Structural Pest Control Credentials
The Georgia Structural Pest Control Act divides structural pest control into three specialized areas or categories: Household Pest Control (HPC); Wood-destroying Organisms (WDO); and Structural Fumigation (FUM). In addition, it establishes three classes of structural pest control credentials: company license; certified operator; and registered employee. Each type of credential must be qualified for through minimum requirements such as: training, experience, and examinations. Structural pest control credentials are not prorated; all cards expire June 30th of odd numbered years and must be renewed prior to that date.
Structural Pest Control Company License
An individual/firm wishing to perform structural pest control services for hire must be licensed. To obtain a license, the applicant or designee must hold certification in the category in which he/she applies to for a license. The license fees total $170.00 including a research fee which provides funding to the UGA Urban Entomology Research Program. In addition, all licensees must provide proof of insurance and receive approval by the structural pest control commission before the license is issued.
Certified Pest Control Operator
An individual wishing to perform structural pest control services for hire or on property other than his own or that of his employer must be employed by a licensed pest control company and hold a structural pest control credential. To become certified, the applicant must first have two years of documented experience in structural pest control work, qualify in the category in which he/she wishes to be certified and pass the core (general competency) examination plus an examination in the qualified category. Â Certification alone does not allow the holder to perform structural pest control services for hire. To perform structural pest control work for hire, the certified operator must be employed by a licensed pest control company or hold a pest control company license. The examination fee for each category of certification is $45.00. The fee for the certified operator credential is $100.00. The Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission does not have reciprocal certification agreements with other states. To apply for the certification examinations, go to www.GeorgiaPestExam.com
Employee Registration
All employees of licensed pest control companies who engage in the performance or solicitation of structural pest control services must be registered with the Department of Agriculture within 30 days of employment or work in the presence of a certified operator or registered employee. To become registered, the applicant must complete 10 hours of classroom training as outlined in the Employee Registration Manual, 70 hours of on-the-job training experience under the constant supervision of a certified operator or a registered employee in the category in which registration is sought and pass the employee registration examination. The fee for the examination is $45.00. The fee for the employee registration credential is $10.00. To apply for the employee registration examination, go to www.GeorgiaPestExam.com
Other Licenses
Certain licenses are required if you provide other pest control services such as mosquito or turf pest management. For more information regarding these licenses, contact the Pesticide Program at (404) 656-4958 or www.agr.georgia.gov/pesticides.
If your pest control company offers the service of the removal and/or control of any form of wildlife, including squirrels, Georgia law requires that you possess a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators license. For information regarding this license, contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, Special Permit Unit at (770) 761-3044 or www.gadnrle.org.
Structural Pest Control Recertification Requirements
Structural pest control certification and registration is divided into three operational categories according to the type of work performed. A person may be certified or registered in all categories:
- Category 28: Fumigation (to apply pesticides as a gas in order to control pests) The application of a fumigant to any structure or enclosed space, or to any compartment for the purpose of controlling insects, rodents or other pests.
- Category 29: Household Pest Control The use of pesticide, device or practice to control pests including cockroaches, fleas, silverfish, ants, birds, rodents, etc. by any method other than fumigation.
- Category 30: Wood-destroying Organism Control The application of any and all measures for the purpose of controlling termites, powder post beetles, wood boring beetles, wood destroying fungi in structures and/or adjacent outside areas by any means other than fumigation.
Certified operators are certified for a five-year period. Certified operators may be recertified for another five-year period by
- Earning Continuing Education Credits approved by the Structural Pest Control Commission and earned by the certified operator during the five-year period but 90 days prior to the expiration of the five-year recertification period.
- Reexamination completed prior to the expiration of the five-year recertification period.
Recertification Requirements:
- Recertification in Fumigation: 12 credits.
- Recertification in Household Pest Control: 25 credits.
- Recertification in Wood-destroying Organism Control: 25 credits.
- Training credits may not be carried forward beyond the five-year recertification period.
- Computer-based training credits are limited to 10 credits in each HPC and WDO categories and 5 credits in Fumigation.
- Conference attendance is limited to earning 11 credits per category.
Registered Employees are reregistered for a two-year period ending June 30th of odd numbered years. Registered Employees may be reregistered for another two-year period by
- Earning Continuing Education Credits approved by the Structural Pest Control Commission and earned by the registered employee during the two-year period. The training period begins March 1st and ends February 28th of odd numbered years.
- Reexamination taken between October 1st, of even years prior to the expiration of the two-year renewal period.
Reregistration Requirements
- Reregistration in Fumigation: 5 credits.
- Reregistration in Household Pest Control: 8 credits.
- Reregistration in Wood-destroying Organism Control: 8 credits.
- Training credits may not be carried forward beyond the two-year reregistration period.
- Computer-based training credits are limited to 4 credits in each HPC and WDO categories.
- Conference attendance is limited to earning 6 credits per category.
- A summary of training is mailed to the registered employee’s employer before June 1 of each odd numbered year with
Renewal Applications.
A complete training transcript for registered employees and certified operators can be found by going to the Structural
Pest Control Section’s webpage at www.agr.georgia.gov
After attending commission approved training for recertification credit, allow a minimum of 6-8 weeks for processing and transcripts to be updated.