Academy · Exam prep

General pest exam prep

What to drill hardest

• Identification by body shape, antennae and wing structure — the rest of the answer usually follows from the ID.
• Reading a label: signal words, restricted-use status, PPE and re-entry language.
• IPM order of operations: inspection and exclusion before chemical control.
• Formulations and where each one belongs (baits, dusts, residuals, IGRs).

Study modules for this category

Our pairing of the ACE study modules that overlap this category’s science. Each has must-know facts, exam triggers and a quiz.

1. Module 1Insect Biology & Morphology25 quiz questions
2. Module 2IPM Principles25 quiz questions
3. Module 3IPM Tools & Practice26 quiz questions
4. Module 4Toxicology, Safety & Laws25 quiz questions
5. Module 5Cockroaches25 quiz questions
6. Module 6Ants25 quiz questions
7. Module 7Flies25 quiz questions
8. Module 8Biting & Stinging Arthropods26 quiz questions
9. Module 9Occasional Invaders24 quiz questions
10. Module 10Stored Product Pests25 quiz questions

How verified states name it

Each state’s own category name and exam structure, from the verified state record. Open a state for fees, renewal and CEU rules.

• AlabamaALHPC — Household, Institutional and Industrial Pest Control (Certified Operator) · HPB — Household, Institutional and Industrial Pest Control (Branch Supervisor)Written exams set by the examining board, $75 per exam. Paper exams are held in Montgomery on the third Tuesday of March, June, September and December, with pre-approval required. Computer-based testing runs weekly at sites across the state through apply.adaitesting.com for $125 per exam ($75 ADAI fee + $50 administrative fee); the Fumigation Certified Operator exam (FC) is not offered at the online sites. Certified Operator and Branch Supervisor candidates need one year of structural pest control experience, an entomology-inclusive college degree, or equivalent institutional training. Only a Certified Operator may supervise a main office or run their own business; a Branch Supervisor may supervise a branch office only.
• AlaskaAKCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore 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.
• ArizonaAZCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore (general standards) exam plus a category exam for each category sought, 75% to pass each (R3-8-211). Arranged through OPM or its contracted testing vendor. A failed exam cannot be retaken for seven days, nor more than twice in six months. Scores are valid for 12 months. Certified Applicator and Qualified Applicator both require fingerprint clearance and lawful presence; a QA also needs 24 months as a certified applicator in the category within the last 10 years (or 12 months plus 12 semester hours / a relevant degree).
• ArkansasAR2 — Household Pest and Rodent Control · 3 — General FumigationCommercial operators and non-commercial applicators pass the Basic Core exam (no charge) plus a classification exam, $100 per classification. In-house testing for Classifications 1–3 is the second Monday of odd months; 4–10 the second Monday of even months. Online exams are available year-round through Everblue for an extra proctoring fee of about $30 per exam. Applications must be in five working days before the exam; a failed classification exam means a 14-day wait. Classifications 1 and 2 need at least one year of experience and/or two years of college credit including a basic entomology course. Agents take a separate department exam ($30, includes registration).
• CaliforniaCABranch 2 — General pestThree licence levels, each with its own SPCB exam: Applicator (entry), Field Representative, and Operator (the level that lets a business be registered). Field Representative carries pre-licensing training and experience requirements — Branch 3 requires a minimum of 100 hours of training and experience, at least 80 of them actual field work, and must include Integrated Pest Management and the effect of structural pest control on water quality.
• ColoradoCOCategory name not matched — see the state pageQualified Supervisor (QS) and Certified Operator (CO) both pass a General Core exam and at least one pest management category exam. Exams are online at proctor locations, run with Metro Institute and CSU Extension; $41.50 per test, booked and paid at least two days ahead. Results are valid one year. Anyone may sit the QS exams, but a QS licence is issued only with documented field experience (8 CCR 1203-2 Parts 8–10); otherwise a CO licence is issued and can be upgraded later without retesting.
