We don’t find Pest Protectors. We make them. The U.S. Pest Apprenticeship Program is the first registered pest control apprenticeship in Tennessee. It takes a motivated person with no experience, pays them from day one, certifies them in their first 90 days, and graduates them as a Certified Pest Protector with a nationally recognized U.S. Department of Labor credential and zero student debt. Our first class starts in January 2027.
The program at a glance
| Pay | Paid from your first day, with a raise at every milestone you prove |
| Cost to you | No tuition and no student debt |
| State certification | Within your first 90 days |
| Classroom training | 288 hours, on the clock |
| Length | Two years or less. Finish as fast as you prove your skills |
| Credential | Certified Pest Protector, with a nationally recognized U.S. Department of Labor credential |
| Registered with | The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship |
| Experience needed | None |
| First class starts | January 2027 |
Tennessee’s first registered pest control apprenticeship
Since 1985, U.S. Pest has led the way in Tennessee. We were the first in the state to treat outside when others only treated inside, the first pest company to promote bee-friendly pest control, and the first in Tennessee to offer 12-month tick treatments. Now we’re the first pest control company in Tennessee with a registered apprenticeship.
Why build a school for our trade? Because we’re growing, and we want the people who run our routes to be trained the U.S. Pest way from the very first day. And because this is work with a future. Technology is changing a lot of jobs, but no computer can crawl under a house, find a termite tube on a pier, or earn a family’s trust at the front door.
Pest Protector is the trade. We’re naming it, and we’re building the people who will carry it.
What every Apprentice gets
- Signing Day. You sign your apprenticeship agreement in front of your family, take the U.S. Pest Pledge and get your gear, just like a college signing.
- A Master Protector. A named mentor who teaches you the trade on real routes, with never more than two Apprentices each.
- Raises you can see. Your pay steps up at every milestone you prove, so you always know what comes next.
- Own Your Route. Graduates get a route and a share of what they build on it, vesting over time.
- A seat at the table. A monthly Apprentice breakfast with Erica Brister, our President and CEO, where any question is allowed.
Built on registered apprenticeship standards
Because our program is registered with the state and federal government, it follows the same standards as other registered apprenticeships across the country:
- Written agreements. Every Apprentice signs an agreement and receives a copy of the program standards.
- Paid classroom instruction. Training in the technical side of the trade, on the clock.
- Progressive wages. Pay steps up on a set schedule as skills and milestones are proven.
- Close supervision. No more than two Apprentices per Master Protector.
- Tracked progress. Regular evaluations of your on-the-job skills and technical knowledge.
- Equal opportunity. Fair selection procedures, an equal opportunity pledge and a clear complaint process.
A career ladder with a visible top
Every Apprentice can see exactly where this career can go:
Apprentice → Certified Pest Protector → Route Lead or Master Protector → Branch GM → CEO-in-Training
This isn’t just a chart. Most of our Management Team started in the field. James Hawkins began as a Pest Pro and now leads our commercial division as Regional Commercial General Manager, and Brad Wahl went from Pest Pro to Service Manager to General Manager. Some of our Pest Pros make $110,000 a year. Read more about working at U.S. Pest.
Learn from our best: the Master Protectors
Each branch has one Master Protector, a senior Pest Pro chosen to teach the trade the way we do it every day. When we introduced the program to our team, three to four Pest Pros in every branch raised their hands for the job. The people who know this work best want to pass it on, and their craft is about to become your career.
Master Protectors wear the title on their badge and their truck, and they’re chosen for patience, skill and the quality of their work.
Who should apply
You don’t need any experience. We’re looking for character: people who are honest, dependable, good listeners, and curious enough to keep getting better. The apprenticeship is a great fit for:
- Recent high school graduates who aren’t sure college is for them
- Veterans. As a company that employs veterans, we value the discipline and teamwork military experience brings
- People ready to leave restaurant, delivery or retail work for a skilled trade
- Anyone who likes working outdoors, solving problems and helping people
Every Apprentice needs a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver’s license, passes a background check and drug test, and has a clean driving record. Because customers trust us around their homes and families, we can’t hire applicants with violent offenses, assault or drug charges.
How to get started
- Apply. Online applications are coming soon. Until then, call 615-590-1260 with questions.
- Ride-Along Day. Spend time with our team at our North, South or Commercial office and see the work firsthand.
- Selection. We choose our first class of Apprentices.
- Signing Day. Our first class signs, takes the U.S. Pest Pledge and starts in January 2027.
- Certification and graduation. Earn your state certification in your first 90 days, then graduate as a Certified Pest Protector.
Know someone who’d be great at this? A son or daughter, a neighbor, a veteran, or someone at church who’s great with people? Send them our way.
Pest control apprenticeship FAQ
What is the U.S. Pest Apprenticeship Program?
It’s a paid, two-year-or-less apprenticeship that trains people with no experience to become Certified Pest Protectors. It’s registered with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Labor, and it’s the first registered pest control apprenticeship in Tennessee.
Do I get paid during the apprenticeship?
Yes. Apprentices are paid from day one, including during classroom training, and get a raise at every milestone they prove. There’s no tuition and no student debt.
Do I need experience to apply?
No. We teach the trade. We look for honesty, dependability, curiosity and good listening skills.
How long does the apprenticeship take?
Two years or less. You can finish as fast as you prove your skills. You’ll earn your Tennessee state certification within your first 90 days.
What do I earn when I finish?
You graduate as a Certified Pest Protector with a nationally recognized U.S. Department of Labor credential. Graduates get a route and a share of what they build on it, vesting over time.
When does the first class start?
January 2027. Online applications are coming soon. Until then, call 615-590-1260 with questions.
What are the requirements?
A high school diploma or GED, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and a passed background check and drug test. We can’t hire applicants with violent offenses, assault or drug charges.
Start a career, not just a job
If you care about people and take pride in doing a job right, we’d love to meet you. Questions first? Call us at 615-590-1260, and a real person will help you.
