- Commercial Certification needs two years of relevant experience, and you must pass the Applicator (core) exam first.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year by December 31. Over each three year cycle, licensed applicators earn 6 pesticide credits and commercial certified applicators earn 12 credits per category.
Do you need a state license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts licenses pest control work at the state level through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Pesticide Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The Massachusetts license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Category 43 | Termite and structural pest control (a commercial certification category) |
Steps to get licensed in Massachusetts
- Register for the exam in your EEA ePLACE Portal account and pay the exam fee.
- Pay the $28 Everblue fee and take the Applicator (core) exam online.
- For restricted use pesticides, document two years of experience and pass the Commercial Certification exam.
- Upload your certificate of insurance and apply for the license.
- Renew every year by December 31 and keep up your pesticide credits.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Commercial Certification needs two years of relevant experience, and you must pass the Applicator (core) exam first.
The license to apply for. Pesticide Applicator (core) License, and Commercial Certification for restricted use pesticides.
Massachusetts pest control exams
Trade exam. Online exams through Everblue. The Applicator (core) exam needs 70 percent; the Commercial Certification exam needs 75 percent.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Massachusetts
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 |
|---|---|
| Applicator (core) License exam | $75 plus $28 online exam fee |
| Commercial Applicator Certification exam | $125 plus $28 online exam fee |
| Applicator (core) License, yearly | $100 |
| Commercial Applicator Certification, yearly | $150 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Insurance is required for both the Applicator License and the Commercial Certification. You may need to upload your certificate of insurance.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year by December 31. Over each three year cycle, licensed applicators earn 6 pesticide credits and commercial certified applicators earn 12 credits per category.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Massachusetts
- Late renewals are allowed only until June 30. After that you must take the exam again.
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 Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Pesticide Program 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.