Academy · CEU requirements · AZ
Arizona pest control CEU requirements
How many CEUs does Arizona require for pest control licence renewal?
It depends which licence you hold — Arizona sets a different obligation for each tier, and they are not even measured the same way. Certified Applicator (not a QA) owe 6 ceus to renew for one year, or 12 ceus to renew for two years; Qualified Applicator (QA) owe 12 ceus to renew for one year, or 24 ceus to renew for two years; Business licensee owe licence renewal with a registered qualifying party and proof of financial security. There is no single pooled number, which is the most common reason somebody arrives at renewal short.
Key factIssuing agency: Arizona Department of Agriculture — Office of Pest Management (OPM), formerly the Pest Management Division (PMD)
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Requirement
- Set per licence tier — see the table below
- Cycle length
- 12 months
- Deadline
- Renewal applications are due 1 May of the year the licence or certification expires. CEUs must be earned before the current certification expires and do not carry forward. A late renewal pays a late fee; a certification expired more than 11 months cannot be renewed and the exams must be retaken. No CEU credit for repeating the same course in one licensing period, or for an incomplete course.
- Accepted formats
- OPM-approved continuing education courses (classroom, in-house and online), Teaching an approved course — one unit per hour taught, once per calendar year
- Agency
- Arizona Department of Agriculture — Office of Pest Management (OPM), formerly the Pest Management Division (PMD)
- Application fee
- $55
- Exam structure
- Core (general standards) exam plus a category exam for each category sought, 75% to pass each (R3-8-211). Arranged through OPM or its contracted testing vendor. A failed exam cannot be retaken for seven days, nor more than twice in six months. Scores are valid for 12 months. Certified Applicator and Qualified Applicator both require fingerprint clearance and lawful presence; a QA also needs 24 months as a certified applicator in the category within the last 10 years (or 12 months plus 12 semester hours / a relevant degree).
What each licence tier owes
| Licence tier | Requirement | Detail that catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Applicator (not a QA) | 6 CEUs to renew for one year, or 12 CEUs to renew for two years | One CEU is at least 50 minutes of approved instruction. |
| Qualified Applicator (QA) | 12 CEUs to renew for one year, or 24 CEUs to renew for two years | Meeting the QA figure also satisfies the Certified Applicator requirement for someone holding both. |
| Business licensee | Licence renewal with a registered Qualifying Party and proof of financial security | Applicator registration with the business is $0 per applicator. |
Renewal applications are due 1 May of the year the licence or certification expires. CEUs must be earned before the current certification expires and do not carry forward. A late renewal pays a late fee; a certification expired more than 11 months cannot be renewed and the exams must be retaken. No CEU credit for repeating the same course in one licensing period, or for an incomplete course.
Sources
- https://agriculture.az.gov/divisions/environmental-consumer-protection-division/office-of-pest-management
- https://agriculture.az.gov/divisions/environmental-consumer-protection-division/office-of-pest-management/pesticide-continuing-education
- https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/2026-07/AZDA%20-%20PMD%20Licensing%20Information.pdf
- https://apps.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_03/3-08.pdf
Common questions
- How many CEUs does Arizona require for pest control licence renewal?
- Certified Applicator (not a QA): 6 CEUs to renew for one year, or 12 CEUs to renew for two years. Qualified Applicator (QA): 12 CEUs to renew for one year, or 24 CEUs to renew for two years. Business licensee: Licence renewal with a registered Qualifying Party and proof of financial security.
- Who issues pest control licences in Arizona?
- Arizona Department of Agriculture — Office of Pest Management (OPM), formerly the Pest Management Division (PMD)
- Do online courses count toward Arizona CEU requirements?
- Accepted formats: OPM-approved continuing education courses (classroom, in-house and online), Teaching an approved course — one unit per hour taught, once per calendar year.
Something here out of date? Members report rule changes faster than agencies publish them. Tell us what changed
