Texas Department of Agriculture
Commercial Termite Technician
Noble Property Inspections (NPI) has been approved as a Certified Applicator (CA) through the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). It is a requirement that all Texas-based inspectors eventually become Licensed TDA Termite Technicians to be able to perform termite inspections without supervision for NPI during all available home inspections.
Completing the requirements are straightforward but requires a two-step process. To accomplish licensure will require some classwork and an exam.
NPI will pay for the apprentice registration, however the inspector will be responsible for all fees associated with obtaining the technician license; the inspector will be required to obtain the license outside of normal commissioned inspection work. Yearly technician fees will be deducted through payroll since these are renewed all at once through the company TDA account.
GENERAL PROCESS:
STEP 1: Register through TDA to be a Commercial Apprentice. NPI will complete the Commercial Apprentice Registration.
STEP 2: After sufficient field-work, self study, and the 8-hour class, apply through TDA to become a Commercial Technician.
STEP 3: After technician license is obtained, the inspector is required to complete 8-hours of verifiable training yearly.
STEP 1: REGISTER FOR COMMERCIAL APPRENTICE (contact NPI for this step)
Follow these steps:
Go to this LINK
Select "Apprentice Registration" under Structural Pest Control Services.
Select "Commercial Apprentice."
Your Taxpayer ID will be your Social Security Number.
Under Employer Information:
Business Name: Noble Property Inspections, PLLC
Physical Address: 3107 Meadowcreek Drive, Missouri City, TX, 77459
TDA TPCL License Number: 0866336
Phone: 832-551-1397
Responsible Certified Applicator Name: Patrick Bullock
Certified Applicator License Number: 0861103
Apprentice Registration Applicant Name: Your Name
Title: Apprentice Inspector
The company will receive your commercial apprentice license within a week or two. Please check with Noble to make sure they receive it and the license is present on the website here.
STEP 2: LICENSE APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL TECHNICIAN
Now that you are a Licensed TDA Commercial Apprentice, you will need to go through the training to gain the ability to write a termite inspection report without supervision (i.e. to become a Commercial Technician). The steps according to the TDA include:
Twenty (20) hours of self-paced CLASSROOM (C) training with oversight from our Certified Applicator (Patrick Bullock).
Forty (40) hours of On-the-Job-Training (OJT) doing inspections with review and oversight from our Certified Applicator.
8 hours (Online) of classroom training in termite.
Apply to take the Exam and pass it.
To comply with NPI workflow, please follow these steps:
To meet the requirement of 20-hours of self-paced CLASSROOM (C) training, please see the book HERE. Go over the book and then fill out form "2 - BLANK FORM - Verifiable Training Record" using the 2A and 2B support (example) documents. Send the Verifiable Training Record to Noble@Noble-PI.com. THERE IS NO NEED TO SEND TDA THIS FORM.
Work with Patrick to obtain forty (40) hours of On-the-Job-Training (OJT) doing at least Thirty (30) field termite inspections.
Sign up and take the 8 hour class here: LINK. Occasionally the course may be offered virtually, but there are also in-person courses to choose from. Make sure you receive the certificate after completion.
Request approval to take the PSI Exam. Pay nothing for this approval. Follow these steps:
Fill out Section B and G on the following form: 1 - APPLICATION FOR EXAM - SPT-420
Email TDA as follows: eligibility@texasagriculture.gov
‘My name is [FIRST & LAST NAME] and I'm emailing you all required eligibility documents to be approved to take the Structural Pest Control Exam. Attached are the requested forms including the application for exam and the technician class certificate.’
Attach the form "1 - APPLICATION FOR EXAM - SPT-420" to the email
Attach your 8 hour class certificate to the email.
After you receive an email of approval, register for your exam. Please follow these steps:
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)
Termite Technician CE Requirements & Compliance Instructions:
As a licensed TDA Commercial Technician, you must complete a total of eight (8) hours of verifiable training each year. Of those, two (2) hours may be on-the-job training (OJT) verified by the certified applicator, Patrick Bullock. Follow these steps to stay in compliance:
Coordinate with Patrick to complete up to two (2) hours of OJT. For more details, contact Amanda A.
For paid CE courses, visit the provided link and select companies that offer "STRUCTURAL" courses (NOT agricultural). Ensure you complete a total of eight (8) hours. Only six (6) hours may be needed if you have already completed two (2) OJT hours.
Alternatively, you may use the following FREE resources to meet the training requirements:
Fill out form "2 - BLANK FORM - Verifiable Training Record" using the 2A and 2B support documents. Send the completed form to Noble@Noble-Pi.com. THERE’S NO NEED TO SEND THIS FORM TO TDA. For assistance contact Amanda A.
Note: You cannot repeat any course for credit within the same recertification year. Credit is awarded hour for hour for department-approved continuing education courses. You do NOT have to complete CEUs in the first year in which you are licensed (Example: If you were licensed in 2024 you do not have to complete these CEUs until the following year.)
Certified Applicator CE Requirements & Compliance Instructions:
CEUs must be completed each calendar year (except the first calendar year your license is issued). Please complete all required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by December 31st to count towards the following years renewal.
Applicators must earn two (2) CEUs in general training (any of the CE courses) and one (1) in each category in which the applicator is certified (P/T is Pest and Termite and will require a termite course and a pest course; pest will be rodent or beetles for example NOT carpenter ants or bees since this may count as general). Of the two (2) general category units, at least one (1) must be in federal and state laws, pesticide safety, environmental protection or integrated pest management (IPM). Visit the following links and select companies that offer the appropriate "STRUCTURAL" courses.
NOTE: No course may be repeated for credit within the same recertification year. CEUs may be obtained through a self-study or Internet course every other year. For more information go to the TDA’s SPCS CEUs website.