1. Starting on the PSEP Training & Testing page, click either the orange Commercial Exams button or the blue Private Exams button. This will take you to Learn @ Illinois Extension, the site where all exams are hosted.
2. Locate the exam you need and click on its name. If you need to take multiple exams, select the one you plan to take first (i.e. General Standards Exam). You will complete these steps again for each exam you would like to enroll in.
3. You will be prompted to Login to the site, please do so. If you do not yet have an account on Learn @ Illinois Extension, choose the Create New Account option, create an account, then log in.
4. After logging in, you will be taken to an Enrollment Options page. Under the Self-Enroll section, click the blue button that says Enroll Me.
5. You will be taken to the exam instructions page. This page will walk you through preparing and testing your equipment, then it will provide a link for you to schedule an exam appointment. It also lists the information and items you will need for the exam.
6. Follow each step of the exam instructions in order. The vast majority of folks who have had problems with their exams failed to follow one or more steps in the instructions.

At the time of your exam appointment, you will need to have both of the following pages open in the Google Chrome browser:

1. The exam instructions page (See How To Schedule An Exam above). This requires you to be logged-in to the Learn @ Illinois Extension site.
2. Your ProctorU dashboard (The page you see immediately after logging in to ProctorU which shows your scheduled exam appointments. This requires you to be logged-in to the ProctorU site).

At the scheduled appointment time, you will click the Start Session button next to the exam name on your ProctorU dashboard. You will then be connected to a live proctor who will guide you into the exam. Throughout the exam, your microphone and webcam will be used to monitor the session to ensure un-permitted materials or outside assistance are not utilized.

You will be permitted a calculator (not on a phone/tablet) and a single sheet of blank scratch paper. You will be provided a digital copy of the equation sheet during the exam; you will not be permitted a printed paper copy.

At all times throughout the exam, you will have access to a chat window in the event you need technical support. It is important to know that your proctor does not have an answer key to the exam and cannot help clarify the content of the exam, but they can help with questions about exam procedures or technical matters.

What are the system requirements for the online exams? You will need a Windows or Mac computer with internet, a camera, a microphone and the Guardian browser for the online exam. After downloading the Guardian browser, you will have the opportunity to test of your equipment before scheduling an exam. For a detailed list of system requirements, please visit the ProctorU requirements page.

How much time is given for each exam? You will be given 3 hours to complete any exam. This does not include the time spent with your proctor prior to the exam. The 3-hour timer will not start until the proctor has launched the exam. On average, people complete the general standards exam in 2 hours, private applicator exam in 1 ½ hours, and commercial applicator category exams in 1 ½ hours.

What am I allowed to have during the Exam? A calculator (not on phone/tablet), a single sheet of blank scratch paper and a writing utensil. You will be provided a digital copy of the equation sheet during the exam; you will not be permitted a printed paper copy. 

Are bathroom breaks allowed during the Exam? Yes, one bathroom break is allowed per exam.

How much does it cost to take an exam? There is a $12 fee per exam attempt. This is paid to the proctoring service, ProctorU, when you schedule your exam appointment. If you schedule an exam less than 72 hours in advance, you may be charged up to an additional $12. Please note that no portion of any exam fee goes to the Illinois Department of Agriculture or University of Illinois Extension. All fees are strictly for the proctoring service itself.

What is ProctorU, what is a proctor and why do we need one? A proctor is a person who assists test-takers in exam setup, answers technical questions and ensures exam integrity. The EPA requires that a proctor be present during all pesticide safety exams. ProctorU is a service that allows proctors to be present for each exam. The $12 scheduling fee pays ProctorU and their employees for this service.

I need to retake an exam, do I need to pay again? Yes. You will need to schedule a new exam appointment just as you did your original attempt (see the Scheduling an Exam section above). Alternatively, in-person testing is available, free of charge, on a limited basis through the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Registration for in-person exams is available on the IDA Website or by phone at 800-641-3934 or 217-785-2477. You will not be allowed more than 3 attempts per exam.

How can I get a refund for my $12? Go to the ProctorU website and submit a request for a refund or call ProctorU at (855) 772-8678. The Pesticide Safety Education Program team at UofI and employees at IDA cannot issue a refund because they do not have access to ProctorU’s payment system.

Can I take an exam right now... like right now? Yes. Exam appointments are typically available with start times every 10-20 minutes, 24/7.

