Washington pest control licensing at a glance
Agency
WSDA
Commercial Applicator
$250/yr
+$27 per extra apparatus
Commercial Operator
$85/yr
Records
7 years
License types and fees
| License | Who needs it | Key requirements | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Applicator | Person/company engaged in the business of applying pesticides to the land or property of another; joint company-individual license held by the individual who makes the company's pesticide application decisions | Minimum age 18; pass WA Laws & Safety exam plus category exams for every area the business operates in (or valid reciprocal license); Commercial Company License Application; proof of financial responsibility; WA Department of Revenue business license; 5-year recertification cycle; renew annually | $250/year application fee (first apparatus free; $27 per additional apparatus). Statute: $243 + $27/apparatus (RCW 17.21.070); WSDA notes $7 of every license supports WSU pesticide safety education |
| Commercial Operator | Individual employed by a WSDA-licensed Commercial Applicator to apply pesticides to the land or property of another (must be listed as employee on the company record) | Minimum age 18; pass WA Laws & Safety exam plus applicable category exam; 5-year recertification cycle | $85/year |
| Structural Pest Inspector (SPI) | Person conducting complete wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspections for transfer, exchange or refinancing of structures (real estate); license does not allow pesticide application | Complete inspections: exams SPI General + SPI Practical; must work for a licensed Structural Pest Inspection Company with current insurance; Inspection Control Number (ICN) required on each complete WDO report. Specific (pre-treatment) inspections may be done under PCO Structural endorsement working for a licensed Commercial Applicator. SPI exams not yet available via computer-based testing | $85/year (not required if working under a current Commercial Applicator, Commercial Operator, Private Commercial, Commercial Consultant, Demo & Research or Public Consultant license) |
| Commercial Pest Control Consultant | Provides technical advice/recommendations to users of non-home-and-garden pesticides (licensed commercial applicators/operators may consult without it) | Pass WA Laws & Safety plus applicable category exam; 5-year recertification cycle | $75/year |
License categories
- PCO General (insects, spiders, birds, rodents and animal pests in and around structures; excludes fumigants, structurally destructive pests and real-estate inspections)
- PCO Structural (structurally destructive pests incl. fungus, termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles; excludes fumigants)
- Space Fumigation (requires pest/site-specific category too)
- Vertebrate Pest Control (outdoor; indoor vertebrates fall under PCO General)
- Public Health Pest Control
- Wood Treatment
- Structural and Turf Demossing (Limited Specialty)
- Structural Pest Inspector (SPI General + SPI Practical exams)
Exams
- Vendor: Metro Institute (computer-based); WSDA-proctored paper exams also offered (Olympia, Yakima, Moses Lake, Spokane, Burlington, East Wenatchee)
- Format: Computer-based at testing centers statewide, or scheduled paper-based sessions; Laws & Safety 55 questions/1 hr; PCO General 65 questions/2 hr; PCO Structural 60 questions/2 hr; 14-day wait after 2nd-4th failure, 60-day after 5th+
- Exam fee: $58 per exam (computer-based)
- Min age: 18
Business license and insurance
Business license
- Requirement: The Commercial Applicator license is a joint company-individual license; company files a Commercial Company License Application (plus Supplemental application listing employed commercial operators, equipment, branches/DBAs) and must hold a WA Department of Revenue business license. Complete-WDO inspection firms need a Structural Pest Inspection Company license.
- Fee: $250/year Commercial Applicator license; $27 per apparatus after the first
Insurance / bond
- Requirement: Commercial Applicator: Option 1 liability insurance with $50,000 public liability, $50,000 property damage, deductible no more than $5,000; OR Option 2 surety bond minimum $100,000 (RCW 17.21.160/.170). SPI complete inspections: $25,000 E&O (2-year tail) OR $25,000 surety bond OR $12,500 bond + $25,000 E&O OR $25,000 assigned account.
- Public liability: $50,000
- Property damage: $50,000
- Max deductible: $5,000
- Surety bond alternative: $100,000
- SPI errors omissions: $25,000
Renewal and continuing education
- All licenses: License renewed annually; 5-year recertification cycle for all license types
- Late penalty: Commercial Applicator $25; Commercial Operator $78; SPI $78
- Continuing education:
- Commercial applicator operator SPI consultant: 40 credits per 5-year cycle, max 15 per calendar year (‘All Other License Types’)
- Private applicator: 20 credits per 5 years, max 10/yr
- Note: Credits cannot carry over; alternatively recertify by exam
Application recordkeeping
- Retention years: 7
- Timing: Recorded same day the pesticide is applied
- Required elements:
- Location of land where pesticide applied
- Year, month, day and beginning and ending time of application each day
- Product name on registered label and EPA registration number
- Crop or site treated
- Amount applied per acre or other appropriate measure
- Concentration applied
- Number of acres or other measure treated
- Licensed applicator’s name, address, phone; name(s) and license number(s) of individual(s) making the application
- Wind direction and estimated velocity (not required for baits in bait stations or applications within structures)
- Any other reasonable information required by rule
Free log with these fields: pesticide application record template.
Worth knowing
- Application records must be kept at least seven years - longer than most states - and recorded the same day as the application.
- Commercial Applicator financial responsibility can be met with a $100,000 surety bond instead of $50,000/$50,000 liability insurance (deductible capped at $5,000).
- Real-estate WDO inspections require a separate Structural Pest Inspector license and a WSDA-issued Inspection Control Number on every complete inspection report.
- Businesses that amend structures for pest control must also register as a contractor with the Department of Labor & Industries.
Official links
Law: Washington Pesticide Application Act, RCW 17.21; Pesticide Control Act, RCW 15.58; WDO inspection rules WAC 16-228-2005 through -2050
Last verified 2026-09-23 against Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Pesticide Management Division - Licensing and Recertification Program and the official sources listed below. Fees and rules change - confirm with the agency before you apply. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get a pest control license in Washington?
Pass the Laws & Safety exam plus PCO General and/or PCO Structural exams ($58 each via Metro Institute, minimum age 18), then apply to WSDA for a Commercial Operator license (as an employee) or a Commercial Applicator license (for the business).
How many recertification credits does Washington require?
40 credits per 5-year cycle, with a maximum of 15 per calendar year, for commercial applicators, operators and structural pest inspectors.
Where can I verify Washington pest control license requirements?
Directly with Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Pesticide Management Division - Licensing and Recertification Program - see the official links on this page. We last checked on 2026-09-23.
Sources
- Washington - pesticide and spi licensing (agr.wa.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- WSDA Pesticide License Categories (accessed 2026-09-23)
- WSDA Pesticide License Types and Fees (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Washington - computer based testing (agr.wa.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- WSDA Commercial Applicators (accessed 2026-09-23)
- WSDA Structural Pest Inspectors (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Washington - license renewal (agr.wa.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- WSDA Recertification by Credit (accessed 2026-09-23)
- RCW 17.21.100 Recordkeeping (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Washington - default (app.leg.wa.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Washington - default (app.leg.wa.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)