- Each credential has minimum training, experience and exam requirements. Check the Structural Pest Control Commission rules for the certified operator level.
- Every two years. All credentials expire June 30 of odd numbered years and are not prorated.
Do you need a state license in Georgia?
Georgia licenses pest control work at the state level through the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Section. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Georgia license types for pest control work
Georgia splits the work into 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Category 28: Fumigation (FUM) | Fumigating structures or enclosed spaces to control insects, rodents or other pests |
| Category 29: Household Pest Control (HPC) | Roaches, fleas, ants, rodents, wasps and other pests that get into buildings, without fumigation |
| Category 30: Wood-destroying Organism Control (WDO) | Termites, powder post beetles, wood boring beetles and wood decay fungi, without fumigation |
| Honey Bee Control and Removal (HBR) | Removing an established honey bee colony from a structure without pesticides |
Steps to get licensed in Georgia
- Get a certified operator license in each category, or hire a certified operator to be your Designated Certified Operator.
- Fill out the Company License Application with your DCO.
- Send proof of insurance.
- Mail the application with the license fee and the research fee.
- Wait for approval by the Structural Pest Control Commission, which meets monthly. Applications in by the 1st are heard that month.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Each credential has minimum training, experience and exam requirements. Check the Structural Pest Control Commission rules for the certified operator level.
The license to apply for. Structural Pest Control Company License, with a certified operator license.
Georgia pest control exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Georgia
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Georgia Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Section.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Proof of insurance is required before the company license is issued. The department's Georgia Insurance Form shows how much you need.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. All credentials expire June 30 of odd numbered years and are not prorated.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Georgia
- Mosquito and turf pest work need separate pesticide applicator licenses from the department's Pesticide Program.
- Trapping or removing wildlife, including squirrels, needs a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators license from the Department of Natural Resources.
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 Georgia Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control 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.