The versatility of pest management providers knows no bounds. Many companies offer an array of services in addition to general pest control, and many companies looking to grow consider new lines of business that complement their existing services. Termite control is a natural extension for many companies. However, termite work comes with several challenges that operators need to consider, including insurance and licensing.
As we embark on Termite Awareness Week 2022, held March 6 - 12, Target Specialty Products has compiled this blog to help you think about termite work and what considerations may be needed in your business.
PROTECTING YOUR TERMITE BUSINESS WITH INSURANCE
Most professional pest management companies understand that they need to carry insurance to perform their work. In fact, this is a requirement to do business in most states.
- Auto Insurance
You likely have auto insurance for your fleet already, but if you'll be adding new chemicals or products for termite work, you may want to talk to your insurer to see if they recommend any additional coverage for your vehicles. Moving people and chemicals from place to place comes with inherent risks. Auto accidents where personal injury, property damage, or chemical spills occur can be costly and you want to make sure that your business is covered. - Workers' Compensation
Protecting the people that work for you is critical, especially with termite work, which can involve work in confined spaces, working with fumigants, and other high-risk work. Workers' compensation insurance helps you provide any of your employees injured while at work with lost wages, medical coverage, and even death benefits should a tragic accident occur. - Liability Insurance
Due to the nature of termite work, your business may need to enhance or increase your total liability insurance coverage. There are different coverage levels for liability insurance. You may need to investigate liability coverage for any accidental property damages that occur while performing inspections or treating for termites. If your company is doing fumigation work, you may need additional specialized coverage to ensure that your business is protected. Care, custody, and control liability insurance can also help you cover damages to any equipment that you have leased or rented to perform work. - Surety Bonds
Some states may require your business to have a surety bond, which is a written agreement between your organization (the principal), an insurance or surety company (the surety), and the state agency (the obligee) that guarantees compliance and performance in accordance with requirements.
It is best to speak to a qualified insurance organization to make sure you have the right level of coverage that you need in the event of an accident or lawsuit.
Many states also require that a Certificate of Insurance be on file with the state. This may mean filing paperwork to ensure that your insurance provider of record is up to date with the states in which you operate.
WHY IS TERMITE LICENSING SUCH A CHALLENGE?
It has been estimated that termites cause more than $5 billion in damage annually in North America – and that amount is considered a low figure by many experts. Because termites infest homes and structures that are highly valued by people, regulating who can treat for termites and how those treatments may be made helps to protect both consumers and pest management providers.
Termite control, often called termite and wood-destroying organism control, is specialized work that requires knowledge of termite species, how to properly perform inspections, signs of activity, and the products used to control these destructive pests. For those reasons, most states in the U.S. require that those conducting treatments for termites achieve termite inspection certification or licensure. In some states, those selling or recommending services must also be licensed.
This is where many pest management providers encounter issues. Each state regulates pest control and termite licensures differently – so if you operate in multiple states, your technicians may be required to have different certifications, licensures, or both based on the states in which they conduct work.
Most states require that there be at least one licensed individual on staff, although some may require that each individual applicator be licensed.
While there are certainly similarities from state to state, knowing the details of each state's requirements will help you ensure that all of your operations are adhering to both the letter and spirit of the law.
The chart below lists each state's department or certifying body responsible for termite certification and/or licensure. You can find detailed information on each of their websites.*
How much does a termite license cost?
Fees for commercial pesticide applicator licenses typically have two components, but this can vary from state to state. The first part is a certification examination, which typically has a fee associated with it. The second part is the cost of the license itself. The total costs can vary widely from state to state, but typically fall in the $50 - $250 margin. Some states may charge an additional fee for specific termite licensing. Refer to your state's licensing body and required certifications in the chart below.
Termite license renewals
Individual licenses are often only valid for a certain time period, typically 1 - 3 years, so it's important that your business stays on top of who is licensed and when they may need to retake a certification exam or apply for renewal. In some states, a license needs to be renewed yearly, but certification may be valid for several years. Failure to maintain pesticide certification and license requirements could result in heavy fines for your business and the loss of this or other licenses for individual employees.
Most renewals require payment of a fee, as well, so you'll want to incorporate those costs into your cost of doing business.
