Pennsylvania pest control licensing at a glance
License types and fees
| License | Who needs it | Key requirements | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide Application Business License | Every business (for-profit, non-profit, government) that uses commercial or public applicators; each place of business and each business name in PA is a separate business | At least one certified applicator per business category in which it applies; proof of financial responsibility (certificate of insurance naming PDA as holder); license number displayed on both sides of every application vehicle in figures at least 3 inches high; notify PDA within 15 days of changes | $35 annual (license period ends Dec 31); $8 duplicate |
| Commercial Applicator Certificate | Anyone applying or supervising pesticide application on the property of another (other than employer), plus RUP use on own/employer property for non-agricultural purposes, fumigation, schools, apartment buildings of 4+ units, golf courses, parks, playgrounds, pools | Age 18+; pass proctored two-part written exam (core + each category); remaining part must be passed within 1 year; apply within 12 months of eligibility; separate certificate and fee required for each employing business | $40 annual certificate (no fee when initial certification requires exam); certificate expires Sept 30; $10 duplicate |
| Registered (Commercial Pesticide Application) Technician | Non-certified employees applying pesticides for a licensed business | Age 16+; at least 30 calendar days of training run by a certified applicator with at least 1 year experience in the categories; on-the-job training; annual retraining; registration not transferable between businesses; expires Feb 28 each year | $30 annual (commercial); $20 (public); $7 duplicate |
License categories
- 11 - Household and Health Related (business category F); includes rodenticide/avicide use and outdoor perimeter treatments - structural/general pest
- 12 - Wood Destroying Pests (termites, powder post beetles, etc.) - termite/WDI
- 13 - Structural Fumigation (business category G) - fumigation
- 20 - Commodity and Space Fumigation (business category G) - fumigation
- 15 - Public Health Vertebrate Pest Control - public health
- 16 - Public Health Invertebrate Pest Control - public health
- 23 - Park or School Pest Control - structural/school
- 07 - Lawn and Turf (business category C) - lawn
- 06 - Ornamental and Shade Trees (business category C) - ornamental
In Pennsylvania, category 07 is Lawn and Turf and 08 is Seed Treatment; household/structural pest control is 11 and wood-destroying pests is 12 (7 Pa. Code 128.32 and 128.42).
Exams
- Administered by: PDA (proctored paper/pencil sessions at PDA regional offices or county Extension offices) or computer-based at Metro test centers (closed-book category exams)
- Format: Proctored two-part written exam: core + category; government photo ID required; application and fee at least 10 working days before exam
- Exam fee: PDA sessions: $50 core, $10 per category (7 Pa. Code 128.3(f)). Metro test centers: $110 core, $70 per category (PDA web page)
Business license and insurance
Business license
- Requirement: Pesticide application business license required; each place of business and each business name is a separate business
- Fee: $35 per year, license period ends Dec 31
Insurance / bond
- Requirement: Certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance covering completed operations and pesticide application (or approved self-insurance with at least $500,000 collateral)
- Minimums: $100,000 per occurrence bodily injury and $100,000 per occurrence property damage (combined limits allowed if equal to or greater than the sum); maximum deductible $2,500
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal period: Commercial applicator certificate: annual renewal ($40), expires Sept 30; recertification credits due on a 3-year cycle. Business license: annual, Dec 31. Technician: annual, Feb 28
- CE hours per cycle: Per 3-year cycle: 6 core credits plus category credits (10 each for 07 Lawn & Turf, 11 Household & Health Related, 12 Wood Destroying Pests; 6 for 13 Structural Fumigation). 1 credit = 30 minutes of approved instruction. Technicians: annual training
Application recordkeeping
- Contents: Date of application (hour completed if a reentry interval applies); customer name and address and application site address; brand name; EPA reg. no.; total amount of each pesticide; dosage or rate; names and certification/technician registration numbers of each person making or supervising the application (and names of non-certified persons involved); site identification for agricultural uses. Record completed within 24 hours; product info immediately available to medical personnel in emergencies.
- Retention years: 3
Free log with these fields: pesticide application record template.
Worth knowing
- Pest control vehicles must display the PDA business license number on both sides in figures at least 3 inches high.
- A certified applicator must be physically present at the job site unless every person applying on site is a registered technician.
- Registered technicians can start at age 16, after at least 30 days of documented training, and must be re-registered every year (expires Feb 28).
- An applicator working for two pest control businesses needs a separate certificate and $40 fee for each business.
Official links
Law: Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of 1973 (3 P.S. 111.21-111.61); 7 Pa. Code Chapter 128
Last verified 2026-09-23 against Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Health and Safety Division (Pesticide Programs) 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 category do I need for pest control in Pennsylvania?
Category 11 (Household and Health Related) covers general structural pest control; category 12 covers wood destroying pests such as termites; 13 is structural fumigation.
How much is the Pennsylvania pesticide exam?
At PDA-proctored sessions, $50 for the core exam and $10 per category; at Metro computer-based test centers, $110 core and $70 per category (per PDA).
Do Pennsylvania pest control trucks need markings?
Yes - the business license number must be displayed on both sides of every application vehicle in figures at least 3 inches high.
Where can I verify Pennsylvania pest control license requirements?
Directly with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Health and Safety Division (Pesticide Programs) - see the official links on this page. We last checked on 2026-09-23.
Sources
- PDA Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams (accessed 2026-09-23)
- 7 Pa. Code Chapter 128 (Pesticides) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PDA Recertification (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PDA Pesticide Application Businesses (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PDA Pesticide Exam Search (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PDA Business/Applicator Lookup (accessed 2026-09-23)