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How to Get a Pesticide License

After you have determined whether you need an applicator's, consultant's , operator's (pest control business) or dealer's license, please review and complete any required licensing prerequisites (exams, aerial experience, insurance, etc.) prior to applying for a license. Your next step will be to submit a completed license application form, along with the license fee, and any other information required for your specific license type. Please do not use electronic signatures. More detailed information for each license type is provided below.

When submitting an application form, please use the secure fax (see number on the form), or mailing address provided on the form. To protect your sensitive information, please do not email completed applications with credit card or social security numbers to ODA. If your application is complete, you should receive a printed license in the mail approx. 2-4 weeks after submittal. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.

If you are unsure which license you need or whether you need a license, you can find more information on our Explore Licensing Requirements page.

Instructions by License Type

Applicator and Consultant Licenses (for Individuals)

  1. ​​​​Pass the “Aerial" exam.
  2. Complete additional requirements.
    • Note: you must also be at least 18 years of age.​
  3. Complete and submit a license application form with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  4. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  5. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​​

Important:

  • License applications received January 1 through November 16 will be processed for the current calendar year (Note: License will expire December 31 of this year). License applications for the following calendar year are accepted beginning on November 17.
  • End-of-Year Testing: From November 17th through December 31st each year (the last 45 days of this year), if you pass the minimum number of exams to qualify for a license and submit a license application, the default procedure will be that you will be issued a license in early January of the next year. If you submit a late-season application and you need your license before the end of the current calendar year, please indicate this on the application form, otherwise your application may be held and processed for the following year.​

  1. ​​​​​Pass the “Private Applicator" exam.
  2. Currently, you must be at least 16 years of age. However, recent changes in federal law will raise the minimum age to 18 in the near future.
  3. After you pass the necessary exams to qualify for a license, ODA will email you a semi-completed license application form. It will be sent to the email address provided during exam scheduling.
  4. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  5. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  6. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • In addition to licensing requirements, currently licensed private applicators wishing to apply soil fumigants must first complete the EPA-approved training. The training is valid for 36 months and must be retaken thereafter.
  • License applications received January 1 through November 16 will be processed for the current calendar year. License applications for the following calendar year are accepted beginning on November 17.
  • End-of-Year Testing: From November 17th through December 31st each year (the last 45 days of this year), if you pass the minimum number of exams to qualify for a license and submit a license application, the default procedure will be that you will be issued a license in early January of the next year. If you submit a late-season application and you need your license before the end of the current calendar year, please indicate this on the application form, otherwise your application may be held and processed for the following year.

  1. ​​​There is no exam requirement. However, you must be at least 18 years of age, and be employed by a:
    • business (includes non-profits) that is licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Operator; OR 
    • state, federal, or local government body (as defined in ORS 634.116(12))*.
  2. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  3. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  4. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.

Important:

  • Supervision: Please be aware that you will need to be appropriately supervised and trained by either a licensed Commercial or Public Pesticide Applicator.
  • End-of-Year Applications: If an application for a new immediately supervised trainee license is received between November 17th and December 31st, the license issued will expire December 31st of the following year.

*ORS 634.116(12)(a) “The United States, the State of Oregon or federal, state or local agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions, counties, cities, towns, municipal corporations, irrigation, drainage or other districts or other federal, state or local governmental bodies…"

  1. ​​​​​​Pass the “Laws and Safety" exam, plus at least one license category exam (see exception for marine fouling below).
    • Please see study material and exam scheduling pages.
    • Note: Currently, marine fouling applicators only need to take the stand-alone “Marine Fouling" exam (Laws and Safety exam not required).
  2. You must be at least 18 years of age, and be employed by a state, federal, or local government body (as defined in ORS 634.116(12))*.
  3. After you pass the necessary exams to qualify for a license, ODA will email you a semi-completed license application form. It will be sent to the email address provided during exam scheduling.
  4. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  5. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  6. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • License applications received January 1 through November 16 will be processed for the current calendar year (Note: License will expire December 31 of this year). License applications for the following calendar year are accepted beginning on November 17.
  • End-of-Year Testing: From November 17th through December 31st each year (the last 45 days of this year), if you pass the minimum number of exams to qualify for a license and submit a license application, the default procedure will be that you will be issued a license in early January of the next year. If you submit a late-season application and you need your license before the end of the current calendar year, please indicate this on the application form, otherwise your application may be held and process for the following year.

