Looking for South Carolina pest control CEUs or CCUs online? Licensed South Carolina pesticide applicators must complete approved continuing education to maintain pesticide certification through the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).

South Carolina officially calls its pesticide continuing education credits:

Continuing Certification Units — CCUs.

For most professional structural pest-control companies, the key certification is:

Category 7A — Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control.

American Pest CEUs provides online pest-management continuing education through PestSchool.com.

Clemson DPR’s current official Online Courses list directly includes numerous courses from American Pest CEUs / PestSchool.com with approved Category 7A and Core CCUs.

Updated September 2026. South Carolina pesticide requirements, individual course approvals and business-license requirements may change. Always verify your individual license and current course approval with Clemson DPR before completing training for credit.

Who Regulates Pest Control in South Carolina?

South Carolina pesticide applicator licensing, commercial structural pest-control licensing and pesticide continuing education are administered by:

Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation.

This is an important point because pest professionals sometimes mistakenly search for South Carolina pesticide CEUs through the Department of Agriculture.

For commercial pesticide applicator certification and structural pest-control licensing, the regulatory authority is:

Clemson DPR.

Clemson DPR administers:

• Commercial pesticide applicator licenses
• Noncommercial pesticide applicator licenses
• Private applicator licenses
• Pesticide Business Licenses
• Category 7A structural pest-control licensing
• Designated Certified Applicators
• Pesticide examinations
• Continuing Certification Units
• Approved online pesticide courses
• Applicator credit records
• Pesticide enforcement

What Are Pest-Control CEUs Called in South Carolina?

The official South Carolina term is:

Continuing Certification Units — CCUs.

Pest professionals may still search for:

• South Carolina pest control CEUs
• South Carolina pesticide CEUs
• South Carolina exterminator CEUs
• South Carolina structural pest-control credits
• SC pest-control continuing education

but Clemson DPR generally refers to these credits as:

CCUs.

How Long Is the South Carolina Recertification Period?

Commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators follow a:

Five-year recertification block.

The current commercial and noncommercial block is:

January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028.

What Is South Carolina Category 7A?

South Carolina’s primary professional structural pest-control certification is:

Category 7A — Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control.

Category 7A covers pesticide use in, on or around locations including:

• Homes and human dwellings
• Food-handling establishments
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Institutional buildings
• Industrial establishments
• Warehouses
• Grain elevators
• Commercial buildings
• Stored products
• Processed products
• Manufactured products
• Structures and adjacent areas

South Carolina makes licensing:

Mandatory in Category 7A.

How Many CCUs Does South Carolina Category 7A Require?

A commercial pesticide applicator maintaining Category 7A generally needs:

20 CCUs during the five-year recertification block.

Of those 20 credits:

At least 12 must be specific to Category 7A.

Can Core CCUs Count Toward South Carolina Category 7A?

Yes.

Once an applicator has satisfied the required:

12 Category 7A-specific CCUs

the remaining credits needed to reach 20 may generally be obtained through:

• Additional Category 7A-specific training
• Core competency training
• Or a combination of both

What Subjects Can South Carolina Core CCUs Cover?

Clemson DPR’s approved recertification topics include subjects such as:

• Pesticide label interpretation
• Pesticide safety
• Integrated Pest Management
• Groundwater protection
• Environmental fate of pesticides
• Hazard communication
• Pesticide recordkeeping
• Worker Protection Standards
• Reducing pesticide exposure
• Emergency response
• Pesticide transportation and disposal
• New technology
• New regulations
• Target pest identification and control

Does American Pest CEUs Have South Carolina Category 7A Courses?

Yes.

Clemson DPR’s current official list of approved Online Courses includes numerous courses associated with:

American Pest CEUs / PestSchool.com.

The live Clemson list currently identifies American Pest courses with:

Category 7A credit.

Which American Pest Courses Are Currently Listed for South Carolina 7A?

Examples currently shown in Clemson DPR’s official online-course list include:

• Advanced Ant Control
• Advanced NPMA 33 Inspection Reports
• Advanced Rodent Control
• Advanced Termite Treatments
• All About Cockroaches
• All About Roof Rats
• All About Spiders — Hunters
• All About Spiders — Web Builders
• Annoying Flies
• Ants and Their Control
• Ants — One Node & Two Node
• Crawl Spaces and How They Relate to Termite and Pest Control
• Exclusion & Deterrents for Smaller Animals
• Facts About Fabric Pests
• Filth Breeding Flies

The official Clemson listing currently shows these types of qualifying American Pest structural courses as:

1 Category 7A CCU each

for many of the listed programs.

Does American Pest CEUs Have South Carolina Core Courses?

Yes.

Clemson’s current approved online-course list also identifies American Pest training receiving:

Core CCU credit.

