Hiring Guide · NYC
How to Choose a Cockroach Exterminator in NYC (and Spot a Fake One)
A real exterminator can prove three things in minutes: a verifiable license, a named credentialed expert, and reviews you can actually open and read. Here is how to check — and the red flags that give a fake away.
Written by Jorge Bedoya, ACE · Updated August 2026
Quick answer
To choose a real NYC cockroach exterminator, verify the NYSDEC license number, look for a named, credentialed expert (such as an ACE), confirm the reviews actually exist on Google — not just claimed on the website — and insist on a diagnosis and a written follow-up plan, not a spray-and-leave.
What a real exterminator has
A verifiable NYSDEC license #
Every legitimate NYC pest-control business and applicator is registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A real company will give you its number without hesitation.
A named technician or exterminator
You should be able to learn who is actually doing the work and what they are credentialed to do — ideally a Board Certified or Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE), not an anonymous crew.
Real Google reviews you can open
Reviews that you can click through to on Google and read in full — with names and dates — not a big number printed on a website that appears nowhere you can verify.
A written plan
A diagnosis of what you have, what will be done, and what the follow-up looks like — in writing. If it cannot be put in writing, it is not a plan.
Transparent pricing
A clear price range quoted after an inspection, with no pressure to sign a long contract before anyone has seen the problem.
Red flags: how to spot a fake
- Thousands of five-star reviews that appear nowhere you can read them. If a site advertises an enormous review count but you cannot open those reviews on Google or any platform, treat the number as unverified. Under the FTC’s 2024 rule on fake reviews and testimonials (effective October 2024), fabricating reviews or misrepresenting review counts is illegal.
- No verifiable license or named expert. Vague claims of being “licensed and certified” with no NYSDEC number and no named applicator or exterminator you can look up.
- “Guaranteed 100%” language. Responsible, licensed professionals describe how they control and manage an infestation and what the follow-up is — not absolute guarantees, which can violate pesticide-labeling and advertising standards.
- Spray-and-go with no diagnosis. A technician who sprays the baseboards and leaves without identifying the species or finding the harborage is treating symptoms, not the colony.
- Refuses to put the plan in writing. If a company will not document what it found and what it will do, you have nothing to hold it to.
How to verify a license and an ACE yourself
Check the NYSDEC registration
Ask for the business registration and applicator certification numbers, then confirm them through the New York State DEC. A legitimate NYC operator will have both and will share them on request.
Confirm the ACE with the ESA
The Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) credential is issued by the Entomological Society of America, which maintains a directory of certified professionals. You can confirm an exterminator’s certification directly with the ESA.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What is your NYSDEC business and applicator number?
- Who will do the work, and what are they certified in?
- Where can I read your reviews on Google?
- Will you diagnose the species and locate the harborage before treating?
- Will I get the plan and the follow-up schedule in writing?
- Do you require a long-term contract, or do you quote after an inspection?
Why diagnosis-first matters
German cockroaches, American cockroaches and Oriental cockroaches live in different places and respond to different treatments. Spraying before identifying the species and finding the harborage wastes product, scatters the colony and almost guarantees a callback. A diagnosis-first exterminator confirms what you have and where it lives, then treats the harborage directly and verifies the result — which is why one properly diagnosed visit routinely outperforms months of spray-and-go.
This is exactly how New York Exterminating operates — ACE-led by Jorge Bedoya, NYSDEC-registered #15140, with real Google reviews you can open and read: Jennifer Sam, Daniel Latini and Elling Epoxy — 4.9★ across 74 reviews. Every job starts with a diagnosis and a written plan.
Choosing an exterminator: questions, answered
How do I check if a NYC cockroach exterminator is licensed?
Ask for the company’s NYSDEC business registration and applicator certification numbers, then verify them with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A legitimate operator will provide both without hesitation.
What is an ACE and why does it matter?
ACE stands for Associate Certified Entomologist, a credential issued by the Entomological Society of America. It means the professional has demonstrated real entomology and pest-management expertise and passed a certifying exam, which matters for correctly identifying species and choosing the right treatment.
Are fake pest-control reviews actually illegal?
Yes. The FTC finalized a rule in 2024 (effective October 2024) that makes it illegal to create, buy, sell or disseminate fake reviews and testimonials, or to misrepresent review counts. If a company advertises a huge review total you cannot verify anywhere, be skeptical.
What should I ask before hiring a cockroach exterminator?
Ask for the NYSDEC numbers, who does the work and their credentials, where to read the reviews on Google, whether they diagnose and locate the harborage before treating, whether you get a written plan and follow-up, and whether a long contract is required.
Is a cheap spray-and-go job worth it?
Rarely. Spraying without diagnosing the species and finding the harborage treats symptoms, scatters the colony and usually leads to repeat visits. A diagnosis-first treatment that reaches the harborage typically costs less over time because it resolves the problem instead of resetting it.
Hire the exterminator you can actually verify
ACE-led, NYSDEC #15140, real Google reviews, diagnosis-first, written plan. Book a free inspection and see the difference.
