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Pest Control
Pest control licensing is regulated at both the state and federal level. Operators must typically pass state exams, obtain EPA certification for restricted-use pesticides, and maintain continuing education. Requirements vary widely from state to state in categories, experience, and insurance.
51
Total States
51
Require State Exam
51
EPA Cert Required
8
Avg CE Hours
Pest control licensing involves state exams, federal EPA certification, and ongoing continuing education. Operators may need different licenses depending on their specialty and business structure.
Most states distinguish between pest control technicians (who work under supervision), certified operators/applicators (who can work independently), and business licenses (required to operate a pest control company). Each tier has different requirements.
State exams typically cover general pest control knowledge plus specialty categories like termite, fumigation, or lawn care. EPA certification is required for applying restricted-use pesticides and involves separate federal requirements administered through the state.
Licenses must be renewed periodically (typically annually or biennially) with continuing education covering IPM practices, pesticide safety, environmental protection, and regulatory updates. CEU categories often match the operator's license categories.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityClick any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Exam Required? | EPA Cert? | Training Hours | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | Yes | — | $250 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | Yes | — | $130 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | Yes | — | $380 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | Yes | 40 | $250 | 4 | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | Yes | 40 | $680 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | Yes | — | $490 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | Yes | — | $805 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | Yes | — | $250 | 12 | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | Yes | — | $375 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | Yes | 40 | $700 | 4 | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | Yes | — | $325 | 25 | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Yes | — | $400 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | Yes | — | $275 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | Yes | — | $600 | 24 | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | Yes | — | $180 | 5 | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | Yes | — | $200 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | Yes | — | $460 | 4 | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | Yes | — | $95 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Yes | — | $240 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | Yes | — | $575 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | Yes | — | $295 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Yes | 40 | $340 | 8 | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1,300 | 12 | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | Yes | — | $300 | 5 | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | Yes | — | $305 | 5 | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Yes | — | $200 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | Yes | — | $205 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | Yes | — | $750 | 5 | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | Yes | — | $150 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | Yes | — | $575 | 20 | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | Yes | — | $350 | 6 | March 2026 |
Pest control operators often work alongside other licensed professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study guides for pest control operator and pesticide applicator licensing exams.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
In-depth articles to help you get licensed
Moving to a new state?
See which states have reciprocity for Pest Control licenses and what's required to transfer.
Explore similar licensing requirements
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