Reciprocal termite licensing and certification
Some states have agreements with neighboring states to offer reciprocal licensing and certification. While the requirements and details again vary by state, this means that obtaining a license in one state may face fewer requirements if you already have your termite license or certification in another state.
Be sure to explore if your state has reciprocal licensing agreements with neighboring states. This may allow you to leverage your talented team members to do additional work.
Five interesting facts about termites.
ACHIEVING SUCCESS: STAYING UP TO DATE ON TERMITE REQUIREMENTS
Termite service is incredibly lucrative work and can provide a valuable revenue stream for your business. However, it does come with additional responsibility: the cost of licensing and insurance, record keeping and documentation management, license management, and additional training for team members. Be sure you have the time, resources, and budget to dedicate to this work before you embark on adding termite service as a line of business.
Ongoing, it's important to monitor news related to termite work in your state. Establishing relationships with state representatives that oversee licensing and certification programs can help you stay up to date with any changes to state requirements or policies regarding termite work. Additionally, getting involved with your state's structural pest control boards or associations can be a valuable way to hear about news that may impact you.
Finally, no termite program can be successful without continual evolution and improvement. Target Specialty is always here for our customers in their efforts to advance their programs. We would be happy to make product recommendations to support your termite initiatives. Our Business Growth Webinar Series also offers insights, first looks at new products, and information from industry experts that can help you continue on your journey to termite program success.
| State | Licensing Body | License Required |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries | Wood Destroying Organisms Commercial Applicator Permit (WDC/WDO) Pre-requisite certifications required |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Environmental Health | Certified Pesticide Applicator License See a complete list of Applicator categories for Alaska |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Agriculture Pest Management Division | Wood Destroying Organism Management Pre-requisite certifications required |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Agriculture Pest Control Program | Commercial Applicator License - Structural Pest Control |
| California | California Structural Pest Control Board |
There are 3 types of licenses required – depending on the work being done, you may need one or more (details): |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Certified Licensing Program |
Which exam should be taken may depend on an individual's role within your organization |
| Connecticut | Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Pesticide Management |
Which exam should be taken may depend on an individual's role within your organization |
| Delaware | Delaware Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Management | Certified Applicator License |
| Florida | Division of Agricultural Environmental Services | Certified Commercial Structural Pest Control Operator Must be certified in Termite and Wood Destroying Organisms Control |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Agriculture - Structural Pest Division | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
Georgia Structural Pest Control License Requirements And Recertification Georgia has a number of license categories that may apply to your business. Speak with your state representative to ensure your employees go through the proper certification |
| Hawaii | State of Hawaii Plant Industry Division | Pesticide Applicator Certification Most applicators will want to select the category of Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Public Health-Related Pest Control, which includes termites, but if your business uses certain products or works in certain facilities, you may need to explore other certification categories. |
| Idaho | Idaho State Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Resources Division | Professional Applicator License |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Public Health - Structural Pest Control |
Structural Pest Control Certification: Illinois requires specific certification for Termites and/or Wood Products Pest Control in its Restricted Use Products Category; however, all applicants must pass the General Standards Examination first. |
| Indiana | Office of Indiana State Chemist - Pesticide Section | Category 7b-Termite Control Certification Category 7b-Termite Control does not include any pests other than termites and wood-destroying organisms. For additional pests, Category 7a-General Pest Management is required. Additional categories may be required based on your business. |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship - Pesticide Bureau | Commercial Applicator License
Depending on the type of services your business offers, you may need to select one of these three categories. Applicators can take an exam for up to 6 categories offered by the state. |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Agriculture - Pesticide and Fertilizer Program | Pesticide Commercial Applicator License To register for an exam, you must have a KDA account. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Department of Agriculture - Structural Pest Control Branch | Commercial Structural Pest Control License
Depending on the services offered by your business, you may need to take both parts of the exam listed above. |
| Louisiana | Department of Agriculture and Forestry - Pesticide and Environmental Programs | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License |
| Maine | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - Board of Pesticides Control | Commercial Applicator License
|
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Agriculture - Office of Plant Industry and Pest Management | Commercial Pest Control Applicator License
|
| Massachusetts | Pesticide Program | |
| Michigan | Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Pesticide Licensing and Certification | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
|
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Agriculture |
