Apply for a certificate of competence for the use of plant protection products

You can apply for the certificate of expertise in plant protection online:

• Go to the website pflanzenschutz-skn.de.
• You can submit the application with or without registration. Complete the application, upload the required documents and submit the application online.
• If you are unable to upload your documents, you can alternatively send them to the relevant office by post.
• You will receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.
• You will receive the certificate of competence card.

Experts in plant protection from EU member states can apply for a German certificate of competence directly from the plant protection service or the competent body in the federal state where they wish to work. You can find out which office is responsible for you in the office finder on the pflanzenschutz-skn.de website.

The authority accepts the complete application documents and checks the information and the authenticity of the certificates and/or attestations. If all the requirements for the certificate of competence have been met, the authority issues the certificate of competence and a fee notice. Once payment has been received, the authority will send the certificate of competence to the person submitting the application.

The new certificate of competence (SKN) in card format has been required since 26.11.2015.

The application for this can be made online at www.pflanzenschutz-skn.de. (Please ask your friends or acquaintances for help if you cannot find your way around the internet). Further information can be viewed via the tile of the responsible federal state. The certificate of competence can be applied for with or without registration. Then fill in the mandatory fields with the applicant's details. After entering the security code, you will be taken to the application page. Enter the application type here. The application type "Application" includes the application of plant protection products and the application type "Dispensing" includes the sale of plant protection products. After confirming the required knowledge of German and accepting the privacy policy, you can upload your copies of certificates, such as an assistant's certificate or a certificate of competence. Finally, submit the application using the corresponding button. After submitting your data, a brief message will appear in the online portal to inform you whether your application has been successful. You will not receive a separate e-mail or further confirmation. It is not necessary to send the signed application by post.

Alternatively: If you are unable to upload the certificate yourself, please send us a copy by post to the relevant office.

Plant protection experts from EU member states who wish to use plant protection products in Germany also require a German certificate of competence.

For technical reasons, it is not possible to apply for the German certificate of competence via the online database.

Please contact the plant protection service or the office responsible for the application in the federal state where you wish to work directly.

You can use the service finder on the homepage for this purpose.

In addition to the certificate, former or new experts who graduated more than 3 years ago also require proof of participation in a recognized further training course on plant protection expertise.
If all documents are complete, the application will be processed within 4 - 6 weeks.

You will receive a notification and an invoice for 30 euros (40 euros for foreign certificates).
It can take up to 2 months from payment for the certificate of competence card to be sent to you.
In addition to the application for a certificate of competence, you must take part in 4 hours of further training over a recurring 3-year period.

Experts from EU member states apply for the German certificate of competence at the DLR Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück for agriculture and forestry, at the DLR Rheinpfalz for viticulture and horticulture.

For agriculture and forestry, please contact the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück.

For viticulture and horticulture, please contact the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinpfalz.

The competent authority for agriculture and forestry is the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück.

The competent authority for viticulture and horticulture is the Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinpfalz.

You can prove your expertise

• with a certificate of a recognized professional qualification (e.g. farmer, winegrower, gardener, etc.) or
• a certificate of having successfully passed a certificate of competence examination (e.g. as part of a certificate of competence course) or
• with a certificate of a recognized course of study, possibly in conjunction with an additional certificate (from universities, training institution) or
• with a valid certificate from another EU Member State for the sustainable use of pesticides.

If there are more than three years between the issue of the certificate and the application, a current certificate of further training must also be submitted.

• Certificate of a recognized professional qualification or
• Certificate of successful completion of a certificate of competence examination or
• Certificate of a recognized course of study, if applicable additional certificate from universities or training institutions or
• Certificate from another EU member state
• If required: certified translation of the documents submitted
• informal confirmation of costs from the specified invoice recipient, if applicable
• if applicable, certificate of further training

Due to the higher examination costs, the fee for foreign certificates is EUR 40.00.

If there are more than 3 years between the date of the certificate and the date of application, you must also submit a current certificate of further training.

• Plant Protection Expertise Ordinance of July 28, 1987 (BGBl. I p. 1752), last amended by Article 27 of the Act of December 6, 2011 (BGBl. I p. 2515)

• § Section 9 Act on the Protection of Cultivated Plants (Plant Protection Act - PflSchG)
• Plant Protection Specialist Ordinance (PflSchSachkV)
• Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 21, 2009
• Plant Protection Act of February 6, 2012
• State ordinance on agricultural administration fees (special schedule of fees)
• § Section 9 of the Plant Protection Specialist Ordinance (PflSchSachkV)
• Plant Protection Specialist Ordinance (PflSchSachkV)
• Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 21, 2009

• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no

• Online application
• Online application

12.03.2025

What do the application types "application" and "dispensing" mean?

• "Application" = application of plant protection products.
• "Dispensing" = sale of plant protection products. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of competence in plant protection (journeyman's certificate, certificate of competence, etc.).