California · Continuing education
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) CEU requirements
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) licenses and certifies the people who apply, sell, or advise on pesticides in California — Qualified Applicator License (QAL) and Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) holders, Pest Control Advisers (PCA), vector control technicians, and pesticide dealers. It is a separate agency from the Structural Pest Control Board, which licenses structural pest control in California; a California pest control professional renews with whichever of the two issued their credential.
California has more than one pest control licensing authority. If your license was issued by Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB), its hours and fees are different — these are the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)’s.
Licenses the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) issues
These are the California credentials this agency licenses and recertifies.
Qualified Applicator License (QAL)
Supervises or applies pesticides for hire, and can serve as the qualified person for a California pest control business.
Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC)
Applies or supervises pesticide applications, but cannot act as a business's qualifying supervisor.
Pest Control Adviser (PCA)
Advises on, or recommends, the use of agricultural pesticides in California.
Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate
Apprentice (APC) and Journeyman (JPC) certificates for aerial pesticide application.
Vector Control Technician (VCT)
Controls public health pests in government-sponsored vector control programs.
Pest Control Dealer Designated Agent (DDA)
Handles the sale and distribution of agricultural pesticides for a licensed dealer.
Business licenses
Pest Control Business (Main / Branch)
Provides pest control services for hire in California.
Maintenance Gardener Pest Control Business (MGB)
Performs maintenance gardening with limited pest control for clients.
Pest Control Dealer (Main / Branch)
Sells agricultural pesticides to end users.
Pesticide Broker (Main / Branch)
Arranges pesticide sales between dealers and end users.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) continuing education hours
Hours required to renew a California license issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). Courses have to be approved by this agency.
| License type | Required CEUs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Applicator License (QAL) — first renewal | 10 total hours | 2 of the 10 must be Laws & Regulations. Applies when the first license period runs 12–20 months; a first period under 12 months requires no hours. |
| Qualified Applicator License (QAL) — every renewal after the first | 20 total hours | 4 of the 20 must be Laws & Regulations, earned across the 21–24-month license period. |
| Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) — first renewal | 10 total hours | 2 of the 10 must be Laws & Regulations. Applies when the first certificate period runs 12–20 months. |
| Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) — every renewal after the first | 20 total hours | 4 of the 20 must be Laws & Regulations, earned across the 21–24-month certificate period. |
| Pest Control Adviser (PCA) — first renewal | 20 total hours | 2 of the 20 must be Laws & Regulations, for a first license period of 12–20 months. |
| Pest Control Adviser (PCA) — every renewal after the first | 40 total hours | 4 of the 40 must be Laws & Regulations, earned across the 21–24-month license period. |
| QAL or QAC holding only category H | 4 total hours | 2 Laws & Regulations after the first renewal; 2 total hours with 1 Laws hour at the first renewal. |
| QAC holding only subcategory Q | 8 total hours | 2 Laws & Regulations after the first renewal; 4 total hours with 1 Laws hour at the first renewal. |
| Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate | 20 total hours | 4 Laws & Regulations and 4 Aerial after the first renewal; 10 total with 2 Laws and 2 Aerial at the first renewal. |
Source: www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ce_hours.pdf, www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/individual_renewal_packet.pdf
Renewing with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)
California renewal deadline · Every 2 years — CDPR renewal applications must be postmarked on or before December 31, and the license must be renewed by January 1 to keep working
Watch for the renewal packet CDPR mails in August, or download the Individual License/Certificate Renewal Application Packet from cdpr.ca.gov.
Complete all DPR-approved CE hours inside the valid period printed on your license or certificate — there is no grace period, and extra hours do not carry over to the next cycle.
Fill in the LIC-141 renewal application and the Continuing Education Records Renewal Summary on page 2, which CDPR now requires with every renewal.
Enclose the renewal fee — $270 for a QAL, $140 for a QAC, $320 for a PCA — payable to “Cashier, Department of Pesticide Regulation”.
Mail it to Department of Pesticide Regulation, Attn: Cashier MS-4A, PO Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-4015. CDPR recommends submitting by October 1 so the new license arrives before January 1.
Allow up to 60 days for processing. An application postmarked after December 31 is charged a late penalty of 50% of the renewal fee.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) fees
Paid directly to the agency, not to LearnPest. We never mark up a state fee.
CDPR license renewal fees (2-year period)
- Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA)$320 (Late Fee $160)
- Qualified Applicator License (QAL)$270 (Late Fee $135)
- Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC)$140 (Late Fee $70)
- Pest Control Dealer Designated Agent (DDA)$110 (Late Fee $55)
- Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate (manned or unmanned)$200 (Late Fee $100)
Sources: www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ce_hours.pdf, www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/individual_renewal_packet.pdf
Earn your California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) hours with LearnPest
LearnPest sells state-approved California continuing education courses and bundles, stores every certificate, and reports your completions to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). Prices, bundles and plans are on the California pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many continuing education hours does the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) require?
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) sets continuing education hours by license type for California: Qualified Applicator License (QAL) — first renewal — 10 total hours; Qualified Applicator License (QAL) — every renewal after the first — 20 total hours; Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) — first renewal — 10 total hours; Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) — every renewal after the first — 20 total hours; Pest Control Adviser (PCA) — first renewal — 20 total hours; and Pest Control Adviser (PCA) — every renewal after the first — 40 total hours. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) publishes 9 license types in total; the full table is on this page. Hours must come from courses the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has approved. LearnPest sells state-approved California CEU courses and bundles for these license types, stores every certificate, and reports your completions to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) for you.
When do I have to renew my California pest control license with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)?
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) renewal deadline for California is: Every 2 years — CDPR renewal applications must be postmarked on or before December 31, and the license must be renewed by January 1 to keep working. Watch for the renewal packet CDPR mails in August, or download the Individual License/Certificate Renewal Application Packet from cdpr.ca.gov. LearnPest tracks that California deadline for you, reminds you before it, and keeps every California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) CEU certificate you earn in one place.
How much does it cost to renew a California license with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)?
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) charges these California fees: Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA) — $320 (Late Fee $160); Qualified Applicator License (QAL) — $270 (Late Fee $135); Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) — $140 (Late Fee $70); Pest Control Dealer Designated Agent (DDA) — $110 (Late Fee $55); and Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate (manned or unmanned) — $200 (Late Fee $100). Those fees go to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), not to LearnPest — we never mark up a state fee. LearnPest charges separately for the California continuing education courses that renewal requires.
Who regulates pest control licensing in California?
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) licenses and certifies the people who apply, sell, or advise on pesticides in California — Qualified Applicator License (QAL) and Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) holders, Pest Control Advisers (PCA), vector control technicians, and pesticide dealers. It is a separate agency from the Structural Pest Control Board, which licenses structural pest control in California; a California pest control professional renews with whichever of the two issued their credential. California therefore has more than one licensing authority, and continuing education approved by one does not satisfy the other — check which agency issued your license before counting hours. LearnPest is a continuing education provider for California and reports completions to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) on your behalf.
Where can I look up a California pest control license?
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) publishes a public California license lookup at https://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/license/currlic.cfm. Use it to confirm your own license status, a coworker's, or a contractor's before hiring. LearnPest keeps your California CEU certificates and completion records alongside your license details so you can answer an audit without digging.