Core Pesticide Applicator License Depending on the work an individual conducts, they may need to have both licenses listed above. Each comes with specializations in different categories that may apply to your organization or the individual's work. |
| Mississippi | Department of Agriculture and Commerce - Pesticide Program | Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Control |
Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. Termite category licensing in Missouri has pre-requisite experience requirements. |
| Montana | Montana Department of Agriculture |
Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Program | Commercial Applicator Certification |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Agriculture - Pest Control | Pest Control Applicator License
|
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Agriculture Markets and Food - Division of Pesticide Control | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
|
| New Jersey | State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection |
New Jersey conducts all licensing examinations through its state university, Rutgers. Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Compliance |
Additional Requirements for Wood-Destroying Pest Control (Category 7D): For both Commercial Applicators and Commercial Operators/Technicians, to have licensure for Wood-Destroying Pests category, you must be able to show one year of wood-destroying organisms experience and document 4 hours of training. |
| New York | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
New York has pre-requisite training requirements for licensing. Be sure to review the pages linked above for details. Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Structural Pest Control Section |
Phase W Certification is required for termite work. Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Agriculture | Commercial/Public Applicator License North Dakota administers its licensing program through the North Dakota State University Extension Office. |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Agriculture | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
|
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry | Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Agriculture - Pesticide, Fertilizer, and PARC Program | Commercial Applicator License
|
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Program | Commercial/Public Pesticide Technician License Registered Pesticide Technician Applicants must pass the Core test and at least one category test; for termites, that category test would be Wood Destroying Pests. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Pesticide Safety and IPM Training | Commercial Applicator License
|
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation | Commercial Pesticide License To achieve licensure in South Carolina, applicants must pass the Core exam and at least one category exam. Category 7A: Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control and Category 7B may be required, depending on the termite services offered by your business.
South Carolina's pesticide program is managed through Clemson University. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Department of Inspection, Compliance, and Remediation | Commercial Applicator License All applicators must pass the General exam, as well as any other category exams that apply to their business. For termites, this would be Category 8 - Industrial, institutional, structural and health-related pests. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Pest Control Applicator License - Commercial Certification To achieve licensure in Tennessee, applicants must pass the Core exam and any category exam that covers the services they perform. For termites, this would be Wood Destroying Organisms. |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture - Structural Pest Control Service | Certified Commercial Applicator License All applicants are required to pass the General Exam and at least one category exam; for termite work, that would be Termite Control. It may also include the Structural Fumigation category, depending on what services your business offers. |
| Utah | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License Utah has current COVID-19 licensing restrictions in place. |
| Vermont | State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets | Commercial Applicator License All applicants are required to pass the Core exam, as well as any category exams that apply to the work they do. For termites, that is Category 7A General (Structural) Pest Control. |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Pesticide Services |
Commercial Applicators must be certified in the categories that cover the work they do. For termites, this includes categories 7B Wood Destroying Pest Control and 7C Fumigation (Non-Agricultural). Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Agriculture |
Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. A Structural Pest Inspector License does not allow the licensee to apply pesticides. To perform termite work in Washington State, the PCO Structural category must be passed. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Department of Agriculture - Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Division |
West Virginia has published Wood Destroying Insect treatment standards that all applicators should be familiar with. |
| Wisconsin | State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection |
Commercial Applicator License The state of Wisconsin has 20 categories that can be achieved as part of certification. Category 7.3 covers termite control. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Program | Commercial Pesticide Applicator License All applicants must pass the Commercial Core Exam as well as any category exams that cover the work they will do. For termites, it includes categories 907X and potentially 907G. |
| Washington, D.C. | Department of Energy and Environment |
Applicants in Washington, D.C. must pass both a Core exam and any category exams that apply to the work they do. For termites, this is Category 7: Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control, Subcategory B: Wood Destroying Organisms. Which license an individual may need may depend on their role within your organization. |
*Target Specialty Products provides this list as a courtesy to our customers and pest management industry colleagues. While we will make every effort to keep it up to date, individual state information supersedes this list at all times.