*ORS 634.116(12)(a) “The United States, the State of Oregon or federal, state or local agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions, counties, cities, towns, municipal corporations, irrigation, drainage or other districts or other federal, state or local governmental bodies…"

  1. ​​​​​​​Pass the “Pesticide Consultant" exam, and optionally the “Demonstration & Research" license category exam.
  2. After you pass the necessary exams to qualify for a license, ODA will email you a semi-completed license application form. It will be sent to the email address provided during exam scheduling.
  3. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  4. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  5. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • License applications received January 1 through November 16 will be processed for the current calendar year (Note: License will expire December 31 of this year). License applications for the following calendar year are accepted beginning on November 17.
  • End-of-Year Testing: From November 17th through December 31st each year (the last 45 days of this year), if you pass the minimum number of exams to qualify for a license and submit a license application, the default procedure will be that you will be issued a license in early January of the next year. If you submit a late-season application and you need your license before the end of the current calendar year, please indicate this on the application form, otherwise your application may be held and processed for the following year.

  1. ​​​​​​​Pass the “Laws and Safety" exam, plus at least one license category exam (see exception for marine fouling below).
    • Please see study material and exam scheduling pages.
    • ​Note: Currently, marine fouling applicators only need to take the stand-alone “Marine Fouling" exam (Laws and Safety exam not required).
  2. You must be at least 18 years of age and be employed by a business (includes non-profits) that is licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Operator. Please provide the Commercial Pesticide Operator License number on your application if available for easy processing.
  3. After you pass the necessary exams to qualify for a license, ODA will email you a semi-completed license application form. It will be sent to the email address provided during exam scheduling.
  4. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  5. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  6. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • License applications received January 1 through November 16 will be processed for the current calendar year (Note: License will expire December 31 of this year). License applications for the following calendar year are accepted beginning on November 17.
  • End-of-Year Testing: From November 17th through December 31st each year (the last 45 days of this year), if you pass the minimum number of exams to qualify for a license and submit a license application, the default procedure will be that you will be issued a license in early January of the next year. If you submit a late-season application and you need your license before the end of the current calendar year, please indicate this on the application form, otherwise your application may be held and processed for the following year.

  1. ​​​​Pass the “Laws and Safety" exam.
  2. You must be at least 18 years of age, and be employed by a:
    • business (includes non-profit organizations) that is licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Operator; OR
    • state, federal, or local government body (as defined in ORS 634.116(12))*.​​
  3. After you pass the necessary exams to qualify for a license, ODA will email you a semi-completed license application form. It will be sent to the email address provided during exam scheduling.
  4. Complete the license application form, and submit with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  5. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  6. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.

Important:
  • Supervision: Please be aware that you will need to be appropriately supervised and trained by either a licensed Commercial or Public Pesticide Applicator.

  •  End-of-Year Applications: If an application for a new pesticide apprentice license is received between November 17th and December 31st, the license issued will expire December 31st of the following year.​

Business and Organization Licenses

  1. ​​​Fulfill the following requirements:
    • Have a valid insurance policy that meets certain minimum requirements (see page two of the application form). Your policy must cover pesticide applications specifically; AND
    • Employ at least one licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator; OR
    • ​If your business is a sole proprietor or partnership, the owner, or at least one partner, must be licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator.
  2. Complete the license application form, and submit a with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  3. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  4. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • To avoid license inactivation, you must provide updated insurance policy information before your insurance policy expires, or if your policy coverage or insurance provider changes. 
  • Pesticide-related activities are limited to the license categories held by both the Commercial Pesticide Operator and the Commercial Pesticide Applicator(s) they employ.
  • If your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership, license categories may only be added to the Commercial Pesticide Operator license that are held on the owner's or partner's Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
  • A Commercial Pesticide Operator license cannot be issued to a state, federal, or local government body.
  • End-of-Year Applications: If an application for a new commercial pesticide operator license is received between November 17th and December 31st, the license issued will expire December 31st of the following year.

  1. ​​​​Complete the license application form, and submit a with the license fee to the secure fax number or mailing address listed on the form.
  2. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
  3. A printed license will be mailed to you. However, you are officially licensed when your license is listed in our online database.​

Important:

  • Each facility that sells, offers for sale, handles, displays or distributes Restricted Use Pesticides in Oregon must be licensed separately. This includes facilities physically located in a state other than Oregon.
  • End-of-Year Applications: If an application for a new pesticide dealer license is received between November 17th and December 31st, the license issued will expire December 31st of the following year.​