California Pest Control License: How to Get Certified as a Pest Control Contractor in CA

Do you need a pest control license in California?

Yes, you need your California pest control license to control, eliminate, and exterminate household and wood-destroying pests. With this license, you can use pesticides, rodenticides, allied chemicals, or other substances to eradicate pests. Licenses are issued by the Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB).

Types of pest control licenses in California

There are three types of pest control licenses available in the state of California. The SPCB breaks the licenses down further into branches, which shows the type of work and methods you can use to control, eliminate, and exterminate pests. 

• Branch 1: can use fumigation with poisonous or lethal gasses to control household and wood-destroying pests
• Branch 2: can use fumigation with poisonous or lethal gasses to control only household pests (not wood-destroying pests)
• Branch 3: can use insecticides or make structural repairs and corrections to control only wood-destroying pests (not household pests)

Individuals who want to work within any of the branches need to hold one of the following licenses:

• Applicator: for individuals who work within branches 2 or 3. This license is only available to individuals working on behalf of a registered structural pest control company. 
• Field Representative: for individuals who work within any of the branches. This license is only available to individuals working on behalf of a registered structural pest control company. 
• Operator: for individuals who work within any of the branches, like Field Representatives. The difference is that this license is available to not only individuals, but also business owners or qualifying managers.

None of the license types allow an individual to contract work or perform contract work on their own behalf. In other words, all pest control work must be performed on behalf of a registered company.

Penalties for contracting without a license

You’ll want to get a pest control license before you perform any work to avoid any penalties. Those working without a license will be found guilty of a misdemeanor, face a fine of up to $5,000 and potentially 6 months of jail time.

California pest control license requirements

To be eligible for your pest control license, you’ll need to meet a few requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Meet the training requirements (for field representatives and operators)
• Pass the examination
• Complete a background check and fingerprint scan

The training requirements vary depending on the type of license you’re applying for. For the Applicator license, you don’t need any prior training. For the Field Representative and Operator license, you’ll need to complete some training to be eligible to apply for your license.

FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

Branch 1: Field Representative applicants who will be using fumigation to control household and wood-destroying pests will need to complete a minimum of 6 months of training. They’ll need at least 100 hours of training and experience in preparation, fumigation, ventilation, and certification.

Branch 2: Field Representative applicants who will be using fumigation to control household pests will need to complete a minimum of 40 hours of training, with at least 20 hours of fieldwork, in:

• pesticide application
• pest identification and biology
• pesticide application equipment
• pesticide hazards
• safety practices
• integrated pest management
• the impact of structural pest control services on water quality

Branch 3: Field Representative applicants who will be using insecticides and making structural repairs will need to complete a minimum of 100 hours of training, with at least 80 hours in fieldwork. You must have the following experience:

• applying pesticides and using pesticide equipment
• following hazard and safety practices
• identifying pests and biology
• completing structural inspections and writing reports
• doing structural repairs
• integrated pest management
• the impact of structural pest control services on water quality

OPERATOR

To get licensed as an Operator, you must train as an employee of a company registered within California. The training requirements are as follows:

• Branch 1: at least 2 years’ related experience, with at least 1 year working as a Field Representative (Branch 1)
• Branch 2: at least 2 years’ related experience, with at least 1 year working as a Field Representative (Branch 2)

Branch 3: at least 4 years’ related experience, with at least 2 years working as a Field Representative (Branch 3)

How do I get a pest control license in California?

The process for receiving your pest control license somewhat depends on the type of license you’re going for, but all applicants will undergo a process of training and testing. Unless indicated otherwise, all applicants will go through the following steps.

1. Complete the required training (only for Field Representative and Operators): To be eligible for the Field Representative or Operator exam, you’ll need to submit proof verified by an employer that you’ve completed the necessary training for your branch.
2. Complete the prerequisite courses (only for Operators): Before you can apply for the Operator exam, you must first complete the required Pre-Operator courses. The specific courses you’ll need to complete vary based on the branch you’re applying for.
3. Submit an examination application: Applicants must submit an exam application for the license type they’re applying for (Applicator, Field Representative, Operator). Applications can be sent via mail to the Structural Pest Control Board (find address below this list).
4. Submit fingerprint scans: Applicants must first have their fingerprints scanned using a Live Scan fingerprinting service to be eligible for the exam. This process can take up to 2 months, so it’s in your best interest to find a provider and complete this step early.
5. Take the exam: Once the board has approved your exam application, you will be referred to PSI for computer testing. You’ll need to pass the exam to get your license.
6. Provide proof of training (only for Field Representatives and Operators): After successfully passing the test, Field Representative and Operator applicants must submit a Certification of Training that demonstrates they’ve completed the necessary training.

Applications can be mailed to: 

Structural Pest Control Board

2005 Evergreen Street, Ste. 1500

Sacramento, CA 95815

California pest control license exam

Exams are taken via computer testing through PSI exams.

PSI will contact you by mail or email (depending on what you specify on your application) and will provide you with a candidate handbook that details how to schedule your exam. You must schedule your exam within 6 months of receiving your handbook to be still considered for your license.

Reciprocity agreements with other states

A reciprocity agreement allows one state license to be valid within another state. Pest control licenses issued in California will be accepted in Washington, but anyone wanting to find work in California from out of state must earn their pest control license in the state.

Pest control license costs in California

There are a few costs associated with earning your license. These costs vary depending on the type of license that you’re applying for:

APPLICATION

• Applicator: $.10
• Field Representative: $30
• Operator: $120

EXAMINATION

• Applicator: $55 per branch
• Field Representative: $50 per branch
• Operator: $65 per branch

FINGERPRINTING

• Live Scan fingerprinting: $49

The Pre-approved courses for the Operator license vary in cost depending on which provider you take your courses through.

Do I need to renew my pest control license?

Yes, you’ll need to renew your pest control license to keep it active. 

Field Representative and Operator licenses expire on June 30th of every year, and Applicator licenses expire every 3 years from their issue date. You’ll receive a renewal notice from the Board two months before your license’s expiration date. You must complete the form, fulfill your continuing education requirements, and pay the renewal fee.

The fees to renew a pest control license are:

• Applicator: $10
• Field Representative: $30
• Operator: $120

The continuing education requirement varies depending on your license and branch type. You can find a list of eligible courses here.

What happens if my pest control license expires?

If your pest control license expires, it’s important that you stop all pest control work immediately. You can use the CSLB’s license number verification tool to check if your license is still active.

To reactivate an expired license, you’ll need to pay delinquent and renewal fees. The delinquent fees for each license type are:

• Applicator: $5
• Field Representative: $15
• Operator: $60

You have 90 days from your expiration date to renew your license, or it will be canceled and you’ll have to re-apply.

Requirements for business owners

Looking to start your own pest control business? You’ll need to take a few steps to get your business up and running:

1. Earn your Operator license: To be eligible to start a pest control business, you must have an Operator license
2. Complete the request for approval: You’ll need to fill out and mail a Request For Approval form to the Board
3. Register your company: Once your request is approved, you’ll be mailed a company registration packet. Instructions on how to finalize your registration will be included in the packet, and your business name will be reserved for 60 days. The company registration packet isn’t available online, so it’s important to hold onto the copy you receive in the mail.
4. Get the necessary insurance and bonds: Registered companies are required to hold a minimum of $500,000 in general liability insurance. Proof of insurance must be completed by the insurance company and submitted via the Certificate of Insurance form. You’ll also need to hold a bond in the amount of $12,500. Bonds must be submitted in their original form with a stamp of approval by the bond company.
5. Pay any applicable fees: To apply to register your business, you’ll need to pay a $120 fee