Become Pest Control Technician

Home
Jobillico Career Guide
Become Pest Control Technician

Pest Control Technician, also called Pest Management Technicians or Exterminators, specialize in the control of removal of invasive pests and animals. They investigate invasive animals and insects and permanently remove them using chemicals, cages and mechanical traps. Pest Control Technicians work on all property types, from residential homes to industrial facilities and remove single animals or entire infestations. A Pest Control Technician may be called in when there are only signs of possible infestation, such as droppings or scratches, and be required to identify the invasive species. Pest Control Technicians are typically self-employed, operating on a per-client basis.

Apply and receive study materials from the provincial authority (i.e. Ontario Pesticide Training and Certification)
Pass the certification examination to receive a Pesticide Exterminator Licence
Complete any additional training to be certified to safely use pesticides
Have a strong safety knowledge of all tools, equipment and chemicals used in pest control
Be a problem solver able to think on your feet and adapt have you identify the pest problem

A Pest Control Technician inspects homes and buildings to identify invasive species and possible infestation. They can perform regular inspections, such as for commercial businesses, or be called at the request of the homeowner. A Pest Control Technician uses various methods and types of equipment to successfully remove pests while ensuring the safety of the building and all occupants. Jobs can be as simple as placing a few traps, or as complex as tenting and fumigating an entire building. Once complete, they gather all equipment and safely dispose of pests and any chemicals. Typical duties of a Pest Control Technician include:

Perform a building inspection to identify pests
Designs a plan using equipment and techniques to remove pests
Set traps for rodents and bugs
Use poison to remove nests
Fumigate entire buildings if necessary
Clean up after pests to leave a clean area behind
Properly dispose of all chemicals in accordance with the law
Identify and fix the source of the infestation
Provide homeowners with the correct info to prevent future infestation

Pest control technicians require certification in every province. Many aspiring pest control technicians complete training courses in order to learn how to properly handle the chemicals used in the process and receive safe handling certification. Pest control technicians must be approved and registered by the provincial government, such as the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

Pest control technicians are recruited by the construction and home maintenance and repair sectors.

The long-term employment outlook for pest control technicians depends a great deal on the location in the country, ranging from limited to good. It is a small industry, with many pest control technicians being self-employed and responsible for their own career growth.

A pest control technician provides their services wherever there are pests who require removal. This can include residential, commercial and industrial locations, such as homes, retail stores and factories. They can operate out of a central location, and travel from one location to another.

According to the CNP code (national classification of occupations), here are the additional titles for a pest control technician: