North Carolina Pesticide CE Credits by Category
How many continuing education credits each North Carolina pesticide category needs, how multiple categories add up, the two-year rule, private applicator credits and how to find approved classes.
Passing the exam is not the end of the work. To keep a North Carolina pesticide license, you also have to earn continuing education (CE) credits.
The number depends on your category, and it gets confusing if you hold more than one. Many people also miss the rule that credits must be spread over at least two years.
This guide gives the numbers and the rules from the NCDA&CS recertification page. This site is an independent practice test site. Credits are recorded by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), not by us.
In short
- One credit is one hour of approved instruction.1
- Ornamental and Turf, Agricultural Pest Plant and Demonstration and Research need 10 credits per five years.1
- With several categories, you earn the highest requirement plus 3 credits for each added category.1
- Credits must be earned over at least two years of the five-year period.1
- Private applicators need 2 safety (V) and 2 specialty (X) credits every three years.1
- Online and self-paced classes count when they are approved.1
Credits by category
Commercial applicators, public operators, dealers and consultants recertify every five years. The table shows the credits needed in that period.1
| Category | Credits per 5 years |
|---|---|
| L Ornamental and Turf | 10 |
| N Demonstration and Research | 10 |
| O Agricultural Pest Plant | 10 |
| A Aquatic | 6 |
| B Public Health | 6 |
| G Forestry | 6 |
| I Regulatory | 6 |
| K Agricultural Pest Animal | 6 |
| D Dealer | 5 |
| H Right-of-Way | 4 |
| T Wood Treatment | 4 |
| M Seed Treatment | 3 |
| S Commercial Soil Fumigation | 3 |
You must earn the credits for each category in at least two calendar years of the five-year period. One big class in the last month is not enough.1
Holding more than one category
If you hold two or more categories, you do not add up every requirement. You earn the full credits for the category with the highest requirement, plus 3 credits for each additional category.1
Example
An applicator licensed in L and O needs 10 + 3 = 13 credits. An applicator licensed in L, A and G needs 10 + 3 + 3 = 16.1
Demonstration and Research
Category N always needs 10 credits. With N plus one other category you earn 10 for N and the full requirement for the other. With N plus two or more others, you earn 10 for N, the highest remaining requirement in full, and 3 for each of the rest. NCDA&CS gives the example N, L, A and G: N 10, L 10, A 3, G 3.1
Adding a category
Your recertification date does not change when you add a category. You must earn the new category's credits by your current date, in two calendar years. If you add it in the last year of your period, it moves into the next period.1
Private applicators
Private applicators are farmers certified to use restricted use pesticides. They recertify every three years and need 2 credits in category V (private safety) and 2 in category X (private specialty).1 The certification costs $10 per three years.2
Soil fumigation (SF) and commodity fumigation (CF) add a condition. One of the two X credits must be specific to that fumigation.1 If you add a category in the same year you recertify, you need no credits for it in that period.1
Aerial applicators
Aerial licenses are certified for two years and need 4 credits per period: 1 hour of aerial and 3 hours of specialty. With several specialty categories, you earn 3 credits for one category and 1 credit for each additional one.1
Finding classes
NCDA&CS keeps a calendar of approved continuing education courses. Search it for "online" to find live online classes and self-paced classes, which you can finish any time. The course host submits your attendance to the NCDA&CS portal, and the course page shows the approved credits and fee.1 The Pesticide Section approved 1,907 courses in 2025, so there is a lot to choose from.3
Questions about your credits go to [email protected] or 984-236-4575.1
A recertification class is a good time to refresh the law and the label rules. If you want a quick check first, try the free practice test. Our Core exam guide lists the main topics, and our pesticide statistics page shows which violations the state sees most.
Common questions
How many CE credits do I need for Ornamental and Turf?
10 credits during the 5-year period.1
Can I take all my credits in one year?
No. Credits for each category must be earned over at least two years.1
Do online classes count?
Yes, approved live online and self-paced classes count.1
What if I have three categories?
You earn the full amount for the highest category and 3 credits for each of the other two.1
How often do private applicators renew?
Every three years, with 2 V credits and 2 X credits.12
Sources
Requirements come from the NCDA&CS recertification page, checked in November 2026. Rules can change, so confirm your own requirement with the Pesticide Section.
Enough reading, time to practice
10 practice questions, the solution right away, and at the end you see where you stand.