Can I schedule exams back-to-back? Yes, but we'd advise against it. Once your exam appointment starts it can take 15-25 minutes for the proctor to initiate your exam. It may take longer if you have technical issues. If you really do want to take multiple exams in a day, we advise scheduling them at least 4 hours apart.

Can I schedule multiple employees for an online exam? Each employee must have their own account on Learn @ Illinois Extension and ProctorU. Each ProctorU account holder will need to add the exam to their cart and pay individually. This can make it difficult to schedule exams for others.

How can I see the times that are available for my exam? After enrolling in your exam on the Learn @ Illinois Extension, go to the exam page. This page will walk you through all the directions for the exam. Click on the green button that says “Schedule Exam,” this will take you to the ProctorU exam page, where you can create an account, see all the available exam times and select the one that works for you.

What if I don’t see the exam times? If you do not see any times, please go back to the Learn @ Illinois Extension exam page and click the green “Schedule Exam” button. These exams cannot be searched within ProctorU, you must use the button on the exam page to see the available exam times and schedule. This prevents our clients from getting lost in the sea of exams offered on ProctorU.

How can I reschedule or cancel an exam? Rescheduling and cancelling must occur before the exam begins. Login to your ProctorU account and click the “Reschedule” or “Cancel” button next to your exam or contact ProctorU at (855) 772-8678.

How can I get a refund for my $12? Go to the ProctorU website and submit a request for a refund or call ProctorU at (855) 772-8678. The Pesticide Safety Education Program team at UofI and employees at IDA cannot issue a refund because they do not have access to ProctorU’s payment system.

I'm trying to launch the exam on the Learn @ Illinois Extension Exam page and it asks for a password, what do I do?
1. At the time of you scheduled exam, you must be logged in to both the Learn @ Illinois Extension exam page and your ProctorU account. On ProctorU, click the "Start Session" button to connect to a proctor. The proctor will enter the password and launch the exam.
2. If the proctor is not able to launch the exam using the password, ask the proctor to launch it in incognito mode.

I'm having a problem connecting to a proctor in Proctor U, who do I contact? Call ProctorU (855) 772-8678 or use the support chat in the bottom right corner of the ProctorU Website.

I have a question about ProctorU's software or system requirements, who do I contact? Call ProctorU (855) 772-8678, use the support chat in the bottom right corner of the ProctorU Website or submit a request on to ProctorU.

The proctor said to contact my instructor, what does that mean? You can call IDA (800) 641-3934 or the UofI Pesticide Safety Education Program Team (217) 244-2123.

I see a different number of exam scores than the number of exams I have taken, what happened? Usually, this occurs when companies with multiple employees have people logging in on the wrong account. This does result in canceled exams. To prevent this, ensure that all employees have unique usernames and passwords; never save passwords on your computer for the Learn @ Illinois Extension; always click logout and log in on your own account when starting a session.

How can I reschedule or cancel an exam? Rescheduling and cancelling must occur before the exam begins. Login to your ProctorU account and click the “Reschedule” or “Cancel” button next to your exam or contact ProctorU at (855) 772-8678.

How can I get a refund for my $12? Go to the ProctorU website and submit a request for a refund or call ProctorU at (855) 772-8678. The Pesticide Safety Education Program team at UofI and employees at IDA cannot issue a refund because they do not have access to ProctorU’s payment system.

When will I receive my exam score? Your score and whether you’ve passed will be shown on the screen immediately after completing the exam. You will be able to print/save a receipt of your exam results. The results are automatically sent to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. They will mail your license application to you. See the next question for how to review your score.

I've taken my exam, where can I find my score? Starting on the PSEP Training & Testing page, click either the orange Commercial Exams button or the blue Private Exams button. This will take you to Learn @ Illinois Extension, the site where you took your exam. Click on the exam you took, and you will be prompted to log in. Once logged in, you will see the exam instructions page. Scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Enter Exam" to see your exam results and/or print/save a receipt of your exam results.

I see a different number of exam scores than the number of exams I have taken, what happened? Usually, this occurs when companies with multiple employees have people logging in on the wrong account. Logging in to the wrong account also results in canceled exams. To prevent this, ensure that all employees have unique usernames and passwords; never save passwords on your computer for the Learn @ Illinois Extension; always click logout and log in on your own account when starting a session.

