Minnesota law requires companies, site managers, and applicators that manage or apply manure for-hire to obtain Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Minnesota law requires Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) site managers, applicators and companies to obtain a state license. If you apply or manage manure on a for-hire basis, you must be licensed.
CAWT Company A license is required for a company that commercially manages for-hire applications of animal waste. The company must also employ a CAWT Site Manager.
The company license number must be printed on application equipment.
CAWT Site Manager A person employed by a CAWT Company to manage site operations, supervise CAWT Applicators and manage livestock manure. Site managers can be certified in two categories, solid and liquid. An open-book exam is required as part of license application.
CAWT Applicator A CAWT Applicator must be licensed by MDA and operate under the supervision of a licensed CAWT Site Manager. All individuals with the applicator license type must have a minimum of two (2) hours of certification training and pass a short exam.
CAWT License Requirements
A license is required for:
- A commercial or a for-hire application when money or other compensation is exchanged to manage or apply manure to the ground;
- A private producer applying their own manure when they have a capacity of 300 animal units or more, and do NOT have an updated manure management plan; or
- A commercial or a for hire operation that stockpiles or manages manure.
A licensed person must:
- Certify for a license by passing an open book exam
- Carry a valid CAWT license card
- Recertify through training or testing
- Renew license and pay fee every year
- CAWT Applicators must work under the supervision of a licensed CAWT Site Manager
- CAWT Applicators and Site Managers must work under a licensed CAWT Company
- CAWT company must employ at least one Site Manager
- CAWT Company must display license number on all equipment at least 3" high with high contract colors
- All CAWT Applicators, Site Managers, and Companies are responsible for proper manure management or application
How to Obtain a CAWT License
CAWT Company:
CAWT Site Manager:
- Be employed by a licensed CAWT Company
- Complete and submit the CAWT Site Manager Application form or apply Online
- Pay appropriate $50 License/Certification Fees
- Meet requirements for Financial Responsibilities
- Take and pass (80% and above) a multiple choice exam
- Take and pass exam for each category desired liquid and/or solid
- Recertify at a workshop or re-test every 2 years Renew and pay license fee annually
CAWT Applicator:
- Be employed by a licensed CAWT Company
- Always work under the supervision of a CAWT Site Manager (License Lookup)
- Complete and submit the CAWT Applicators application form online
- Pay appropriate $25 application fee
- Complete 2 hours of designated online training
- Recertify with 2 hours of designated online training annually
- Renew and pay license fee annually
Refer to the MDA information:
Commercial Animal Waste Technician Application Licensing
Financial Responsibilities
Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) Testing : Greater Minnesota
Recertify:
See Commercial Animal Waste Technician Training & Recertification Materials
Applicator
A person wishing to become licensed or recertified in the Applicator Category can only do so through Online Training. Applicators must complete 2 hours of online training before they can apply for OR renew a license.
Site Manager
A person licensed in the Site Manager Category must pass the certification exam (80% or better) for an initial license to be awarded (see recertification requirements below). Each test contains multiple-choice questions based on the study manual. The test is an open book monitored exam. Site Managers are also licensed to apply manure.
Testing locations for the CAWT Site Manager category are available in:
A Commercial Animal Waste Technician Site Manager Study Manual (PDF) is available.
Recertify
A person licensed in the Site Manager Category must renew their license annually, and must maintain current certification. Certifications are renewed every two years. To be eligible to renew your license you must meet recertification requirements by attending a recertification workshop once every other year or re-test.
The MDA has approved the following University of Extension's CAWT workshops, as they meet CAWT educational standards. The workshops are also open to the general public.
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