Guides · Paperwork and licenses
Do you need a pest control license in Florida?
Pest control has the strictest regulation of any trade on this site: registering the business isn't enough, every pest category you treat requires its own certified operator.
Updated 2026-08-22
Business license and certified operator are two different things
Any company or individual offering pest control services for pay needs a Pest Control Business License from FDACS before operating. On top of that, the business has to employ at least one Certified Operator in each category of work it offers.
The eight categories
FDACS certifies eight distinct categories under Chapter 482, the most common being General Household Pest and Rodent Control, which covers ants, cockroaches, rodents, and similar structural pests in residential and commercial settings. There are separate categories for termites, lawn and ornamental pests, and other specialties.
How an operator gets certified
The Certified Pest Control Operator exam costs $300 per category. You can qualify to sit for it through experience, or through a combination of education and experience.
What doesn't count as a business license
FDACS also runs four Limited Certification Categories (Commercial Landscape Maintenance applicators, Governmental or Private applicators, Commercial Urban Fertilizer applicators, and the Limited Wildlife category), but none of these limited certifications authorizes running a commercial pest control business. Confusing a limited certification with the full business license is a common and expensive mistake.
doubts
What people usually ask
Can I treat pests if I only have the operator certification, no business license?
Not to operate on your own: the FDACS business license is separate, and it's what authorizes charging for the service. The operator certification is individual.
Do I need a different category for termites than for cockroaches?
Yes, those are separate categories within the eight FDACS certifies. An operator certified in general household pest control isn't automatically qualified for termites.
How much does it cost to certify in several categories?
The exam costs $300 per category, so certifying in two or three multiplies that cost, on top of the business license. Sources: [FDACS](https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Pest-Control/Licensing-and-Certification), [GorillaDesk](https://gorilladesk.com/learn/pest-control-license-florida/).