Academy · CEU requirements · AL
Alabama pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Alabama require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Alabama sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Commercial applicator permit holder (Certified Operator, Branch Supervisor, Supervisor, Custodial) owe 30 points in each three-year permit period, or pass a recertification exam; Business (structural professional services licence) owe annual licence: $175 main office, $75 per branch office, $50 per suboffice plus $100 per category. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) — Pesticide Management Division
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 36 months
- Deadline
- The commercial applicator permit renews three years from date of issue. It can be renewed for up to one year after it expires; a recertification exam must be passed within 12 months of the expiry date. After more than a year expired it cannot be renewed and you start again from the initial exam. Business licences run 1 October to 30 September.
- Accepted formats
- ADAI-approved recertification meetings and training sessions, A small number of ADAI-approved online recertification courses, Recertification exam in place of points
- Agency
- Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) — Pesticide Management Division
- Application fee
- $45
- Exam structure
- Written exams set by the examining board, $75 per exam. Paper exams are held in Montgomery on the third Tuesday of March, June, September and December, with pre-approval required. Computer-based testing runs weekly at sites across the state through apply.adaitesting.com for $125 per exam ($75 ADAI fee + $50 administrative fee); the Fumigation Certified Operator exam (FC) is not offered at the online sites. Certified Operator and Branch Supervisor candidates need one year of structural pest control experience, an entomology-inclusive college degree, or equivalent institutional training. Only a Certified Operator may supervise a main office or run their own business; a Branch Supervisor may supervise a branch office only.
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial applicator permit holder (Certified Operator, Branch Supervisor, Supervisor, Custodial) | 30 points in each three-year permit period, or pass a recertification exam | Points must come from ADAI-approved training in a category the permit holder actually holds; training in a category you do not hold earns nothing. Passing the recertification exam ($75 paper, $125 computer-based) counts as the full 30 points. |
| Business (structural professional services licence) | Annual licence: $175 main office, $75 per branch office, $50 per suboffice plus $100 per category | Requires a Certified Operator who holds a current commercial applicator permit in the matching category. |
The commercial applicator permit renews three years from date of issue. It can be renewed for up to one year after it expires; a recertification exam must be passed within 12 months of the expiry date. After more than a year expired it cannot be renewed and you start again from the initial exam. Business licences run 1 October to 30 September.
Sources
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/programs/professional-services/
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/programs/commercial-applicators/
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/Professional-Services-Exam-Application.pdf
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/Professional-Services-Exam-Schedule.pdf
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/applicaton_for_commercial_pesticide_applicator_permit_renewal.pdf
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/chapter/80-10-9
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/chapter/80-1-13
- https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/commercial-applicator/commercial-applicator-frequently-asked-questions/
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Alabama require for pest control licence renewal?
- Commercial applicator permit holder (Certified Operator, Branch Supervisor, Supervisor, Custodial): 30 points in each three-year permit period, or pass a recertification exam. Business (structural professional services licence): Annual licence: $175 main office, $75 per branch office, $50 per suboffice plus $100 per category.
- Who issues pest control licences in Alabama?
- Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) — Pesticide Management Division
- Do online courses count toward Alabama CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: ADAI-approved recertification meetings and training sessions, A small number of ADAI-approved online recertification courses, Recertification exam in place of points.
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