2026 C-PAASS Application Open! Insurance Discounts Confirmed
You can now apply to become a 2026 Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward (C-PAASS). This annual, individual certification for ag pilots, both operator and non-operator, serves to recognize a strong commitment to safety, professionalism and the pursuit of continuous improvement. Use it to positively distinguish yourself to insurers, customers, regulators and others outside the industry — and be a part of the force advancing safety, and changing the narrative, for agricultural aviation on a national level.
| PAASS Attendance Annually, 3 of the past 3 years | 2024* | 2025* | 2026* | |
| Operation SAFE Participation Biennially, 1 of the past 2 years AMOC: Completion of two online environmental professionalism courses | – | 2025 through 2026* | ||
| Wires Course This year* AMOC: Completion of an online equivalent course | – | – | 2026* | |
| Supplementary Course This year*, Completion of ONE required course | – | – | 2026* | |
| NAAA Membership This Year | – | – | 2026 | |
| State/Regional Association Membership This Year | – | – | 2026 | |
The certification criteria (requirements) have been updated this year to more broadly credit professional development, while maintaining the high bar for certification intended by NAAA and NAAREF. These updates include an alternate method of compliance for the biennial Operation SAFE requirement, acknowledging that there are regions of the country that lack regular access to this program. Another update is for those who missed one of the previous two PAASS Programs (2023-2024 and/or 2024-2025). For over a year, NAAREF has offered archive PAASS programs via online courses to NAAA members free of charge; completion of the applicable course will now satisfy the C-PAASS requirement if you missed a program in person. An insurance underwriter has provided an aerial application operation a 10% discount due to the operator/pilot and the other operation’s pilot having been C-PAASS certified for multiple years.
Another update is the availability of a new course in the NAAA Education Center, Operational Security in Agricultural Aviation, which may optionally satisfy one of the C-PAASS course requirements.
You can view the requirements in detail, and when you are ready, apply for 2026 C-PAASS through the NAAA website. Once an application is approved, there is a $100 certification fee to complete the process. Certified individuals are publicly listed and will receive a hard-copy certificate, pin and decal to signify their ongoing commitment to safety and professionalism.
To those who became certified in previous years, NAAA applauds you and hopes you will certify again in 2026. To those who have not, why not start 2026 off right and become certified today!