Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Courses

2 credits: 07, 18, 23, PC
Annual bluegrass has historically been an important weed of many, if not most, commodity and specialty crops. The extensive reliance upon herbicides as the primary means of control has led to an almost overwhelming presence of herbicide resistance. This course will discuss the currently reported cases of annual bluegrass resistance to various herbicides and how to develop an effective herbicide program.

2 credits: Core
When pesticide applications become necessary for good turf management, it’s important to understand how the application equipment works and how to properly calibrate the equipment. This course will provide turf managers with an understanding of the most common types of equipment used for pesticide applications on turf and how to properly calibrate the equipment.

2 credits: Core
2 credits: 01, 18, PC
This course covers the importance of honey bees, details honey bee decline statistics, and outlines the strategies that can be implemented to coordinate the efforts of farmers, beekeepers, and applicators to find a balance between managing pests and protecting pollinators.

6 credits: 18, 23
5 credits: 06, PC
2 credits: 05
1 credit: 07, 15
Pest management of ornamental plants involves multiple steps from growing a healthy plant that is more resistant to pest damage to correctly identifying the problem when present. This course will cover the most common pests of ornamental plants.

6 credits: 18
4 credits: 11, 23
2 credits: 12
1 credit: 15
This online video course teaches pest managers in Pennsylvania how to control interior and exterior pests that can infect people, damage various types of property, and affect one’s quality of life.

2 credits: 07, 18, 23, PC
Managing weeds in a turf stand can be a tricky proposition. Often times the client fails to recognize that the presence of weeds in a turf stand is the result of poor turf, not the cause. This course will provide applicators with a working knowledge of weed biology, weed identification, and how herbicides work.

2 credits: Core
4 credits: PC, 09, 18, 23
This course discusses managing pests in aquatic environments. It contains extensive plant identification, discussing common weed types and species. Other pests, such as insects or birds, are also covered. In addition, this course explains a variety of control methods, outlining how to use pesticides safely and the necessary first aid for any exposure. Finally, calibration of equipment is explained and example scenarios are explored.

2 credits: 18, 22, PC
This course is for Pennsylvania pest control professionals who work in interiorscapes. It covers topics like interior Integrated Pest Management strategies, pesticide safety protocols, methods for fostering indoor plant health, and more.

2 credits: Core
6 credits: 01, 18, PC
Pesticides protect plants and animals from insects, weeds, and diseases; improve the efficiency of food, feed, and fiber productions; and provide for greater crop yields. This course outlines various invasive pests of field crops and how an applicator can effectively treat pest invasions while protecting themselves and the environment from the adverse effects of pesticides.

5 credits: PC, 05, 18, 23
3 credits: Core
1 credit: 10
Learn about integrated pest management strategies for protecting forests in Pennsylvania with this course. Lessons teach methods for minimizing pesticide’s impact on water sources, protecting non-target organisms, and managing pesticide resistance. Other topics discussed include sprayer operation and maintenance, weed control, insect management, and more.

2 credits: Core
2 credits: 05, 18, 23, PC
Pest control professionals in Pennsylvania who complete this online course will learn how to manage common pests found in forest environments. Lessons cover various topics like integrated pest management, pesticide-mixing safety, greenhouse plant fumigation, and more.

3 credits: Core
6 credits: 02, 18, PC
Pesticides protect plants and animals from insects, nematodes, weeds, and diseases; improve the efficiency of food productions, and provide for greater crop yields. This course outlines various invasive pests of fruit crops and how an applicator can effectively treat pest infestations while protecting themselves and maintaining productive fruit crop yields intended for human consumption.

1 credit: 06
2 credits: 07, 18, 23, PC
The lawn and landscape are essential elements in any residential situation. When not installed or managed properly the investment of time and money can be perceived as a waste as the lawn and landscape do not fulfill their purpose. This course will focus on the essentials of designing a landscape that is aesthetically pleasing and makes weed control easier as well as key factors for installing and establishing a functional home lawn.

4 credits: 15, 18, 23
If you do not diagnose the problem correctly you will spend a lot of time treating something that is not there. Identify correctly and gather evidence and determine the extent of potential problems. This course will cover the basics of what to look for while inspecting a structure that has potentially been invaded by wildlife.

4 credits: 16, 18, 23
To effectively manage a mosquito population as part of an integrated pest management plan applicators must be familiar with mosquito physiology, the lifecycle of the mosquito, and various collection and surveillance methods for both adult mosquitoes and larvae. This course will talk about surveillance methods, mosquito anatomy, and touch on the diseases that are most commonly vectored by mosquitoes in the United States.

2 credits: 06, 18, 23, PC
IPM of ornamental plants involves multiple steps; producing a healthy plant, correctly identifying the problem, recognizing that there will always be some pests and damage, and only using pesticides as a last resort. This course teaches the basics of pest and disease management for ornamental plants, and the different tools and techniques needed to successfully provide your clients with a healthy and attractive landscape.

