Free License Tracking
Every license and expiration date in one place.
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Create free account- Full company applicator roster
- License expiration tracking and reminders
- Licenses verified against the state
- Unlimited technicians
Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB)
California Pest Control Licensing
Pricing for Pest Control Operators
Start free. Add unlimited continuing education for $695 a year per branch.
Every technician at the branch is covered, new hires included, with automatic state reporting and certificates stored permanently. Add AI field support for $299 a month when it launches.
Plans for pest control companies
Unlimited Continuing Education
Unlimited access to our entire library of state-approved courses for your entire branch.
$58/mo
$695 billed annually, per branch
Get started- Everything in Free License Tracking
- Unlimited CE courses for your team, every approved state
- Automatic state reporting
- Certificates stored permanently
- Multi-license tracking per applicator
New Hire Training & Field Support
Coming soonPersonalized AI trains new hires and applicators REAL TIME in the field.
$299/mo
billed annually, per branch
· or $349 month-to-month
- Everything in Unlimited Continuing Education
- Scout AI exam prep for new licenses
- Scout AI in your messaging apps for field questions
- New hire onboarding built from your own SOPs and labels
- Progress tracking for all employees
3+ branches?
One agreement, consolidated billing, volume pricing.
Content Optimization
Our team reviews and optimizes your onboarding content. Available at setup.
$1,000 per program
Everything that’s included
Feature
Free
Continuing Education
AI Field Support
Technician roster, unlimited technicians
License expiration tracking and reminders
Licenses verified against the state database
Unlimited CE courses
Not included
Automatic state reporting
Not included
Completion certificates and storage
Not included
Scout AI exam prep
Not included
Not included
Scout in Slack
Not included
Not included
AI onboarding from your SOPs, labels and SDS
Not included
Not included
Pest control licensing in California
Renewing a structural pest control license in California means renewing with the Structural Pest Control Board. The SPCB licenses Branch 1 (fumigation), Branch 2 (general household pests) and Branch 3 (wood-destroying organisms) work, held by Applicators, Field Representatives and Operators. Every SPCB license expires in June: Applicators renew every three years, Field Representatives and Operators every two. LearnPest offers state-approved SPCB continuing education and reports your completions for you.
How to renew your California pest control license
Renewal deadline · Applicators renew every 3 years, Field Representatives and Operators every 2 years — every SPCB license expires in June and must be renewed by June 30
Renewal opens in May, the month before your SPCB license expires in June.
Renew online through the SPCB Connect online licensing system — log in and make sure every license you hold is linked to your account.
If you are not eligible for online renewal, a paper renewal is mailed automatically; contact the Board by June 1 if it has not arrived.
Complete all required continuing education hours by June 30 and keep the certificates — you upload them with your online renewal application.
Pay the renewal fee: $35 for an Applicator, $45 for a Field Representative, $150 for an Operator.
Miss June 30 and the license goes delinquent (and is not valid to work on) for up to 90 days; a license not renewed by September 30 is cancelled.
Continuing education requirements
California requires continuing education hours by license type. Our bundles below are sized to satisfy these in a single sitting.
| License type | Required CEUs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicator – Branch 2 | 12 total hours | 4 R&R, 6 Pesticide Use & Application, 2 IPM |
| Applicator – Branch 3 | 12 total hours | 4 R&R, 6 Pesticide Use & Application, 2 IPM |
| Applicator – Branch 2 & 3 | 12 total hours | 4 R&R, 6 Pesticide Use & Application, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branch 1 | 16 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 1, 4 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branch 2 | 16 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 2, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branch 3 | 16 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 3, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branches 1 & 2 | 20 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 1, 4 Tech Br. 2, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branches 1 & 3 | 20 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 1, 4 Tech Br. 3, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branches 2 & 3 | 20 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 2, 4 Tech Br. 3, 2 IPM |
| Field Representative & Operator – Branches 1, 2, 3 | 24 total hours | 8 R&R, 4 Tech Br. 1, 4 Tech Br. 2, 4 Tech Br. 3, 2 IPM |
California licensing fees
Direct from the state agency's published fee schedule. Use these to budget renewals and onboarding.
SPCB license renewal fees
- Applicator$35 (Delinquent Fee $17.50)
- Field Representative$45 (Delinquent Fee $22.50)
- Operator$150 (Delinquent Fee $75)
Here you can find the different license types available in California
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the pest control license valid in California?
Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) licenses in California — Applicator, Field Representative, and Operator — all expire in June. SPCB Applicators renew every three years; Field Representatives and Operators renew every two, and the renewal must be completed by June 30. LearnPest tracks that California deadline for you, stores every SPCB CEU certificate you earn, and reports your completions to the Structural Pest Control Board.
Do you need a license for pest control in California?
Yes. Structural pest control for hire in California requires a license from the Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) — Branch 1 for fumigation, Branch 2 for general household pests, and Branch 3 for wood-destroying organisms — held as an Applicator, Field Representative, or Operator. LearnPest sells state-approved California CEU courses for renewing an SPCB license and reports your completions to the board.
What is a Branch 3 license?
A Branch 3 license is one of the three branches of structural pest control licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB). It covers wood-destroying pests — termites and similar — controlled with insecticides or structural repairs, excluding fumigation, which is Branch 1. A Branch 3 Field Representative or Operator needs 16 SPCB continuing education hours per renewal, and LearnPest's California bundles are sized to cover them in one sitting.
Which entities regulate pest control in California?
Two separate California agencies do, and they are peers rather than one inside the other. The Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB), a board within the California Department of Consumer Affairs, licenses and regulates structural pest control. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency, licenses pesticide use, sales, and advising — QAL, QAC, and PCA — and regulates pesticide use statewide. You renew with whichever one issued your license, and LearnPest is approved to deliver California continuing education for both.
How long is a pest inspection valid in California?
A pest inspection is valid for two years.
Who pays for pest control in California?
Generally the landlord is responsible under most lease agreements.
What is the difference between the SPCB and CDPR in California?
California splits pest control oversight between two peer agencies. The Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) is a board within the California Department of Consumer Affairs and licenses structural pest control — Branch 1 (fumigation), Branch 2 (general household pests), and Branch 3 (wood-destroying organisms) Applicators, Field Representatives, and Operators. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) is a separate department within the California Environmental Protection Agency and licenses pesticide use and advising credentials — the Qualified Applicator License (QAL), Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC), and Pest Control Adviser (PCA). Neither is a division of the other, and a California licensee renews with whichever agency issued their license. LearnPest carries state-approved California continuing education for both.
Don’t just take our word for it:
Gold Crest Exterminators
“LearnPest continuing education courses are the BEST! This year I had to explore other companies who offer the required courses per the SPCB. I found LearnPest. I have been in business for 48+ years, and I have to say this was the least stressful of all. I would vouch for them 1000%. Thank you again, Caleb, you were so helpful.”
Mission Pest Control
“LearnPest has been a super useful tool for making license renewal a breeze. I love being able to just select the bundle for my license type with 1 click and always be sure I'm getting all the needed CEU's for my renewals! Super Easy!”
Moxie Pest Control
“So grateful I found LearnPest for my CEU hours. Not only for me but for my team. I've gone through multiple sites and this one by far has been the best and most convenient for me and my pest control company. Easy to use and great quiz questions. I will definitely be using them from now on.”