North Carolina pest control licensing at a glance
License types and fees
| License | Who needs it | Key requirements | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Technician (RT) | Employee of a Structural Pest Control Licensee performing for-hire pest control under supervision | Minimum age 18; complete Introductory Training Workbook; minimum 24 hours on-the-job training under supervision; attend the 8-hour NCDA&CS RT School | $40 new card; $40 annual renewal |
| Certified Applicator (CA) - Commercial or Non-Commercial | Commercial CA: employed by (linked to) a licensee to perform for-hire work; Non-Commercial CA: employer's property only | Minimum age 18; complete RT requirements first; pass Core exam plus exam in each phase (P, W, F); reciprocity with KY, SC, TN, VA; recertify every 5 years | $50 new card; $50 annual renewal; $5 per added phase |
| Structural Pest Control Licensee | Person who performs for-hire structural pest control independently and oversees others; a pest control business operates under a licensee | Minimum age 18; qualify as NC Certified Applicator in desired phase; two years of independently verifiable documented structural pest control experience; pre-approval then pass license-level phase exam; proof of insurance | $200 first phase + $75 each additional phase (new); renewal $200 (1 phase), $275 (2), $350 (3) |
License categories
- P - Household Pest Control
- W - Wood-Destroying Organisms (includes control and inspections)
- F - Fumigation
Exams
- Vendor: NCDA&CS (in-person exams; online option for CA-level exams)
- Format: Multiple choice; in-person CA exams ~3x/month (Raleigh, east, west); License exams in person monthly in Raleigh only; preregister 10 days ahead; check/money order only
- Exam fee: In person: Core $0, CA phase exam $25 per attempt, License phase exam $50 per attempt. Online CA exams add $28 per exam (Core $28, phase $53)
Business license and insurance
Business license
- Requirement: Structural pest control business must be operated under a Structural Pest Control Licensee; licensee may register no more than two branch offices beyond the home office, each registered with the Division (02 NCAC 34 .0330)
- Fee: $200 first phase + $75 per additional phase
Insurance / bond
- Requirement: Licensee liability insurance (02 NCAC 34 .0902(b)): single limits $100,000 property damage and $300,000 bodily injury each occurrence, or $300,000 combined single limit each occurrence; insurer licensed/approved by NC Dept of Insurance; license expires on cancellation, lapse or reduction below minimums
- Property damage: $100,000
- Bodily injury: $300,000
- Combined single limit: $300,000
Renewal and continuing education
- All credentials: Annual; all cards expire June 30 (structural year July 1 - June 30); renewal packets mailed by May 1
- Recertification: Every 5 years for CA and Licensee
- Continuing education:
- Commercial certified applicator: Per 5-year period: 5 CCUs in each card phase + 5 additional (1 phase = 10, 2 = 15, 3 = 20), earned in 3 unique years
- Licensee: Same totals (10/15/20 CCUs), earned in 4 unique years of the 5-year period
- Non commercial CA: Same totals, 4 unique years
- Note: Recertification by exam is an alternative
Application recordkeeping
- Retention years: 2
- Retention rule: Household pest records retained two years beyond the last date of treatment (02 NCAC 34 .0703(c)); kept at the licensed office location (.0328)
- Required elements:
- Name and address of property owner or authorized representative
- Name and address of company and license number of responsible licensee
- Address of property treated, type of treatment and date performed
- Common name of pest(s) controlled
- EPA-approved brand name of all pesticides used
- EPA recordkeeping elements under 40 CFR 171.303(b)(7)(vi)
- Name of licensee, certified applicator or registered technician making the application
- For RUPs, items (5)-(7) also on customer’s copy of agreement/service record
Free log with these fields: pesticide application record template.
Worth knowing
- NC licenses by ‘phase’ - P (household pests), W (wood-destroying organisms incl. inspections) and F (fumigation) - rather than EPA-style numbered categories.
- Becoming a licensee requires two years of independently verifiable structural pest control experience, and every credential expires June 30 each year.
- A licensee may operate no more than two branch offices beyond the home office, and branches beyond 75 miles need prior approval.
- A license automatically expires if liability insurance lapses, is cancelled or drops below $100K PD / $300K BI.
Official links
Law: North Carolina Structural Pest Control Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 106, Article 4C (G.S. 106-65.22 et seq.; financial responsibility G.S. 106-65.37); 02 NCAC Chapter 34
Last verified 2026-09-23 against North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division - Structural Pest Control Section (Structural Pest Control Committee) 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 North Carolina?
Register as a technician under a licensee, then take the Certified Applicator phase exams; the Licensee credential (which a business operates under) requires 2 years of experience and passing the license phase exam.
What are the P, W and F phases?
P is household pest control, W is wood-destroying organisms (control and inspections), and F is fumigation. Licenses, certifications and fees are per phase.
Where can I verify North Carolina pest control license requirements?
Directly with North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division - Structural Pest Control Section (Structural Pest Control Committee) - see the official links on this page. We last checked on 2026-09-23.
Sources
- NCDA&CS Structural Pest Control Licensing & Certification (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Structural Annual Renewal Information and Fees (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Structural Exam Information (accessed 2026-09-23)
- 02 NCAC Chapter 34 Structural Pest Control rules (accessed 2026-09-23)
- North Carolina - open (ncagr.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Structural Recertification Requirements (accessed 2026-09-23)
- G.S. Chapter 106 Article 4C (accessed 2026-09-23)
- North Carolina - structural pest control and pesticides (ncagr.gov) (accessed 2026-09-23)