The Technician Training Course will satisfy the Structural Pest Control Services requirements for certification of Commercial/Noncommercial and Technician licensing of pesticide applicators (8 hours of training). This is the technician general training, and not a category training. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manuals, the general manual (AES-5073), and the SPCS Laws and Regulations manual (AES-6135), an $45 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Don Renchie.
Pest Category Training
This 8 hour course is designed to satisfy the Apprentice Training Requirements as specified in Section 7.132 (i) (2) “8 hours of classroom training in each category in which the Apprentice is to provide pest control services”. In addition, the course can be used to prepare for the Structural Pest Control Pest category examination. The class is from 1 pm-5 pm on August 12, and 8 am-12 pm on August 13. You must be present for both days to receive credit. The $150 course fee includes the required category training manual, Pest Category (AES-5074), a $35 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Brittny Jones. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for both days.
Announcing General Household Pest In-Depth Training at the IPM House
Class participants will have a chance to try new application methods to help aid in learning new skills.
Did you know that over the past five years the pest control industry has seen 20% annual growth?
The $14 billion U.S. pest control industry needs well-trained, new technicians
Professional development and growth in competence are key factors to employee retention, according to PCT magazine.
The global pest control market size was valued at $20.6 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $30.0 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 5.2% in the forecast period, according to market research.
IPM Experience House Course invites you to attend this one day general household pest training.
When: Tuesday, June 29, 2021, From 8:30AM to 4:30 PM
Where: Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Service, Water/Land Resource Building
Stored Product pests are hard to spot this is one way to monitor for them.
A great introduction to entomology, integrated pest management and pesticides, this class is ideally suited for relatively new employees, IPM coordinators, registered sanitarians, and code enforcement officers who need to better understand modern pest control. The class will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center on Tuesday, June 29th.
This one-day course will be an introduction to entomology, integrated pest management and pesticides, this class is ideally suited for apprentices, technicians, certified applicators, registered sanitarians. This course will cover an in-depth look at some of the more common insects that are found in kitchens, pantries, and homes. Hands-on activities include use of various sprayers and dusters, bait applications and situational problem solving. In addition, we will use microscopes to look at different life stages and species of stored product pests, flies, cockroaches, bed bugs and more. There will be special combined session on insecticide classes – the session will part lecture and part hands on understanding on how to read a label and SDS documents to know what type of product you are using.
Instructors: Dr. Santos Portugal, Travis Gates, Dr. Christopher Bibbs, Janet Hurley
Classes at IPM House are a combination of hands-on demonstrations and classroom instruction. (CEUs: 6 hours verified training in Pest Category and 4 CEUs for Certified Applicators {2 Pest, 1 L&R, 1 IPM).
Registered Sanitarians and Code Enforcement will receive 6 hours of classroom training.
Early registration (up to June 18) is $75. Late registration is $90. No refunds after the June 28 final registration deadline.
Lunch and snacks will be provided, plus educational materials.
To register, and for more information, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3418
To see what will be covered open this PDF file 2021GHP Agenda
New in-person IPM Experience House Class: Understanding Termites and Wood Destroying Insects
Now is the time to train new staff on how to manage situations like this.
May 25, 2021 at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Dallas, TX
This class is designed to orient new apprentices, technicians, and certified applicators to a better understanding of termite biology and control, as well as some of the most common wood destroying insects as well. As with all IPM Experience House classes, instruction is a combination of classroom and hands-on demonstrations. Dr. Robert Puckett, Assistant Professor and Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension College Station will be joined by Dr. Janis Reed, BCE, Technical Services Manager with Control Solutions, Inc. (CSI), Mr. Ronnie Holder of BASF Corporation, Mr. Kevin Keim, of Corteva Agriscience, along with Dr. Brittny Jones and Ms. Janet Hurley from AgriLife Extension.
It is expected that course participants have read the Control of Termites and Other Wood Pests study manual and have a basic knowledge of this topic. This course will cover a more in depth look at this species as structural pests and educate the participant about how to better identify, diagnose, and recommend practical and economical treatments. Participants will also learn about how to complete a WDI report, types of treatments available and when/where to use, plus time looking at these structural pests under a microscope.
This is a great opportunity to train new or old employees in the field of wood destroying insect control. Half of this class will be held in the classroom, and half will be in the field, conducting WDI inspection, reviewing types of treatment methods, and microscope work. Students must wear long pants and closed toe shoes to participate in all the exercises.
Cost for the course is $75, includes lunch, snacks, and water. Registration must be completed online at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3388
Questions about the class or about registration can be directed to Mary Mays (972-952-9258) or email (mary.mays-delamater@ag.tamu.edu).
Don’t delay! Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions we are having to limit this class to the first 10 people to sign up. However, don’t fret too much if we have adequate demand, we will compile a waiting list to make sure if someone drops out another person can fill their place.
