It is important that your pest control company knows what they are doing and is properly trained. If you are looking for a qualified commercial or residential exterminator that can provide roach, subterranean termite, dry wood termite, roaches, spider, ant and flea services, make sure that they are state certified inspectors?
What is a Certified Pest Control Operator?
A certified operator is an individual who has passed an examination administered by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in any of four certification categories.
The categories that a person can be certified in are:
- General Household and Rodent Control;
- Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control;
- Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms Control; and
- Fumigation.
A person can be certified in just one or all four categories. A company’s pest control operations are the responsibility of the certified operator in charge and the business operations are limited to the category (or categories) possessed by the certified operator (or operators) in charge at the business location.
Pest Control Business License
A business license must be issued to a company BEFORE they begin any pest control services. They will not be able to get a local business tax license (formerly known as an occupational license) until they have been issued a business license.
The pest control activities for a company must be under the direction of a certified operator possessing the category or categories that they would like to operate within. The certified operator is required to endorse or sign the business license application.
Insurance Coverage
The law requires a pest control business to maintain a minimum amount of insurance coverage. Presently those limits are set at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $250,000 per occurrence and $500,000 in the aggregate for property damage or a combined single limit coverage of $500,000 in the aggregate.
Qualifications for Pest Control Operators
Pest control operator certificates are issued to individuals who:
- Are over age 18 and
- Pass the written examinations administered by FDACS.
How to Qualify to Take the Certification Examination
You can qualify to take the certification examination by experience or by education plus experience.
Experience – To qualify by experience, they must be able to document:
- A high school education or equivalency and
- Three years of experience as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in any category or categories in which you are seeking certification. At least one of these years must have been under a licensee in Florida and must immediately precede your application for examination.
Education – To qualify through education, they must be able to document:
- A degree and 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in entomology, botany, agronomy or horticulture from a recognized college or university. (They may also qualify without a degree, provided they have 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours advanced training in entomology, botany, agronomy or horticulture.)
- One year of experience as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in any category or categories in which they are seeking certification.
- Note: If their education is in entomology, they are qualified for examination in all categories. If their education is in horticulture, botany or agronomy, they are qualified for examination only in the category of Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control.
Commercial Structural Pest Control
For structural pest control (pest control provided to homes or other structures), Florida law requires that each pest control business location must:
- Be licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS),
- Carry the required insurance coverage ($250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $250,000 per occurrence and $500,000 in the aggregate for property damage, or a combined single limit coverage of $500,000 in the aggregate), and
- Employ full-time a Florida-certified operator in charge of the pest control operations of the business location. This operator must be certified in the categories in which the business operates:
- General Household Pest and Rodent Control,
- Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms Control,
- Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control, and/or
- Fumigation.
Obviously, there are many benefits to hiring your pest control company that is state certified.
Drive-Bye Exterminators offers home and commercial pest control services in Clearwater, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Family owned and operated for over 25 years, Drive-Bye Exterminators has state certified inspectors and exterminators provide roach, subterranean termite, dry wood termite, roaches, spider, ant and flea services to both commercial and residential clients. Whether a business owner needs help getting rid of a termite infestation, or a homeowner wants to rid their kitchen of ants, Drive-Bye Exterminators offers each client the same level of professionalism and excellence.
Request a FREE Pest Control or Termite Inspection today with the Professionals of Drive-Bye Exterminators. Contact Us Today at 727-787-2127.
