the individual's three-year cycle; MDAR publishes the list of people whose cycle ends 31 December 2026.
Sources
- https://www.mass.gov/pesticide-examination-and-licensing
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/pesticide-examination-and-license-information-bulletin/download
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/pesticide-applicator-licensing-and-certification-fees
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/pesticide-license-and-recertification-program
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/333-CMR-10-08
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/333-CMR-10-03
- https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/services/pesticide-education/pesticide-applicator-license-exams-training-workshops/pesticide-licensing-information
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Massachusetts require for pest control licence renewal?
- Applicator (Core) Licence: 6 pesticide credits (contact hours) per three-year cycle. Commercial Certification: 12 pesticide credits per category per three-year cycle.
- Who issues pest control licences in Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) — Pesticide Program
- Do online courses count toward Massachusetts CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: MDAR-approved (PACE) live training, in person or online, On-demand (no live interaction) training — no more than half of the credits for any one licence or category.
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