• ConnecticutCT7A — General Pest ControlSupervisor: written exam with core and safety questions combined into each category exam, 75% to pass, up to three hours, up to three categories per $200 registration. Delivered online through Everblue (separate proctoring fee, about $21–$29). Most categories then have an in-person oral exam in Hartford before 2–4 board members. Junior Operator: 60-question multiple-choice exam, 80% to pass, $200 exam fee plus Everblue fee. 30 days between attempts.
• DelawareDE7A — General Pest ControlCommercial applicators pass the core exam and the category exam(s), 70% or higher on all exams. Exams are given in person at the Delaware State Fairgrounds (Harrington) at least every 45 days, pre-registered through the DDA Pesticide Management online services site. $30 exam fee for commercial candidates, applied toward certification if all scheduled exams are passed. Three hours maximum, closed book. Only one re-examination of commercial categories in any 12-month period.
• FloridaFLGHP — General household pest controlPest control operator certificate requires passing the FDACS examination, and you must qualify to sit it first: a high school diploma plus three years of documented experience as a service employee of a licensee in the category sought (at least one year of it in Florida), or a relevant degree with a year of Florida experience. A degree in entomology qualifies you for examination in ALL categories; horticulture, botany or agronomy qualifies you only for Lawn and Ornamental. Separately, FDACS runs four Limited Certification categories (Commercial Landscape Maintenance, Governmental or Private applicator, Commercial Urban Fertilizer, and Limited Wildlife) at $150 exam fee per category — none of which permits operating a commercial pest control business.
• GeorgiaGAHPC — Household Pest Control (Category 29)Certified Operator: core (general competency) exam plus an exam in each qualified category, $45 per category, applied for through GAPestExam.com; approval can take up to 45 days. Requires two years of verifiable structural pest control experience (one within the last five years), or a relevant degree plus one year. Certification must be completed within 90 days of passing. Registered Employee: 10 hours classroom training plus 70 hours on-the-job training, then a computer-based exam ($45) at technical college testing centres.
• HawaiiHIBR-2 — General Pest · 7C — General Pest ControlPest Control Board: exam fee $50 per part; most classifications have two parts (Part I Business & Law, Part II Specialty). A Pest Control Operator needs one year as a commercial applicator within the past four years, one year of on-site supervision, 100 jobs in the branch, and at least one year of current DAB commercial applicator certification in that branch. A Field Representative needs 60 hours of supervised training and 25 jobs per branch. DAB: Core exam first, then category exams, $50 per exam (Core fee waived when taken with a category exam), booked through the DAB Pesticides Education Portal.
• IdahoIDCategory name not matched — see the state pageProfessional applicators must pass the Applicator Core Competency (CO) exam plus at least one category exam, each with a minimum score of 70%. Exams are proctored by ISDA staff or an authorized agent; a failed exam may be retaken after a one-day wait, and scores stay valid for 12 months. Examination fee is $10 per exam category. A Commercial Apprentice licence (CO exam only, 70%) allows general-use applications under limited supervision of a professional applicator — not AA, AU, NS or SF work — expires two years from issue and cannot be renewed.
• IllinoisILGeneral Standards — General Standards Examination (General Use Pesticides)Every applicant takes the General Standards exam, which alone certifies a technician for general-use pesticides. Restricted-use certification needs General Standards plus at least one sub-category exam, and a qualifying education, approved course or experience record. 70% is required on each exam. IDPH schedules the exams from its Pest Control Exam Calendar; the application must reach IDPH at least 15 days before the chosen date. Commercial restricted-use work requires the matching sub-category from A–D or H; sub-categories E–G alone do not permit commercial restricted-use work. A business cannot be licensed until it employs at least one certified technician.
• IndianaINCategory name not matched — see the state pageTwo steps: a written Core exam, then a category exam. Exams are scheduled through Metro Institute (indiana.metrosignup.com); no paper exams after training. No exam may be attempted more than three times in any 12-month period. For-hire certification in 7b (termite) or 12 (WDO inspection) also requires a State Chemist-approved practical hands-on training program first. Category 13 is Core exam only. Once certified you must ALSO hold an annual licence (credential) to buy, use or supervise pesticide use.
