North Carolina Pest Control License: How to Get Certified for Pest Control in NC
- Academy /
- Pest Control License /
- North Carolina
The demand for pest control in the United States is growing, particularly in southern states—so getting your pest control license in North Carolina will strengthen your financial future. North Carolina currently has the 5th highest employment rate for pest control workers in the United States.
Your financial future can take off right now as you start your career in the pest control industry. Entry-level pest control salaries in the United States hover at $37.5K, and experienced pest control workers and business owners earn even more.
In this pest control guide, we’ll go over all your questions and essential info about getting your NC pesticide license and start working in pest control:
-
Does North Carolina require a pesticide license?
-
Types of pesticide licenses in North Carolina
-
California pest control license requirements
-
How do I get a pesticide license in North Carolina?
-
North Carolina pesticide license exam
-
Does North Carolina reciprocate pesticide licenses?
-
North Carolina pesticide license costs
-
North Carolina pesticide license renewal
-
What happens if my pest control license expires?
-
Requirements for business owners
If you’re serious about getting your North Carolina pest control license, make sure you bookmark this page. This way, you can return to this guide if you have any questions or if you’re ready to start your own pest control business in North Carolina.
Does North Carolina require a pesticide license?
Yes, the state of North Carolina requires that you have a pesticide license to perform pest control work. Licenses are issued by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Upon obtaining your NC pesticide license, you can provide the following types of pest control work:
- Control issues with unwanted animals and insects in residential and commercial buildings, and their surrounding areas.
- Inspect structural buildings, identify pests, and determine a suitable pest control treatment.
- Administer chemical pesticides and set up traps or bait.
- Complete minor building repairs as needed to keep pests out.
A pest control license in North Carolina guarantees that you will be legally performing duties and are being paid accordingly.
Types of pesticide licenses in North Carolina
The type of license you need will depend on the type of work you would like to do.
Certification is required for private applicators wishing to apply restricted-use pesticides to an agricultural commodity.
Licensing is required for commercial applicators applying any type of pesticide for compensation, public operators working for a state or local government who apply pesticides in their course of work, dealers selling restricted-use pesticides, or pest control consultants making recommendations for pesticide treatment of pest problems.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services defines pest control licenses into the following types:
Certification
| License Type | Description |
| Private Pesticide Applicator | License holders, or their employees, who use restricted-use pesticides in the production of an agricultural commodity, or on land that they own or lease. |
Licensing
| License Type | Description |
| Commercial Ground Applicator | License holders who are applying any pesticide for compensation. |
| Public Ground Operator | License holders who are employees of federal, state, county, or municipal governments and who apply pesticides in the course of their jobs are licensed in the same manner as commercial applicators. |
| Aerial Applicator | License holders who already hold a pesticide applicator license and apply pesticides with a plane, helicopter, or UAV. |
| Aerial Applicator Apprentice | A pilot with less than 125 hours and one year’s experience will be licensed as an apprentice and must operate under the direct supervision of a licensed pilot. |
In addition to the types of licenses listed above, pest control professionals in North Carolina also need to be certified for the specific categories in which they will operate.
Applicators and operators must write and pass examinations for the applicable categories to perform the following categorical work:
- Aquatic Pest Control
- Demonstration and Research
- Field Crop Pest Control
- Forest Pest Control
- Fruit Crop Pest Control
- Grain Facility Pest Control
- Livestock Pest Control
- Mosquito Control
- Ornamental Pest Control
- Plant Management Pest Control
- Regulatory Pest Control
- Right-of-Way Pest Control
- Sewer Line Root Control
- Seed Treatment
- Soil Fumigation
- Turf Pest Control
- Vegetable Crop Pest Control
North Carolina pesticide license requirements
In order to be certified or licensed to perform pest control work, you must follow the requirements listed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
These requirements include:
Certification
| License Type | Description |
| Private Pesticide Applicator | • Must have written and passed the private applicator exam. • Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
Licensing
| License Type | Description |
| Commercial Ground Applicator | • Must have written and passed the General Standards (CORE) exam. • Must have written and passed one or more category exams appropriate for the sites to which they apply pesticides. • Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
| Public Ground Operator | • Must have written and passed the General Standards exam. • Must have written and passed one or more category exams appropriate for the sites to which they apply pesticides. • Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
| Aerial Applicator | • Must have written and passed all exams. • Must have completed at least 125 hours and have one year’s flying experience in aerial pesticide application. • Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
| Aerial Applicator Apprentice | • Must have written and passed all exams. • Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
How do I get a pesticide license in North Carolina?
After completing the necessary pest control category examinations, follow the steps below to get the right certification and become a licensed pest control pesticide applicator in North Carolina.