What happens after I complete my exam? After you submit your exam, you will be shown your score and the exam will be transferred directly to IDA for processing. When your exam is processed, you will receive a license application in the mail. Complete the application and return it with the licensing fee. IDA will then mail you your license.

I put the wrong address on my exam form, how can I change it? Contact IDA by calling (800) 641-3934 or (217) 785-2427 and let them know you would like to change the address.

When will I receive my license? Contact IDA by calling (800) 641-3934 or (217) 785-2427 to ask about the status of your license.

What are licensing requirements?
Visit one of the following pages:
- PSEP's licensing page
- IDA's licensing page
Or contact IDA by calling (800) 641-3934 or (217) 785-2427.

What type of license do I need?
Visit one of the following pages:
- PSEP's licensing page
- IDA's licensing page
Or contact IDA by calling (800) 641-3934 or (217) 785-2427.

How much does my license cost? Visit IDA's licensing page or contact IDA by calling (800) 641-3934 or (217) 785-2427.

Are study materials, like books, available? Yes. Manuals are available on our Study Materials page or at your local Extension office (it is best to call ahead to ensure they have the manual you want). There are a great choice for those who prefer to study on their own, would like additional detail or would like to have reference material available all the time.

Is training available?
Yes.
1. Online trainings are available Oct. - Aug. each year. Visit our Testing and Training page to sign up the same day you want to begin, available any time of day. Visit our Closer Looks page for a sneak peak and FAQ.
Topics available: General Standards, Private (English and Spanish), Mosquito, Turfgrass, Ornamental, Rights-of-way, Aquatics, Field Crops, Grain Facility, Vegetable, Plant Management, Demonstration & Research.

2. In-person training and testing clinics are available from Dec. - Apr. each year. Visit our Testing and Training page to see dates and register online, pre-registration is required for in-person trainings.
Topics available: General Standards, Private (English only), Mosquito, Turfgrass, Ornamental, Rights-of-way, Field Crops.

* If you have multiple employees using the same computer, DO NOT save passwords on that computer. This results in people logging into the wrong account and will result in the wrong name on completion certificates.

I'm trying to launch the exam on the Learn @ Illinois Extension Exam page and it asks for a password, what do I do?
1. At the time of your scheduled exam, you must be logged in to both the Learn @ Illinois Extension exam page and your ProctorU account. On ProctorU, click the "Start Session" button to connect to a proctor. The proctor will enter the password and launch the exam.

2. If the proctor is not able to launch the exam using the password, ask the proctor to launch it in incognito mode.

I can't log in to the ProctorU Website, it won't take my username/password.
1. Ensure that you have an account on the ProctorU website, this is separate from the login on your Learn @ Illinois Extension page. You can create a ProctorU account (in addition to your Learn @ Illinois Extension account) to schedule/take an exam.
2. If you are sure you have created a ProctorU account, you can use the "Forgot password?" option on their login page (shown below). If you still have issues, submit a support request via the ProctorU Website or contact them by phone at 1-855-772-8678.

* If you have multiple employees using the same computer, DO NOT save passwords on that computer. This results in people logging to the wrong account and canceled exams.

I can't log in to the Learn @ Illinois Extension page, it won't take my username/password.

• If you created your account before February 26, 2024, enter your username and password in the top login fields and select the login button (see the blue/green highlighted section in the image below).
• If you created your account after February 26, 2024, use the Extension User Login button (see the yellow highlighted section in the image below).

• If you're unsure about the creation date of your account:
  • Select the "Extension User Login" button.
  • Choose the "Forgot Password" link.
  • Enter your email address.
  • If you don't have an account, you'll see a message stating "Whoops! Something went wrong. We can't find a user with that email address." You can then return to the Learn @ Illinois Extension login page and use the top login.
  • If you do have an account, you'll receive an email to reset your password.

I have used the Lost Password option to reset my password on Learn @ Illinois Extension but I have not received a reset email, what can I do?  

1. Contact the PSEP office (800) 644-2123 or (217) 244-2123 and we can check the correct spellings and whether the person has an account.

2. Create a new account.

How do I create a new account?

You can create an account by visiting the PSEP Training & Testing page, clicking either the orange Commercial Training button or the blue Private Training button. This will take you to the Learn @ Illinois Extension, select the training you would like and you will be prompted to create an account by clicking the "Create an account" below the "Extension User Login" button (shown below, highlighted in yellow). After creating a new account, use the Extension User Login button to login.