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Quick answer: “Entomologist” can mean an academic scientist or a board-certified professional recognized by the Entomological Society of America (ESA). For pest and vector professionals, ESA offers three credentials: the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) for structural pest management, the Public Health Entomology (PHE) Certificate for vector and disease work, and the Board Certified Entomologist (BCE), the field’s most prestigious credential. This hub explains each path and links to a free practice exam for every one.
Every credential below has a free, interactive practice exam by Jorge Bedoya, ACE, with instant scoring and explanations.
Whether you are starting a pest-control career or advancing an existing one, professional entomology credentials build your expertise, earn client trust, and are often required or rewarded by employers. This guide, written by Jorge Bedoya, ACE, maps the three ESA credential paths and how to choose among them.
Do you need a degree to be an “entomologist”?
It depends on what you mean. Becoming an academic entomologist means earning a university degree in entomology or a related life science. But you do not need a degree to earn a professional ESA credential in the pest-management field. The ACE and PHE require experience and a pesticide license, not a degree, while the BCE requires a biological or life-science degree plus entomology coursework. All three certify professional expertise that the industry recognizes.
The three ESA credentials
ACE — Associate Certified Entomologist
The ACE is the standard professional credential for structural pest-management professionals. It requires about five years of experience (reducible with a degree) and a current pesticide applicator’s license, and it is earned by passing a single exam across four IPM domains. It renews every three years with continuing education. Read the full ACE guide or take the free 600-question ACE practice exam.
PHE — Public Health Entomology Certificate
The PHE, developed with the American Mosquito Control Association, is for professionals who manage the arthropods that threaten human health — mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other vectors. It requires about five years of pest-management or vector-control experience and a passing score on a 150-question exam, and — uniquely — it has no continuing-education renewal. Read the full PHE guide or take the free 300-question PHE practice exam.
BCE — Board Certified Entomologist
The BCE is ESA’s most prestigious credential and the top professional title in entomology short of an academic degree. As of 2025 it requires a biological or life-science degree with entomology coursework, plus experience, and you must pass two exams — a general Core exam and a chosen Specialty (General, Medical & Veterinary, Urban & Industrial, or Plant-related). Read the full BCE guide or take the free General and Urban & Industrial practice exams.
Which credential is right for you?
If you work in residential or commercial structural pest control, the ACE is the natural first step. If your work focuses on public health, mosquito abatement, or vector control, add the PHE — and note it never expires. If you hold a life-science degree and want the field’s top professional recognition, pursue the BCE. Many professionals earn the ACE first and add the PHE or BCE over time. All three are issued by the ESA Certification Corporation and carry a professional code of ethics.
How to prepare
Each credential tests a wide body of knowledge, so study is essential. Start with the official ESA outlines, use the recommended references (the ACE study guide IPM for the Urban Professional, and for the BCE the standard entomology texts), and drill with practice questions. Our free practice exams above are built from this same body of knowledge and give you instant explanations for every answer — the fastest way to find and close your knowledge gaps.
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.
Entomology certification FAQ
What is the difference between the ACE, PHE, and BCE?
The ACE certifies structural pest-management expertise (no degree required). The PHE certifies public-health and vector expertise (no degree, no renewal). The BCE is the top ESA credential, requiring a life-science degree, entomology coursework, and two exams. All three come from the Entomological Society of America.
Do I need a college degree to become an entomologist?
Not for the ACE or PHE, which require experience and a pesticide license. The BCE does require a biological or life-science degree with at least four entomology courses. Academic (research) entomology careers require university degrees.
Which certification should I get first?
Most structural pest professionals start with the ACE, then add the PHE for public-health work or pursue the BCE if they hold a life-science degree.
Are there free practice exams?
Yes — this hub links free, interactive practice exams for the ACE, PHE, and both BCE exams, each with instant scoring and explanations.
Who issues these credentials?
The ESA Certification Corporation, the certifying arm of the Entomological Society of America, the largest insect-science organization in the world.
Start here: pick your path — ACE, PHE, or BCE — and test yourself with the free practice exams. Written by Jorge Bedoya, ACE, of New York Exterminating.
