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Pest Control
Total cost: 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
Governing Authority
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Consumer and Industry Services Division
Official website →4
License Categories
Yes
Exam Required?
6 hrs
CE Hours
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
Total Initial Fees
Not Required
Experience
Required
EPA Certification
Tennessee offers 4 pest control license categories. Available: General Pest Control, Termite/WDO, Fumigation, Lawn and Ornamental. Choose the category that matches the services you plan to provide.
Pass the Tennessee pest control licensing exam. Administered by Two-tier exam system: (1) Commercial Applicator Certification Exam — a single exam that incorporates core (general standards) and category-specific content; $25 per category exam, administered online via EverBlue. (2) Pest Control Operator License Exam — a separate licensing exam ($150) required for individuals who will supervise branch operations; includes questions and specimen identification. Applicants must be commercially certified before taking the license exam. Passing score: 70%. Exam fee: $25 per certification category exam (commercial applicator certification); $150 per licensing exam (pest control operator license).. Format: Multiple choice, closed book. Passing score: 70%. Exam categories: General Pest Control, Termite/WDO, Fumigation, Lawn and Ornamental. Exam fee: $50.
Obtain EPA certification for applying restricted-use pesticides. Categories: Category 7 - Industrial/Institutional/Structural, Category 3 - Turf and Ornamental. Federal EPA certification is required for any applicator using restricted-use pesticides. State certification covers general-use pesticides.
Obtain general liability insurance (minimum $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate (required for charter application). Firms with a WDO licensee must also carry errors and omissions coverage with minimums of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate.) and a surety bond of $10,000 surety bond required for charter. $50,000 surety bond required for new companies holding a WDO, GRC, FUM, or BDC license for the first 3 years of business, reducing to $10,000 in the 4th year. as required by Tennessee.
Submit your application to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Consumer and Industry Services Division. Application fee: $50. Technician license fee: $25. Operator license fee: $20 per license category per year (pro-rated quarterly); licensing fee is $50 for 2 years per UT PSEP source. Total initial fees: 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.
Tennessee requires a separate business license for pest control companies. Requirements: Employ at least one certified operator as qualifying party, Obtain general liability insurance, Obtain surety bond of $5,000, Register with the state licensing authority. Business license fee: $150.
Renew your license every 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).. 6 CE hours required per renewal cycle. Renewal fee: $50 per 2-year license renewal (Tier 2 biennial fee).
Total Initial Licensing Fees
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
Includes application, exam,
and license fees
Application Fee
$50
Exam Fee
$50
Technician License
$25
Operator License
$20 per license category per year (pro-rated quarterly); licensing fee is $50 for 2 years per UT PSEP source
Business License
$150
Renewal Fee
$50
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).
Additional costs: General liability insurance (min. $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate (required for charter application). Firms with a WDO licensee must also carry errors and omissions coverage with minimums of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate.) and surety bond ($10,000 surety bond required for charter. $50,000 surety bond required for new companies holding a WDO, GRC, FUM, or BDC license for the first 3 years of business, reducing to $10,000 in the 4th year.) may also be required.
Exam required
Exam required
Exam required
Additional Training
VerifiedAdditional fumigation safety training required
Exam required
Entry-level certification allowing work under direct supervision of a licensed operator
Requirements
Full certification allowing independent pest control work and supervision of technicians
Requirements
License allowing operation of a pest control business
Requirements
Exam Requirements
VerifiedState Exam Required
Examination Requirement
Exam Categories
Exam Provider
Two-tier exam system: (1) Commercial Applicator Certification Exam — a single exam that incorporates core (general standards) and category-specific content; $25 per category exam, administered online via EverBlue. (2) Pest Control Operator License Exam — a separate licensing exam ($150) required for individuals who will supervise branch operations; includes questions and specimen identification. Applicants must be commercially certified before taking the license exam. Passing score: 70%. Exam fee: $25 per certification category exam (commercial applicator certification); $150 per licensing exam (pest control operator license).
