How to become a pest controller in Australia, updated for 2025

With the Pest Control industry predicted to grow steadily over the next 10 years, there has never been a better time to become a Pestie. So if you are thinking of becoming a pest controller, we’ve put together a guide that covers everything you need to know about becoming a pest controller in Australia; this includes getting qualified, licensed, insured, & actually working in the industry. We’ve also broken down the license requirements by state, as they vary slightly from state to state.

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Table of Contents

• TLDR, the 7-step path
• Step 1: Entry requirements
• Step 2: Get qualified
• Step 3: Licences by state and territory
• Working interstate in 2025
• Step 4: Insurance and compliance
• Step 5: Choose your path: employment or business
• Step 6: Tools and setup
• Step 7: Specialisations and upgrades
• What changed for 2025
• Costs and timelines
• Downloadable starter checklist, 2025
• FAQs
• Final tips

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TLDR, the 7-step path

1. Check that you meet the basics, age, medical fitness, and fit and proper requirements where applicable.
2. Complete the core qualification, CPP30119 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management, usually 10 units, 5 core plus 5 electives. Timber work typically needs extra timber units.
3. Apply for your state or territory licence. Rules and fees vary.
4. Get insured, public liability at minimum, and consider professional indemnity if you do inspections and detailed reporting.
5. Get on-the-job experience as a trainee or provisional technician under supervision, then upskill to timber pests or fumigation if relevant.
6. Set up safe operations, vehicle chemical storage, SDS and record-keeping procedures.
7. If starting a business, register an ABN, set pricing and routes, and choose software for scheduling, CRM, forms, invoicing, and chemical logs.

Step 1: Entry requirements

To become a licensed pest controller in Australia, there are a few standard requirements you’ll need to meet:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Health: You’ll need to be medically fit to handle scheduled poisons and chemicals safely.
• Character: Applicants are generally required to be a “fit and proper person,” meaning you must be responsible and suitable for the role.
• Evidence: Expect to provide proof of ID, evidence of training, and sometimes a medical check.
• Supervision: When you’re starting out, you may need to work under supervision until you’re fully licensed.

On top of the formal requirements, there are a few practical skills that make a big difference: clear customer communication, safe handling of chemicals, and confidence behind the wheel since much of the work involves travel between jobs.

Step 2: Get qualified

The national qualification is CPP30119 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management. It prepares you to identify pests, assess problems, plan and implement treatments, and liaise with customers.

Course requirements are 10 units in total, 5 core and 5 electives. Additionally, it's worth noting that for Timber termites work, it usually requires timber units, such as inspecting for and reporting on timber pests and controlling timber pests. Some providers also teach the installation of termite management systems as an elective.

Delivery is commonly blended, online theory plus workplace practicals. If termites are in scope for your work, confirm with your regulator and your RTO that your elective set meets the licence authorisations you want.

Step 3: Licences by state and territory

Each state uses different licence names and processes, with renewals every 1 to 5 years and endorsements for things like timber pests or fumigation. Use these as a checklist, then apply on the official pages.

• New South Wales, Pest Management Technician licence, plus a timber pest management technician licence for termite work. Apply via Service NSW and see the NSW EPA for training permits and responsibilities. For more info, see NSW EPA.
• Queensland, Pest Management Technician licence under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019, with endorsements including urban pests, timber pests, fumigation, and activities in high-risk or sensitive places. For more info, see QLD Health or QBCC.
• Victoria, pest control licences issued by the Department of Health, with authorisations such as general, general including timber, pest animals, and fumigants. For more info, see Vic Health.
• Western Australia, WA Health licenses technicians and businesses, with provisional and full licences and an approved training list. For more info, see WA Health.
• South Australia, anyone doing pest control for a fee or reward, or running a pest control business, must hold the appropriate licence. For more info, see SA Health.
• Tasmania, NRE Tasmania issues Commercial Operator Licences for businesses using agvet chemicals in pest management. For more info, go to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania .
• Australian Capital Territory, you may need an Environmental Authorisation for commercial pest or weed control under the Environment Protection Act. For more info, see ACT Government Access Canberra
• Northern Territory, apply for a Pest Management Technician licence, check fees, interstate recognition, and record-keeping duties. For more info, see the official site of Medicines and Poisons, Department of Health

Working interstate in 2025

Automatic Mutual Recognition, AMR, lets many licensed workers from one state work in another without getting a new local licence, but you often need to notify first. Always check if your occupation is covered and follow the local notification process.

Step 4: insurance and compliance

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Public liability insurance, your non-negotiable

Public liability covers you if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged because of your work, for example, overspray damaging a client’s car or a customer slipping on a wet surface you created. Many clients will ask for a certificate of currency before booking you. Typical limits for small operators start at 5 to 10 million dollars, though higher limits can be required by councils or facility managers. Get advice from a broker who understands trades, and make sure your policy covers on-site work at clients’ premises. 

How to implement: choose a limit that matches your biggest expected client, list any high-risk activities you do, name regular commercial clients as interested parties if requested, and save your certificate of currency in a shared folder you can access on the road. 

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Professional indemnity, if you issue reports or advice

If you provide termite inspections, pre-purchase timber pest reports, or written recommendations that clients rely on, add professional indemnity. This covers claims alleging your advice or report was negligent, for example, an error in a report that leads to financial loss. Ask for retroactive cover so past work is protected, and run-off cover if you ever pause or sell the business. 