Here is the tentative Agenda (we are working out the hands-on sections) but this should give you an idea of how the day will go.
| 8:30 – 9:30 | Review of termites
Biology of termites as social insects; most common termites in TX Speaker: Robert Puckett |
Water Education Bldg. |
| 9:45 – 10:45 | Review of wood destroying insects
Biology of Beetles, Borers, Carpenter ants and bees Speaker: Janis Reed |
Water Education Bldg. |
| 11: 00 – noon | Lab exercise: Identifying termites and beetles to family
Using microscopes each class participant will view a variety of WDI pests at various stages in life cycle Speakers: Puckett, Reed, Hurley, Jones |
Water Education Bldg. |
| 12:45 – 1:45 | Control Options for termites and WDI pests
Types of treatments and products used – soil applied, repellent vs. non-repellent products, baiting options Speakers: Ronnie Holder and Kevin Keim |
Water Education Bldg. |
| 2:00 – 2:30 | WDI Inspections
What to look for, what to report and how to report Speakers: Reed and Puckett |
IPM House |
| 3:00 – 4:15 | Hands on Demonstrations
Making a diagram of the structure [Reed, Hurley] Calculating termiticide/bait station requirements [Keim, Jones] Application of soil- and void-applied termiticides [Holder, Puckett] |
IPM House |
Understanding Termites and Wood Destroying Insects
This class is designed to orient new apprentices, technicians, and certified applicators to better understanding of termite biology and control, as well as some of the most common wood destroying insects as well. As with all IPM Experience House classes, instruction is a combination of classroom and hands-on demonstrations. Dr. Robert Puckett, Assistant Professor and Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension College Station will be joined by Dr. Janis Reed, BCE, Technical Services Manager with Control Solutions, Inc. (CSI), Mr. Ronnie Holder of BASF Corporation, Mr. Kevin Keim, of Corteva Agriscience, along with Dr. Brittny Jones and Ms. Janet Hurley from AgriLife Extension.
Finishing 2019 Strong at IPM House
We are please to offer three courses for pest management professionals this November and December at IPM Experience House. All IPM House classes provide a mix of lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice.
The PMP Toolbox
Successful pest control requires being familiar with the tools of the trade. Tools of the Trade: Equipment and Materials for Pest Control, is a new class to be offered on November 8. This class will provide an overview of essential pest control tools, how they work, how to use them, and how to maintain them. We will also cover exclusion materials and techniques for pest proofing. All topics will be covered from the perspective of Integrated pest management (IPM) and new technologies will be discussed. This will be an excellent class for both new and seasoned technicians. Guest trainers include Randall Kennedy, with Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control, and Greg Orr with B&G Equipment Company.
This is a one-day class that runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Certificates will be given for 7 hours of verifiable classroom training for apprentices. Up to 3 Structural CEU credits will be awarded. Lunch is provided. Cost is $60 preregistration. Click here to register today, class size is limited.
Rats!
We are proud to offer Rodent Academy for the third year in a row with Dr. Bobby Corrigan. Rodent Academy is in demand across the U.S. and this is your only Texas opportunity to take it. The course is intended for pest management professionals, municipalities, universities, public schools, and food safety personnel involved in the rodent control programs.
This year’s course will be held December 17-19. In addition to Dr. Corrigan, we will have distinguished presenters Dr. Claudia Riegel, from the City of New Orleans, Travis Gates with ABC Home and Commercial Services in Dallas, Scott Smith with Bell Laboratories, as well as the IPM House faculty, Dr. Mike Merchant and Janet Hurley. If your company does rodent control or exclusion, or would like to expand into this lucrative area, you’ll want to sit in on this fascinating three days of lecture and hands-on activities.
Note that Rodent Academy will be held in a new location this year. While still at the Texas A&M AgriLife Dallas campus, we have moved into the classroom located in the new Water Education building on the north end of the main parking lot. Check the map on the registration page for directions. Cost for the three-day class is $300, lunches and snacks included.
ACE Prep
If you’ve been a pest control professional for five years or more and would like to be recognized by your peers and your customers for your hard work and professionalism, consider the Associate Certified Entomology program. This program is available to qualified professionals who can pass a certification exam. The ACE Prep class is an intensive one-and-a-half day class designed to help prepare you to take the ACE exam.
The ACE Prep class is really for three kinds of people. It’s for young professionals starting out who would like a succinct overview of the science of entomology and pest control. It’s for the ACE candidate who has studied hard on their own and just wants a final “cram” and confidence booster before the exam. And it’s for anyone interested in preparing for the ACE exam, but who isn’t sure how best to study. If you fall in this last category the ACE Prep class is just the thing to orient you to what to study, and get you pumped up to hit the books.
This year’s ACE Prep class will be held in the Healthy Living Building Classroom (formerly the Education Building) on December 12-13. Lunch is provided. Cost for the two-day class is $100. Mark your calendar now; registration is coming soon.