- At least one year of verifiable pesticide application experience, or a degree in a related field such as agriculture, forestry or biology.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
Do you need a state license in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses pest control work at the state level through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Environmental Services Division. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in West Virginia
- Document one year of experience or a related degree, and send the notarized exam application with the $20 fee.
- Pass the Core and category exams.
- Have your Qualifying Individual pass the open book LPAB exam.
- Get a West Virginia State Tax ID number and liability insurance.
- Send the LPAB application with $60 and your Commercial Applicator application with $20.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. At least one year of verifiable pesticide application experience, or a degree in a related field such as agriculture, forestry or biology.
The license to apply for. Licensed Pesticide Application Business (LPAB), plus a Commercial Applicator license.
West Virginia pest control exams
Trade exam. The General Standards (Core) exam and the category exams for your work. Exams are given monthly at six locations.
Business and law exam. Yes. The business's Qualifying Individual passes the LPAB exam: open book, 50 multiple choice questions, one hour. The result never expires.
What it costs in West Virginia
The board lists 3 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 |
|---|---|
| LPAB business license | $60 |
| Commercial Applicator license | $20 |
| Pesticide exam | $20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Comprehensive general liability of at least $300,000 bodily injury or death and $100,000 property damage, plus workers' compensation if you have employees.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in West Virginia
- The business needs a West Virginia State Tax ID number, and each work location needs its own.
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 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Pesticide and Environmental Services 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.