Texas Pest Control Licenses: How to Check (TDA)

In Texas, the Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service licenses pest control businesses and the people who treat homes. Each business location needs a license and a responsible certified applicator, and technicians must work under a certified applicator's supervision. You can check a license on TDA's Current Licenses page or by calling SPCS at (866) 918-4481.

Who licenses pest control providers in Texas

Texas Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS). Texas requires a license for any business or person doing structural pest control for hire. Each business location holds a business license and must name a responsible certified applicator; certified applicators, technicians and apprentices are licensed or registered as individuals, in categories such as pest control, termite control and lawn and ornamental. TDA publishes current license lists for businesses, applicators, technicians and apprentices on its Current Licenses page, and SPCS can confirm a license by phone at (866) 918-4481.

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Key facts for Texas

The Structural Pest Control Service of the Texas Department of Agriculture licenses and regulates pest management professionals who apply pesticides in and around structures.
Texas has seven structural license categories: pest control, termite control, lawn and ornamental, structural fumigation, commodity fumigation, weed control and wood preservation.
Every business location, including each branch office, needs its own Texas structural pest control business license.
A Texas pest control business may not advertise or solicit work until it is licensed and has a certified applicator in each category it offers.
Commercial licensees must carry bodily injury and property damage insurance of at least $500,000, with a $1,000,000 aggregate.
Licensed technicians must meet in person once a week with the certified applicator responsible for supervising them.
Formosan subterranean termites were first found in Texas in 1956 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena and have since been detected in 31 Texas counties.
Red imported fire ants reached Texas in the 1950s and infest the eastern two-thirds of the state.

What do the Texas license types mean?

Texas licenses pest control at three levels:

Business license. Required for anyone engaged in the business of structural pest control, with a separate license for each location. The business must designate a commercial certified applicator as its responsible certified applicator.
Certified applicator. The person responsible for providing pest control services, including inspection and identification, for a licensed business. Applicants qualify through technician experience, a biological science degree or verified industry experience, and must pass the General Standards exam and at least one category exam.
Technician. A person who performs pest control under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. Technicians must complete eight hours of training in general standards each year.

New employees start as apprentices. An apprentice may not work alone until required training is done, and must pass the technician exam before the 12-month apprentice card expires.

Licenses are issued by category. The pest control category covers household pests such as roaches, ants, rodents and mosquitoes. Termite control is a separate category. A company treating your home for termites should have a certified applicator licensed in termite control.

How do you look up a Texas pest control license?

TDA publishes lists of everyone who holds an active structural pest control license on its Current Licenses page. There are separate downloadable files for commercial businesses, noncommercial businesses, certified applicators, technicians and apprentices.

Ask the company for its business license number and the name of the technician who will come to your home.
Open the commercial business file and find the company.
Open the applicator or technician file to check the individual.
If anything does not match, call SPCS at (866) 918-4481.

TDA's termite guidance also tells consumers they can call SPCS to confirm licensure. Requests for information about a company's complaint history must be made to SPCS in writing.

Texas business paperwork should also carry the TDA jurisdiction statement saying the company is licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture. TDA lists contracts, warranties, service agreements, termite disclosures and guarantees as documents that should include it.

What paperwork must a Texas exterminator give you?

Texas law directs TDA to create a consumer information sheet covering pesticide safety, precautions before, during and after treatment, and what to do if you suspect a misapplication. The statute also requires the sheet to explain your cancellation rights for home solicitation sales.

Under 4 Texas Administrative Code 7.147, the applicator or technician must make the sheet available to the owner of a private home before an indoor treatment. In rental properties of five or more units, notice and a pest control sign must go up at least 48 hours before each planned treatment. Pre-notification can be waived only in an emergency, defined as an imminent hazard to health, with a signed statement.

For termite work, TDA says the company must give you disclosure documents with its bid and before any treatment. These include a diagram of the structure, the termiticide label and proposed concentration, and full warranty terms. TDA says a proposal is never to be given on the back of a business card.

