If you are looking for a new career path that does not require extensive experience, you may want to look into becoming a pest control technician. A lot of pest control technicians can learn on the job as a part of an apprenticeship. As a part of your training, you will have to get a state license and take continuing education units (CEUs) to renew that license.

CEUs are a great way for you to stay up-to-date on new techniques and expand your breadth of services, but they are also vital to understanding pesticide safety and how to safely use products without endangering others or the environment. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you start researching for classes to take.

Check Accreditation Requirements

A lot of pest control CEUs are very convenient to register and take since there are online options that provide content, videos, study guides, and testing resources. However, every state has different laws regarding pest control, so you need to make sure that the CEUs you register for will be accredited and count towards your state's requirements for license renewal.

Pick Both Relevant and Niche CEU

Your license renewal may require certain courses in safety that are relevant to your state. For instance, if there are a lot of termites in your area, then your license renewal might require a course that goes over wood-boring pests. However, if you have leeway in which CEUs you pick, look for areas of interest that are both relevant and niche so that you can set yourself apart from other pest control competitors. For example, if you live in a rural area, you may want to look into a class that focuses on how to safely use pesticides around crops and plants that attract pollinators.

If there are lots of interesting and relevant CEUs and you need to fill more credit hour requirements, you should look at sites that offer class bundles, since these courses may be more affordable than paying for separate classes.

Register for Courses at the Right Time

You don't want to register for your CEU courses when your license is about to run out, otherwise, you risk having a period of time when you won't be able to work since your CEUs may still need to be verified. Make sure your register for your classes during a period when you know you will have more time to study and really take in what you are learning.

If you fail a course, there may be a waiting period before you are able to take a retest, so again, you don't want to be crunched for time if your license is up for renewal. Every state is different, but usually your state's department of agriculture will let you know the deadlines for your license renewal.

Reach out to an online pest control CEU class provider for more information.