- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every three years. The expiration date depends on your DEC region. Mail renewals at least 45 days early.
Do you need a state license in New York?
New York licenses pest control work at the state level through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pesticides Management. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
New York license types for pest control work
New York splits the work into 3 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 Structural and Rodent Control | Requires an applicator certified in this category |
| 7b Fumigation | Requires an applicator certified in this category |
| 7c Termite | Requires an applicator certified in this category |
Steps to get licensed in New York
- Get certified, or employ an applicator certified in each category marked as needing one.
- Buy commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.
- Mail the business registration application with the insurance certificate.
- Pay the $900 invoice within 30 days. The registration is issued once paid.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Pesticide business registration, with a certified commercial applicator.
New York pest control exams
Trade exam. Applicator certification exams, which can now be taken several ways, including at home on your own computer.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New York
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 registration, three years | $900 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, with the DEC section listed as certificate holder.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every three years. The expiration date depends on your DEC region. Mail renewals at least 45 days early.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New York
- Each location and each business name registers separately.
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 York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pesticides Management 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.