Find a licensed exterminator
How to find, check and hire a licensed exterminator: state license rules, public-record listings and what to ask before you hire.
Exterminators treat mice, rats, roaches, bed bugs, termites, ants and stinging insects. Anyone applying pesticides for hire must be certified by the state, and the business is usually registered with the state environmental or agriculture agency. The best pest control is mostly sealing gaps and removing food and water, with pesticides used where they're actually needed.
Where do you need an exterminator?
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What do exterminators do?
- Mice and rat control
- Roach treatments
- Bed bug inspection and heat or chemical treatment
- Termite inspection and treatment
- Ant, wasp and hornet removal
- Exclusion: sealing entry points
- Building pest management contracts
- Wildlife and bird control
How do you hire a good exterminator?
- Ask for the business registration and the applicator's state certification number, and check them with the state agency.
- Ask what product they'll use and where, and what you need to do before and after (pets, kids, food, laundry for bed bugs).
- Prefer companies that inspect and seal entry points (integrated pest management) over ones that only spray.
- For bed bugs, ask how many visits are included and whether a follow-up inspection is part of the price.
- Get the guarantee in writing: what happens if the pests come back within 30 or 90 days.
The US Census Bureau counts about 15,217 exterminating and pest control services with employees nationwide (County Business Patterns 2023). We list the ones we can confirm in public license records, starting with New York City.
Questions people ask
Do exterminators need a license?
Yes. Commercial pesticide applicators are certified by the state, and pest control businesses are registered, typically with the state environmental or agriculture department. Ask for both numbers.
Who pays for pest control in a rental?
In many places the landlord must keep the building free of pests, and in New York City landlords must fix pest conditions in apartments. Report it to the landlord in writing first, and to the city housing agency if nothing happens.
How many treatments does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
Usually two or three visits about two weeks apart for chemical treatments, or one heat treatment followed by an inspection. Be wary of a single-spray promise.
Are pest control treatments safe for pets and kids?
Ask the company for the product names and label instructions. Baits and gels placed in cracks are lower exposure than broad spraying. Keep pets and kids out of treated areas until the label says it's dry or safe.