Academy · Licensing · NM
New Mexico pest control licence requirements
How do you get a pest control licence in New Mexico?
New Mexico applicator licences are issued by New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), New Mexico State University — Pesticide Compliance. 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
- New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), New Mexico State University — Pesticide Compliance
- Exam structure
- Commercial Applicator: document 2 years of pesticide application experience (or 20 college credit hours in biological/agricultural sciences plus 1 year), then pass the National Core exam (core plus NM laws and rules) and at least one category exam. Operator/Technician (employees of a Commercial Applicator who apply pesticides): pass the Operator exam, no category exams. A grade of 70 is passing on all exams (21.17.50.18 NMAC). 7D Wood-Destroying Pests needs one year of WDO experience and four hours of approved training before the exam, for applicators and technicians alike. Commercial Applicators must also file proof of financial responsibility.
- Application fee
- Not verified yet — we only publish it once it is
- Cycle length
- 12 months
- Agreements
- NMDA: licence holders in other US states may apply to have some certifications recognised and may only need to pass the NM laws test. Confirm with NMDA.
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 |
|---|---|
| 3A | Ornamental & Turf Pests |
| 3B | Ornamental & Turf Weeds |
| 6A | Wood Preservation |
| 6B | Right-Of-Way & Industrial Weeds |
| 7A | Structural Pests |
| 7B | Vertebrate Pests |
| 7C | Fumigation |
| 7D | Wood-Destroying Pests |
| 8 | Public Health Pests |
