Pesticide licence in Arizona: certification, business licence and fees

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The sources are the Arizona Revised Statutes on the Arizona Legislature site: title 3, chapter 20 (pest management) and article 6 of chapter 2 (pesticide control). The Arizona Department of Agriculture pest management division runs the programme. Its own web pages and the administrative code on the Secretary of State site answered with an access-denied page on October 9, 2026, so fees, exam content and renewal terms set by rule are not on this page. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.

At a glance

Item	What the sources say
Agency	Arizona Department of Agriculture, pest management division
Credentials for work for hire	A business licence for the business, a certified applicator licence for the person applying, and a registered qualifying party who is a certified qualified applicator
Category for trees and turf	Ornamental and turf pest management
Other categories	Industrial, institutional, structural and health-related; wood-destroying organism management; right-of-way; aquatic; fumigation; others set by rule
Exam	The director develops and runs or contracts the tests; content and pass mark are not in the statutes
Fees	Set by rule; the statute lists what is charged but gives no amounts. Not published on the pages read
Insurance or bond	Financial security of at least US$500,000, kept at that level at all times in the licensing period
Background check	Fingerprints for a new applicator or new qualified applicator, or an unexpired fingerprint clearance card

What counts as pest management

The definitions section, A.R.S. 3-3601, defines pest management as managing health-related, aquatic, household and wood-destroying pests and other pests, including weeds, in or near structures, in ornamental shrubs and trees, along rights-of-way and in lawns or cemeteries. It also covers management by persons for hire on golf courses. Pesticide applications used directly in the commercial production of crops and animals are outside it. The same section defines the business of pest management as engaging in, offering, advertising or soliciting it, including inspections, written or oral recommendations, estimates and bids, and the application of pesticides. Section 3-3602 adds that pest management is a statewide concern and is not subject to further regulation by a county, city or town.

Certification and the tree and turf category

According to the certification section, A.R.S. 3-3614, a person may apply for certification as an applicator or a qualified applicator in one or several categories. The list is industrial, institutional, structural and health-related pest management; wood-destroying organism management; ornamental and turf pest management; right-of-way pest management; aquatic pest management; fumigation; and other categories set by rule. A new applicator or new qualified applicator sends the division a full set of fingerprints for a state and federal criminal records check, or an unexpired fingerprint clearance card. Section 3-3603 tells the director to develop and run or contract the certification tests at locations around the state, and to oversee continuing education courses.

Business licence, financial security and the qualifying party

According to A.R.S. 3-3615, a person who engages in the business of pest management must hold a business licence, and a person who advertises or solicits the work is presumed to be in the business. The application carries proof of financial security: money on deposit, liability insurance, self-insured retention, a surety bond or a certified check. The amount must be at least US$500,000 at all times, and the licence is suspended if it falls below that. A licence stands suspended automatically if the proof on file expires. If the security is liability insurance, the statute lists the coverage endorsements, including pesticides and herbicides, rights-of-way and pollution transit for the licence categories held. Extra bonds or policy riders of US$100,000 apply to termite treatment and to wood-destroying insect inspection reports. Section 3-3616 says no one may be in the business in any category without a registered qualifying party in that category, who must be a certified qualified applicator. Section 3-3617 requires each branch office to be registered and supervised by a registered branch supervisor.

The exemption for lawn, garden, shrub and tree maintenance

The landscaper section, A.R.S. 3-3613, says the licensure and registration requirements do not apply to a person who does lawn, garden, shrub or tree maintenance and applies herbicides for weed management. It then lists eight cases where they do apply: restricted use or "danger" labelled herbicides; sterilants or preemergent herbicides; weed management as the primary service or advertised; more than five gallons of mixed liquid herbicide at an address or project on one day; more than twenty-five pounds of non-liquid herbicide; a crew of two or more herbicide applicators; any use at a school or child care facility; and use at an address where no lawn, garden, shrub or tree maintenance is done that day. An exempt person must give each customer treatment records and keep the same records for at least six months. Records show the address, date, herbicide name, amount and the person who applied it. Missing records lead to a written notice for a first violation, a civil penalty of at least US$50 for a second and up to US$1,000 for a third. The exemption covers herbicides only. Section 3-3606 says only a certified applicator may apply pesticides at a school or child care facility, with 72 hours of advance notice.

Other exemptions and the agricultural side

Section 3-3611 exempts, among others, people applying nonrestricted pesticides on residential property they own, and utility employees where pest management is needed for their own health and safety. Section 3-3612 treats political subdivisions: they need no business licence, but their employees who give pest management services must be certified applicators, with listed exceptions. Separately, the rules section A.R.S. 3-363 covers general pesticide use rules and sets fee ceilings of not more than US$100 a year for a custom applicator licence and not more than US$50 a year for restricted use certification, and leaves pest management under chapter 20.