Pest control technician

You can get into this job through:

• applying directly
• training with a professional body

Direct Application

You can apply to companies directly to become a trainee pest control technician. It can be useful to have some GCSEs, like English and maths, though it's not essential.

Experience in health and safety, customer service, the building trade or handling chemicals can be helpful. Companies will offer you full training on the job if you have the right qualities.

Other Routes

You can do training courses with the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) and the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) . Courses introduce the basics of pest control management and can lead on to further industry-recognised qualifications.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) also runs courses for people looking to start in the industry, for example the Level 2 Award in Pest Management .

More Information

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the National Pest Technicians Association or British Pest Control Association for professional development training and industry resources.

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in pest control from the:

• National Pest Technicians Association
• British Pest Control Association
• Royal Society for Public Health

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• knowledge of public safety and security
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work on your own
• knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

A driving licence may be required for some roles.

Day-to-day tasks

As a pest control technician, you will:

• do site surveys to identify the cause and scale of problems
• work out the best way to treat infestations
• set traps, control devices or use chemicals to clear an area
• remove dead animals and send samples for analysis where required
• advise customers on how to prevent further problems
• complete accurate reports of work carried out

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be at height, dirty and cramped.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

With experience you could be promoted to supervisor or technical manager.

You could specialise in site survey work, pest control training or start your own business.

You might also move into environmental health or food safety, with further training.