Pest industry licensing and registration application and renewals

The guide to obtaining a pest management technician licence (PDF 698KB) outlines the requirements for obtaining a pest management technician licence in WA.

The department issues two types of licenses: 

• pest management technician licenses
• provisional technician licenses.

A license:  

• authorises a person to carry out the pest management treatments and activities they are qualified to perform
• permits the use of restricted-use pesticides relevant to their qualifications 
• sets conditions under which pesticides may be used
• identifies the license holder as a “fit and proper” person to hold a license to use pesticides in Western Australia according to the Regulations 

For a pest management technican licence a person must satisfy the following criteria:

• are at least 18 years of age
• are adequately qualified to undertake pest management treatements of kinds that are endorsed in their licence. See Appendix 1 of the guide to obtaining a pest management technician licence (PDF 698KB) 
• are medically fit to handle pesticides
• be a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence

For a Provisional Technicians licence a person must satisfy the following criteria: 

• are at least 17 years of age
• are adequately qualified to undertake, under the direction of a licensed technician, pest management treatments of kinds to be endorsed on their licence
• are medically fit to handle pesticides 
• are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence
• intends to acquire, during the period of the licence, sufficient knowledge, and skills to enable the applicant to become a licensed technician. 

Pest management technicians and provisional technicians must be employed by a registered pest management business to undertake pest treatments.

To apply, refer to the application forms section. You can also read the frequently asked questions for more information.

Commercial pest management businesses in WA are required to be registered with the department before providing services.

Business registration allows a person to operate a pest management business at a specified premise. Once approved, the department issues a business registration certificate and registration number.

• motor vehicle inspections
• signage
• storage and securing chemicals
• purpose built chemical storage facilitie
• personal protective equipment
• wash down
• spraying equipment
• relevant legislation, standards and resources
• pest management business and motor vehicle inspection checklist

To operatate a business, proprietors must submit an application to the Department of Health and meet the requirements of the pest management business guideline (PDF 167KB). 

Essential record keeping for pest management businesses

Pest management business proprietors must keep records in accordance with Part 5 Division 4 of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 2011.

Maintaining accurate records helps demonstrate:

• pesticides have been used safely and in accordance with product label instructions
• technicians are appropriately authorised and qualified to perform pest management treatments
• the business is meeting its legal and regulatory obligations.

At a minimum, businesses must keep:

• employment records
• pest management treatment records

These records must be made available to an authorised officer from the Department of Health upon request.

It is an offence to create or maintain false or misleading records. Businesses that fail to meet their record-keeping obligations may be subject to compliance action and penalties.

For further information, refer to the essential record keeping for pest management businesses guideline (PDF 260KB).

If you hold a pest management licence in another Australian state, territory, or New Zealand, you may be able to have your licence recognised in WA.

The type of recognition that applies depends on whether you are:

• temporarily working in WA while remaining based in another state or territory (Automatic Mutual Recognition) or
• moving to WA and making it your primary place of residence or work (Mutual Recognition).

Automatic mutual recognition

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) allows eligible interstate licence holders to undertake pest management work in WA without applying for a WA licence.

AMR is intended for people who are based in another state or territory and need to carry out pest management work in WA on a temporary basis.

Applying for automatic mutual recognition

Before commencing work in WA, you must complete the mutual recognition notification form (external link) and receive your Notice of Automatic Deemed Registration from the department.

Once your notification has been received, the department will provide confirmation of your registration and advise which pest management activities you are authorised to undertake in WA.

You may be eligible for AMR if you hold a current pest management technician licence issued in:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Australian Capital Territory
• Northern Territory

Your interstate licence must cover the pest management activities you intend to perform in WA.

Compliance with WA requirements

All pest management technicians working in WA under AMR must comply with the Health (Pesticide) Regulations 2011 (external site).

This includes the requirement to work for a registered pest management business. If you intend to operate your own business, you must first register the business with the department.

Failure to comply with WA legislation may result in enforcement action, including the suspension or cancellation of your recognised registration.

Mutual recognition

Mutual Recognition applies to people who hold a pest management licence in another Australian state, territory, or New Zealand and are planning to move to WA permanently.

If you are relocating to WA, you must apply for a WA pest management technician licence and select the licence endorsements relevant to the pest management activities you wish to undertake.

Because licence categories and endorsements vary between jurisdictions, you may need to provide additional qualifications or evidence of competency to obtain certain WA licence endorsements.

Before applying, review the WA licensing requirements to ensure you meet the qualifications and experience required for the activities you intend to perform.

Download and complete the required application form. All forms must be emailed to pesticidesafety@health.wa.gov.au.

For pest management technicians

For pest management businesses

The guide to registering a pest management business (PDF 167KB) contains useful information for the first time owner.  

Fees related to pest management technician licence

If you make multiple changes at one time, you only have to pay one fee of $32.

If you make changes at the same time you renew your licence, you only have to pay the renewal fee.

Fees related to pest management businesses

Refer to the frequently asked questions for more information on:

• new applications and provisional licences
• pest management licence
• pest management business
• training and endorsement
• fees and renewals

If you have need further advice email pesticidesafety@health.wa.gov.au.

Pest management technicans

• Guide to obtaining a pest management technician licence (PDF 698KB)
• Training logbook for provisional pest management technicians (PDF 2MB)

Pest management businesses

• Guide to registering a pest management business (PDF 200KB)
• Pest management business registration inspection checklist (PDF 100KB)
• Essential record keeping for pest management businesses (PDF 260KB)

Code of Practices

• Code of Practice for the disposal of pesticide residue from pesticide spray applications (PDF 150KB)
• Code of Practice for the safe use and management of registered pesticides containing 1080 Strychnine and PAPP

Pesticide safety guidelines

• Using pesticides safely
• Pesticide signage when spraying in a public place
• Protecting the public when using pesticides
• Glyphosate use in local government
• Local government pest control programs
• Restriction on products containing chlorpyrifos used in public spaces (PDF 100KB)
• Guidelines for the separation of agricultural and residential land use (PDF 496KB)
• Guide to the management of pesticides in local government pest control programs in Western Australia (PDF 547KB)
• Guidelines for the safe use of pesticides in non-agricultural workplaces (PDF 550KB)