Academy · CEU requirements · MN
Minnesota pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Minnesota require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Minnesota sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Structural Pest Control Applicator (Journeyman or Master) owe attend an mda-approved recertification workshop every year (spca cycle is 1 year), or retest; Fumigation (Category N / SPCA fumigant endorsement) owe workshop on a 2-year cycle, or retest; Commercial categories (E, I, J, L, P, Q, R) owe workshop on a 2-year cycle per category, or retest. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) — Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 12 months
- Deadline
- All applicator licences expire 31 December and renew annually. Structural licences: renew before 1 January to avoid a $25 late fee; can be renewed up to 3 months after the valid date. Workshop must be attended by the "recertify by" date on the licence card or the applicator must retest.
- Accepted formats
- MDA-approved recertification workshops (in person, virtual or online self-paced, as listed by MDA)
- Agency
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) — Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division
- Application fee
- $55
- Exam structure
- Every applicant passes the Core exam (Category A) plus at least one other exam — for structural work, the SPCA Journeyman or Master exam. Closed book, 70% to pass, mostly multiple choice, in English or Spanish, at MDA partner testing locations; up to three attempts per licensure period. Application fees must be paid before testing. Master requires at least two years as a licensed Journeyman. Journeymen must be employed by a licensed structural company with a Master.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Structural Pest Control Applicator (Journeyman or Master) | Attend an MDA-approved recertification workshop every year (SPCA cycle is 1 year), or retest | First workshop is due the year after the licence is issued. Retest fee $250. All MDA-approved workshops include Category A (Core) credit. |
| Fumigation (Category N / SPCA fumigant endorsement) | Workshop on a 2-year cycle, or retest | Retest fee $150. |
| Commercial categories (E, I, J, L, P, Q, R) | Workshop on a 2-year cycle per category, or retest | Licence still renews every year. Retest fee $75 per category. |
All applicator licences expire 31 December and renew annually. Structural licences: renew before 1 January to avoid a $25 late fee; can be renewed up to 3 months after the valid date. Workshop must be attended by the "recertify by" date on the licence card or the applicator must retest.
Sources
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/pesticide-fertilizer/pesticide-applicator-license-types
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/licensing/licensetypes/pesticideapplicator/recertreqs
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/licensing/licensetypes/pesticideapplicator/licreqs
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/pesticide-fertilizer/pesticide-applicator-testing
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/pesticide-fertilizer-licensecertification-fees
- https://www.mda.state.mn.us/licensing/licensetypes/pesticideapplicator/reciprocal1
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/18B.32
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Minnesota require for pest control licence renewal?
- Structural Pest Control Applicator (Journeyman or Master): Attend an MDA-approved recertification workshop every year (SPCA cycle is 1 year), or retest. Fumigation (Category N / SPCA fumigant endorsement): Workshop on a 2-year cycle, or retest. Commercial categories (E, I, J, L, P, Q, R): Workshop on a 2-year cycle per category, or retest.
- Who issues pest control licences in Minnesota?
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) — Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division
- Do online courses count toward Minnesota CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: MDA-approved recertification workshops (in person, virtual or online self-paced, as listed by MDA).
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