Key messages
- The department issues three types of pest control licence:
- technician
- trainee
- interstate operator.
- There are four licence authorisations.
- A licence may be granted with one or more authorisations.
- Applying for a pest control licence is a two-step process.
- Licence fees increase each year in line with the Monetary Units Act 2004.
- Pest control licences are issued in the form of a photo ID card.
Licence types
There are three separate application forms for pest control licences, depending on which type you wish to apply for:
- fully qualified technicians
- trainees who are currently undertaking training in a prescribed course while applying pesticides under the supervision for a fully qualified technician
- technicians who reside in another Australian state or territory, and who hold a valid licence as an authorised user of pesticides in that state or territory, and who wish to operate in Victoria.
Licence expiry
Technician and Interstate operator licences expire three years after the date on which the licence is granted.
Trainee licences expire 12 months after the date on which the licence is granted.
A trainee licence may only be issued to a person on a maximum of three occasions unless exceptional circumstances apply.
For further information about the three types of licences, refer to theGuidelines for pest control licensing in Victoria. Also see, Pest control trainee licences and for specific information about trainees.
All applications for a pest control licence are required to be submitted via emailed to pesticidesafety@health.vic.gov.au
More information
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Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) allows a person who is licenced or registered for an occupation in one jurisdiction to be considered registered to perform the same activities in another jurisdiction, without the need to go through further application processes or pay additional registration fees.
AMR for pest control technician licences will be available from 1 July 2021 in certain states and territories. AMR will be available in Victoria on 1 July 2021. Other states will join in coming months.
To find out how it will work and who is eligible for AMR, read the information on the AMR page.
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Persons who have attained (or, in the case of a trainee, are in the process of attaining) an appropriate qualification may be granted a licence under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (PHW Act).
To be granted a full licence, the applicant must have obtained the appropriate qualification as listed in Schedule 1 of the PHW Regulations – Approved Courses and Qualifications. A licence may be granted with one or more of the following authorisations:- Pesticides (except fumigants) formulated to control pests (including birds and rodents) other than pest animals and timber pests ['general authorisation (excluding timber pests)']
- Pesticides (except fumigants) formulated to control pests (including bird, rodents and timber pests) other than animals ['general authorisation (including timber pests)']
- Pesticides formulated to control pest animals and to protect: an area in a building used for commercial purposes; or domestic premises; or privately owned land adjacent to domestic premises ['pest animal authorisation']
- Pesticides in the form of fumigants ['fumigant authorisation']
The licence authorises the person to use only the pesticide that they are qualified to use.
A list of the prescribed qualifications and training is included in the department's Guidelines for pest control operators in Victoria.
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An applicant will not be granted a licence unless he or she has paid the fee prescribed in the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.
Licence application and renewal fees increased on 1 July 2023 in line with the Monetary Units Act 2004.
Licence applications or applications to renew licences are now subject to the following fees:
Licence type Fee Duration Technician licence $715.50 3 years Trainee licence $238.50 1 year Interstate operator licence $79.50 3 years -
Licences can be paid for using credit card or BPAY. Please note that you should allow approximately 5 working days for electronic payments to be received by the department.
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The department processes all licence applications in the order in which they are received. There is not an ‘urgent’ or ‘priority application’ process. We do however attempt to process applications as efficiently as possible.
Pest Control Officers (PCOs) are advised to allow at least one week for a licence to be issued after payment is received and processed by the department. Credit card is recommended as the quickest method of payment. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, which may result in a delay in the licensing process.
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Trainee photo ID cards are generated on a green background to differentiate them from red licences which are only issued to fully qualified technicians.
Licences are sent in the format of a PDF document.
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Obtaining a refund
To obtain a refund, you must complete the online refund . You are required to provide proof of any payment(s) in support of your request for a refund.
Refused or withdrawn applications
The department will fully refund the fee for an application that is refused or withdrawn prior to the issue of the licence.
Surrender of licence
Once a licence has been issued, no refunds will be granted regardless of whether the business of pest control or the reason for the licence ceases during the term of the licence and the licence is surrendered to the department. Surrendering a licence to the department does not entitle the holder to a refund.
Over-payments
The department will refund in full for any over-payment.
Refunds
Where approved, refunds will be issued to the individual or company that has proven they made the payment.
Where bank details are provided on the online , refunds will be issued via EFT.
Refunds can take up to 60 days to be issued following receipt of a completed application.
The department will accept applications for a refund up to 12 months after the date of payment.
Minimum refund amount
The department is unable to process refunds amounting to less than $2.
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Reviewed 02 August 2023