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The cheapest state to get a pest control license is Kentucky at $10. The most expensive is Washington at $250. The national average is $72.
Lowest
$10
Kentucky
Average
$72
across 51 states
Median
$50
32 states at or below
Range
$240
spread across states
| # | State | Renewal Fee | Initial Fees | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | $10 | $95 | 1 year |
| #2 | Louisiana | $20 | $240 | 3 years |
| #3 | Alaska | $25 | $130 | 5 years |
| #3 | Virginia | $25 | $150 | 2 years (every two years) |
| #5 | Ohio | $35 | $305 | 3 years |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | $40 | $205 | 3 years (commercial: 1 year) |
| #7 | Alabama | $45 | $250 | 3 years |
| #7 | Indiana | $45 | $180 | 5 years (recertification); annual fee |
| #9 | Delaware | $50 | $250 | 3 years |
| #9 | District of Columbia | $50 | $375 | 2 years |
| #9 | Maine | $50 | $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 | Commercial applicator license: renewed every 3 years (license must be renewed by December 31; certification valid for 6 years); Private applicator license: every 3 years by October 31; Agricultural Basic: every 3 years by October 31. Commercial licenses expire December 31; Private and Agricultural Basic licenses expire October 31 |
| #9 | Maryland | $50 | $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 | Annual (commercial applicators and business licenses); 3 years (private applicators); Annual (pest control consultant licenses). Commercial applicator certificates expire June 30 annually; Private applicator certificates expire December 31 on a 3-year cycle; Pest Control Consultant licenses renew annually by December 31 |
| #9 | Minnesota | $50 | $Commercial applicator (1 category): ~$139+ (exam $75 + license $64 + ACRRA surcharge). Structural Journeyman: ~$300+ (exam $250 + license $50 + ACRRA surcharge). Company license: $225 additional. | Annual (all pesticide applicator licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed each year). December 31 of each year (all license types) |
| #9 | Mississippi | $50 | $At minimum $55 (exam admin fee); additional application, license, and company license fees not specified in available sources | 3 years (36 months from date of issuance) for Operator Licenses and Permits; 5 years for Private Applicators. Anniversary of certification or licensure (36 months from date of issuance) |
| #9 | Missouri | $50 | $Certified Commercial Applicator: approximately $95+ ($45 exam fee + $50 license fee, plus any additional category exam fees) | License renewal is annual for Certified Commercial Applicators, Certified Noncommercial Applicators, Pesticide Technicians, NRUP Applicators, and Pesticide Dealers; Certification (competency) must be renewed every 3 years for Commercial and Noncommercial Applicators. Licenses expire annually; a 60-day grace period is provided following expiration before cancellation |
| #9 | Montana | $50 | $85 per Commercial Applicator license (exam fee not confirmed from official sources) | Annual (Operator licenses and applicator licenses expire December 31 each year and must be renewed annually); Commercial, Non-Commercial, Government, and Special Utility applicators and dealers must also meet a 4-year recertification/CE cycle per category. December 31 annually |
| #9 | Nebraska | $50 | $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) | 3 years. April 15 of the third year after the license is obtained or renewed |
| #9 | Nevada | $50 | $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 | Annual (for Principal, Primary Principal, Operator, Consultant, Demonstration and Research Specialist, and Agent licenses); Certified Pesticide Applicators (RUP certification only) renew every 4 years. December 31 annually (all pest control licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed annually; Certified Pesticide Applicators recertify by December 31 of their 4-year period) |
| #9 | New Hampshire | $50 | $Minimum ~$75 per applicator (exam fee $15 + license fee $60); business/firm registration fee amount not confirmed from official sources | Annual (license renewed each year; full recertification/proof of CE required every 5th year). December 31 (recertification documentation due by December 31 of the designated recertification year) |
| #9 | New Mexico | $50 | $Approximately $210+ for a Commercial Applicator (e.g., $55 Core exam + $55 Category exam + $100 license fee); more if additional category exams are required | Annual (Commercial, Public, and Non-Commercial Applicators); every 5 years (Private Applicators). January 31 annually (Commercial, Public, Non-Commercial); January 31 every 5 years (Private) |
| #9 | North Dakota | $50 | $Approximately $35 ($10 exam fee + $25 license fee) per third-party sources; additional category exam fees apply; verify with official program | Every 3 years. April 1 — certificate expires the first day of April following two years from the year of issuance (i.e., on a 3-year cycle ending April 1) |
