- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses run from October 1 to September 30.
Do you need a state license in Alabama?
Alabama licenses pest control work at the state level through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Pesticide Management Section. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Alabama license types for pest control work
Alabama splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| HPC | Household, institutional and industrial pest control |
| WDC | Control of wood destroying organisms, such as termites |
| FC | Fumigation pest control |
Steps to get licensed in Alabama
- Pass the commercial applicator exams for the categories you will work in (HPC, WDC or FC).
- Apply to the department for your commercial applicator certification.
- Apply for the Structural Professional Services License for your main office, with a certified operator on staff.
- Pay $175 for the main office plus $100 per category.
- Renew every year before September 30.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Structural Professional Services License (main office).
Alabama pest control exams
Trade exam. Commercial applicator exams for each category you work in, taken by computer through Metro Institute.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Alabama
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Structural license, main office (yearly) | $175 |
| Branch office license (yearly) | $75 |
| Sub office license (yearly) | $50 |
| Each category of work | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses run from October 1 to September 30.
Reciprocity. Alabama has a reciprocal commercial applicator certification application for applicators certified in another state.
Good to know in Alabama
- Lawn, tree and landscape pest work falls under a separate Horticulture Professional Services License.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for pest control near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Pesticide Management Section and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how pest control companies run on Koira.