How do I become a licensed Pest Control Applicator?

Typically: complete the required pre-license education, pass a criminal background check, register with the exam vendor, pass the state exam, and pay the license fee. Exact requirements vary by state — see the table below for your state.

How hard is the Pest Control Applicator exam?

First-attempt pass rates vary by state (where published). The exam usually has a national portion and a state-specific portion, both of which you must pass. Study time and practice volume are the strongest predictors of passing.

Can my license transfer to another state?

Reciprocity varies by occupation and state. Some states honor licenses from listed states; others require additional exams or education. Check the reciprocity note for your state or contact both state boards.

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Pest Control Applicator — License Requirements by State

Applies pesticides commercially. EPA/state-certified categories.

51 of 51 states populated with official data (retrieved 2026-08-20).

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State	Education	Exam	Pass %	Fees	Retake	Reciprocity	Official
AL	—	—	—	—	—	—	Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries ↗
AK	—	—	—	—	—	—	Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation — Pesticide Program ↗
AZ	—	—	—	—	—	—	Arizona Department of Agriculture ↗
AR	—	—	—	—	—	—	Arkansas State Plant Board ↗
CA	—	—	—	—	—	—	California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) ↗
CO	—	—	—	—	—	—	Colorado Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Program ↗
CT	—	—	—	—	—	—	Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection — Pesticide Management ↗
DE	—	—	—	—	—	—	Delaware Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Compliance ↗
DC	—	—	—	—	—	—	DC Department of Energy and Environment ↗
FL	—	· $300	—	· Lic $250	—	—	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) ↗
GA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Georgia Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Division ↗
HI	—	—	—	—	—	—	Hawaii Department of Agriculture — Pesticides Branch ↗
ID	—	—	—	—	—	—	Idaho State Department of Agriculture ↗
IL	—	—	—	—	—	—	Illinois Department of Agriculture ↗
IN	—	—	—	—	—	—	Indiana Office of the State Chemist ↗
IA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship ↗
KS	—	—	—	—	—	—	Kansas Department of Agriculture — Pesticide and Fertilizer Program ↗
KY	—	—	—	—	—	—	Kentucky Department of Agriculture — Division of Pesticide Regulation ↗
LA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ↗
ME	—	—	—	—	—	—	Maine Board of Pesticides Control ↗
MD	—	—	—	—	—	—	Maryland Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Regulation Section ↗
MA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources — Pesticide Program ↗
MI	—	—	—	—	—	—	Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ↗
MN	—	—	—	—	—	—	Minnesota Department of Agriculture — Pesticide and Fertilizer Management ↗
MS	—	—	—	—	—	—	Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce — Bureau of Plant Industry ↗
MO	—	—	—	—	—	—	Missouri Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Program ↗
MT	—	—	—	—	—	—	Montana Department of Agriculture ↗
NE	—	—	—	—	—	—	Nebraska Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Program ↗
NV	—	—	—	—	—	—	Nevada Department of Agriculture ↗
NH	—	—	—	—	—	—	New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food — Pesticide Control ↗
NJ	—	—	—	—	—	—	New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection — Pesticide Control Program ↗
NM	—	—	—	—	—	—	New Mexico Department of Agriculture ↗
NY	—	—	—	—	—	—	New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — Pesticide Certification ↗
NC	—	—	—	—	—	—	North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Structural Pest Control ↗
ND	—	—	—	—	—	—	North Dakota Department of Agriculture ↗
OH	—	—	—	—	—	—	Ohio Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Regulation ↗
OK	—	—	—	—	—	—	Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry ↗
OR	—	—	—	—	—	—	Oregon Department of Agriculture — Pesticides Division ↗
PA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Bureau of Plant Industry, Pesticide Regulation ↗
RI	—	—	—	—	—	—	Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management — Pesticide Registration ↗
SC	—	—	—	—	—	—	South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation ↗
SD	—	—	—	—	—	—	South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources ↗
TN	—	—	—	—	—	—	Tennessee Department of Agriculture ↗
TX	—	—	—	—	—	—	Texas Department of Agriculture — Structural Pest Control Service ↗
UT	—	—	—	—	—	—	Utah Department of Agriculture and Food ↗
VT	—	—	—	—	—	—	Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets ↗
VA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Office of Pesticide Services ↗
WA	—	—	—	—	—	—	Washington State Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Management Division ↗
WV	—	—	—	—	—	—	West Virginia Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Regulatory Programs ↗
WI	—	—	—	—	—	—	Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection — Pesticide Management ↗
WY	—	—	—	—	—	—	Wyoming Department of Agriculture ↗

Data retrieved 2026-08-20 from state boards, PSI, Pearson VUE and CMS. Requirements change — verify with your state board before enrolling or paying. Dash (—) = not published / pending verification.

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