The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the agency Ohio State’s training listing names for pesticide licensing and testing. A commercial applicator must pass the commercial core exam and at least one category exam. A caller in Columbus can ask for the business, applicator and category details at booking and check them with the Department before work starts.
Key takeaways
- The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the agency OSU names for pesticide licensing and testing.
- A commercial applicator must pass the commercial core exam and at least one category exam, per OSU’s listing.
- Structural work sits in category 10, with 10a general pest control and 10b termite and wood-destroying insects.
- Ask for the business, the applicator, the category and the supervisor when you book.
- Licence details are given on request by phone and are not printed on this site.
- A licence shows who may apply a product, not the quality of the work.
Who must hold a licence in Ohio?
A person who applies pesticides as a commercial applicator must hold a licence. OSU’s training listing says a commercial applicator must pass the commercial core exam and at least one category exam, and it places structural work in category 10.
The licence is about applying a pesticide for pay. A technician who sprays, places bait, applies a gel or treats a wall void for a fee is doing work the licence covers. A homeowner who applies a product to their own house is in a different position, though the label still applies.
The OSU listing describes structural pest control as category 10, with 10a for general pest control, 10b for termite and wood-destroying insect control, 10c for fumigation and 10d for vector control. A caller does not need the detail of each to ask which category covers the job being booked.
What do the core and category exams cover?
The commercial core exam covers general principles, and the category exam covers a specific area of work. OSU’s listing says a commercial applicator must pass the core exam and at least one category exam.
The core exam is the common base for every commercial applicator, and it is followed by the category exam for the work the applicator does. An applicator who does termite work needs the termite category, and one who does general pest work needs the general category. The business should be able to say which exams its applicators have passed.
The OSU listing is a 2019 training page. The exam content and the current rules are set by the Department of Agriculture, and this guide does not describe them in detail for that reason. A caller who wants the current requirements should check with the Department.
What should I ask for on the phone?
Ask for the business name, the applicator’s name and licence details, the category that covers the job, the name of the person in charge of the work and the product that will be used.
The licence details are given on request by phone. This site does not print them and does not hold them, for the privacy of the technicians. The call should end with a clear answer, and if a detail is not given the caller can ask again in writing before work starts.
The product and the label belong in the same conversation. A business confident in its work will name the product and show the label. A caller who receives a vague answer should ask again before any application.
How do I check the licence with the Department?
Use the Ohio Department of Agriculture to confirm that the licence is current and that its holder matches the technician. The category should also cover the work being booked.
A check takes a few minutes with the details in hand. Confirm the licence is current, that the holder’s name matches the person who came to the house, and that the category covers the work. If any detail does not match, the work should not start until it is explained.
This guide states only that the Department is the agency OSU names. It does not describe the Department’s online forms or its current fees, which were not checked for this site. The Department’s own pages are the current source.
What if the licence cannot be shown?
Stop before the work starts. Ask for the details again in writing, check them with the Department and, if they cannot be confirmed, end the booking and keep a note of the conversation.
A technician working lawfully should be able to show the licence without delay. A missing licence is a reason to stop, and the caller is entitled to ask why. A note of the date, the name and what was said is useful if the matter is raised with the Department later.
A legitimate business will accept a pause. A short delay is a small cost compared with a product applied by someone who cannot show they are allowed to apply it.
What the licence does not tell you
A licence confirms who may apply a product. It does not guarantee the quality of the inspection, the sealing or the follow-up, and it does not tell you whether the price is fair.
A licence is a minimum. It shows that the person is allowed to do the work and that the business is registered. It does not show that the report will be clear, that the follow-up is timed correctly or that the price is reasonable.
For those questions, ask for a sample report, the follow-up schedule and the scope of the quote. Those documents show the quality of the service, and the licence is the first check that comes before them.
How do the licence and the business licence differ?
The individual applicator and the business that employs or directs the applicator are two different parts of the picture. A caller should ask about both, and the business should be able to show that its work is covered.
An applicator’s licence attaches to a person and to the categories that person has passed. A business arrangement that directs the work attaches to the company and to its responsible person. A technician may hold a licence in one category and be working under a business that covers another, and the caller should ask which category applies to the work being booked.
The OSU listing does not describe the business arrangement in detail, and this guide does not invent one. The caller can ask the business to explain how its licences and its supervision fit together, and to show the records if asked.
What questions should a caller ask about the category?
Ask which category covers the job, whether the applicator holds it and whether the job will be done under that category. For a termite or wood-destroying job, the answer should name the termite category.
A general pest visit for ants and rodents falls under general pest control, and a termite inspection or treatment falls under termite and wood-destroying insect control. A business that offers both should say which applicator holds which category, so the caller knows who is doing each part.
If a business answers the category question vaguely, the caller should not sign the contract until the answer is clear. A clear answer costs the business nothing and protects the caller.
What records should I keep after the booking?
Keep the booking note, the licence details given, the name of the technician and the supervisor, the category stated, the quote and the product name. Those records show what was agreed and who did the work.
A short file, paper or electronic, is enough. Write the date of each call, who answered and what was said about the licence and the category. If a dispute arises later, a dated note is far more useful than a memory of the conversation.
Keep the report with the house records as well. The report shows the findings and the recommendations, and it is the document a later technician or a buyer will want to see.
How do I handle a change of technician during a plan?
A plan that runs for several visits may see a change of technician. The caller should ask for the licence details again when the person changes, and the report should name the technician for each visit.
A change of technician is normal in a long plan, and it is not a reason to stop. The new technician should be able to show the licence and the category before work starts, and the caller can check the details with the Department if they wish.
A business that changes its supervisor should be able to say who now holds that role. The earlier details stay on file, so the change can be seen later if a question comes up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to use a mousetrap?
This guide covers paid pesticide application. A homeowner setting their own traps is not in the same position as a technician applying products for a fee, though label rules still apply.
Is the licence number printed on this site?
No. The details are given on request by phone and are not printed, for the privacy of the technician. The Department is the place to check any number a caller receives.
What if the business is from another county?
The licence is held with the state, so the same check applies. Confirm the business and the applicator with the Department, whatever county the work is in.
Does a licence mean the company is insured?
This guide does not state any insurance position. The licence and the insurance are separate matters, and the business should be asked about its insurance directly.
Who do I call if the licence check fails?
Call the Ohio Department of Agriculture with the details you have, and tell the business that the work will not start until the licence is confirmed. Keep a note of the call and of the answer.
Does a licensed business have to show the category on its van or its paperwork?
This guide does not state a rule about signage. It advises asking for the category in writing on the quote, so the caller has a record of what the business said it is licensed to do.
Is a licence check needed for a one-off visit?
Yes. The licence rule applies to each paid application, whether the visit is one-off or part of a plan. The check takes the same few minutes.
Sources
- Ohio State University, Pesticide applicator training listing for structural pest control (cfaes.osu.edu), 2019
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (agri.ohio.gov)
This guide is general information for Franklin County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.