How do you file a complaint against a pest control company in Texas?

Report pesticide exposure, misuse or a licensing violation to SPCS at (866) 918-4481 or spcs@TexasAgriculture.gov. TDA may open an investigation when notified orally or in writing. TDA also posts a complaint form on its consumer forms page.

SPCS first checks whether it has jurisdiction. An inspector then contacts you and may collect evidence. The report goes to TDA's Enforcement Division. Reports are not available right away, because samples must be analyzed and all parties interviewed.

TDA can issue a warning, assess an administrative penalty, or suspend, modify or revoke a license. It can also refer a case to other agencies or prosecutors. Penalties go to the state's General Revenue Fund. For a possible poisoning, the Texas Poison Center line is 1-800-764-7661.

Which Texas pests call for specialized help?

Formosan termites. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension calls the Formosan subterranean termite one of the most aggressive termite species in the world. Its colonies are at least four times as large as those of native subterranean termites, and it can build nests above ground inside buildings. It was first found in Texas in 1956 near the Houston Ship Channel. Texas A&M's urban entomology center says it has since been detected in 31 Texas counties. AgriLife says recycled railroad ties and shoring timbers used in landscaping are thought to be the main way it spreads, and creosote alone does not guarantee protection.

Fire ants. Red imported fire ants reached Texas in the 1950s and infest the eastern two-thirds of the state. AgriLife estimates their impact in Texas at $1.2 billion a year. Its preferred home approach is the Two-Step Method: broadcast a bait across the yard, then treat problem mounds individually. AgriLife says spring and fall are good times for bait.

How to choose a provider in Texas

Confirm the company's business license and the technician's license on TDA's Current Licenses lists or by calling SPCS.
Make sure the company has a certified applicator licensed in the category you need, such as termite control for termite work.
Ask for the TDA consumer information sheet before indoor treatment of your home.
For termite work, get the diagram, termiticide label, proposed concentration and warranty in writing before treatment.
Check that contracts and warranties carry the statement that the company is licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Ask for proof of the insurance TDA requires.
Ask whether the company uses the AgriLife Two-Step approach for fire ants.
Request complaint history from SPCS in writing if you want it before you hire.
Keep copies of every label, invoice and service record in case you need to file a complaint.

Pest control in Texas cities

Questions people ask

Who licenses pest control companies in Texas?

The Texas Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service. It licenses businesses, certified applicators, technicians and apprentices, inspects licensed establishments and investigates complaints.

How do I verify a pest control license in Texas?

Use TDA's Current Licenses page, which lists active business, applicator, technician and apprentice licenses. You can also call SPCS at (866) 918-4481. Check both the company and the person who will treat your home.

What is the difference between a certified applicator and a technician in Texas?

A certified applicator is responsible for providing pest control services, including inspection and identification, for a licensed business. A technician performs the work under the direct supervision of a certified applicator and must meet that applicator in person once a week.

Does a Texas exterminator have to give me anything in writing?

Yes. Before an indoor treatment, the applicator or technician must make TDA's consumer information sheet available to the owner of a private home. For termite work, TDA says you should receive disclosure documents, including the termiticide label and warranty terms, before treatment.

Do Texas apartment residents get notice before pest control?

In rental properties of five or more units, Texas rules require notice at least 48 hours before each planned indoor treatment, through a posted sign or distributed information. Smaller rentals must make the consumer information sheet available on request at each treatment.

Where do I complain about a pest control company in Texas?

Contact SPCS at (866) 918-4481 or spcs@TexasAgriculture.gov. An inspector may contact you and gather evidence. TDA can issue warnings, assess penalties, or suspend or revoke a license.

Are Formosan termites found across Texas?

Texas A&M's urban entomology center reports Formosan termites in 31 Texas counties, with more added each year. AgriLife advises homeowners and pest professionals to watch for isolated infestations anywhere in the state.

Sources

This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.

How do you check a pest control license in Texas?