• IowaIA7A — General and household pest controlAll commercial applicators pass the Core exam plus each category exam, administered by IDALS. Free in-person testing runs monthly September–May at IDALS/ISU Extension sites; commercial exams can also be taken online with a third-party proctoring service for a fee paid to that service. From 1 January 2026 the oral examination option is discontinued and applicators applying RUPs must be at least 18. 7B also covers wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate reports.
• KansasKSCategory name not matched — see the state pageGeneral core exam plus a category or subcategory exam for each area of work, hosted by KDA. A grade of at least 75% is required on each commercial applicator exam (K.A.R. 4-13-13(c)) — higher than the 70% most states use.
• KentuckyKYCategory name not matched — see the state pageWritten, proctored certification exam in each category sought, covering the core standards and the category standards; 70% minimum. $25 examination fee per sitting, charged pass or fail. After passing you have 30 days to pay the licence fee — $25 for an applicator, $100 for an operator — or you must retest. KDA gives the Pest Control Operator exam three times a year; the commercial and non-commercial certification exam monthly at sites across the state. 7(a) covers general pests AND wood-destroying organisms in one subcategory.
• LouisianaLALP1 — General pest controlYou must QUALIFY before you may sit: an entomology degree; or a degree with 12 semester hours of entomology plus one year as a registered technician in the phase; or four years within the last six as a registered technician (or out-of-state technician) in the phase. Termite control also requires a commission-approved comprehensive termite program; structural fumigation 30 supervised jobs; ship fumigation 200. The Commission or its staff must approve the application first. Exams cost $50 per phase, need 70%, and may include oral or pest-identification parts. In-person testing is now only at the LDAF main office in Baton Rouge, or online through Everblue (extra vendor fee). The exam must have been passed no more than two years before the licence issues.
• MaineME7A — Structural General Pest Control (Includes Food Processing)Two licence levels. Commercial Operator: closed-book Core exam plus at least one category exam. Commercial Master: the same plus a regulations exam and an oral exam by BPC staff. 80% is required on each exam (01-026 CMR Ch. 31). Fees: $10 each for Core, each category and the regulations exam; $40 for the Master oral. Exams are held monthly in Augusta or through Metro Institute test centres. Core and at least one category must both be passed within three years. Every company, branch or agency must have at least one licensed Master; an Operator licence is only valid while the employer has one.
• MarylandMD7A — General pest controlEligibility first: 18+, plus one year of practical experience as a registered employee in the category, or a biological-science degree, or an MDA-approved initial certification course. Apply at least a month ahead. MDA gives the commercial exams every other month in Annapolis, Salisbury and Frederick: multiple-choice, closed book, the Core plus at least one category exam, 70% to pass. Unlimited retakes at $10 per exam retaken.
• MassachusettsMA41 — General Pest Control · 46 — General Public HealthTwo 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.
• MichiganMI7A — General Pest ManagementCertified commercial applicator: the Commercial Core exam plus at least one category exam; fumigation and aerial are separate "standards" with their own exam. Every exam needs 70% and is closed book (true/false and multiple choice). Proctored by Metro Institute — $55 at a testing centre or $65 remote, per exam, paid to Metro separately from the MDARD fee — or by MDARD on paper after an MSU core review (core, aerial and fumigation exams only). Combined exam 7J covers 7A + 7B; 6J covers 3A, 3B and 6. Passing scores are accepted for 1 year. Registered applicator (general-use only): Commercial Core exam plus an MDARD-approved employer training programme.
• MinnesotaMNCategory name not matched — see the state pageEvery 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.
• MississippiMSGRCL — General pest and rodent controlOperator Licence and Permit applicants pass a written exam covering the EPA general standards (40 CFR 171.103) plus a separate exam for each professional services category; 70% to pass. Paper exams at Mississippi State on the second Tuesday of January, April, July and October; computer-based exams at proctored centres (Metro Institute, $55 admin fee per test). Operator Licence for WDIL, GRCL or FUML needs a qualifying degree/college training, or a high-school diploma plus 4 years with a licensed operator in the past 6. A Permit requires a Registered Technician ID in the same category and employment by a company licence holder.
