Academy · Licensing · IA
Iowa pest control licence requirements
How do you get a pest control licence in Iowa?
Iowa applicator licences are issued by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) — Pesticide Bureau. Requirements are set per category rather than as a single general licence, so the exam you sit and the hours you carry depend on which categories you intend to work. Details below are published only once verified against the agency.
Reviewed by LTK editorial team
- Issuing agency
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) — Pesticide Bureau
- Exam structure
- All commercial applicators pass the Core exam plus each category exam, administered by IDALS. Free in-person testing runs monthly September–May at IDALS/ISU Extension sites; commercial exams can also be taken online with a third-party proctoring service for a fee paid to that service. From 1 January 2026 the oral examination option is discontinued and applicators applying RUPs must be at least 18. 7B also covers wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate reports.
- Application fee
- $75
- Cycle length
- 36 months
- Agreements
- Confirm with IDALS Pesticide Bureau (515-281-8591). The current rule only names reciprocal certification for aerial applicators.
Reciprocity is the most commonly misunderstood part of moving states. We publish only agreements confirmed by the agency, never inferred ones.
Licence categories
| Code | Category |
|---|---|
| 3OT | Ornamental and turf pest control |
| 3T | Turf pest control |
| 3O | Ornamental pest control |
| 6 | Right-of-way pest control |
| 7A | General and household pest control |
| 7B | Termite control |
| 7C | Non-soil fumigation |
| 7D | Community insect control |
| 7E | Wood preservatives |
| 7F | Antifouling paints |
| 8 | Public health pest control |