Note: Category 9 (Aerial) must have a second category (in addition to the Aerial category) that is specific to the type of application to be conducted.

(1A) The field crop category is for applicators to control insects, diseases, weeds, or other pests of field crops, or the use of harvest aid pesticides in the production of field crops such as cotton, grains, oilseed crops, crops grown for seed, or crops harvested for animal feed (hay) or forage.

(1B) The fruit, nut and vegetable category is for applicators to control insects, diseases, weeds, or other pests, or the use of harvest aid pesticides, in the production of non-citrus fruit, nut and vegetable crops.

(1C) The pasture and rangeland category is for applicators to control insects, diseases, weeds, or other pests of field crops, agricultural pastures, rangeland, or adjacent riparian or natural areas, and may include applications to pasture or rangeland vegetation that is harvested for animal feed (hay).

(1D) The vertebrate pest category is for applicators to control vertebrate pests affecting agricultural production of field, fruit, nut or vegetable crops, in turf, pastures, rangeland, riparian or natural areas, rights of ways, parks, or crops/vegetation to be harvested for animal feed.

(1E) The farm commodity pest control category is for applicators to apply pesticides (including commodity fumigants) to stored raw agricultural commodities on the farm, in a public or private confined storage facility or container, in an open storage platform or vehicle, or to agricultural equipment used to transport raw agricultural commodities, to control pests of a stored agricultural product or a pest subject to a state or federal quarantine requirement.

(1F) The animal health category is for applicators to control external parasites or pests of agricultural animals including applications of pesticides to, in, or on any area, facility, or vehicle used for the housing, maintenance, or transportation of an agricultural animal.

(1G) The citrus category is for applicators to control insects, diseases, weeds, or other pests in the production of citrus plants or citrus fruit.

(1H) The livestock protection collar (LPC) category is for the use of an LPC containing sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) for predator control in the protection of livestock. (Note, there is a TDA mandated training course that must be done before testing for this category).

(1I) The M-44 Device category is for the use of an M-44 device for the control of wild or feral canids in the protection of livestock. (Note, there is a TDA mandated training course that must be done before testing for this category).

(2) The forest pest control category is for applicators to apply pesticides in forests, forest nurseries and forest seed production.

(3)(A) The landscape maintenance category is for applicators to control pests in the establishment or maintenance of lawns or ornamental plants grown for function or aesthetic purposes in landscapes, such as athletic fields, residential properties, industrial sites, golf courses, parks, and cemeteries. (Note, this category does not include the pesticide applications covered in category 1D (vertebrate pest) or category 11 (soil fumigation)).

 (3)(B) The nursery plant production category is for applicators to control pests in the production of ornamental plants or other nursery stock and commercial turf. This category includes plants in field production, greenhouses, shade houses, or similar structures.

(4) The seed treatment category is for applicators to control pests by treating seed prior to distribution or planting. This category is not required for planter box applications if the applicator is certified in the appropriate agricultural category or is a private applicator.

(5) The vegetation management category is for applicators to control unwanted plant growth in rights-of-way, in the maintenance of roads, parking lots, utility lines, wind generator sites, pipelines, railways, airports, public surface drainways and ditches, industrial sites including oil field sites, adjacent riparian or natural areas and includes public sewer root control.

(6) The aquatic category is for applicators to control aquatic weeds or other aquatic pests including aquatic animals, microbes or other pests and may include pesticide applications to adjacent riparian or natural areas when water is present. 

(7) The demonstration and research category is for applicators who do demonstration or research purposes when using restricted use pesticides, numbered compounds or any pesticide not registered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (unless exempt from registration under FIFRA Section 25(b)), or any pesticide used in a manner inconsistent with the label directions.

(8) The regulatory pest control category is for applications of pesticides when implementing a regulatory program such as a plant pest quarantine, invasive weed control, or other regulated activity conducted by a state, federal or other political subdivision.

(9) The aerial application category is for applicators who use a pesticide applied by aircraft to any crop or site.

(11) The soil fumigation category is for applicators who apply fumigant pesticides to soil environments.

(12) The public health pest control (vector control) category is for pesticide applications made for the purpose of treating, repelling, mitigating, or otherwise controlling any non-human organism that is, or may be, a vector of human disease by a pesticide applicator who is an employee of, or an independent contractor for, a federal, state, county, city, mosquito or vector control district or other political subdivision, or a person working under the direct supervision of a pesticide applicator who is an employee of, or an independent contract for, a federal, state, county, city, mosquito or vector control district or other political subdivision.

(13) Border mosquito control: for pesticide applications made for the limited purpose of vector mosquito control only in a county located along the international border with Mexico by an applicator who is an employee of a federal, state, county, city, mosquito or vector control district, or other political subdivision, or a person working under the direct supervision of a pesticide applicator who is an employee of a federal, state, county, city, mosquito or vector control district, or other political subdivision. An applicator who is licensed in this category shall have the license expire immediately upon separation of employment if a passing score in another category is not achieved prior to the date of separation of employment from the political subdivision. This excludes employees transferring from one political subdivision to another in a county along the international border with Mexico.