Iowa Department of Agriculture Renews Partnership with Everblue, Offers Certification Exams Online.

After a successful first year, the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS) has expanded its partnership with Everblue, an innovative technology company, to include the online delivery and proctoring of all the state’s commercial pesticide certification exams.

Building on a Successful First Year

As part of the initial rollout, IDALS introduced Everblue’s online exam platform as an additional option for pesticide applicators. Candidates could choose between traditional in-person testing at a local community college or completing their exam from home using live online proctoring.

The flexibility and convenience of this approach quickly proved valuable for both test-takers and the state.

Expanding Access to Online Certification

This process improvement was originally driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing IDALS to continue certifying applicators while limiting in-person contact. However, the benefits extend well beyond the pandemic—most notably, eliminating the need for candidates to travel to testing locations.

Everblue’s platform currently supports the Core exam along with Category 1A, Category 3OT, Category 6, Category 7A, and Category 11.

Scaling the Program for the Future

Building on early success, IDALS will expand its offerings to include 18 additional exams in 2022. These include Categories 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, along with expanded options in Categories 1, 3, and 7.

With Everblue’s expertise in software development and instructional technology, IDALS can continue to scale its certification program while maintaining efficiency, credibility, and productivity.

For more information, contact Mark Smith at mark.smith@iowaagriculture.gov.