Pest Control Certification: How to Get a Pest Control License in the USA

What is a pest control license?

A pest control license gives an individual or business the ability to remove rodents, insects, and other types of pests from residential and commercial spaces. 

Pest control professionals typically perform the following services across residential, commercial, and agricultural properties:

• Use of fumigants, insecticides, and pesticides in residential and commercial structures
• Control of common pests like rodents, insects, and other organisms
• Control of wood-harming pests like termites 
• Preservation of wood, lawns, and ornamental plants
• Application of pesticides on commercial administer and private agricultural properties

The extent to which a pest control license is required to provide these services varies depending on the state in question. 

For example, a pest control license is generally not required if you are working on your own residential or farming property in Florida. On the other hand, states like California and Texas have numerous license classifications depending on whether pesticides are used, where they are being applied, and whether the chemicals are lethal.  

Some states also require different license types depending upon whether the pest control is performed on a residential, commercial, or government-owned or -subsidized property. 

Types of pest control licenses

Each state has regulations for different types of pesticide licenses you’ll need depending on the structure you’ll be working on (residential or commercial buildings) and the types of pests you’ll be controlling. 

Each pest type will require you to have expertise in specific pesticides, such as taking down rodents versus insects. 

Before performing any pest control work, you need to make sure you have the right license. 

The most common types of pest control and pesticide licenses are: 

• Private applicator license – any persons (such as farmers) who can apply or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities.
• Commercial or public applicatorlicense – any person who applies pesticides for compensation in residential or commercial property.
  • On-the-ground applicators are people who apply pesticides within the infrastructure. 
  • Aerial applicators are people  who apply pesticides from above with airplanes or helicopters.
• Non-commercial applicator license – for any person who works as an employee of a company, firm, or agency that applies restricted-use pesticides.
• Pesticide dealer license – for any person who sells pesticides.

Do you need a license for pest control?

If you’re wondering whether you can do pest control work without a license in the United States, the answer is no. Pest control work involves the use of controlled chemicals like pesticides that fall under the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies. 

The best course of action is to double check with your state and local governments to confirm any certifications or requirements before starting a job. While each state licensing program covers pest control work differently, you should understand that there are risks associated with working without a license. 

Some states have harsh penalties for unlicensed individuals performing pest control work, particularly if they are working with fumigants and other potentially-toxic substances. For example, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) can hand out penalties of up to $5,000, and up to 6 months in jail, for individuals who violate the licensing requirements of the state. 

How to get a pest control license in different states

Pest control license requirements differ from state to state. To be sure you’re not operating outside any regional laws, it’s always a good idea to check with your state licensing agency. 

We’ve covered select states below so you know what types of licenses these states offer.

Jump to your state:

Arizona

To perform pest control work in Arizona, you must have some type of pest control license from the Arizona Department of Agriculture. 

To become a Certified Applicator, you must submit an application, the application fee of $55, and at least one category-specific exam with a score of 75% or higher. 

To become a Qualified Applicator you must submit a completed application, the application fee of $75, and at least one category-specific examination with a score of 75% or higher and possess: 

• Experience as a certified applicator for 24 months within 10 years immediately preceding the application in the category applied for.
• Experience as a certified applicator for 12 months within 10 years immediately preceding the application in the category applied for and one of the following:
  • Successful completion of 12 training hours
  • Successful completion of 12 training hours or its equivalent within the 10 years preceding the application in pest management courses 
  • A bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences, biological sciences, or pest management with 12 training hours 
  • Experience of 24 months in pest management in another state 

Ready to start? Get step-by-step instructions on how to become a pest control worker in Arizona.

California  

You must have a license in California for pest control work. The California Structural Pest Control Board offers multiple license types within its three branches: fumigation, household pest control and control of wood-destroying insects. 

To be a Pest Control Applicator, you need to get a 70% score on the Laws, Regulations, and Basic Principles exam and pay an application fee of $55

For a Field Representative License, you need to  get between 40 hours and 6 months of training, plus 20 hours to 1 year of fieldwork to qualify, depending on the category of work, and pay an application fee of $30. 

Fully-licensed Pest Control Operators require 2-4 years of fieldwork experience, depending on the category of work, and must pay an application fee of $120.

For more information about the exact requirements and examination process, check out our California pest control licensing guide.

DC

You must obtain a Pesticide License in DC to perform pest control work. You can acquire a Pesticide Applicator license through the DC Department of Energy and Environment. 

To get a Pesticide Applicator License, there are multiple steps that must be completed: 

• Submit the ES-774 and 775 forms for approval. 
• Submit a basic business license form (BBL), including proof of insurance and other necessary information. 
• Once both licenses are obtained, get a photo ID for the Certified Applicator License. 
• Obtainyour Certified Operator License to legally operate your pest control business. To do so, you’ll need to create a business name, choose an address and specify the type of pest control work.
• If your business is categorized as a corporation, ensure that its paperwork is accurately filed and is in good standing with the Corporations Division of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. 
• Accurately file with DC’s Tax Registration Office.

