Anyone on here know anything about it? Briefly read an article saying you need to apply, take a test. How does it work once you have your permit?

Check with the Pennsylvania Game commission- http://www.pgc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx. They will be the agency issuing the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit.

A couple of references:
https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/058/chapter147/subchapTtoc.html

https://careertrend.com/how-6854204-become-wildlife-control-operator-pennsylvania.html

I can tell you several things about it if you have specific questions. My wife is studying for the exam right now. It is an extensive test make sure you know the material in the book they send. I took the exam to become a nwco I started part time but you will quickly see it is a full time job. Contact the regional office they will get you an application. It isn't just trapping critters every day much more goes into it. Several other guys in here are excellent nwcos from pa. Bob Jameson and other I'm sure might chime in.

I read an article in the game comm. Website, had a lot of info but nothing really regarding the process in getting a permit. Figured i would need to call them.

What does the test cover? - laws, regs, species, diseases, trapping methods? Etc etc

Also read another article that said you should get a white tail deer permit as well. It requires its own test too. Are they referring to a hunting license?

Being a hunter and trapper is there any game commission rules/regs/laws that pertain to a nwco regard conflict of interest? I.e. someone calls about a nuisance raccoon during trapping season, can you trap and dispatch it as you would during the trapping season? Another example - a nuisance bear during the bear season (obviously the game comm will more than likely handle that type of problem)

Final ?. Are you then put on a list that the game comm. Will contact as an "assets" to handle nuisance animals outside regular business hours or convienance -goes to what siford said about being a full time commitment.

Read the pa code link above, that shed some more light..

You need to contact your Regional office and request an application. Fill out app. and mail along with $25. PGC will send you a packet of info to study. In addition to the study guide, there give you a list of web links to study as well. Study all that and your good to go. You will have to test within 180 days of app. approval. Must have 80% or better to pass test. Once passed there is $50 annual permit fee.

The info provided will cover the laws, methods, equipment and so on of your permit.

You will need to be proficient in cage/live trapping and need to have basic construction skills to perform the exclusions and repairs. NWCO involves a lot more than just trapping!!

The PGC will give your info and info of other NWCO's in the area to people with nuisance complaints.

Legal dispatch methods are covered in the study guide.

As for the bear cub the PGC will take care of it.

Hi All;
Just used some of this information to look into getting my Nusiance Wildlife Control Permit:

o Call the Harrisburg Office of the PGC 717-787-4250 (Don't bother with the regional office at least in South Central PA)
o Follow the prompts press 2 then 2 then 1 to get you to the Special Permit Office

That's as far as I have gotten. Wish me luck.

good luck.

Good luck u start out part time. Then its calls back to back. I start trapping nuisance animals for game and fish. They call me when someone needs something. My permit is free. I been one for yrs. Being a nuisance control trapper has got me some good places to trap. Here u can get a predator control permit . Its good for Bobcats, coyotes , coons, oppsums, foxes, and skunks. To help Turkey , quail, and deer. My any method 365 24/7. Being a nuisance control trapper I can take any of the fur bearers by any method. I carry my 204 ruger on beaver jobs. In the bottoms where it safe to shoot. It's less I have too trap.

Don’t forget you have thousands of fellow Pennsylvanians to ask on the HuntingPa forum too!
Trapping forum there as well

I became certified last year. I had to call my regional office and request an application. When applying, you send in either $25 or $50 with the app. They will send you a study guide. Once you feel like you studied enough, make an appointment at your regional office to take the exam. Some offices have the exam offered only a couple times a year. I was told there was a high first time fail rate, although I have not heard any statistics, e.g., 25% fail (example only).

I just got my application approved, and should have my study material this week. I worry that being in a rural area will limit jobs, as most people will just handle it themself. I know this post is old, but curious if anyone in PA can shed some light on the amount of work they pick up…

CountyrCletus, rural area is ok. High pay & lots of work may not be there. But it's a start.
A friend added to his rural NWC business by trapping Groundhogs for big time farmers and a big time produce grower. Averages 1000-1400 Groundhogs on these farms. Just saying..

Hern talk to your friend about saving the ground hog glands for us. Will help pay his fuel expense if he did or pocket money either way.

Hey CountryCletus, how did you start the application process? I am interested in obtaining my Pa nuisance wildlife control operator permit also.

Never mind, Fatdawg pretty much covered it.

How long or how many questions are on the test?

I’ve called for the application 3 times, nothing has ever shown up in the mail. I’m going to the rendezvous in shippensburg this year for a cable restraint class, I’ll ask around there if anyone knows anyone who can get me an application.

60-75 questions on the test

I will be at the convention in Shippensburg as well on Friday look forward to meeting you guys

Just had the Pa GAME Commission call me, new local warden, so he gave me his address for monthly report mailing. Funny they called on Sunday morning….

I just keep my license and do very limited work for friends and people I know. Too busy w full time job.

Monthly reporting is required to maintain your license. Whether you work or not is the way I understand it. I stopped our mailing monthly harvest reports years ago to my WCO. They all must be sent to our local regional office. Must be exceptions to the rule in some cases.

That’s interesting, you would think direct regional headquarters mailing would be the wisest.

Several I know were instructed by their WCO by letter to begin sending our reports to our regional office. I always mailed to our local WCO in the beginning when they started the reporting requirement. If you were instructed to mail directly to your WCO then I would certainly follow their instructions.

Not PA so no help there but in NC, all of our reporting is done online at the end of each quarter to wildlife HQ. Our permits are still hard copy multi-part forms but we no longer have to mail a copy to wildlife HQ.

I'm a new NWCO...my local warden asked me to send directly to him. He permits me to scan the official form and send through email. I do not have to report to the regional office. I'm northwest.