- 40 hours of on the job training with a New Jersey licensed commercial applicator in your exam category, plus a department approved Basic Pesticide Training Course before the Core exam.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. The business license year ends October 31.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses pest control work at the state level through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Pesticide Control. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Take a department approved Basic Pesticide Training Course.
- Register through PACER and pass the Core exam.
- Complete 40 hours of on the job training and pass your Category exam.
- Send form VPA-013 to apply for the Pesticide Applicator Business License, then pay the $150 invoice.
- Renew every year before October 31.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. 40 hours of on the job training with a New Jersey licensed commercial applicator in your exam category, plus a department approved Basic Pesticide Training Course before the Core exam.
The license to apply for. Pesticide Applicator Business License, plus a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
New Jersey pest control exams
Trade exam. The Core exam and at least one Category exam, given by Rutgers through the PACER system.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Jersey
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 |
|---|---|
| Pesticide Applicator Business License | $150 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Liability insurance with a $300,000 combined single limit, including completed operations and chemical liability coverage. Fumigation businesses need $500,000.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. The business license year ends October 31.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- Show your business license number on at least two sides of every service vehicle, at least 3 inches high, with wording that pesticides are on board.
- Each office location and each business name needs its own license, and each location needs its own responsible licensed applicator.
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 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 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.