Certified Pesticide Dealer
On July 1, 1983, the following requirement went into effect: No person shall distribute, sell or offer for sale; or supervise the distribution, sale, or offering for sale, of any Federal or State restricted-use pesticide to an end user (someone who will be using the pesticide in NJ) without being certified and licensed as a pesticide dealer with the Bureau of Pesticide Control (BPC).
Dealer certification is accomplished by studying training manuals developed for that purpose, which can be obtained at any County Cooperative Extension Office. The two training manuals to use to prepare for the Dealer exam are the “Pesticide Dealer Manual” and the “Pesticide Applicator Training Manual – Core Manual.”
Once you have passed the Pesticide Dealer Certification Exam, you will be automatically sent an invoice for the Certified Pesticide Dealer license. The invoice must be returned with the required fee to validate the license. This is an annual license, with the license year running from November 1st to October 31st. If a Certified Pesticide Dealer fails to get licensed for two consecutive years once certified, the dealer loses certification and will have to retake the certification exam to be eligible for a license once again.
Important Note: Every outlet where restricted-use pesticides are distributed to end-users must have a Pesticide Dealer Business license an employ a responsible Certified Pesticide Dealer (RCD). Please see the Pesticide Dealer Business page for more information.
If you have any questions pertaining to Certified Pesticide Dealer licensing or Pesticide Dealer Business licensing, please call the BPC at (609) 984-6568 or email pestcertcourses@dep.nj.gov.
A Pesticide Dealer is fully certified after passing the Pesticide Dealer exam. The Dealer exam is a closed book exam. This means you cannot refer to your training manual during the exam. There is a 1 hour 45 minute time limit for taking the exam.
STEP 1 – Prepare for the exam
To prepare for the exam, it is recommended you purchase the “Pesticide Dealer Training Manual” from the County Cooperative Extension Office in your area or online. Training manuals cannot be purchased from the Department.
STEP 2 – Sign up for exam with Rutgers University
Register through the PACER system.
- The registration PACER system and exams are available 24/7.
- All exams will be administered via remote proctoring including real-time student ID verification and activity monitoring to uphold the Department’s exam standards and security.
- Exam applicants will be assessed a nominal fee of $135.00 for each Pesticide Dealer exam.
- All exams are CLOSED book.
QUESTIONS? Email pacer@njaes.rutgers.edu
After your exam:
- Scores will be communicated to examinees via email by Rutgers University within 7-10 days of exam completion. A license number will be provided at that time. The license number is not valid until the licensing invoice is paid.
- The Department receives your scores approximately 2 weeks after you receive the email notification. An invoice will be available online 7-10 days after the Department receives your score. A paper invoice will also be mailed to your home address.
- See Invoice Numbers for Unpaid License Invoices – Individuals to look up your invoice number. Make sure to capitalize the letter in your license number and include the dashes in the date.
- Certified Pesticide Dealers by License Number
This report provides the license status of individuals who certified pesticides dealers (who work for distributors of restricted use pesticides), searchable by license number. License numbers are within the range of 30000A through 39999Z.
- Certified Pesticide Dealers by Name
This report provides the license status of individuals who are Certified Pesticide Dealers (who work for Pesticide Dealer Businesses), searchable by name.