• MissouriMO7A — General Structural Pest ControlCertified Commercial Applicator: the General Standards of Competence exam (CORE) plus at least one category exam, taken at Pearson VUE. Applicants for 7A, 7B or 7C must also show structural pesticide experience (Verification of Structural Pesticide Application Experience form) or an associate degree or equivalent in biology, chemistry, agriculture or entomology. Proof of insurance required.
• MontanaMTCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore exam plus category-specific exam questions; 80% or better to pass. Exams by appointment at MDA field offices, or computer-based through Metro Institute in Great Falls, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Glendive. Commercial applicators must carry liability insurance (minimum $30,000; $50,000 aerial).
• NebraskaNECategory name not matched — see the state pageA general standards exam plus at least one category exam; 70% minimum to pass. Tests are run by the NDA. Study materials come from University of Nebraska Extension. Anyone applying general-use structural or lawn-care pesticides for hire must be certified and licensed — not just RUP users.
• NevadaNVCategory name not matched — see the state pagePrincipal: Core, Laws and Regulations, and each category exam — 70% each. Operator: Core plus each category — 65% each. Agent: Core exam annually — 65%. $50 per exam initially, $35 per retake. Exams by appointment at NDA offices (Elko, Reno/Sparks, Las Vegas). Retest waits: 10 days for principals, 7 days for others. Principals need 2 years' practical experience in the category, or 6 months plus 16 college credit hours in biological science; operators and agents need no experience.
• New HampshireNHCategory name not matched — see the state pageTwo licence levels. Supervisory: resume approved by the Division first, then written exams (core, regulations and a supervisory category exam), then an oral exam before a three-person panel; 70% on written exams. At least one supervisory licence holder and a firm registration are required per business or branch. Operational: written exams only, 60% to pass, application countersigned by the supervisor. Exams given weekly by the Division, by appointment. Exam fee $15. Retakes after 15 days; after 3 failures, a 6-month wait plus training.
• New JerseyNJ7A — General and household pest control · 8A — GeneralCommercial applicator: CORE certification exam plus one or more category exams. Before the CORE exam you must complete a DEP-approved basic pesticide training course; before a category exam you must document 40 hours of on-the-job training on the NJDEP Category Training Verification Form. All exams are online through Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education (PACER, pacer.rutgers.edu), closed book, remotely proctored; passing score is 75%. Commercial operators (technicians) are licensed but not certified — no certification exam, but they need the same DEP-approved core training course plus 40 hours on-the-job training. Category 13 (IPM in Schools) is required on top of the relevant category for school work.
• New MexicoNMCategory name not matched — see the state pageCommercial Applicator: document 2 years of pesticide application experience (or 20 college credit hours in biological/agricultural sciences plus 1 year), then pass the National Core exam (core plus NM laws and rules) and at least one category exam. Operator/Technician (employees of a Commercial Applicator who apply pesticides): pass the Operator exam, no category exams. A grade of 70 is passing on all exams (21.17.50.18 NMAC). 7D Wood-Destroying Pests needs one year of WDO experience and four hours of approved training before the exam, for applicators and technicians alike. Commercial Applicators must also file proof of financial responsibility.
• New YorkNYCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore exam (50 multiple-choice questions, closed book) plus a category exam (50 questions, open book), 90 minutes each. Core pass: 35 of 50 correct AND at least 7 of the label comprehension questions. Exam fee $100 per category exam. Register through DEC (nForm). Eligibility first: Commercial Technician — DEC-approved 30-hour training course in the category within 5 years, or a relevant associate degree, or 2 years verifiable apprentice experience; Commercial Applicator — 3 years verifiable full-time experience as a Commercial Apprentice in the category (or 3 years as a certified private applicator), all within the last five years.
