How to Become a Pest Control Technician in North Dakota: Steps, License and Pay

How to become a pest control technician in North Dakota

North Dakota law says a commercial applicator may not use or supervise the use of a pesticide without first meeting the state's certification requirements. Pest control technicians there earned a median $23.09 an hour ($48,020 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $21.75.

$23.09Median hourly pay

120Pest control technicians on payrolls

YesState license

U.S. Labor Dept.Registers apprenticeships

The short version for North Dakota

North Dakota law says a commercial applicator may not use or supervise the use of a pesticide without first meeting the state's certification requirements.
Plan for a trade exam.
Pay runs from about $21.44 an hour for the lowest-paid tenth of pest control technicians to $30.09 for the top tenth.

The path in North Dakota, step by step

North Dakota licenses pest control work at the state level through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Division. These are the steps it lays out, in order.

Study and test through the NDSU Extension pesticide certification program.
Apply on the board's form and pay the examination fee.
Show one hundred thousand dollars of financial responsibility, such as liability insurance.
Renew before your certificate expires on April 1.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: pest control license in North Dakota.

Finding an apprenticeship in North Dakota

North Dakota has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency, so the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers and oversees programs there through a state field office. Apprenticeship.gov lists the North Dakota Apprenticeship Office as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. Pest control is learned mostly on the job rather than in a long apprenticeship. Training can usually be finished in less than 3 months.

License levels and exams in North Dakota

The license to aim for: Commercial pesticide applicator certificate.

Trade exam. Yes. You apply on the board's form with an examination fee. Certification and testing are run by the NDSU Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program.

Keeping it. Certificates expire on April 1 following two years from issue.

What pest control technicians earn in North Dakota

The median pest control technician in North Dakota earned $23.09 an hour in May 2025, 10th of 50 states, with 120 on payrolls. The national median was $21.75.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of pest control technicians in North Dakota earned under $22.44 an hour and a tenth under $21.44. At the top, a quarter earned over $29.34 and a tenth over $30.09.

Pay level	Hourly	Yearly
10th percentile	$21.44	$44,600
25th percentile	$22.44	$46,680
Median	$23.09	$48,020
75th percentile	$29.34	$61,020
90th percentile	$30.09	$62,580

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: pest control technician salary in North Dakota.

Starting your own pest control technician business in North Dakota

To contract on your own in North Dakota, the license is the Commercial pesticide applicator certificate.

Insurance. Financial responsibility of one hundred thousand dollars, shown by a general liability policy, a performance bond, or proof of net assets.

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the North Dakota median of $23.09 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $111.14 per billable hour. Try your own in the labor rate calculator.

The full checklist is in how to start a pest control business. The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans.

Where this comes from

The license steps, fees and rules are from the official pages below, read on the date shown. Pay is the BLS May 2025 state estimate, the job outlook is North Dakota's own long-term projection, and the apprenticeship details are from the U.S. Department of Labor. A detail an official page did not confirm is left out.

Training, schools and certifications for every state: how to become a pest control technician.

FAQ

How do you become a pest control technician in North Dakota?

Study and test through the NDSU Extension pesticide certification program. Apply on the board's form and pay the examination fee. Show one hundred thousand dollars of financial responsibility, such as liability insurance. The rest of the steps are on this page.

Do you need a pest control license in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota law says a commercial applicator may not use or supervise the use of a pesticide without first meeting the state's certification requirements. Certification and training are run by the NDSU Extension for the Department of Agriculture.

How much do pest control technicians make in North Dakota?

The median was $23.09 an hour, or $48,020 a year, in May 2025, from the BLS wage survey. The national median was $21.75.

Who runs apprenticeships in North Dakota?

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers programs in North Dakota, since the state has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency. Programs themselves are sponsored by employers, unions and trade groups.