South Carolina · Continuing education
Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation CEU requirements
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is South Carolina's pesticide regulatory authority. It licenses commercial, non-commercial and private pesticide applicators, licenses pest control businesses and their Designated Certified Applicators, runs the Verifiable Technician program, approves recertification courses, and enforces the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act. South Carolina's pesticide program sits with Clemson University rather than a state department of agriculture.
Licenses the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation issues
These are the South Carolina credentials this agency licenses and recertifies.
Category 7A — Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health-Related
Pesticide use in, on or around food-handling establishments, dwellings, institutions such as schools and hospitals, and industrial establishments. Licensing is mandatory, and termite and wood-destroying organism work runs under 7A.
Category 7B — Fumigation
Using or supervising the use of a restricted use fumigant for pest control.
Category 8 — Public Health Pest Control
Pesticide use in public health programs by state, federal or other employees. Licensing is mandatory.
Category 3 — Ornamental and Turf Pest Control
Pesticide use on ornamental plants and turf. Licensing is mandatory.
Category 5 — Aquatic Pest Control
Pesticide use in or on standing or running water. Licensing is mandatory.
Category 6 — Right-of-Way Pest Control
Pesticide use along roadsides, powerlines, pipelines and other rights-of-way.
Designated Certified Applicator (DCA)
The licensed applicator a pest control business location must have permanently assigned full time; nobody may be the DCA for more than one location.
Verifiable Technician (VT)
Not a license — a trained technician working under a licensed business's DCA, carrying a valid VT ID card. Technicians trained under the retired material may not apply restricted use pesticides.
Pest control business license
Required of the business itself; valid January 1 to December 31 and renewed each year.
Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation continuing education hours
Hours required to renew a South Carolina license issued by the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation. Courses have to be approved by this agency.
| License type | Required CEUs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category 7A — Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health-Related | 20 CCUs | Per 5-year recertification block, at least 12 of them specific to Category 7A. The current commercial block runs January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028. |
| Category 7B — Fumigation | 10 CCUs | Per 5-year block, at least 3 of them specific to Category 7B. |
| Category 3, 5 or 8 | 10 CCUs | Per 5-year block, at least 3 of them specific to each category held. |
| Category 7A plus any one of 3, 5, 7B or 8 | 20 CCUs | Per 5-year block, 15 of them category-specific. |
| Category 7A plus any two of 3, 5, 7B or 8 | 20 CCUs | Per 5-year block, 18 of them category-specific. |
| Category 7A plus any three of 3, 5, 7B or 8 | 21 CCUs | Per 5-year block, all 21 category-specific. |
| Category 7A plus all of 3, 5, 7B and 8 | 24 CCUs | Per 5-year block, all 24 category-specific — South Carolina caps the requirement at 24 CCUs. |
| Any other commercial category | 10 CCUs | Per 5-year block, with no category-specific minimum. |
| Non-commercial applicator | 10 CCUs | Per 5-year block. |
| Private applicator | 5 CCUs | Private applicators run on their own 5-year block, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029. |
Source: www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/pesticide-regulation/licensing/recertification.html, www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/pesticide-regulation/about/faq.html, www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t46c013.php
Renewing with the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation
South Carolina renewal deadline · Commercial and non-commercial licenses expire December 31 every year; recertification CCUs are due at the end of each 5-year block — the current commercial block runs January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028
Watch for the Department of Pesticide Regulation renewal notice, mailed to commercial and business licensees in mid-to-late October.
Confirm your general liability insurance is still in force — an uninsured South Carolina license is suspended immediately and revoked after 90 days.
Renew and pay on or before December 31; renewal payments go through Clemson's PestPay portal.
Miss December 31 and a penalty of 25% of the original fee applies from January 1 — you can still renew through March 31.
Miss March 31 and there is no renewal path left: you must retake the certification examinations and submit a new license application.
Keep your five-year CCU total on track separately — paying the annual renewal does not satisfy recertification, and no more than half of your required credits may be earned in the final year of the block.
Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation fees
Paid directly to the agency, not to LearnPest. We never mark up a state fee.
DPR license fees
- New commercial applicator license$50
- Pest control business license$150
- Designated Certified Applicator (DCA) license$50
- Category 7A group renewal — the DCA$50 per year
- Category 7A group renewal — each additional licensed applicator$10 per licensed category, capped at $50 per applicator
- Late renewal penalty25% of the original fee
- Replacement license$15
DPR examination and training fees
- Core examination$75
- Each category examination$50
- Verifiable Technician initial training$50 (annual retraining is free)
Sources: www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/pesticide-regulation/licensing/recertification.html, www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/pesticide-regulation/about/faq.html, www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t46c013.php
Earn your Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation hours with LearnPest
LearnPest sells state-approved South Carolina continuing education courses and bundles, stores every certificate, and reports your completions to the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation. Prices, bundles and plans are on the South Carolina pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many continuing education hours does the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation require?
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation sets continuing education hours by license type for South Carolina: Category 7A — Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health-Related — 20 CCUs; Category 7B — Fumigation — 10 CCUs; Category 3, 5 or 8 — 10 CCUs; Category 7A plus any one of 3, 5, 7B or 8 — 20 CCUs; Category 7A plus any two of 3, 5, 7B or 8 — 20 CCUs; and Category 7A plus any three of 3, 5, 7B or 8 — 21 CCUs. The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation publishes 10 license types in total; the full table is on this page. Hours must come from courses the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation has approved. LearnPest sells state-approved South Carolina CEU courses and bundles for these license types, stores every certificate, and reports your completions to the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation for you.
When do I have to renew my South Carolina pest control license with the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation?
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation renewal deadline for South Carolina is: Commercial and non-commercial licenses expire December 31 every year; recertification CCUs are due at the end of each 5-year block — the current commercial block runs January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028. Watch for the Department of Pesticide Regulation renewal notice, mailed to commercial and business licensees in mid-to-late October. LearnPest tracks that South Carolina deadline for you, reminds you before it, and keeps every Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation CEU certificate you earn in one place.
How much does it cost to renew a South Carolina license with the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation?
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation charges these South Carolina fees: New commercial applicator license — $50; Pest control business license — $150; Designated Certified Applicator (DCA) license — $50; Category 7A group renewal — the DCA — $50 per year; and Category 7A group renewal — each additional licensed applicator — $10 per licensed category, capped at $50 per applicator. Those fees go to the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation, not to LearnPest — we never mark up a state fee. LearnPest charges separately for the South Carolina continuing education courses that renewal requires.
Who regulates pest control licensing in South Carolina?
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is South Carolina's pesticide regulatory authority. It licenses commercial, non-commercial and private pesticide applicators, licenses pest control businesses and their Designated Certified Applicators, runs the Verifiable Technician program, approves recertification courses, and enforces the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act. South Carolina's pesticide program sits with Clemson University rather than a state department of agriculture. LearnPest is a continuing education provider for South Carolina and reports completions to the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation on your behalf.
Where can I look up a South Carolina pest control license?
The Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation publishes a public South Carolina license lookup at https://regfocus.clemson.edu/dpr/commercial.htm. Use it to confirm your own license status, a coworker's, or a contractor's before hiring. LearnPest keeps your South Carolina CEU certificates and completion records alongside your license details so you can answer an audit without digging.