Do pest controllers need a licence in Australia?
Yes. In every state and territory, anyone who applies pesticides for pay needs a pest management licence from the state health department, EPA or agriculture agency. Catching possums or snakes needs a separate wildlife licence or permit in most states.
Licence by state
| State | Licence needed? | Licence and who issues it | Check a licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSWNew South Wales | Yes | Pest management technician licence (timber pest management technician licence for termite work; fumigator licence for fumigation) NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Licence lasts 5 years and you must be 18 or older. NSW does not accept Queensland licences. Possum or snake removal needs a separate catch and release licence. |
NSW EPA pesticides licences public register |
| VICVictoria | Yes | Pest control licence (technician or trainee) Department of Health Victoria Technician licence lasts 3 years ($777.20 from 1 July 2026); red cards are for fully qualified technicians, green for trainees. Possum or snake control for a fee needs a Wildlife Controller Licence from the Conservation Regulator. |
Ask the regulator |
| QLDQueensland | Yes | Pest management licence Queensland Health Chemical termite work also needs a QBCC termite management licence. Possum or snake removal needs a damage mitigation permit from the Queensland environment department (DETSI). |
Ask the regulator |
| WAWestern Australia | Yes | Pest management technician licence (provisional technician licence for trainees) Department of Health WA Technicians must work for a registered pest management business; call (08) 9222 2000 to check a licence. Snake or possum removal needs a DBCA fauna licence. |
Ask the regulator |
| SASouth Australia | Yes | Full or limited pest management technician's licence; pest controller's licence for the business SA Health (Controlled Substances Licensing) Unlicensed pest work can bring fines of up to $5,000. Possum trapping or snake catching as a service needs a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit from the Department for Environment and Water. |
Ask the regulator |
| TASTasmania | Yes | Pest Management Technician Certificate of Competency; Commercial Operator Licence for the business Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) No pest technician training is run in Tasmania, so train with an interstate or online RTO. Snakes that threaten people or pets may be removed without a permit; possums causing damage fall under NRE Tas property protection permits. |
Ask the regulator |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory | Yes | Environmental authorisation (pest and weed control) ACT Environment Protection Authority (via Access Canberra) Talk to the EPA before you apply. Possum or snake removal needs a commercial licence under the Nature Conservation Act 2014, and the ACT Government lists licensed possum removalists and snake catchers. |
Ask the regulator |
| NTNorthern Territory | Yes | Pest management technician licence NT Department of Health (Medicines and Poisons Control) Licence lasts up to 3 years at $74 a year, and ads must show a licence number. Native snakes are protected, so a Parks and Wildlife permit is needed to take them; free government snake removal runs in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. |
Ask the regulator |
Jobs that need an extra licence
Possum and snake removalWildlife permit / licence
NSW: catch and release licence (possums or reptiles) from the NSW Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator (DCCEEW). VIC: Wildlife Controller Licence from the Conservation Regulator (DEECA). QLD: damage mitigation permit (removal and relocation) from the Queensland environment department (DETSI). WA: DBCA fauna licences (dangerous fauna, fauna causing damage, or relocation). SA: Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit from the Department for Environment and Water. TAS: snakes that threaten people or pets may be removed without a permit; possums causing damage fall under property protection permits from NRE Tas. ACT: commercial licence under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 to take possums or snakes. NT: a permit is needed to take or interfere with protected wildlife; ask Parks and Wildlife which permit applies.
Bee swarm removalBeekeeper registration
No separate swarm removal licence was found. Anyone who keeps honey bees must register as a beekeeper: NSW with NSW DPIRD (its Varroa FAQ says swarm catchers must be registered); VIC with Agriculture Victoria; QLD as a biosecurity entity (1 or more hives); WA with DPIRD; SA with PIRSA every 12 months; TAS with NRE Tas (BeeTAS); ACT under the Animal Diseases Act 2005. NT honey bee rules were not confirmed.
Hiring? How to check a licence
- Ask for the licence number and the name on it.
- Ask to see the photo licence card. Check the photo matches the person and the card has not expired.
- Check the licence covers the job, such as termites, fumigation or general pests.
- Search the state register where one exists (NSW EPA public register), or call or email the state regulator to confirm.
- Ask for the product name and its safety data sheet before work starts.
- For possums or snakes, ask for the wildlife licence or permit from the state environment department.