2 credits: 07, 18, 23, PC
As a turf manager, you’ll need to be more than someone who just applies pesticides. Good turf management requires the use of all the tools in the toolbox. This course will touch on the best practice cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical controls for turf management.

3 credits: 06, 07, 18, 23
This course covers benefits and considerations for pesticide applicators in Pennsylvania when developing an integrated pest management (IPM) program. Topics include a variety of pest-management methods, such as augmentation, mechanical and cultural control, sanitation, and pesticide use.

3 credits: 11, 15, 18, 23
One of the challenges with house mice is that clients don't take house mice seriously. It's amazing how people will move heaven and earth when rats are around, but when it comes to mice they will simply say "oh, it's just a mouse!" This course will help educate applicators on the risks of allowing house mice to remain in a structure.

4 credits: 16, 18, 23
Mosquito management is a daunting task for many applicators. When mosquito management is done incorrectly or isn’t done at all, mosquitoes can make public spaces unusable. This course will discuss common methods of mosquito controls, everything from physical controls to pesticides, to record-keeping, all as part of a solid integrated pest management approach to mosquito control.

1 credit: Core
1 credit: 06, 18, 23, PC
When pesticide applications become necessary for good ornamental plant management it’s important to understand how application equipment works and how to properly calibrate the equipment. This course will discuss the most common types of equipment used for pesticide applications on ornamental plants, the way to calculate the volume of solution needed, and how to properly calculate the flow rate of the equipment.

4 credits: 11, 18, 23
In this course, you’ll discover safe, effective, and affordable control methods for pests that can damage property, injure people, or affect the quality of life. By minimizing risks to yourself, others, and the environment, you can effectively control pests and prevent further damage.

2 credits: 01, 18, PC
This course discusses proper insect identification for rice, cotton, and peanuts. Each pest and pathogen are identified according to various stages of maturity, the signs and symptoms exhibited, and the type of biological, cultural, or chemical control recommended for each.

2 credits: Core
Learn best practices for public and environmental safety during pesticide use. This course examines ways Pennsylvania pest managers can safely and legally use pesticides while protecting people and the environment from pesticide hazards. Management plans, pesticide alternatives and emergency response strategies equip you to deal with any challenge.

6 credits: 11, 16, 18, 23
Public health pests affect humans through discomfort and disease and can be found in homes and other buildings and structures. This course will outline control techniques and requirements for the most common public health pests which includes mosquitoes, flies, fleas, lice, bed bugs, cockroaches, wasps, ticks, mites, spiders, and rodents.

2 credits: Core
When the pesticide label requires a respirator it’s important to know how to use a respirator safely. This course outlines the types of respirators available, proper fit, and inspection/maintenance requirements.

4 credits: Core
Learn important techniques in forest pest management in this course for Pennsylvania pest managers. Focus on proper tools use with instruction in techniques for broadcast sprayers, nozzle calibration and pesticide application. As you work, stay safe with the help of personal protective equipment (PPE) your employer must provide. This course covers those topics and more.

2 credits: Core
You will learn how to recognize the hazards of pesticides in humans, pets, wildlife and the environment in this course for Pennsylvania pest managers. There is also a detailed breakdown of the categories and designations of pesticides.

8 credits: 10, 18, 23
This course will review the methods and techniques to manage vegetation on right-of-ways and non-cropland industrial sites safely without damage to non-target species, sites, objects, or the environment.

2 credits: 07, 18, 23, PC
There are a variety of diseases, disorders, insects, and vertebrate pests that can cause problems in turfgrass. This course will give applicators and turf managers an overview of these common pests and strategies for their management.

2 Credits: 11, 15, 18, 23
Rodenticides are becoming a widely discussed and concerning topic in the pest control field. There is a growing public concern at the risk of secondary and non-target poisonings when rodenticides are used. As a pest control operator is it your responsibility to understand how rodenticides work and how to read their labels. This course discusses the common types of rodenticides, their appropriate application, the risks involved with the use of each type of rodenticide, and takes a look at specific label language.

2 credits: Core
10 credits: 12, 18
1 credit: 11, 23
Termites are just one of the many wood-destroying pests found throughout the United States. Carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, and wood-damaging fungi can also cause severe structural damage if not properly managed. This course will cover the primary wood-destroying pests found through the country, the recommended treatments for each of those pests, and the primary sources of excess structural moisture.

1 credit: Core
4 credits: 18, 19
Wood is the most renewable resource, and the extraction and processing of wood products take far less energy, carbon, and water than other raw materials. To use wood as a structural material for various demands, such as utility poles, fence posts, marine pilings, lumber, timbers, and plywood, the wood must be properly treated with chemicals to protect the wood from pests.