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The cheapest state to get a pest control license is Tennessee at $25. The most expensive is New York at $1,300. The national average is $285.
Lowest
$25
Tennessee
Average
$285
across 51 states
Median
$225
26 states at or below
Range
$1,275
spread across states
| # | State | Total Initial Fees | Renewal Fee | CE Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tennessee | $Approximate initial costs: $25 (certification exam) + $150 (licensing exam) + ~$20/year license fee + $200/year charter fee + $10,000 surety bond (or $50,000 for WDO/GRC/FUM/BDC new companies). Total out-of-pocket (excluding bond): roughly $395+ for first year for a single-category operator running a charter | $50 per 2-year license renewal (Tier 2 biennial fee) | 6 hrs |
| #1 | Wyoming | $25 for commercial applicator license (exam fee not separately identified; optional new applicator training program is $150 per person as of 2026) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #3 | Vermont | $Applicator license: $30–$120/year depending on number of categories. Company license: $75/year. Online exam service fee (if applicable): $60/exam. Retake fees: $25/exam. No separate initial application fee confirmed from official sources. | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #4 | North Dakota | $Approximately $35 ($10 exam fee + $25 license fee) per third-party sources; additional category exam fees apply; verify with official program | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #4 | South Dakota | $35 (applicator license fee only; no separate initial application fee found in official sources) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #6 | West Virginia | $Approximately $40–$60+ for an individual (exam fee $20 + license fee $20, plus any additional category exam fees at $20 each). LPAB business license fee amount not confirmed from official source. | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #7 | Mississippi | $At minimum $55 (exam admin fee); additional application, license, and company license fees not specified in available sources | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #8 | Rhode Island | $Approximately $56.13–$101.13+ depending on credentials sought (e.g., $26.13 exam fee + $30.00 license fee = $56.13 for commercial license only; add $26.13 per category exam + $45.00 per category certificate for restricted-use certification) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #9 | Utah | $65–$125 for commercial applicator license (3-year); additional business license fee (amount not confirmed from official source); proof of liability insurance also required | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #10 | New Hampshire | $Minimum ~$75 per applicator (exam fee $15 + license fee $60); business/firm registration fee amount not confirmed from official sources | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #11 | Montana | $85 per Commercial Applicator license (exam fee not confirmed from official sources) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #12 | Kentucky | $95 | $10 | 12 hrs |
| #12 | Missouri | $Certified Commercial Applicator: approximately $95+ ($45 exam fee + $50 license fee, plus any additional category exam fees) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #12 | Oklahoma | $Approximately $95 (core exam) + $95 (one category exam) + $100 (first category business license) = ~$290 minimum for a single-category commercial applicator; additional category exams and practical exam fees add to this total. Service Technician ID issuance or renewal: $20 per card. | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #15 | Maine | $Operator: ~$115–$125+ (Core exam $10 + Category exam(s) $10 each + license fee ~$105); Master: ~$165–$175+ (Core $10 + Category $10 + Regulations $10 + oral exam $50 + license fee ~$105); Firm License adds $200 | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #16 | Alaska | $130 | $25 | 8 hrs |
| #17 | Nebraska | $Approximately $145+ (exam fees ~$55 per exam x at least 2 exams = $110, plus $90 license fee; actual cost depends on number of category exams needed) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #18 | Virginia | $150 | $25 | 8 hrs |
| #19 | South Carolina | $Approximately $175–$225+ for a commercial applicant entering Category 7A: Core exam ($75) + Category exam ($50) + Commercial license fee ($50) + Business license ($150) + DCA fee ($50) = ~$375 total for a new solo Category 7A business operator; individual commercial applicator only (no business): ~$175 | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #20 | Indiana | $180 | $45 | 5 hrs |
| #21 | Wisconsin | $Approximately $185–$230+ (certification fee $75 + ICAL $40 + PBL $70 = $185 minimum; plus optional Pearson VUE exam fee $45 and UW PAT training manual $40–$50 PDF/print) | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #22 | Iowa | $200 | $75 | 6 hrs |
| #22 | Oregon | $200 | $50 | 8 hrs |
| #24 | Pennsylvania | $205 | $40 | 6 hrs |
| #25 | New Mexico | $Approximately $210+ for a Commercial Applicator (e.g., $55 Core exam + $55 Category exam + $100 license fee); more if additional category exams are required | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #26 | Maryland | $Approximately $225–$250+ for one category (certified applicator at $75 + business license at $150); additional $30 per registered employee; $25 per each additional main category of certification | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #27 | Louisiana | $240 | $20 | 6 hrs |
| #28 | Alabama | $250 | $45 | 6 hrs |
| #28 | Arkansas | $250 | $100 | 4 hrs |
| #28 | Delaware | $250 | $50 | 12 hrs |
| #31 | Idaho | $275 | $120 | 16 hrs |
| #32 | Michigan | $295 | $75 | 6 hrs |
| #33 | North Carolina | $300 | $75.00 per year | 5 hrs |
| #34 | Ohio | $305 | $35 | 5 hrs |
| #35 | Georgia | $325 | $55 | 25 hrs |
| #35 | Nevada | $Third-party sources estimate initial regulatory costs (principal exam, business license, insurance, bonding) at approximately $1,500–$3,000; NDA advises contacting the agency for current fee schedules | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #37 | Minnesota | $Commercial applicator (1 category): ~$139+ (exam $75 + license $64 + ACRRA surcharge). Structural Journeyman: ~$300+ (exam $250 + license $50 + ACRRA surcharge). Company license: $225 additional. | $50 | 6 hrs |
| #38 | New Jersey | $340 | $80 | 8 hrs |
| #39 | District of Columbia | $375 | $50 | 8 hrs |
| #40 | Arizona | $380 | $55-$75 | 6 hrs |
| #41 | Hawaii | $400 | $100 | 12 hrs |
| #42 | Kansas | $460 | $140 | 4 hrs |
| #43 | Colorado | $490 | $100 | 12 hrs |
| #44 | Massachusetts | $575 | $100 | 6 hrs |
| #44 | Washington | $575 | $250 | 20 hrs |
| #46 | Illinois | $600 | $240-$300 | 24 hrs |
| #47 | California | $680 | $100 | 8 hrs |
| #48 | Florida | $700 | $150 | 4 hrs |
| #49 | Texas | $750 | $125-$300 | 5 hrs |
| #50 | Connecticut | $805 | $80-$285 | 12 hrs |
| #51 | New York | $1,300 | $200 | 12 hrs |
Total initial fees include application, exam, and license fees paid to the state (excludes education/training costs). Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full fee details.
Tennessee has the lowest total initial licensing fees at $25. The national average is $285.
New York has the highest total initial fees at $1,300, which is $1,275 more than the cheapest state.
The average total initial licensing cost across 51 states is $285. Costs range from $25 to $1,300.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $25 to $1,300, with a median of $225.
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