- Four years in the last six as a registered technician under a licensee, or a 4 year degree in entomology, or a degree with 12 semester hours of entomology plus one year as a registered technician.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- The Place of Business Permit renews every year by June 30. Licensees attend an approved recertification program every three years.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses pest control work at the state level through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Structural Pest Control Commission. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Meet the education or experience requirement for the license phase you want.
- Send your application at least 30 days before a quarterly Structural Pest Control Commission meeting.
- Once approved, schedule and pass the exam, $50 per phase.
- Get a Place of Business Permit for your company.
- Renew the permit by June 30 each year and recertify every three years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years in the last six as a registered technician under a licensee, or a 4 year degree in entomology, or a degree with 12 semester hours of entomology plus one year as a registered technician.
The license to apply for. Structural pest control operator license, plus a Place of Business Permit.
Louisiana pest control exams
Trade exam. An exam for each license phase, $50 per phase, after the Structural Pest Control Commission approves your application.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Louisiana
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 |
|---|---|
| Place of Business Permit, yearly, 2 employees or less | $150 |
| Place of Business Permit, yearly, 3 or more employees | $200 |
| License exam, per phase | $50 |
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. The Place of Business Permit renews every year by June 30. Licensees attend an approved recertification program every three years.
Reciprocity. Experience under a licensed operator in another state can count toward the four years, if the commission accepts the proof.
Good to know in Louisiana
- A Termite Control License also needs a commission approved comprehensive termite program.
- Unlicensed workers must be registered as technicians within 30 days of hire and pass the technician exam within 90 days.
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 Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Structural Pest Control Commission 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.