- Plan for a trade exam.
- Certificates expire on April 1 following two years from issue.
Do you need a state license in North Dakota?
North Dakota licenses pest control work at the state level through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Division. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in North Dakota
- Study and test through the NDSU Extension pesticide certification program.
- Apply on the board's form and pay the examination fee.
- Show one hundred thousand dollars of financial responsibility, such as liability insurance.
- Renew before your certificate expires on April 1.
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 certificate.
North Dakota pest control exams
Trade exam. Yes. You apply on the board's form with an examination fee. Certification and testing are run by the NDSU Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in North Dakota
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Division.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Financial responsibility of one hundred thousand dollars, shown by a general liability policy, a performance bond, or proof of net assets.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Certificates expire on April 1 following two years from issue.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in North Dakota
- Cities and counties in North Dakota may not pass their own pesticide use or licensing rules.
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 North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Fertilizer Division 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.