For Florida pest control professionals
Industry Resources
Every reference link a Florida-licensed applicator needs — FDACS licensing, official forms, UF/IFAS research, EPA regulations, and industry associations. Plus a plain-language walk-through of Chapter 482 and Rule 5E-14 with direct links to each statutory section.
Official sources & reference links
Direct access to every primary authority a Florida applicator needs — grouped by source and mapped to what you're actually trying to do (renew a license, look up a label, ID a pest, join a trade group).
FDACS — Licensing & Regulation
Primary government sources for license applications, renewals, official forms, and regulatory interpretations.
The FDACS division that administers pest control licensing in Florida. Find license lookup, renewal information, forms, and regulatory guidance.
Official portal for pest control license applications, renewals, certified operator exams, employee ID cards, and continuing education provider registration.
The official FDACS form for documenting continuing education attendance. Required for CEU credit. Pest Education generates this form automatically when you pass a course.
The official Florida Legislature text of Chapter 482 (Pest Control). The authoritative source for all licensing and compliance questions.
The implementing regulation for Chapter 482. Covers minimum standards, license categories, CEU requirements, WDO inspection standards, and more.
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Research-based publications on Florida pest biology, turfgrass, ornamentals, and pest management from the state's land-grant university.
The primary online repository of University of Florida research-based publications on pest management, turf, ornamentals, and agriculture. Free to access.
Detailed fact sheets on Florida and southeastern insect species — biology, identification, host plants, and management. A go-to resource for FL pest ID.
Research and extension publications on Florida insects, mites, and nematodes — including identification guides, biology, and management recommendations.
Research and extension resources on Florida turfgrass varieties, cultural practices, pest management, and fertilization from the UF Turfgrass group.
Industry Associations
Florida and national trade organizations for networking, advocacy, and technical education beyond what CEU requirements cover.
The state trade association for Florida pest management professionals. Provides advocacy, education, networking, and industry resources for Florida operators.
The national trade association for the pest management industry. Resources include technical publications, training, and regulatory updates.
Industry association focused specifically on lawn and ornamental pest management in Florida. Provides technical updates, training, and networking for L&O operators.
EPA & Federal Pesticide Regulations
Federal regulatory framework that underlies Florida's state rules — FIFRA, label law, and toxicology resources every applicator should know.
Federal regulatory information on pesticide registration, labels, safety data, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Free, objective pesticide information for the public and professionals. Includes toxicology, exposure, first aid, and product-specific information.
EPA's online label repository. Search and view current registered pesticide labels — the authoritative source for legal use requirements.
Pest Identification & Invasive Species
Tools for identifying Florida pests in the field and staying current on invasive species detections.
Florida's primary agency for managing invasive pests and plant diseases. Report suspected new invasive pest detections to DPI. Maintains the Florida Invasive Species database.
Cooperative database of pest images and identification resources from universities and USDA. Useful for comparing specimens to reference photos.
Detailed fact sheets on Florida and southeastern insect species — includes biology, identification, host plants, and management. A go-to resource for FL pest ID.
Chapter 482 in plain language
Florida Statute Chapter 482 is the primary law governing the pest control industry in Florida. It is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Agricultural Environmental Services (DAES). Chapter 482 establishes who must be licensed, what a license covers, what certified operators are responsible for, what records must be kept, and what happens when violations occur.
Florida Administrative Code Rule 5E-14 is the implementing regulation for Chapter 482. It provides the detailed technical and procedural requirements that expand on the statute — including minimum standards for pest control work, CEU requirements, and license categories.
Click any section below to open the full statutory text at leg.state.fl.us, opened directly to that section.
Key statutory sections
Definitions
Read full section ↗Establishes key terms used throughout the chapter, including "pest control" (the use of pesticides or mechanical devices to control pests in or around structures), "certified operator" (the licensed individual responsible for the pest control activities of a licensee), "employee" (an individual performing pest control under the supervision of a certified operator), and "licensee" (the business holding the pest control license).
Licenses
Read full section ↗Requires every pest control business operating in Florida to hold a license issued by FDACS. Separate categories exist for General Household Pest, Lawn & Ornamental, Termite/WDO, and Fumigation — a business must be licensed in each category it operates in. Licenses must be renewed annually.
Employee identification cards
Read full section ↗Every employee performing pest control must carry a current FDACS-issued identification card while on duty. New ID cardholders owe a one-time 4-hour classroom training within 6 months after (or 2 years before) card issuance, plus 2 hours of annual continuing training every year thereafter. Certified operators in good standing are exempt.
