Licensing agency
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
Official site →Aerial category
AE (Aerial Standard) + Core + use categories
Core + AE (Aerial Standard) + use categories. 70% passing. 3 years/200 hours flight experience or MDARD-approved UAV training program.
Renewal & CE
3-year cycle. Flight efficiency clinic or re-test.
Flight efficiency clinic or re-examination every 3 years.
Michigan pesticide licensing is administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Applicators need Core plus AE (Aerial Standard) plus use categories, with a 70% passing score. Before receiving AE certification, operators must complete an MDARD-approved UAV training program or document 200 hours of flight experience, a de facto drone-specific credential.
A Private Aerial Business License (PABL) is required for the business entity in addition to individual certification. Operations require an in-state mix/load pad and mandatory DriftWatch sensitive crop registry participation. Reciprocal applicants from IN, MN, OH and WI must also submit drone-specific training documentation to MDARD. Renewal is every 3 years via a flight efficiency clinic or re-examination.