Examples currently listed include:

• Advanced Formulations and Combinations
• Advanced IPM
• Core — Pesticide Application Procedures
• Core — Regulations to Abide By
• Core — Pesticide Labeling
• Core — Knowing Your Formulations
• Core — Pesticide Hazards and First Aid
• Core — PPE
• Core — Pesticides in the Environment
• FIFRA & Other Federal Laws

Can South Carolina Pest-Control CCUs Be Taken Online?

Yes.

Clemson DPR specifically allows:

• Approved online credit courses
• Correspondence programs
• Other approved self-study programs
• Instructor-led recertification programs

Clemson maintains an official list of:

Online Computer Training Programs.

Those courses are pre-approved and offered throughout the current five-year recertification block.

Where Can I Take South Carolina Pest-Control CCUs Online?

American Pest CEUs provides online pest-management continuing education through:

PestSchool.com

Clemson DPR’s current approved Online Courses list contains numerous American Pest / PestSchool courses carrying South Carolina Category 7A or Core credit.

Are All PestSchool Courses Automatically Approved in South Carolina?

No.

South Carolina approves individual pesticide continuing education courses.

Before taking a course specifically for South Carolina recertification, verify:

• The individual course currently appears on Clemson’s approved course list
• The course receives Category 7A, 7B, Core or another category you need
• The number of CCUs awarded
• You have not already satisfied a different credit category than the one you still need

How Does Clemson Approve South Carolina Online Courses?

Clemson DPR requires online, correspondence and other self-study programs to be submitted for approval before they are offered for South Carolina pesticide credit.

Submission does not automatically guarantee CCU approval.

The Department evaluates course content and determines:

• Total CCUs
• Category-specific credits
• Core competency credits

South Carolina Category 7A Termite CCUs

South Carolina’s structural Category 7A is broad enough to include training related to structural protection and wood-infesting pests.

Clemson’s current online-course list specifically gives Category 7A credit to American Pest courses such as:

• Advanced Termite Treatments
• Advanced NPMA 33 Inspection Reports
• Crawl Spaces and How They Relate to Termite and Pest Control

Pest professionals searching for:

• South Carolina termite CEUs
• South Carolina termite CCUs
• South Carolina WDO credits
• South Carolina termite continuing education
• South Carolina NPMA-33 training

should review current approved:

Category 7A courses.

South Carolina Rodent-Control CCUs

Clemson’s current approved online-course list also includes American Pest training such as:

• Advanced Rodent Control
• All About Roof Rats
• Exclusion & Deterrents for Smaller Animals

with qualifying Category 7A credit.

South Carolina Cockroach and Ant CCUs

Current American Pest courses appearing in Clemson DPR’s approved online list include:

• Advanced Ant Control
• Ants and Their Control
• Ants — One Node & Two Node
• All About Cockroaches

with qualifying Category 7A credit.

What Is South Carolina Category 7B?

South Carolina:

Category 7B — Fumigation

covers individuals using or supervising:

Restricted-use fumigants for pest control.

How Many CCUs Does South Carolina Category 7B Require?

Category 7B applicators generally need:

10 CCUs during the five-year recertification block.

At least:

3 CCUs must be Category 7B-specific.

South Carolina 7A vs. 7B

What If I Hold Multiple South Carolina Categories?

South Carolina calculates commercial recertification totals according to the combination of mandatory categories held.

Examples include:

What Is the Maximum South Carolina Commercial CCU Requirement?

For commercial applicators holding multiple pesticide categories, South Carolina’s recertification rules cap the total applicable requirement at:

24 CCUs.

Can I Wait Until 2028 to Earn All My South Carolina CCUs?

Not necessarily.

South Carolina has a special rule for the:

Final year of a five-year recertification block.

During the final year, an applicator may obtain no more than:

One-half of the required category-specific CCUs and one-half of the required Core competency CCUs.

Can South Carolina CCUs Carry Over?

South Carolina allows a limited form of carryover.

CCUs earned:

In excess of the minimum requirement during the final year of a recertification block

may carry into the next recertification block.

This can apply to both:

• Category-specific CCUs
• Core competency CCUs

Can a South Carolina Applicator Recertify by Exam?

Yes.

Instead of accumulating the required CCUs, an applicator may complete the applicable initial licensing requirements and reapply.

Clemson also provides a written recertification examination option during specified sessions in the:

Final year of the five-year block.

Do South Carolina Commercial Pesticide Licenses Last Five Years?

No.

The pesticide license itself is renewed:

Annually.

Commercial and noncommercial licenses expire:

December 31 each year.

The five-year period applies to:

Recertification CCUs.

What Happens If I Don’t Renew My South Carolina License by December 31?

Commercial and noncommercial pesticide licenses must generally be renewed before:

December 31.

Work performed after expiration without a valid license can violate the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act.

Current Clemson guidance also states that failure to renew before:

April 1 of the following year

may require the applicator to retake:

• The Core examination
• The applicable Category examination

and apply for a new license.