• North CarolinaNCP — Household Pest ControlThree classes: Registered Technician, Certified Applicator and Licensee. Registered Technician: no exam — complete the Introductory Training Workbook, at least 24 hours on-the-job training, and the NCDA&CS Registered Technician 8-hour School. Certified Applicator: Core (general competency) exam plus an exam in each phase. Licensee: hold CA certification, two years documented experience, and pass the licensee exam in that phase. NCDA&CS runs the exams: CA exams online (Core $28, each phase $53) or in person monthly in Raleigh, east and west (Core free, each phase $25); licensee exams in person monthly in Raleigh, $50 per phase.
• North DakotaNDCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore certification exam plus one or more class exams (60-03-01-05). The Board designates NDSU Extension to provide training, administer testing and issue certifications; exams are taken at NDSU County Extension offices. A failed exam may be retaken after three or more days. NDSU training registration lists the structural class as "Home, Industrial and Institution" and fumigation as "Fumigation (Commodities and Structural)".
• OhioOH6a — General ornamental pest control · 10a — General pest controlA general core examination plus an examination for each pesticide-use category sought (ORC 921.06, OAC 901:5-11-08). Category 10 is "Domestic, institutional, structural, and health-related pest control". Trained servicepersons work under a licensed commercial applicator without their own licence after reading the ODA "Safety Training Guide for Trained Servicepersons" or equivalent employer training, verified in writing before first exposure.
• OklahomaOK7a — General Pest ControlTwo phases, computer based: Phase I general knowledge must be passed before any category; Phase II category exam within 12 months of Phase I or Phase I must be retaken. Structural Pest (7b), General Pest (7a), Fumigation (7c) and Food Processing (7d) ALSO require a practical exam at the Oklahoma State University training facility within 12 months of passing Phase II. Pass mark 70%. Written and practical exam fee $50 each. Service technicians pass a separate written service technician exam. ODAFF posts a PSI Services test-session document for computer-based testing.
• OregonORSubcategory — Pest Control, GeneralCommercial Applicator: Laws and Safety exam plus at least one category exam. Pesticide Apprentice: Laws and Safety exam. Commercial Pesticide Operator (the business licence for firms that advertise or bid pesticide services): no exam. Exams are scheduled through Metro Institute, $58 per attempt, closed book, computer based, multiple choice, two hours; 70% or above passes all exams.
• PennsylvaniaPA11 — Household and Health RelatedCommercial/public applicator: pass a Core exam and one or more category exams, and be employed by a business holding a pesticide application business licence; apply for certification within 12 months of passing. Core and category exams are 50 multiple-choice questions, 35/50 (70%) to pass. PDA-proctored sessions at regional offices or County Extension: Core $50, category $10 each. Computer-based testing at Metro test centres: Core $110, category $70. Register via PaPlants.
• Rhode IslandRI7A — General PestTwo steps, in order. First the Commercial licensing exam: online, closed book, $30.11 fee, studied from the NASDA National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual plus the RI Pesticide Control Act and DEM pesticide rules. Only after passing it can you register for Commercial Certificate (category) exams such as 7A or 7B, which are open book, held monthly and also carry a $30.11 online convenience fee; in-person sittings can be arranged with DEM. Category 7 certification is required to use or supervise restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides in that sub-category. No commercial certification under 18.
• South CarolinaSCCategory name not matched — see the state pageCore exam plus a category exam for each category held. Register through DPR at dprexams@clemson.edu. Online exams are available. Exam results stay valid for five years from the date taken. A commercial licence can also be obtained by reciprocating an existing licence from a state SC holds a reciprocal agreement with. Category 7A applicants running a business also need the 7A Structural Pest Control Business licence and a Designated Certified Applicator (DCA) on file.
• South DakotaSDG — General (core)Every tester takes category G — General (core) plus each category exam for the work they will do. Proctored, in person at SDSU Extension Regional Centers and participating county offices, usually on computer; up to four hours per exam, 30 to 70 questions, with the exam references supplied in the room. Passing score 70 percent (ARSD 12:56:05:02). Category 8 covers rodents and birds in or around structures but NOT fumigation — that needs category 14.
