How to Get a Pest control License in Pennsylvania (2026)

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/pesticide-programs/pesticide-applicators-registered-technicians-and-certification-exams

Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/pesticide-programs/pesticide-application-businesses

If you are taking the certification exams and hope to open up a new business license after you pass, we automatically send instructions and an application after we process your exams.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Pass the core and applicable category examinations with at least 70%.

Pass the core and applicable category examinations with at least 70%.

The Core and Category exams are 50 multiple choice questions and require 35/50 (70%) to pass.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

The pesticide application business must meet financial responsibility requirements and have at least one certified applicator.

The pesticide application business must meet financial responsibility requirements and have at least one certified applicator.

have at least one certified applicator, meet financial responsibility (insurance) required, and pay $35 application fee initially (and annually).

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

$40

40

Commercial license - $40 per year

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

$40

40

Commercial Applicator – Non-government employees - $40 renewal fee every year.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Commercial license - $40 per year

1

Commercial license - $40 per year

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Expires September 30th.

Expires September 30th. Applies to: Commercial applicator license

Commercial license - $40 per year, Public license - $10 every 3 years. Expires September 30

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Update training in core and category topics is required; in-person and online options are available.

Update training in core and category topics is required; in-person and online options are available.

You will have to attend update training for core and category topics. There are in person and online (on demand and webinar) options available.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A nonresident with a valid applicator license from a state with a Pennsylvania reciprocity agreement may qualify without the certification exams.

A nonresident with a valid applicator license from a state with a Pennsylvania reciprocity agreement may qualify without the certification exams.

A person who is not a resident of Pennsylvania, but who has a valid pesticide applicator license from another state that we have a reciprocity agreement with may obtain their PA applicator license without taking the pesticide certification exams.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Businesses that need commercial or public applicators also need a pesticide application business license; the initial and annual business fee is $35.

Businesses that need commercial or public applicators also need a pesticide application business license; the initial and annual business fee is $35.

All businesses both non-profit and for-profit and government agencies which are required to have commercial or public applicators to apply pesticides need to have a pesticide application business license (usually referred to as the pesticide business license or just business license). The requirements to obtain and hold a pesticide business license are as follows: have at least one certified applicator, meet financial responsibility (insurance) required, and pay $35 application fee initially (and annually).

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

For PDA-proctored examinations, the core fee is $50 and each category is $10. Other testing options have different fees.

For PDA-proctored examinations, the core fee is $50 and each category is $10. Other testing options have different fees.

The fees to take exams:$50 to take core and $10 per category.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A commercial applicator must be employed by a company holding a pesticide business license.

A commercial applicator must be employed by a company holding a pesticide business license.

How to Get It: Pass two tests (one core and one or more category tests) and be employed by a company with pesticide business license.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026