New Jersey Pest Control License: How to Get Certified for Pest Control in NJ

Does New Jersey require a pesticide license?

Yes, the state of New Jersey requires that you have a pesticide license to perform pest control work. 

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement administers your pesticide license so you can legally apply general and restricted-use pesticides in commercial and residential settings.

Once you get your NJ pesticide license, you can provide the following types of pest control work:

• Set traps to kill or remove pests
• Extract vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas
• Spread or release chemical solutions or toxic gasses

A pest control license in New Jersey ensures that you’re working legally and being paid accordingly.

Types of pesticide licenses in New Jersey

The type of license you need will depend on the type of work you would like to do. New Jersey offers multiple types of pesticide applicator licenses, so make sure you know which one is right for you.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement categorizes pest control licenses into the following types:

License Type	Description
Private Applicator	License holders use, or supervise the use of, pesticides for the purpose of raising an agricultural commodity. The pesticide use can be on land that is owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator’s employer.
Commercial Applicator	License holders may use, or supervise the use of, any pesticide for any purpose or on any property.
Pesticide Operator	License holders may use pesticides under the direct supervision of a Commercial Certified Pesticide Applicator.
Certified Pesticide Dealer	License holders may handle the transactions conducted at, and the operations of, a pesticide dealer business.
Pesticide Dealer Business	License holders manage which restricted-use pesticides are distributed, sold, or offered for sale to end users.

NJ pesticide license requirements

To get your pest control license and start working, you need to follow all requirements listed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement. NJ pest control licenses have similar but varying requirements, so make sure you’re familiar with all the necessary requirements for your license. 

Pest control license requirements include:

License Type	Requirements
Private Applicator	• Written and passed the private pesticide applicator certification exam. • Submitted the license application form.  • Purchased liability insurance.
Commercial Applicator	• Completed the state-approved Basic Pesticide Training Course and paid the training course registration fee.  • Written and passed the pesticide applicator certification exams. • Submitted the license application form and paid the application fee.   • Purchased liability insurance.
Pesticide Operator	• Completed the state-approved Basic Pesticide Training Course and paid the training course registration fee.  • Completed/currently completing 40 hours of on-the-job training in each category of work.  • Submitted the license application form and paid the application fee.   • Purchased liability insurance.
Certified Pesticide Dealer	• Written and passed the Pesticide Dealer Certification Exam. • Submitted the license application form and paid the application fee.   • Purchased liability insurance.
Pesticide Dealer Business	• Submitted the license application form.   • Purchased liability insurance.

How do I get a pesticide license in New Jersey?

There are five types of pest control licenses in New Jersey, and multiple steps required to get each one.

We’ll go through the the steps you need to take for each license, starting with the Private Applicator license: 

1. Start by reviewing the training material for the private pesticide applicator exam.
2. Then, write and pass the private pesticide applicator certification exam and pay the exam fee. 
3. After passing the exam, complete a private applicator application form and email it to [email protected]. 
4. You must also have valid liability insurance; find out more here. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to obtaining your Commercial Applicator license: 

1. Start by reviewing the training material and completing a state-approved training course.
2. Then, write and pass the necessary pesticide applicator certification exams, including any Category exams necessary for your pest control work, and pay the exam fees. 
3. After successful completion of the exams, complete a commercial applicator application form and email it to [email protected]. You must also pay the application fee. 
4. You must also have valid liability insurance.
5. Commercial applicators also must obtain a pesticide applicator business license, which can be done here. 

Follow these steps to obtain your Pesticide Operator license: 

1. Complete the Basic Pesticide Training Course and pay the training course registration fee. 
2. After successfully completing the course, complete 40 hours of on-the-job training, including different categories of work. 
3. Complete and submit the pesticide operator license application form to [email protected].
4. You must also have valid liability insurance. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Pesticide Dealer: 

1. Start by reviewing the training material for the pesticide dealer certification exam.
2. Then, write and pass the pesticide dealer certification exam. 
3. After passing the exam, submit your private applicator application form and pay the application fee. Email your application form to [email protected]. 
4. You must also have valid liability insurance. 

Follow these steps to obtain your Pesticide Dealer Business: 

1. Submit your application form to [email protected]. 
2. You must also have valid liability insurance.

All forms and documents can be emailed to [email protected].

New Jersey pesticide courses

There is training material offered for nearly every license in New Jersey, except the Pesticide Dealer Business. 

By learning from this material, you can better understand your license and prepare for on-the-job challenges. You can find all the training materials you’ll need below:

License Types	Courses
Private Applicator	• Pesticide Applicator Training Manual
Commercial Applicator	• Pesticide Applicator Training Manual  • State-approved Basic Pesticide Training Course
Pesticide Operator	• Basic Pesticide Training Course
Certified Pesticide Dealer	• Pesticide Dealer Manual • Pesticide Applicator Training Manual – Core Manual
Pesticide Dealer Business	N/A

Does New Jersey reciprocate pesticide licenses?

Reciprocal licenses allow pest control professionals from other states to apply directly for the corresponding license in New Jersey (NJ). Your primary out-of-state license must remain valid to obtain your NJ reciprocal license.

New Jersey has reciprocity agreements with most states. Reciprocity states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah. 

To find out if the State of New Jersey offers reciprocity with your primary licensing state, you can check the “Reciprocity in New Jersey” spreadsheet. If your state is a match, you can apply for your reciprocity license using the New Jersey pest control reciprocity license application form.

New Jersey pesticide license costs

The cost to become a certified pest control applicator in New Jersey depends on the type of license and number of categories you need.

Here’s how the main costs break down:

	Training Manual	Exam Cost	Application Fee	Renewal Fee
Private Applicator	$40	$115	No fee	No fee
Commercial Applicator	Manual: $40 Course: $145	$115	$80	$80
Pesticide Operator	Training course registration fee: $145.00	N/A	N/A	N/A
Certified Pesticide Dealer	Pesticide Dealer Training Manual: $25 Private Applicator Training Manual: $20	$115	$75	$75
Pesticide Dealer Business	N/A	N/A	N/A	$150
Pesticide Applicator Business	N/A	N/A	N/A	$150

NJ pesticide license renewal

The state of New Jersey requires that all pest control license holders have an up-to-date license status. 

All New Jersey pest control licenses are renewed annually, except for the private pesticide applicator license, which is valid for five years. To renew your designated license, you must pay the fee and attend continuing education courses.

Licenses expire on October 31 of each calendar year. You can check your license status here.

What happens if my pesticide license expires? 

If you think your New Jersey pest control license may be expiring soon or has already expired, stop all work immediately. Check the status of your license, your business license, and your employees’ licenses often to ensure you are working legally. 

Any pest control job done with an expired applicator license is illegal and puts you at risk of serious penalties, including suspension, revocation, and financial penalties.

You can find more information on license expiry here.

Requirements for business owners

Getting your New Jersey pest control license is a great first step toward a successful financial future. And if you want to take your career to the next level, consider starting your own pest control business. 

Here’s a quick summary of the work you need to do to start a pest control business:

• Define your pest control services
• Identify your value proposition
• Get pest control licensing and training
• Build your pest control brand
• License and register your business
• Get pest control business insurance

If you’re thinking of starting your business in New Jersey, these are the steps you need to take:

1. To legally operate your business, you will need a pesticide applicator business license. 
2. Upon completing the pesticide applicator business license application form, you must pay the license application fee. 
3. You must also have valid liability insurance. 

Now, you’re ready to start your pest control career in New Jersey! If you need to, refer back here for more information about pest control licenses or business support.