- For termite work in Queensland, also check the QBCC licence.
Find local businesses: Pest Control Services
On ServiceTasker, a business uploads its licence and our team checks it before a licence badge shows on its profile. You see what it holds, never the number or the document.
For businesses: how to get this licence
- Qualify: finish the pest management units from the CPP training package at a registered training organisation (for example CPPUPM3005, CPPUPM3006 and CPPUPM3018).
- Experience: most states offer a trainee, provisional or limited licence so you can work under a licensed technician while you train.
- Documents: have your statement of attainment, photo ID and a photo ready. Some states also ask for a medical check (WA) or employer declarations (QLD).
- Apply to your state (links below): pay the fee and wait for your photo licence card. Add endorsements such as timber pests or fumigation if you need them.
- Licensed in another state? Automatic mutual recognition lets most interstate technicians work without a new licence, but some states require you to notify them first, and not every state accepts every other state's licence.
| State | Who issues it | Apply here (official) | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) | How to apply | Requirements |
| VIC | Department of Health Victoria | How to apply | Requirements |
| QLD | Queensland Health | How to apply | Requirements |
| WA | Department of Health WA | How to apply | Requirements |
| SA | SA Health (Controlled Substances Licensing) | How to apply | Requirements |
| TAS | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) | How to apply | Requirements |
| ACT | ACT Environment Protection Authority (via Access Canberra) | How to apply | Requirements |
| NT | NT Department of Health (Medicines and Poisons Control) | How to apply | Requirements |
Last checked: 12 November 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change: always check with the regulator in your state before you hire or apply. Some details could not be confirmed online and are left out; the regulator can confirm them.
Official sources (35)
- service.nsw.gov.au /transaction/apply-for-a-pest-management-technician-licence
- epa.nsw.gov.au /your-environment/pesticides/licences-and-advice-for-occupational-pest...
- epa.nsw.gov.au /Your-environment/Pesticides/pesticide-use-nsw/engaging-a-pest-managem...
- nswepa-rst-prod1.pegacloud.net /prweb/prsext
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/nsw/timber-pest-management-technician-licence/46864
- environment.nsw.gov.au /licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/catch-and-release-licence
- dpi.nsw.gov.au /animals-and-livestock/bees/beekeeper-registration
- dpi.nsw.gov.au /emergencies/emergency/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emerg...
- health.vic.gov.au /environmental-health/pest-control-licence-applications
- health.vic.gov.au /sites/default/files/migrated/files/collections/policies-and-guideline...
- vic.gov.au /wildlife-controller-licence-guide/print-all
- agriculture.vic.gov.au /livestock-and-animals/honey-bees/beekeeper-registration-and-hive-disp...
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/qld/pest-management-licence/41001
- health.qld.gov.au /system-governance/licences/medicines-poisons/pest-management/forms-te...
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/termite-managem...
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/qld/damage-mitigation-permit/4324
- business.qld.gov.au /industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/entity-regi...
- health.wa.gov.au /Articles/N_R/Pest-industry-licensing-and-registration
- healthywa.health.wa.gov.au /~/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Environmental-health/Pesticides/pdf...
- dbca.wa.gov.au /licences-and-permits/fauna
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/wa/fauna-taking-relocation-licence/16957
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/wa/registration-as-a-beekeeper/16935
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trade/pest-control-l...
- environment.sa.gov.au /licences-and-permits/wildlife-permits/capture-release
- pir.sa.gov.au /beekeeper-registration
- nre.tas.gov.au /agriculture/agvet-chemicals/licences-and-certificates/ground-spraying...
- nre.tas.gov.au /wildlife-management/living-with-wildlife/reptiles-in-captivity/herpet...
- nre.tas.gov.au /wildlife-management/management-of-wildlife/managing-wildlife-browsing...
- nre.tas.gov.au /biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/bees/beekeeper-registration
- accesscanberra.act.gov.au /business-and-work/pest-and-weed-control-operators
- act.gov.au /environment/animals-and-plants/licensing-of-plants-and-animals/commer...
- environment.act.gov.au /__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2062666/varroa-destructor-mite-faqs.pdf
- ablis.business.gov.au /service/nt/pest-management-technician-licence/3282
- service.nt.gov.au /services/business-industry/occupational-licences/pest-management/appl...
- nt.gov.au /environment/animals/wildlife-in-nt/snakes
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