- Three years as a service employee of a licensed pest control company, with the last year under a Florida licensee. Or a degree with 20 semester hours in entomology, botany, agronomy or horticulture plus one year with a Florida licensee.
- Plan for a trade exam.
Do you need a state license in Florida?
Florida licenses pest control work at the state level through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Florida license types for pest control work
Florida splits the work into 2 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 |
|---|---|
| General Household Pest and Rodent Control | Roaches, ants, rodents and other household pests |
| Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms Control | Termites and other wood destroying organisms |
Steps to get licensed in Florida
- Build three years of experience as a service employee of a licensed company, the last year in Florida, or qualify through education plus one year.
- Apply to FDACS for the certification exam and book it through Everblue.
- Pass the exam for each category you will work in.
- Get the required insurance.
- License each business location ($300) and buy ID cards for employees ($10 each).
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Three years as a service employee of a licensed pest control company, with the last year under a Florida licensee. Or a degree with 20 semester hours in entomology, botany, agronomy or horticulture plus one year with a Florida licensee.
The license to apply for. Pest control business license, with a Certified Pest Control Operator in charge.
Florida pest control exams
Trade exam. The Certified Pest Control Operator exam, written by FDACS, $300 per category. You book it through Everblue with a voucher number.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Florida
The board lists 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Business license | $300 |
| Certified operator exam, per category | $300 |
| Employee identification card, each | $10 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Bodily injury of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence, and property damage of $250,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate, or a $500,000 combined single limit.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Florida
- The limited certifications, such as landscape maintenance or wildlife, do not let you run a commercial pest control business.
- Trapping rats and mice in or under structures needs the Limited Commercial Wildlife Management certification.
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 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement 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.