How pest control licensing works
- Federal floor. Anyone who applies or supervises restricted-use pesticides must be certified under EPA’s standards (40 CFR 171, revised 2017). EPA sets a federal minimum age of 18 for certification and a maximum 5-year recertification interval; states run the programs.
- Individual license. Usually a technician/registered employee level (works under supervision) and a certified applicator/operator level (can supervise and qualify a business). Most states require supervised experience plus a core exam and category exams.
- Business license. Most states license the company separately and require a qualified, certified person on staff for each category offered, plus proof of insurance.
- Categories. Structural work splits into general/household pest, termite/wood-destroying organisms and fumigation (names and codes differ by state).
- Who regulates. Usually the state department of agriculture - but not always: California uses the Structural Pest Control Board, Illinois the Department of Public Health, and New York the Department of Environmental Conservation.
State-by-state (verified states)
| State | Agency | Business license / key fee | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Pest Control Board | $120 ($60 per branch office) | Insurance: $500K BI + $500K PD | |
| Texas Department of Agriculture | $300/yr | Insurance: $500K / $1M | |
| Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | $300/yr (per location) | Insurance: BI $250K/$500K | |
| Arizona Department of Agriculture | $185 | Financial security: $500K | |
| Georgia Department of Agriculture | $100 + $70 (per 2-year period) | Renewal: June 30, odd years | |
| North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | $200 (+$75 per extra phase) | Insurance: $100K PD / $300K BI | |
| New York State Department of Environmental Conservation | $900 (per 3 years) | Insurance: $1M | |
| Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture | $35/yr (per place of business) | Insurance: $100K BI / $100K PD | |
| Ohio Department of Agriculture | $35/yr (+ $35 per location) | Insurance: $300K | |
| Illinois Department of Public Health | $250 ($150 annual renewal) | CE: 9 hours | |
| Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | $100/yr (expires Dec 31) | Exam: $55 / $65 | |
| Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship | $75 (3 years) | Insurance: $100K PD + $100K PL | |
| Washington State Department of Agriculture | $250/yr (+$27 per extra apparatus) | Records: 7 years | |
| Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Pesticides Program | $90 (+$15 per extra category) | Exam: $58 |
Your state is not listed yet?
We publish a state only after verifying its fees and requirements directly with the state agency. For other states, find your pesticide regulatory agency in the AAPCO state agency directory and ask for the structural/commercial applicator and business license requirements.
Next steps after licensing
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an exterminator?
Yes. Every state requires certification to apply pesticides commercially, and most require a separate business license for the company.
How long does it take to get a pest control license?
It depends on the state’s experience rules - from a few weeks of training and exams for an entry-level technician license to a year or more of supervised experience before you can hold the license a business needs (Texas, for example, requires 6 months as a technician plus supervised work for Certified Applicator).
What is the minimum age for a pesticide applicator license?
EPA’s federal minimum age for certified applicators is 18 (with a narrow family-farm exception for private applicators).
Is a pest control license the same as a pesticide applicator license?
Often, yes - many states issue a commercial pesticide applicator certification with a structural or general pest category. Some states (California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois) run a separate structural pest control program.
Sources
- US EPA - Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators (40 CFR 171) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- AAPCO - State pesticide regulatory agency directory (accessed 2026-09-23)