- The Designated Certified Applicator needs a four year natural sciences degree or at least two years of verifiable pest control experience.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Business licenses run January 1 to December 31.
Do you need a state license in South Carolina?
South Carolina licenses pest control work at the state level through the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation (Clemson University Regulatory Services). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The South Carolina license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Category 7A | Industrial, institutional, structural and health related pest control |
Steps to get licensed in South Carolina
- Get two years of verifiable pest control experience, or a natural sciences degree.
- Pass the commercial applicator exams, including Category 7A, and get licensed.
- Apply for the business license with a Designated Certified Applicator in place.
- Pay $150 for the business license and $50 for the DCA license.
- Renew by December 31 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The Designated Certified Applicator needs a four year natural sciences degree or at least two years of verifiable pest control experience.
The license to apply for. 7A Structural Pest Control Business License, with a Designated Certified Applicator.
South Carolina pest control exams
Trade exam. The commercial applicator exams, including Category 7A.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in South Carolina
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Business license | $150 |
| Designated Certified Applicator license | $50 |
| Commercial applicator license, new | $50 |
| Verifiable Technician Training, per technician | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Business licenses run January 1 to December 31.
Reciprocity. South Carolina offers reciprocal licenses with some states. For 7A, some states require both 7A and 7B, or both P and W phases, from the home state.
Good to know in South Carolina
- The DCA must be assigned full time to one location and cannot serve as DCA for more than one.
- Technicians complete Verifiable Technician Training online through Metro Institute within 15 days of enrolling.
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 South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation (Clemson University Regulatory Services) 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.