Passing Score
70%
Exam Format
Multiple choice, closed book
Retake Policy
May retake after a waiting period, typically 30 days
Overall licensing difficulty: 1/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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No experience required
For the Pest Control Operator License exam (not the certification exam): Two years of verifiable experience working under a licensee in that category; OR a four-year college degree with major studies in a related field (Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Forestry, Horticulture, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Plant Sciences, or similar). HLT applicants may qualify by accrual of 24 CEUs instead.
Experience Required
Supervision Details
Commercial applicator certification (the first step) requires only passing the exam — no prior experience is mandated before the certification exam itself. The two-year experience or degree requirement applies to qualifying for the subsequent licensing (operator) exam. Education substitution: BS/BA degree with major or minor in a related field. For AGE/HLT categories, a CCA certificate plus 1 year full-time work experience is an alternative.
Not Required
Training
Approved Programs
No formal training hours required; experience under licensed operator serves as training
Apprenticeship
Work under a licensed operator for 1 year under licensed operator
EPA certification required
EPA Categories
Details
Federal EPA certification is required for any applicator using restricted-use pesticides. State certification covers general-use pesticides.
Required
GL Insurance
Min: $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate (required for charter application). Firms with a WDO licensee must also carry errors and omissions coverage with minimums of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate.
Required
Surety Bond
Amount: $10,000 surety bond required for charter. $50,000 surety bond required for new companies holding a WDO, GRC, FUM, or BDC license for the first 3 years of business, reducing to $10,000 in the 4th year.
Required
Business License
Yes
Separate from Individual
Requirements
Not sure if you need a pest control license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $50 |
Exam Fee | $50 |
Technician License Fee | $25 |
Operator License Fee | $20 per license category per year (pro-rated quarterly); licensing fee is $50 for 2 years per UT PSEP source |
Business License Fee | $150 |
Renewal Fee | $50 |
Total Initial Fees From batch research results | 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 |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
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See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedPest 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).
Renewal Period
6 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Categories
Renewal Fee
$50 per 2-year license renewal (Tier 2 biennial fee)
Regulatory Board
Pest control licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering integrated pest management, pesticide safety, environmental regulations, and applicable state/federal law updates.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Credentials
Transfer Details
Tennessee - contact state agency for reciprocity information.
Pest control license reciprocity varies by state. Some states accept credentials from other states with equivalent requirements, while others require applicants to pass the state exam regardless of prior certification.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Tennessee with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
IPM not specifically mandated
Details
IPM is encouraged but not mandated by state regulation.
Additional certification required for RUP
Requirements
Must obtain EPA/state certification in specific categories to apply restricted-use pesticides. Additional exam may be required.
Tennessee has a significant termite market and requires bonds for WDO work. The state sits at the transition zone between northern and southern pest pressures.
Tennessee's Department of Agriculture oversees pest control licensing.
Termite control is a major industry, especially in middle and west Tennessee.
A surety bond is required for termite/WDO work.
There is no interstate compact for pest control operators. EPA restricted-use pesticide certification is a separate federal requirement.
1) A Pest Control Charter is required per individual business location — each office/branch must have its own charter. 2) A licensee may only be listed on one charter. 3) At least one commercially certified person must be on-site at each application. 4) A licensee is expected to work full-time at the chartered firm. 5) TAPA requires licensed supervision of pesticide applications inside certain commercial/public buildings (apartments, food service, lodging, educational facilities, commercial food processing). 6) WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) licensees face elevated bond ($50,000 for first 3 years) and errors & omissions insurance requirements. 7) A Limited Herbicide Applicator (LHA) certification exists for glyphosate-only applications in conjunction with landscape maintenance. 8) Applicants for commercial certification must be at least 16 years old; applicators under 18 are prohibited from buying, selling, mixing, or applying pesticides. 9) The state uses EverBlue as its online testing vendor for certification exams. 10) If a license is not activated within one year of passing the exam, the applicant must retest.
Pest Control requirements in nearby states
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See how Tennessee compares: Pest Control License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Pest Control license to Tennessee →
Transfer your Pest Control license from Tennessee to: Alabama → | Arkansas → | Georgia → | Kentucky → | Mississippi → | Missouri → | North Carolina → | Virginia →
Tennessee requires passing a state exam for pest control licensing. EPA certification is also required. All licensing is managed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Consumer and Industry Services Division.
Requirements vary by state and license category. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.