- At least 2 application seasons as an employee of a commercial applicator, or a pest related bachelor's degree plus 1 season. Submit it on the notarized letter of experience form.
- Every year. Licenses expire December 31.
Do you need a state license in Michigan?
Michigan licenses pest control work at the state level through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pesticide Section. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Michigan license types for pest control work
Michigan 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 |
|---|---|
| 7A. General Pest Management | Pesticides in and around food handling places, homes, schools and hospitals |
| 7B. Wood Destroying Pest Management | Termites, powder post beetles, carpenter ants and wood destroying fungi |
| 7D. Vertebrate Pest Management | Vertebrate pests |
| 7F. Mosquito Management | Mosquitoes |
Steps to get licensed in Michigan
- Get certified as a commercial applicator, or hire one, in the categories you will work in.
- Document your experience on the notarized letter of experience form.
- Register your business name (DBA or corporation).
- Send the application, the $100 fee and your certificate of liability insurance. Allow four to six weeks.
- Renew by December 31 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. At least 2 application seasons as an employee of a commercial applicator, or a pest related bachelor's degree plus 1 season. Submit it on the notarized letter of experience form.
The license to apply for. Pesticide application business license, with a certified commercial applicator.
Michigan 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 Michigan
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Business license, apply or renew, yearly | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Comprehensive general liability insurance: at least $100,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage per occurrence for most categories. Fumigation needs more.
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 expire December 31.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Michigan
- Sole proprietors and partnerships need a DBA certificate from the county clerk in each county where they work.
- Every employee who applies pesticides must be a certified applicator or a registered technician.
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 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pesticide 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.