• TennesseeTNGRC — General Pest and Rodent Control (requires C07)Commercial certification exam (core material now folded into it): $25 per attempt, online through Everblue or in person on selected UT PSEP dates; 70 percent to pass. Licence exam (e.g. GRC, WDO): $150 paid at the exam, online testing vendor only, questions plus specimen identification, 70 percent to pass, results provisional pending review of the recorded session. To sit a licence exam you must already be commercially certified AND have two years verifiable experience under a licensee in that category, a four-year related degree, or a similar licence in another state.
• TexasTXCategory name not matched — see the state pageTechnician: one category exam per category trained, $64 each, taken after an SPCS-approved Technician Training Course. Certified Applicator: the General Standards exam plus at least one category exam. Both require 70% to pass.
• UtahUTCategory name not matched — see the state pagePay the licence fee to UDAF first, then sit proctored tests at a department-approved testing centre (fees set by the centre). Core test at 70% minimum before any category test may be attempted; at least one category at 70% before a licence issues. Two failures means a 24-hour wait and retest fees. A 30-day temporary permit issues by email after passing core plus a category. Category 7 excludes fumigation (13) and wood destroying organisms (15) — termite work needs category 15. UDAF does not test in Spanish.
• VermontVT7A — General Pest ControlCORE exam plus at least one category exam, administered only by VAAFM. In-person exam fee $25 per exam (Montpelier weekly, rotating sites monthly); online exams $60 per exam paid to Everblue. Passing score 75%. Three attempts in 12 months: wait 7 days after a first fail and 28 days from the first exam before a third. Category 13 Non-soil Fumigation is a concurrent category — it must sit alongside another valid category.
• VirginiaVA7A — General Pest ControlCore exam plus a category exam per category (5B antifoulant paints is category-only). Qualify first: one year as a Virginia registered technician, or one year of pesticide-related education, training or experience. Apply to OPS with the $25 fee, receive a Notice of Authorization, and sit within 90 days — at a DMV Customer Service Centre touch-screen, by appointment with a VDACS Pesticide Investigator, or remotely via Everblue (extra Everblue fee). Any fail needs a new application and fee. For-hire applicators must work for a firm with a Virginia Pesticide Business Licence.
• WashingtonWACategory name not matched — see the state pageWritten exams administered by WSDA, both paper-based and computer-based, at sites including Olympia, Yakima, Spokane, Wenatchee and Moses Lake. A Commercial Applicator must be licensed in every category in which they work. Commercial Applicators must also carry proof of financial coverage on record with WSDA. Structural Pest Inspector is its own licence and its own exam, covering WDO identification, damage, and conducive conditions.
• West VirginiaWV8A — General Pest Control · 8C — General FumigationGeneral Standards (Core) exam plus category exams, set by WVDA at six sites (Charleston, Parkersburg, Beckley, Morgantown, Inwood, Teays Valley), each testing once a month. 50 multiple-choice questions, one hour each, closed book (the LPAB business exam is the exception). 70 percent to pass. $20 exam fee per session covers all exams in it. Retake waits: 28 days after a first fail, 56 days after a second. Results valid 12 months. For-hire (LPAB) applicants need one year of verifiable application experience or a related degree before testing; RPAB in-house staff do not.
• WisconsinWICategory name not matched — see the state pageBuy UW PAT training materials first (you need the PAT number to test). One written, closed-book exam per category, 70 percent to pass (ATCP 29.26(7)). Three routes: free paper test at a DATCP proctored site, Pearson VUE computer test ($45 convenience fee) at technical colleges or online, or a UW PAT training session followed by the exam. Retakes: 24 hours after a first fail, 30 days after later fails; four fails in a category in six months means a six-month wait.
• WyomingWY900 — Core / General Standards · 907G — Industrial, Institutional, and Structural Pest Control (General) · 908G — Health Related Pest Control (General)Core/general exam plus at least one category or subcategory, each at 70% minimum, at a WDA-specified location (Cheyenne office or a designated proctor). Core plus a category must be passed within 90 days of the first attempt or the core is retaken. After two failures, proof of an education course before a third attempt; escalating waits after that (45 days, then a UW PSEP new-applicator course or one year). Licensed applicators can add categories at no cost by passing the category exam; it does not change the licence expiry.