Florida 

Those looking to perform pest control work in Florida must have a license. One can be obtained from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

To qualify for the Pest Control Operator licensing exam in Florida, you must submit an application fee of $300, be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma (or equivalent), and either: 

• 3 years of experience working under a pest control operator in the field of work you are applying for, with at least one of those years being in Florida.

Or

• 1 year of experience working under a pest control operator in the field of work you are applying for, and a degree in entomology, botany, agronomy, or horticulture from a recognized college or university. 

Florida offers Limited Pesticide Licenses, which are pesticide licenses that grant you certification for nearly all pesticide applications. For these types of licenses, applicants need to complete the required courses and pass the corresponding exam(s) with a score of at least 75% and pay an application fee of $150. 

For more information about the exact requirements and examination process, check out our Florida pest control licensing guide.  

Georgia

To provide pest control services in Georgia, you must hold a Commercial or Private Pesticide License issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). 

A Commercial Applicator License is required if you do not produce agricultural commodities. 

A Private Applicator License is required if you produce agricultural commodities. 

To obtain either license, you must submit an application to the GDA, pay an application fee of $90 and complete these courses: 

• Certified Training Institute
• PestWeb

To renew your license, continuing education is necessary before you are re-certified. 

Idaho

Idaho requires pest control technicians to hold a license obtained from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.  

You can get a Private Applicator License by obtaining 6 total credit hours during the licensing period and paying an application fee of $10-$30. This price varies by pest control category (insect, rodent, etc.).

You can get a Professional Applicator License by obtaining 15 total credit hours during the licensing period and paying an application fee of $120.

You can get a Pesticide Dealer License by completing training courses offered by the University of Idaho and paying an application fee of $120.

Illinois

You must obtain a pesticide license in Illinois to perform pest control work. Licenses can be obtained from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. 

To get a Private Applicator License, you must pass the Grain Fumigation category examination with at least a 70% and pay an application fee of $30.

To get a Commercial Applicator or Operator License, you’ll have to pass the General Standards Exam or Aerial General Standards Exam with at least a 70% and pay an application fee of $180. 

To get a Commercial Not-for-Hire Applicator or Operator License, you’ll have to pass the General Standards Exam or Aerial General Standards Exam with at least a 70% and pay an application fee of $60. 

To get a Pesticide Dealer License to sell restricted-use pesticides, a separate test, license, and fee are required.

For more information about the exact requirements and exam process, see our Illinois pest control licensing guide.  

Kansas 

You must have a license to perform pest control work in Kansas. To get a pest control license or pesticide license, you must apply through the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

To obtain a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license, you must pass the General Exam and a category or subcategory exam to become certified and pay a fee of $45.

To obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator certification, you must pass an open-book examination at one of the county extension offices and pay a fee of $45.

Maryland

The state of Maryland mandates pest control technicians to have a pest control license administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

To get a Private Applicator License, you must be at least 16 years of age and pass a written closed-book certification examination administered by MDA with a score of 70% or higher.

To get a Commercial Applicator License, you must complete certification courses, pass the MDA exam with 70% or higher, complete an application obtained from the MDA, and designate at least one person certified with an applicator license. 

To get a Pest Control Consultant License, you must be at least 16 years of age and pass a written closed-book certification examination administered by MDA with a score of 70% or higher and pay an annual fee of $75.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts you must have a pesticide license to perform pest control work. Licenses can be obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources after completing a series of different examinations. 

For an Applicator License, you must obtain a passing score of 70% on the proper exam and pay a fee of $75.

For a Private Certification, you must obtain a passing score of 75% on the proper exam and pay a fee of $175.

For a Commercial Certification, you must obtain a passing score of 75% on the proper exam and pay a fee of $175.

For a Pesticide Dealer License, you must obtain a passing score of 75% on the proper exam and pay a fee of $175.

Go even deeper in our complete guide to becoming a pesticide worker in Massachusetts.

Missouri

In Missouri, you must hold a license in order to perform pest control work; it can be obtained from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. 

To become a Commercial Applicator, Noncommercial Applicator, Private Applicator or Public Operator, you must pass the state pesticide certification examinations and pay a fee of $35. You are also required to pass the General Standards of Competence (CORE) examination and at least one of the category examinations. 

To become a Pesticide Dealer, you must pass the Pesticide Dealer Examination only and pay a fee of $35. 

To become a Pesticide Technician, you must successfully complete an approved training program. 

Nebraska

In Nebraska, you must have a pest control license to work. Licenses can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Agricultural (NDA).

To get a Private Applicator License, you must either attend a private applicator training program led by a local county extension office (or complete the self-study materials in coordination with their local county extension office), or successfully complete a private applicator exam administered by the NDA. You must also pay an application fee of $25. 

