- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed before you apply pesticides.
Do you need a state license in Montana?
Montana licenses pest control work at the state level through the Montana Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Montana license types for pest control work
Montana splits the work into 2 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 |
|---|---|
| (7) Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health Related Pest Control | Pesticides in and around homes, food handling places, schools, hospitals, warehouses and other structures |
| (9) Non-Soil Fumigation | Fumigating structures, grain elevators and rodent burrows |
Steps to get licensed in Montana
- Study the core manual and Montana pesticide laws.
- Pass the core exam and your category sections with 80 percent.
- Get liability insurance of at least $30,000.
- Apply and pay the $85 license fee.
- Renew every year before December 31.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Commercial pesticide applicator license.
Montana pest control exams
Trade exam. A core exam plus the sections for your pest categories, passed with 80 percent or better.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Montana
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 |
|---|---|
| Applicator license | $85, plus any fees for operators |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Liability insurance of at least $30,000 for ground applicators ($50,000 for aerial), kept in force the whole license period.
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 and must be renewed before you apply pesticides.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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 Montana Department of Agriculture, 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.