How to implement: list every service where a client could rely on your written opinion, set a limit that matches the value at risk in those jobs, and standardise disclaimers and scope in your report templates so they align with your policy wording. 

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Compliance, & what's expected of you

Use every chemical exactly as the label directs, and keep current SDS and product labels in a simple hazardous chemical register that your team can access. For every treatment, complete a pesticide use record on the day, then store it for at least three years. Keep your certificate of currency, licences, and client reports in one shared folder so you can prove what you did if asked.

Build a tight daily rhythm. Before the job, check the label, SDS, PPE, and, if spraying outdoors, the weather. During the job, record the product, rate, area, method, and timing. After the job, attach photos and file the record. Train your team on PPE selection and use, and run a short spill response drill with stocked spill kits in every vehicle. With that process and paper trail in place, you will pass audits, meet your legal duties, and look professional to clients.

Step 5: Choose your path: employment or business

Employment: Many companies hire trainees or provisionals under supervision. Ask about training support and mentoring.

Start a business; some jurisdictions require business-level authorisation or registration. Check your state page. Plan your pricing, service menu, routes, and partnerships with real estate and strata managers.

Step 6: tools and setup

• Gear, PPE, hand sprayers, dusters, gel guns, bait stations, torch, ladder, moisture meter, and termite detection tools for timber work.
• Vehicle and storage, secure chemical storage, ventilation, signage, and an SDS folder kept up to date.
• Record keeping, embed treatment records and client notifications into your process.
• Software stack, job scheduling, CRM, quotes and invoices, smart forms for service reports, chemical usage logs, and automated client reminders.

Step 7: specialisations and upgrades

• Timber pests, add the timber units and on-site experience before you market termite services.
• Fumigation, separate licensing and training. Check your state page for fumigant authorisations.
• In high-risk or sensitive places, some jurisdictions recognise additional activities for work in aged care, childcare, food manufacturing, and similar sites.

What changed for 2025

NSW updated its Automatic Mutual Recognition information in 2025. Confirm coverage and notification steps before you work interstate.

Queensland continues under the Medicines and Poisons framework. Review endorsements and competency standards before you apply.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm details on the regulator pages before you enrol or apply.

Costs and timelines

Training can run from a few months to about a year, depending on the mode and recognition of prior learning. Many RTOs list a 12 to 18-month maximum duration.

Licence processing often takes a few weeks once your units and supervision evidence are in. Fees vary by state and licence class. Check your regulator and RTO for current amounts.

Downloadable Steps to become a pest controller checklist, 2025

☐ Confirm eligibility and medical fitness, if required

☐ Enrol in CPP30119 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management, choose timber electives if you plan to do termites

☐ Arrange trainee, provisional, or supervised work while you study

☐ Apply for your state or territory licence, pick endorsements you need

☐ Set up public liability and, if needed, professional indemnity

☐ Prepare SDS, labels, and a compliant record-keeping workflow

☐ Equip PPE, sprayers, dusters, baits, and termite tools

☐ Fit out vehicle storage and spill kit

☐ Choose job scheduling, CRM, smart forms, invoicing, and chemical logs

☐ Plan your routes, pricing, and service menu

FAQs

Do I need a licence in every state I work in, or does AMR cover me in 2025?

AMR often allows interstate work without a new local licence, but you may need to notify before you start. Check coverage for your occupation and follow the local process.

Which qualification do I actually need to start?

CPP30119 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management is the standard pathway, with electives aligned to the work you intend to do.

What extra study do I need for termites?

Complete the timber electives, such as Inspect for and report on timber pests and Control timber pests, and confirm your licence authorisation includes timber pests.

Can I start as a trainee while I study?

Typical pathways allow supervised work under trainee, provisional, or training permit arrangements. Check your state rules.

What records am I legally required to keep?

Keep pesticide use records for commercial work, along with SDS and product labels. Some states specify minimum retention periods.

Do I need a separate business licence?

Some jurisdictions require business-level authorisation or registration. Check your state page.

Cost of the course

The Estimated fee for Certificate III in Urban Pest Management is $4,295 - $6,600, however depending on the state you may be eligible for a subsidy

Is this course covered for a traineeship

Yes, check with the provider for details of if this is something they can help facilitate with you.

Where can I study this course

There are 9 providers in Australia offering this course with either online or in-person study options available. The pest management app has partnered with some key providers, and your training includes access to our platform whilst you are doing the course.
These providers are;
- Rapid Training ( https://www.rapidsolutions.com.au/certificate-iii-in-urban-pest-management-cpp30119/ )
- MPL Training  (https://www.mpltraining.com.au/pest-control-courses/certificate-iii-urban-pest-management-course-blended/ )

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Final thoughts

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If you have been thinking about becoming a pestie, now is the time. Choose the training format that suits you, in person or online, and build strong record-keeping habits from day one. Do that, and you will save yourself headaches later.

Finally a little bit from us, Running a pest control business gets easier when the admin takes care of itself. If you want a lightweight stack for scheduling, CRM, smart forms, invoices, and chemical usage logs, Start your free trial today of the pest management app.

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