Rhode Island Pesticide Licensing and Certification

About 5 of every 50 questions on a Rhode Island Commercial Licensing practice exam come from this topic.

Sources checked November 10, 2026

What to know

Rhode Island's pesticide control law (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-25) is run by the director of environmental management (RIDEM). A commercial applicator needs a commercial applicator license from the Director to apply general use pesticides, and a commercial applicator certificate to apply restricted use or state limited use pesticides, unless working under a certified applicator's direct supervision; general use work on land the applicator or employer owns or rents needs neither, and a certified applicator needs no separate license. Government employees who apply pesticides are commercial applicators; farmers growing a commodity on owned or rented land are private applicators. Commercial certificates expire January 31, commercial licenses February 28, and private certificates December 31. No one under 18 may be certified or licensed, or apply under supervision, except farm employees 16 and older applying general use pesticides under a private applicator. Competence is shown by written exams and, as appropriate, performance testing, and the general standards include applicable state and federal laws; RIDEM requires the closed-book commercial licensing exam before the open-book category exams. Every five years holders re-test or earn credits: 8 hours for a license, 8 per commercial category, 6 for private; one credit hour is 50 consecutive minutes, and sponsors give 14 days' notice. The director sends renewal forms 30 days ahead; certification is lost 60 days after a missed renewal and, within a year of lapse, is regained only by reexamination; a license expired more than a year needs training plus the commercial core exam. Reciprocal applicants skip the written exam, and their certificates last only while home-state certification lasts. Financial responsibility is a bond or insurance. The director may suspend for 10 days pending inquiry, must give written reasons for a denial, may limit a certificate, and knowing violations are misdemeanors.

Where it comes from

• R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-25-4, 23-25-12, 23-25-13
• R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-25-18, 23-25-28
• 250-RICR-40-15-2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.11
• 250-RICR-40-15-2.16, 2.17, 2.18
• 250-RICR-40-15-2.19(P), 2.20, 2.21
• RIDEM Pesticide Safety & IPM Training page

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