Does a South Carolina Pest-Control Company Need a Business License?

Yes, for Category 7A structural pest-control activity.

Clemson states that a:

Pesticide Business License

is required for anyone wishing to open a business performing Category 7A activities.

Each qualifying main office or branch office where records are maintained must obtain the appropriate Business License.

What Is a South Carolina DCA?

A Category 7A pest-control business must have a:

Designated Certified Applicator — DCA.

The DCA must:

• Be licensed in Category 7A
• Be permanently assigned to the specific business location
• Work at that location on a full-time basis while it is operating
• Serve as DCA for no more than one location

What Experience Does a South Carolina DCA Need?

To qualify as a DCA, Clemson currently requires either:

• A four-year college degree in the natural sciences; or
• At least two years of verifiable pest-control experience

Qualifying pest-control experience can include areas such as:

• Pesticide application
• Structural pest control
• Termite treatment
• Other qualifying pest-control activities

Can a DCA Manage More Than One South Carolina Location?

No.

Clemson states that:

No individual may be the DCA for more than one business location.

Does a South Carolina 7A Business Need Insurance?

Yes.

South Carolina requires commercial structural pest-control businesses and Category 7A applicators to maintain applicable financial responsibility and liability coverage.

Current Clemson guidance states Category 7A and 7B applicators generally must maintain comprehensive general liability coverage of at least:

$100,000 combined single-limit liability coverage.

Pest-control businesses should verify current insurance requirements directly with Clemson before applying or renewing.

How Do I Become a South Carolina Commercial Applicator?

For applicants using the examination route, South Carolina generally requires:

• Pass the South Carolina Core examination
• Pass the appropriate Category examination
• Submit the Commercial Applicator application
• Provide applicable financial-responsibility information
• Pay applicable licensing fees

Structural applicators seeking Category 7A may also have Business License and DCA requirements depending on their role.

Does South Carolina Have Reciprocal Pest-Control Licensing?

Yes.

South Carolina currently has pesticide-license reciprocity agreements with multiple states.

However, Category 7A has special equivalency requirements with some neighboring states.

For example, Clemson currently states that a North Carolina applicator using reciprocity for South Carolina Category 7A generally must hold both:

North Carolina Structural P and W phases.

South Carolina Noncommercial Applicator CCUs

Noncommercial pesticide applicators generally need:

10 CCUs during the current five-year recertification block.

Their current block is also:

January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028.

South Carolina Private Applicator CCUs

Private pesticide applicators generally need:

5 CCUs during their five-year block.

The current Private Applicator recertification block is:

January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029.

How Can I Check My South Carolina CCUs?

Clemson DPR provides online recertification-status searches for:

• Commercial applicators
• Noncommercial applicators
• Private applicators

Before purchasing more training, verify:

• Your current Category 7A-specific credits
• Your Core credits
• Any Category 7B credits
• Your total CCUs
• Your annual license status
• Your current five-year recertification block

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Charleston

Pest-management professionals in Charleston can use Clemson-approved online education toward South Carolina Category 7A recertification.

Common searches include:

• South Carolina pest control CEUs
• South Carolina pest control CCUs
• Charleston pest control CEUs
• South Carolina Category 7A CCUs
• South Carolina termite CEUs
• South Carolina structural pest-control continuing education
• South Carolina pesticide recertification online

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Columbia

Pest professionals in Columbia follow the same statewide Clemson DPR Category 7A and Core recertification requirements.

Clemson’s urban pest-management program also offers structural and termite training programs in the Columbia area.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Greenville

Pest-management professionals in Greenville can complete approved online structural-pest and Core courses while tracking the required 12 Category 7A-specific CCUs.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Spartanburg

Licensed pesticide applicators in Spartanburg can review current Clemson-approved online training and check their recertification status before choosing additional courses.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Myrtle Beach

Pest professionals in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand can use qualifying online courses for structural pest, termite, rodent, ant, cockroach and Core continuing education.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Rock Hill

Pest-management professionals in Rock Hill and York County follow the same statewide Category 7A requirements and five-year certification block.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Hilton Head and Beaufort

Pest professionals in Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort can use Clemson’s online-course list to identify approved pesticide recertification training appropriate to structural pest-management work.

South Carolina Pest Control CCUs for Other Communities

South Carolina pesticide requirements apply statewide.

Pest professionals in Summerville, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Florence, Sumter, Aiken, Anderson, Lexington, Greenwood and other South Carolina communities can review approved continuing education appropriate to their pesticide categories.

Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Pest Control CCUs

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for guidance from the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation. Pesticide licensing requirements, recertification blocks, CCU totals, individual course approvals, Category 7A Business License requirements, DCA requirements and insurance standards may change. Always verify your individual South Carolina credential and current Clemson DPR course approval before purchasing or completing continuing education.