| #9 | Oklahoma | $50 | $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. | Annual (business/company license); Certification (individual) recertifies on a 5-year cycle by category. Business licenses: Company names beginning with # or A–L expire September 30 each year; company names beginning with M–Z expire December 31 each year. Individual certification recertifies on predetermined 5-year category cycles. |
| #9 | Oregon | $50 | $200 | 1 year |
| #9 | Rhode Island | $50 | $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) | Annual. January 31st (commercial applicator certification documents expire January 31st annually) |
| #9 | South Carolina | $50 | $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 | Annual — all commercial and non-commercial applicator licenses and business licenses expire December 31 of each year and must be renewed annually. Private applicator licenses are renewed every 5 years.. December 31 of each calendar year (commercial, non-commercial, and business licenses); December 31 of the final year of the 5-year certification block (private applicators) |
| #9 | South Dakota | $50 | $35 (applicator license fee only; no separate initial application fee found in official sources) | Every 2 years. Must be recertified and renewed by the last day of February in the year of expiration |
| #9 | Tennessee | $50 per 2-year license renewal (Tier 2 biennial fee) | $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 | Pest control operator licenses: biennial (expire June 30 of odd-numbered calendar years). Commercial applicator certifications: 3-year cycle.. Pest control operator licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years. Commercial applicator certifications expire June 30 at the end of the 3-year certification cycle (e.g., June 30, 2026; then June 30, 2029). |
| #9 | Utah | $50 | $65–$125 for commercial applicator license (3-year); additional business license fee (amount not confirmed from official source); proof of liability insurance also required | Every 3 years. December 31 of the third calendar year following licensure. Licenses issued November 1–December 31 expire December 31 three years in the future; licenses issued January 1–October 31 expire December 31 two years in the future. |
| #9 | Vermont | $50 | $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. | Annual (Commercial, Non-Commercial, and Government Applicator certificates are renewed annually, though the underlying certification is valid for 5 years). December 31 of the year the license was obtained; annual renewal paperwork, usage report, and fees due by end of November |
| #9 | West Virginia | $50 | $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. | Commercial Applicator license: annually. Certification (recertification): every 3 years. Registered Technician: annually. LPAB business license: annually (expires end of calendar year).. December 31 (certifications expire by December 31 of the third year of the cycle; LPAB business license expires at end of calendar year of issue) |
| #9 | Wisconsin | $50 | $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) | Annual (ICAL and PBL); Certification renewed every 5 years (by re-examination). December 31 annually (both ICAL and PBL expire December 31 each year); Certification expires 5 years from date of passing the exam |
| #9 | Wyoming | $50 | $25 for commercial applicator license (exam fee not separately identified; optional new applicator training program is $150 per person as of 2026) | Commercial: approximately 3 years (balance of year obtained plus 24 months); Private: 5 years. Commercial: January 31st; Private: April 30th of the 5th year after issuance |
| #33 | Arizona | $55-$75 | $380 | 1 year |
| #33 | Georgia | $55 | $325 | 5 years |
| #35 | Iowa | $75 | $200 | 3 years |
| #35 | Michigan | $75 | $295 | 3 years |
| #35 | North Carolina | $75.00 per year | $300 | 1 year |
| #38 | Connecticut | $80-$285 | $805 | 5 years |
| #38 | New Jersey | $80 | $340 | 5 years |
| #40 | Arkansas | $100 | $250 | Annual; license holder license must be renewed prior to June 30 annually |
| #40 | California | $100 | $680 | 2 years |
| #40 | Colorado | $100 | $490 | 3 years |
| #40 | Hawaii | $100 | $400 | 3 years |
| #40 | Massachusetts | $100 | $575 | Annual (1 year); all Pesticide Applicator credentials expire December 31st; Pesticide Dealer License expires February 28th |
| #45 | Idaho | $120 | $275 | 2 years |
| #46 | Texas | $125-$300 | $750 | 1 year (commercial); 5 years (private) |
| #47 | Kansas | $140 | $460 | 1 year |
| #48 | Florida | $150 | $700 | 1 year |
| #49 | New York | $200 | $1,300 | 3 years |
| #50 | Illinois | $240-$300 | $600 | 3 years |
| #51 | Washington | $250 | $575 | 5 years |
Renewal fees are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full renewal details.
Kentucky has the lowest renewal fee at $10. The national average renewal fee is $72.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $10 to $250, with a median of $50.
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