Academy · Licensing · KY
Kentucky pest control licence requirements
How do you get a pest control licence in Kentucky?
Kentucky applicator licences are issued by Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) — Structural Pest Control Branch. 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
- Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) — Structural Pest Control Branch
- Exam structure
- Written, proctored certification exam in each category sought, covering the core standards and the category standards; 70% minimum. $25 examination fee per sitting, charged pass or fail. After passing you have 30 days to pay the licence fee — $25 for an applicator, $100 for an operator — or you must retest. KDA gives the Pest Control Operator exam three times a year; the commercial and non-commercial certification exam monthly at sites across the state. 7(a) covers general pests AND wood-destroying organisms in one subcategory.
- Application fee
- $25
- Cycle length
- 12 months
- Agreements
- KDA may waive certification and license a holder of a valid licence from another state, tribal or federal agency whose requirements are substantially similar and which reciprocates with Kentucky, if the person is employed by a dealer registered in Kentucky. $25 reciprocal fee. 302 KAR 26:020 Section 1(5)–(6).
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 |
|---|---|
| 3 | Ornamental, turf and lawn care |
| 6 | Right-of-way pest control |
| 7(a) | Structural pest management |
| 7(b) | Structural fumigation |
| 7(c) | Wood preservatives |
| 8 | Public health pest control |
| 13 | Non-soil fumigation |
