- For the structural categories 7A, 7B and 7C, you show experience using pesticides in those categories, or an associate degree or equivalent.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Send the $65 fee and a signed renewal, or renew online through MOPlants.
Do you need a state license in Missouri?
Missouri licenses pest control work at the state level through the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in Missouri
- Pass the Core exam and your category exam at Pearson VUE.
- For structural work, gather proof of experience or a qualifying degree.
- Send the application and proof of insurance or bond by mail or through MOPlants.
- Pay the $65 yearly license fee and renew each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. For the structural categories 7A, 7B and 7C, you show experience using pesticides in those categories, or an associate degree or equivalent.
The license to apply for. Certified Commercial Applicator license.
Missouri pest control exams
Trade exam. The General Standards of Competence (Core) exam and at least one category exam, taken at Pearson VUE.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Missouri
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 |
|---|---|
| Certified commercial applicator license, yearly | $65 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Proof of financial responsibility: a proof of insurance form, a surety bond, or the department's form.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Send the $65 fee and a signed renewal, or renew online through MOPlants.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Missouri
- Workers who use general use pesticides under you must be licensed pesticide technicians or technician trainees.
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 Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control 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.