Certified operators; identifying labels
Read full section ↗Requires every licensee to have a certified operator in charge of its pest control activities. Certified operators are personally responsible for ensuring compliance with Chapter 482 and Rule 5E-14. This section also sets the vehicle signage requirement — pest control service vehicles must display the licensee's name, business address, and license number in visible characters.
Certification of operators; identification cards; renewal
Read full section ↗Establishes the qualifications, application requirements, and examination standards for becoming a certified operator. Sets the certificate renewal cycle (annually, on the anniversary of certificate issuance under ch. 2024-137) and the continuing-education prerequisite for renewal.
Continuing education
Read full section ↗Requires certified operators to complete FDACS-approved continuing education as a condition of certificate renewal. Sets the CEU hours required per renewal cycle by category, requires FDACS-registered providers, and requires providers to issue attendance documentation on the FDACS-13325 form.
Prohibited acts
Read full section ↗Lists conduct that is unlawful under the chapter, including operating without a license, misrepresenting the pest control category a company is licensed in, falsifying records, and making fraudulent claims in advertising. Violations are subject to disciplinary action under §482.161.
Grounds for disciplinary action; power to fine, deny, suspend, or revoke
Read full section ↗Establishes FDACS's authority to fine, deny, suspend, or revoke a license or certified operator's certificate. Fines may be imposed per violation, and repeated or aggravated violations may result in permanent revocation. Enumerates the specific grounds for discipline, including violations of Chapter 482, Rule 5E-14, or applicable federal pesticide laws.
Unlicensed activity; cease-and-desist orders; civil penalties
Read full section ↗Authorizes FDACS to issue cease-and-desist orders against unlicensed pest control activity and to impose civil penalties. Unlicensed pest control for hire in Florida is a misdemeanor. Independent of any criminal penalty, FDACS may impose administrative fines against unlicensed operators.
Preemption
Read full section ↗Reserves the regulation of the structural pest control industry to the state — municipalities and counties may not adopt local ordinances that regulate structural pest control in ways that duplicate, conflict with, or exceed the requirements of Chapter 482 or Rule 5E-14.
Wood-destroying organism inspection reports
Read full section ↗Sets the content, format, and disclosure requirements for the WDO Inspection Report (the FDACS-provided form). Applies to inspectors licensed under §482.157 and defines what must be reported: visible evidence of WDO activity, damage, conducive conditions, and inaccessible areas.
Florida Administrative Code — Rule 5E-14
Rule 5E-14 implements Chapter 482 and contains the detailed operational requirements for Florida pest control licensees. Click any rule to open the full text on flrules.org.
License categories
Read full rule ↗Establishes the pest control license categories in Florida: General Household Pest (GHP), Lawn & Ornamental (L&O), Termite/WDO, Fumigation, and others. Each category requires a separate license and examination.
Minimum standards for pest control
Read full rule ↗Sets the minimum technical and safety standards for how pest control work must be performed in each license category. Requires applicators to follow label directions, use appropriate equipment, and apply pesticides in an effective and safe manner.
Continuing education requirements
Read full rule ↗Specifies the number of CEU hours required per renewal period for each license category, the topics that must be covered, the minimum seat time per CEU hour, the passing score for CEU course exams (75% for all Chapter 482 categories, including Lawn & Ornamental), and the requirements for approved CEU providers.
Employee training
Read full rule ↗Requires pest control companies to provide adequate training to employees before they perform pest control work. Establishes minimum competency requirements and documentation standards.
WDO inspection report requirements
Read full rule ↗For WDO (termite) inspections, specifies the required content of the FDACS WDO Inspection Report form, including how to report findings, inaccessible areas, and conditions conducive to WDO activity. Applies to licensed WDO inspectors in Florida.
CEU requirements at a glance
Florida-specific content
CEU courses must cover topics approved by FDACS and directly relevant to the applicator's license category. Generic or non-Florida courses do not satisfy the requirement.
Minimum seat time
Rule 5E-14 sets a minimum active reading time for each CEU hour. Courses that allow instant click-through do not comply. Pest Education tracks your seat time automatically.
Passing score
CEU course exams require a minimum passing score of 75% for all Chapter 482 categories, including Lawn & Ornamental. Retakes are allowed. Your certificate is issued the moment you pass.
Important: This page is a summary guide for educational purposes and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. For the full statutory text, always refer to the official Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code. FDACS interprets and enforces Chapter 482 — contact FDACS directly at (850) 617-7997 for official guidance.
External links are provided as a convenience. Pest Education does not control and is not responsible for the content of third-party websites. Links to government and educational resources are current as of publication but may change.
Fulfill your Chapter 482 CEU requirement
Pest Education's FDACS-approved courses satisfy Florida's continuing education requirement for Chapter 482 license renewal.