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Pest control technician

Pest control technicians identify infestations and get rid of pests like rats, mice, wasps and cockroaches.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £30,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 45 a week

You could work: between 8am and 6pm; at short notice

5.4%
Future employment

There will be 5.4% more Pest control technician jobs in 2027.

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 may need to wear protective clothing.

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 can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • training with a professional body
Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a Pest Control Technician Intermediate Apprenticeship.

This can take up to 18 months to complete.

When you have successfully completed your apprenticeship you can apply to become a British Pest Control Association (BPCA) registered pest control technician.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
Direct application

You could apply to companies directly to become a pest control technician. Employers usually look for GCSEs in English and maths.

Experience in the building trade, health and safety, or in handling chemicals may be useful. Many companies will offer training on the job if you have the right qualities.

Other routes

You could do an online foundation course with the British Pest Control Association. This introduces the basics of pest management and can lead to further training to get industry-recognised qualifications.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) also runs training courses for people looking to start in the industry, for example the Level 2 Award in Pest Management.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Further information

You can find out more about working in pest control through the British Pest Control Association.

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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.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work on your own
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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