Use the links below to purchase study materials to prepare for the Illinois Pesticide Applicator/Operator Licensure Exams.
For any questions on ordering publications, contact Illinois Extension Distribution Services at 217-333-2007
Manuals are publications which serve as comprehensive reference texts for their respective types/categories of licensure. The Illinois Department of Agriculture creates licensure exam questions exclusively from the respective manual. Manuals are revised infrequently, and the revision date can be found within the first few pages, near the "Issued in furtherance..." statement. The most recent revisions are listed on this page.
Workbooks are publications which serve as self-study companions to their respective manuals (above). Workbooks highlight key points from the manual and use fill-in-the-blank style statements throughout to gauge comprehension of topics. Attendees at in-person training clinics will receive workbooks for trainings they are registered for at no additional fee. Workbooks are revised frequently, and the revision date can be found printed on the cover. The most recent revisions are listed on this page.
Online Training Courses are provided for many categories of licensure as an alternative method of self-study. These are self-paced courses allowing individual access for 30 calendar days from the date of purchase. Direct links are provided here, but further instructions and information can be found on our Training & Testing page.
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General StandardsBasic-level pesticide safety training manual for commercial applicators. Discusses integrated pest management, types of pesticides and their formulations, pesticide labels, human pesticide poisoning, pesticides in the environment, safe handling of pesticides, pesticide application equipment and calibration, and Illinois pesticide laws and regulations.
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TurfgrassDiscusses integrated pest management and common weeds, insects and diseases of Illinois turfgrasses, as well as turfgrass pesticide application equipment and calibration.
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Field CropsDiscusses integrated pest management and common weeds, insects and diseases of Illinois field crops. Field crop pesticide application equipment and calibration is also discussed.
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OrnamentalsDiscusses integrated pest management and common weeds, insects and diseases of Illinois ornamental plants, as well as ornamental plant pesticide application equipment and calibration.
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Seed TreatmentDiscusses benefits and risks associated with seed treatments, seed and seedling pests, seed treatment products and safe use, and seed treatment equipment and calibration.
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Rights-of-WayIdentifies types of rights-of-way areas, the weeds and other pests that are controlled in these areas, methods of control, and reducing pesticide impact on other nontarget areas.
* There are numerical errors on pages 56 and 57 of this manual. Corrections are available to view here.
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AquaticsCovers Illinois aquatic weeds, growth conditions, nonchemical and chemical controls, aquatic herbicides, and aquatic weed herbicide application equipment and calibration. Fish control and fish-related problems are also discussed.
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PrivateDiscusses integrated pest management; common weeds, insects and diseases of Illinois field crops; types of pesticides; their formulations; pesticide labels; human pesticide poisoning; pesticides in the environment; safe handling of pesticides; field crop pesticide application equipment and calibration; and pesticide laws and regulations. For use by farmers and other private pesticide applicators.
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Grain FacilityDiscusses proper management of stored grain and the identification and control of important insect, fungus, rodent and bird pests of Illinois stored grain. For use by commercial and private applicators.
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Plant ManagementDiscusses integrated pest management and common weeds, insects and diseases of Illinois interiorscape plants, as well as interiorscape plant pesticide application equipment and calibration.
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ForestDesigned to provide information for persons with pest problems in forests including forest nurseries, Christmas tree farms, windbreaks, wood lots, timber production forests, and recreational forests. It also serves as a study manual for persons wishing to become certified as Commercial or Public Forest Pest Control Applicators. This manual contains silvicultural and integrated pest management suggestions for controlling insect pests, weeds, and diseases of forests. Also included are the types of pesticide application equipment used to treat ornamental trees and shrubs and methods of calibrating this equipment.
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Aerial (National)Covers general pesticide safety information, equipment calibration, drift management, navigation, target calculation, and preparation of spray using dry and liquid formulations.
* Free to download from NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) |
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MosquitoDesigned to provide information for persons needing to control mosquitoes in large areas such as municipalities, townships, and housing developments. Discusses the identification and habits of common Illinois mosquitoes, the diseases that they transmit, the survey of mosquitoes to determine the species and numbers present, and the integrated pest management of pest species.
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Demonstration & ResearchInformation for pesticide companies, educators and other professionals conducting research and demonstration studies on pesticides who need certification in the category of demonstration and research. Includes specific rules and regulations, small experimental plot design, calibration of small-plot applicators and diagnosis of pesticide injury.
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DealerDiscusses pesticide labels and labeling. Contains Illinois Pesticide Act and associated rules and regulations. Dealers must be licensed to sell pesticides in Illinois.
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LivestockDiscusses integrated pest management and common insect pests of livestock and livestock barns, as well as pesticide application equipment and calibration.
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Sewer Line RootDiscusses the chemical control of roots in sewer lines, as well as pesticide application.
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Soil Fumigation (National)Discusses soil fumigants, safe handling, application methods and equipment, and calibration. Also discusses aerated steam pasteurization.
* Free to download from NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) |
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Vegetable CropsDiscusses integrated pest management strategies and common weeds, insects, and diseases of Illinois vegetable crops, as well as pesticide application and calibration for those crops.
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Fruit CropsThis manual discusses integrated pest management strategies and common weeds, insects, and diseases of Illinois fruit crops, as well as pesticide application and calibration for those crops.
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