Texas Structural Licensing and Business Rules

About 5 of every 50 questions on a Texas General Standards (Structural) practice exam come from this topic.

Sources checked November 5, 2026

What to know

In Texas, anyone who inspects, bids on or treats pests for compensation is in the business of structural pest control and needs a business license for each location, including branch offices, with its own responsible certified commercial applicator who serves no other licensee or location. Certified applicators work without direct supervision, while technicians and apprentices work under direct supervision; a certified applicator must be physically present, face to face, at least three days a week for apprentices and one day a week for technicians. Apprentices register within 10 days of starting employment and training, may hold a card for at most 12 months, and need 2 classroom hours in each of the ten general standards subjects plus 40 on-the-job and 8 classroom hours per category; technicians need 8 hours of verifiable training each year after their first licensed calendar year. Certified applicators pass the general standards and category exams (70%, scores valid 12 months) and earn 2 general CEUs plus 1 per category each year, with self-study allowed only every other year; renewing more than 365 days late means re-examination. A business may not operate without current general liability insurance at the coverage the department's rule sets (governmental noncommercial applicators are exempt). Know the 10-day employment and termination notices, permanently affixed vehicle license numbers (no magnets), that licenses are not transferable, and that a noncommercial applicator works only for the employer.

Where it comes from

• Tex. Occ. Code §§ 1951.003, 1951.004, 1951.301, 1951.314
• 4 TAC §§ 7.114, 7.121, 7.131
• 4 TAC §§ 7.132, 7.133, 7.143
• 4 TAC §§ 7.125, 7.126, 7.127, 7.134
• 4 TAC § 7.123
• 4 TAC §§ 7.141, 7.142

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