Michigan pest control licensing at a glance
License types and fees
| License | Who needs it | Key requirements | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator | Individuals applying pesticides as part of a for-hire business or routine job duties; required to use or supervise restricted use pesticides | Age 18+; pass commercial core (general standard) exam plus at least one category exam; extra standard exam for fumigation or aerial; 70% passing; 6 months to finish categories on application | $75 certification fee (initial and renewal, 3-year credential) |
| Registered Commercial Pesticide Applicator | Employees applying general-use pesticides commercially (cannot apply restricted use pesticides) | Age 18+; pass commercial core exam; complete an MDARD-approved, category-specific training program coordinated by an MDARD Approved Trainer | $45 registration fee (initial and renewal, 3-year credential) |
| Pesticide Application Business License (PABL) | Any business applying pesticides for hire; certification/registration alone does not allow operating a for-hire business | Signed application; certificate of liability insurance; owner is or employs a certified applicator whose credentials cover the licensed categories; new firms/new categories: notarized experience (2 application seasons as employee of a commercial applicator, or bachelor's degree in pest-related discipline plus 1 season); DBA/assumed-name or corporate documents; every employee who applies pesticides must be certified or registered | $100 application or renewal; expires annually Dec 31 |
License categories
- 7A - General Pest Management - structural/general pest
- 7B - Wood Destroying Pest Management (termites, powder post beetles, carpenter ants, wood-destroying fungi) - termite/WDI
- 7J - Combined exam covering 7A and 7B - structural combined exam
- 7D - Vertebrate Pest Management (birds, rats, mice) - structural/vertebrate
- 7E - Interior Plant Pest Management - interior plants
- 7F - Mosquito Management - vector
- 7G - Domestic Animal Pest Management - other
- FUM - Fumigation standard (structural, soil-borne, stored commodity and greenhouse pests) - fumigation
- 3A - Turfgrass Pest Management - lawn
- 3B - Ornamental Pest Management - ornamental
- 8 - Public Health Pest Management (government employees) - public health
No category 7C appears in MDARD’s current category list; fumigation is a separate ‘FUM’ standard requiring an additional exam.
Exams
- Administered by: Metro Institute (MDARD proctoring partner; testing center or online remote proctoring) or MDARD-proctored paper core/aerial/fumigation exams after a mandatory 4-hour MSU PSEP core review
- Format: Closed book, true/false and multiple choice; 70% minimum; one attempt per category per day; passing score accepted for 1 year
- Exam fee: Metro Institute: $55 per exam at a testing center, $65 per exam online (separate from MDARD certification fee)
Business license and insurance
Business license
- Requirement: Pesticide Application Business License (PABL) required to apply pesticides for hire
- Fee: $100 per year (application or renewal), expires Dec 31
Insurance / bond
- Requirement: Certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance
- Minimums: All categories (incl. 7A/7B): not less than $100,000 bodily injury per occurrence and $25,000 property damage per occurrence. Aerial, fumigation and right-of-way: combined single limit of $300,000 bodily injury and property damage. If licensed in multiple categories, the greater requirement applies.
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal period: Applicator credentials: every 3 years, expiring Dec 31; 1-year renewal period after expiration. PABL: annual, Dec 31
- CE hours per cycle: Certified commercial: 8 seminar credits per category including core per 3-year cycle (or retest); fumigation/aerial standards: 2 credits or retest. Registered applicator: 8 core credits plus 8 per category, or 8 core credits and retraining via employer program, or retest core and retrain
Application recordkeeping
- Contents: Pesticide name and EPA reg. no.; concentration; amount of end-use dilution applied; target pest, purpose or crop site; date; address or location; method and rate of application. Employer keeps records at place of business.
- Retention years: 3 years restricted-use; 1 year general-use
Free log with these fields: pesticide application record template.
Worth knowing
- Michigan’s two-tier workforce: Registered Applicators ($45) may apply only general-use pesticides after core exam plus employer training; Certified Applicators ($75) can use restricted use pesticides.
- New pest control firms need documented experience: 2 application seasons working for a commercial applicator, or a pest-related bachelor’s degree plus 1 season, via a notarized form.
- Exams are proctored by Metro Institute (Arizona-based) at $55 in person or $65 online per exam; categories 7A and 7B can be taken as the combined 7J exam.
- Michigan has certification reciprocity with Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Official links
Law: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, Part 83 Pesticide Control (MCL 324.8301 et seq.); Mich. Admin. Code R 285.636 (Regulation 636, Pesticide Applicators)
Last verified 2026-09-23 against Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division 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.
Licensed and running a route?
PestRouteDesk (in development) keeps state-ready chemical application records, recurring routes and billing for 1-5 tech shops. Founding members lock $49/mo.
Frequently asked questions
What are Michigan categories 7A and 7B?
7A is General Pest Management and 7B is Wood Destroying Pest Management (termites, powder post beetles, carpenter ants, wood-destroying fungi). A combined 7J exam covers both.
What experience does a new Michigan pest control business need?
For a new business license or new category, MDARD requires notarized experience - two application seasons as an employee of a commercial applicator, or a pest-related bachelor’s degree plus one season.
Where can I verify Michigan pest control license requirements?
Directly with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division - see the official links on this page. We last checked on 2026-09-23.
Sources
- Michigan - pesticide (michigan.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- MDARD Pesticide Application Businesses (PABL) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- MDARD Pesticide Application Certification Details & FAQ (accessed 2026-09-23)
- MDARD certification categories (PDF) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- MDARD Renewal Process (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Mich. Admin. Code R 285.636.15 Commercial applicator records (accessed 2026-09-23)
- MCL 324.8311 (Part 83) (accessed 2026-09-23)