Qualifications
Whereas basically any schmoe can become a pest control expert, it takes a real hardworking yiddisher kop to become a pesticide scientist. One almost certainly needs at least one degree, which is a big investment of time and money, but there are also certain other requirements.
You'll need the ability to play nice with others, as you'll most likely be working on a team; writing chops for clear communication between your lab and corporate; deep organizational skills, as you'll need to constantly reference data you've collected over the years; and, of course, a background in chemistry, biology, agriculture, or environmental sciences.
It'll probably help to have a degree more advanced than just a bachelor's, since you'll want potential employers to know you're worth your Na when it comes to the scientific method.