Texas Pest Control License: Everything You Need to Know

The need for pest control technicians is increasing throughout the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of jobs in the

pest control industry

will increase by 8% by 2026.

If you are ready to make a career change, consider applying for a Texas pest control license. This guide contains everything you need to know about the process.

The state of Texas requires professional pest control technicians to be licensed to apply general and restricted-use pesticides in commercial and residential settings.

The different types of Texas pest control applicator licenses include:

The

commercial agricultural pesticide applicator license

authorizes a business to apply state-limited-use pesticides or restricted-use pesticides on another person's property.

The

structural certified applicator license

authorizes a person to provide pest control services for a business that has a pest control license.

The

private applicator license

authorizes a person to supervise or use state-limited-use pesticides, restricted-use pesticides, and regulated herbicides to produce agricultural commodities without compensation.

The

structural technician license

authorizes a person to perform pest control services under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.

The

noncommercial agricultural pesticide applicator license

authorizes a person to apply pesticides to perform a job duty.

The

noncommercial agricultural pesticide

and

political applicator license

authorizes a person to apply pesticides on behalf of a government agency.

Texas pest control license fees:

The fees for Texas pest control licenses are between $100 and $400. All licenses are administered by the

Texas Department of Agriculture

.

The average yearly pay for Texas pest control technicians is about $37,000.

Apply for a job as a pest control technician apprentice with a locally-owned or national pest control company. Although you do not have to enroll in a trade school or college to get your Texas pest control license, you must complete at least 20 hours of pesticide courses. Classes include pesticide safety, environmental protection, pesticide application, and non-chemical pest control techniques. Many employers provide pesticide training for their apprentices.

Training programs:

Course Costs:

Expect to pay between $75 and $300 per course.

Prerequisites:

On-the-Job Experience:

Licensing board Information:

Apply for your license online with the

Texas Department of Agriculture

.

Examination requirements:

Texas pest control license applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. Pest control license applicants must pass an exam to receive a license. The examination fees range from $100 to $200 per exam.

Examination categories include:

Examination Resources:

Use the following resources to prepare for your Texas pest control examination:

From Dallas to Austin, Texas pest control technicians are needed throughout the state. Visit the following websites to search for a pest control technician job in your area:

The

hourly Texas pest control technician pay rate

is $18.51.

Practice responding to the following questions to prepare for your interview:

Look as professional as possible when you attend your job interview. Bring a copy of your education credentials, resume, social security card, and driver's license to your Texas pest control technician interview.

Current trends in the pest control industry include:

Here are the common dangers that Texas pest control technicians may encounter:

The following tips offer ways you can protect yourself from common pest control technician dangers:

Texas has reciprocity agreements with the following states:

Texas pest control licenses are renewed on an annual basis (with some exceptions). The renewal fee ranges from $100 to $400.