To get a Non-Commercial Applicator or Commercial Applicator license, you must pass the General Standards Exam and at least one specific category exam, receiving a score of at least 70%. There is no fee for a non-commercial applicator application, but you must pay $90 for a commercial applicator application.

North Carolina 

The state of North Carolina mandates all restricted- and limited-use pesticide applicators to possess a pest control license. You may obtain a license through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

To get a Private Pesticide Applicator license, you must pass the North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicator exam and submit documentation. You must also pay a $10 fee every 3 years. 

To get a Commercial Ground Applicator License, you are required to pass a general exam and a category exam. You must also pay $75 annually to uphold this license.

To get a Public Ground Applicator License, you are required to pass a general exam and a categorical exam. You must also pay $75 annually to uphold this license.

To get an Aerial Pesticide Applicator License, you must pass exams, including a specialty examination, an aerial methods examination, and a general examination. You must also pay $75 annually to uphold this license.

People with Pesticide Dealer Licenses are authorized to hold, make, distribute, and sell restricted-use pesticides to others.

For more information about the exact requirements and examination process, check out our North Carolina pest control licensing guide.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, you must have a pesticide license to perform pest control work. Head to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to get the applicable license. 

To become a Private or Commercial Applicator, you must pass the general (or CORE) certification exam, as well as a category certification exam. You’ll also need to complete set training hours, which are different for different categories. Commercial applicators must also pay an annual license fee of $80.

For more information on New Jersey’s requirements and examination process, check out our New Jersey pest control licensing guide.

Ohio

You must obtain a license from the Ohio Department of Agriculture to perform pest control work in Ohio. 

To get a Private Pesticide Applicator License, you must pass the Core exam and applicable category exams.

To get a Commercial Pesticide Applicator License, you must pass the Core exam and applicable category exams and pay $35 for the application. 

To get a Pesticide Dealer License, you must submit a completed application.

For more information about exact requirements and Ohio’s examination process, check out our Ohio pest control licensing guide.

South Carolina

South Carolina requires pest control technicians to have a pesticide license. You may obtain a license from the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation through Clemson. 

For a Commercial and Non-Commercial Applicator License, you must pass the category exam, as well as the general applicator exam. The application fee is $50.

For a Private Applicator License, you must pass the category exam, as well as the general applicator exam. You must also pay a prorated portion of the fee.

The Pesticide Dealer License requires you to submit an application and pay a fee of $50.

For more information about the exact requirements and examination process, check out our South Carolina pest control licensing guide.

Tennessee

The state of Tennessee requires a pesticide license for those performing pest control work, and a pest control charter for companies providing pesticide application. A charter is a type of permit issued by the department to a business and is required for each individual location.

To earn a Pest Control Applicator License, you must become certified as a commercial applicator by passing a commercial certification exam prior to the licensing exam – taken online or through the PSEP program. You must also pay $50 every 2 years. 

Texas 

Pest control providers in Texas must be certified as pest control applicators by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS) to perform pest control work. 

Structural Pest Control Apprentices need to submit their registration form within the first 10 days of employment with a fully-licensed pest control applicator. 

To qualify for a Structural Pest Control Technician License, you need to complete 68 hours of training and work experience. You’ll then need to pass the technician exam with a score of 70% or more. 

To qualify for a Certified Commercial Applicator License, you need to to pass the corresponding exam with a score of at least 70% and meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Have held a SPCS technician license for at least 6 months and have proof of at least 12 months’ work experience out of the past 24 months
• Have an applicable degree in the biological sciences from an accredited college or university
• Have proof of industry experience from a previous job for at least 12 of the past 24 months
• Have previously held a certified applicator license
• Pay an application fee of $125

For more information about the exact requirements and examination process, check out our Texas pest control licensing guide.

Utah

Utah requires pest control licenses to be held by technicians; these are granted by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

To get a Private Pesticide Applicator License, or a Commercial or Non-Commercial Pesticide ApplicatorLicense, you must pass an exam with a score of at least 70% and pay a fee of $65 (commercial license only). 

Learn more about exams, costs, and requirements in our step-by-step guide to getting your pest control license in Utah.

How long does it take to get a pest control license?

The length of time it takes to get your pest control license will depend on the type of work you want to perform and the structures where you perform it, whether you work for a business or government agency, and, of course, the state you are working in. Typically, you can expect the process to take between 2 and 4 years.  

For a better understanding of how long it takes to get certified as a pest control professional, you’ll have to double-check with your state, city, or county regulations. 

How much does it cost to get a pest control license?

In the United States, the cost of getting a pest control license can differ depending on where you are and what type of license you are trying to obtain.

In most states, it may cost as low as $35 to obtain a pest control license or pesticide license. But in other states, such as Texas, you may have to pay over $100 for pest control licenses. 

However, there are more fees than simply the license fee. Training courses, materials and exams may also be required for some pest control and pesticide licenses. These supplementary learnings are typically partnered with continuing education, as well, and will cost you between $20 to $200, depending on the type of education.