Certification
| License Type | Description |
| Private Pesticide Applicator | 1. Write and pass the North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicator exam. 2. Submit the appropriate application and fee. |
Licensing
| License Type | Description |
| Commercial Ground Applicator | 1. Write and pass the General Standards or Aerial General Standards exam, and at least one category exam. 2. Submit the appropriate application and fee. |
| Public Ground Operator | 1. Write and pass the General Standards, and at least one category exam. 2. Submit the appropriate application and fee. |
| Aerial Applicator | 1. Write and pass the CORE exam, the Aerial methods exam, and at least one category exam. 2. Submit the appropriate application and fee. 3. Complete at least 125 hours as an aerial apprentice pilot in order to become an aerial applicator. 4. Have one year’s flying experience in aerial pesticide application. |
| Aerial Applicator Apprentice | 1. Write and pass the CORE exam, the Aerial methods exam, and at least one category exam. 2. Must have completed and submitted an application form. |
All forms and documents can be delivered to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services physically at the following address:
1090 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC
27699-1090
North Carolina pesticide license exam
North Carolina requires applicants to pass pest control exams in order to obtain their pest control license across the different categories. The following outlines the certification or license exam essentials:
Certification
| License Type | Description |
| Private Pesticide Applicator | • Private applicator exam – 70% or higher. |
Licensing
| License Type | Description |
| Commercial Ground Applicator | • General Standards exam – 70% or higher. • Category exams – 70% or higher. |
| Public Ground Operator | • General Standards exam – 70% or higher. • Category exams – 70% or higher. |
| Aerial Applicator | • CORE exam – 70% or higher. • Aerial methods exam – 70% or higher. • Category exams – 70% or higher. |
| Aerial Applicator Apprentice | • CORE exam – 70% or higher. • Aerial methods exam – 70% or higher. • Category exams – 70% or higher. |
North Carolina offers a two-day pesticide school to prepare you for the private and commercial applicator certification exams:
Does North Carolina reciprocate pesticide licenses?
Reciprocal licenses allow pest control professionals from other states to apply directly for the equivalent license in North Carolina. North Carolina currently has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Nonresidents of North Carolina who want to apply for a reciprocal pesticide applicator license can learn more here.
North Carolina pesticide license costs
To become a certified pest control applicator in North Carolina, the costs depend on the type of license and number of license categories you want to hold.
Here’s how the main costs break down according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website:
Private Pesticide Applicator
| Licensing Stage | Cost |
| Application cost | $10 |
| Private Pesticide Applicator Examination fee | $10 |
| Renewal fee | $10 |
Commercial Ground Applicator / Public Ground Operator
| Licensing Stage | Cost |
| Application cost | $75 |
| General Standards Examination fee | $50 |
| Specialty examination fee | $20 each |
| Renewal fee | $75 |
North Carolina pesticide license renewal
In North Carolina, each pest control license expires at a different rate. To find out when your license expires, review the following license renewal information.
Private applicator licenses must be renewed every 3 years by completing one of the following requirements:
- Earn 4 hours of continuing education credits.
- Two-hour pesticide safety classes (noted as Category “V” training) are offered at each North Carolina State Cooperative Extension county center.
OR
- Attend at least 2 hours of specialized training (noted as Category “X” training) during the 3-year recertification period.
- Specialized training credits may be earned by attending educational meetings approved for credit by NCDA&CS and conducted by Cooperative Extension, commodity groups, private industry, or other associations.
Commercial ground applicator and public ground operator licenses must be renewed annually. License holders must pay the fee alone, though continuing education courses are recommended.
Aerial applicator licenses must be renewed annually, and certification for this license lasts for 2 years. To recertify, license holders must complete the 4 hours of required training by 30 June of the second year following certification. Aerial applicator license holders with more than one specialty must also complete 1 hour of training for each additional specialty area every 2 years.
Aerial applicators must also have their aircraft inspected and renewed in accordance with the craft’s guidelines.
What happens if my pest control license expires?
It’s illegal to work on any pest control job with an expired license in North Carolina. If you think your North Carolina pest control license may have expired, or will soon, it’s crucial that you stop all work immediately.
It can put you or others, such as your employees, at risk of harm or serious penalties-including suspension of your license. There may even be financial penalties.
Before you get to work, make sure you know the status of your license(s). To check the status or find out more information about your pest control license, visit the North Carolina License Credit Status site.
Requirements for business owners
Getting your North Carolina pest control license is a great first step toward a strong and secure financial future.
If you want to earn even more, start your own pest control business with these straightforward steps:
- 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
- Open a business bank account
- Invest in pest control equipment
- Identify your ideal clients
- Get clients with pest control marketing
- Hire pest control employees
For more information about the steps for starting your own pest control business in North Carolina, check out our pest control business guide and review this essential information:
- In North Carolina, there are no business permits required for pest control workers—only the license requirements. To find out more about starting a specialty pest control business, you can search if your specialty work requires a permit or not.
- As for business insurance in North Carolina, Liability Insurance is required to be a pest control worker in North Carolina. More information on insurance and renewal can be found here.
Now, you’re ready to start your pest control career in North Carolina, and if you need, refer back here for more information about pest control licenses or business support.
Join over 200k service professionals that trust Jobber
Get Started