Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
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Test your readiness with our extensive, exam-style practice tests — built to mirror the real 50-question DEC format and pass mark.
1. Understand the New York certification structure
Applying pesticides for hire in New York is regulated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). There are three roles on the path to full certification:
Apprentice — works under the supervision of a certified applicator and accumulates the experience needed to move up. Apprenticeship is how many people build the two to three years of experience that count toward technician or applicator certification.
Certified commercial technician — must be at least 17 and qualify by completing a 30-hour DEC-approved training course, holding a baccalaureate or associate degree, or having two years of verifiable apprentice experience. A technician can purchase and use most general-use pesticides without direct supervision, and use restricted-use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator, but cannot supervise apprentices or other technicians.
Certified commercial applicator — the senior credential. Typical routes include one year of verifiable technician experience plus 12 hours of category recertification training, two years of technician experience, three years of full-time apprentice experience, or three years as a certified private applicator in a corresponding category. An applicator may apply restricted-use pesticides and supervise technicians and apprentices.
2. Meet the eligibility requirement
Before you can sit for the exams you must establish eligibility. The most common route for newcomers is the 30-hour technician eligibility course. By rule these courses cannot exceed 7.5 hours per day and cannot be completed in fewer than four days, so plan for at least a four-day commitment. A qualifying college degree or documented apprentice experience can also establish eligibility.
3. Pass the CORE exam and your category exam
Every commercial certificate holder must pass the CORE exam, which is 50 multiple-choice questions, closed-book, based on the CORE manual and New York’s pesticide laws and regulations. You must also pass the exam for at least one category. For general structural pest control that category is 7A — Structural and Rodent.
The passing score is 35 out of 50 (70%) on each exam. The CORE exam covers pest management principles, the pesticide label, formulations, personal protective equipment and safety, pesticide movement in the environment, application equipment and calibration, laws and regulations, and transport, storage, and disposal. The 7A exam focuses on identifying and controlling structural pests.
4. Know what Category 7A allows (and excludes)
Category 7A permits the use of pesticides — excluding fumigants — in, on, and around dwellings, food-handling establishments (excluding food-processing areas), institutions such as schools and hospitals, industrial buildings, and other structures and adjacent areas. Target pests include rodents, cockroaches, ants, fleas, ticks, and stinging or biting insects. Importantly, 7A excludes termites and post-construction wood-destroying organisms and excludes fumigation — those require separate categories. If your work will include termite or WDO treatment or fumigation, you will need the corresponding additional category.
5. Register your business with DEC
Certification covers the individual; the business that offers pesticide application for hire must also be registered with DEC as a commercial pesticide business, carry the required insurance, and ensure that applications are performed or supervised by appropriately certified staff. If you plan to start your own company rather than work for an existing one, factor in business registration, insurance, and recordkeeping obligations.
6. Study the right materials
The authoritative study materials are the Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (CCE-PSEP) manuals: the Core Certification Training Manual for Pesticide Applicators and Technicians and the Category 7A – Structural and Rodent manual, read alongside New York’s pesticide regulations. Because both exams are closed-book and set at a 70% pass mark, working through practice questions in the real 50-question format is one of the most effective ways to find your weak spots before test day.
7. Keep your certification current
Certifications run on a fixed cycle, commonly three years. A Category 7A applicator on a three-year cycle must earn 12 recertification credits, at least 3 of them in Category 7A, with the remaining 9 in CORE, 7A, or a combination. Credits are earned through DEC-approved courses. Letting a certification lapse can mean re-examination, so track your credits and renewal date.
Your step-by-step path
In short: (1) establish eligibility (30-hour course, degree, or apprentice experience); (2) study the CORE and 7A manuals; (3) pass the CORE and 7A exams (35/50 each); (4) work as a technician or applicator for a DEC-registered business; (5) gain experience to move from technician to applicator; and (6) maintain your certification with recertification credits. Our free CORE and Category 7A practice exams are built to help you get there.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
New York exterminator licensing FAQ
Do I need a license to do pest control in New York State?
Yes. To apply pesticides commercially in New York you must be certified by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as a commercial pesticide applicator or technician, and your business must be registered with DEC. Certification requires passing the CORE exam plus at least one category exam (Category 7A for general structural and rodent work).
What is the difference between an apprentice, a technician, and an applicator?
An apprentice works under supervision and builds the experience needed for higher certification. A certified commercial technician (17+, after a 30-hour approved course, a qualifying degree, or two years as an apprentice) can use most general-use pesticides without direct supervision and restricted-use pesticides under a certified applicator’s supervision, but cannot supervise others. A certified commercial applicator has more experience (for example, one to two years as a technician, or three years as an apprentice) and can apply restricted-use pesticides and supervise technicians and apprentices.
What exams do I have to pass, and what is the passing score?
You must pass the DEC CORE exam and the exam for your category (Category 7A for structural and rodent). Each exam is 50 multiple-choice questions, closed-book, and the passing score is 35 out of 50 (70%). The CORE exam covers pesticide safety, labeling, laws and regulations, environment, and application; the 7A exam covers structural pests and their control.
What does Category 7A cover?
Category 7A, Structural and Rodent, allows the use of pesticides (excluding fumigants) in and around dwellings, food-handling establishments (excluding food-processing areas), schools, hospitals, industrial and institutional buildings, and adjacent areas. Target pests include rodents, cockroaches, ants, fleas, ticks, and stinging or biting insects. It excludes termites and post-construction wood-destroying organisms, which fall under a separate category.
How do I keep my certification current?
Certifications run on a fixed cycle (commonly three years). A Category 7A applicator on a three-year cycle must earn 12 recertification credits, at least 3 of which must be in Category 7A, with the remaining 9 in CORE, 7A, or a combination. Credits are earned through DEC-approved courses.
What should I study?
Study the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE-PSEP) manuals: the CORE Certification Training Manual for Pesticide Applicators and Technicians, and the Category 7A Structural and Rodent manual, together with the New York pesticide laws and regulations. Practice exams that mirror the real 50-question format are a good way to test your readiness.
Written by Jorge Bedoya, ACE (Associate Certified Entomologist), owner of NYE Pest Control. This guide is educational; always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam procedures directly with the NYS DEC and Cornell CCE-PSEP, as they change. See also our entomology certification hub.
