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Pest control technician

Alternative titles for this job include Pest control officer

Pest control technicians identify and treat infestations in domestic and commercial premises. They also advise on how to stop outbreaks recurring.

Average salary (a year)

£25,000 Starter

to

£35,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

42 to 45

You could work

between 8am and 6pm at short notice

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

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 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:

A driving licence may be required for some roles.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

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.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a pest control technician right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Environmental Awareness

  • Provider: THE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS PEOPLE LTD
  • Start date: Flexible
  • Location: MANCHESTER

Environmental Science

  • Provider: SALISBURY SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2026
  • Location: SALISBURY
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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