Week 1

Day 5 - Practical Field Training – pre arranged day in the field with a licensed pest controller at several customers' premises - practical instruction and experience in using PPE equipment - inspecting for evidence of pest activity - mixing pesticides - applying pesticides under direct supervision of licensed PCO.

Week 2

Day 6 - Integrated Pest Management – IPM definition - objectives - combination of chemical and non-chemical methods - examples of how pesticides can be reduced – physical controls - exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - examples in large commercial premises - HACCP concepts - plan of premises - followup and corrective measures – preventative measures – risk to environment – five basic steps – inspection – identification – recommendation – treatment – evaluation.

Day 6 - Rodents - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - rodent senses – physical abilities – rodent life cycle - types of rodenticides – bait stations available - advantages - disadvantages - signs of infestation – rodenticide labels - MSDS Material Safety & Data Sheets.

Day 7 - Cockroaches - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques – reproduction capacity – life cycle – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies.

Day 8 - Spiders - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - spiders are not insects – identifying parts – life cycle – anatomy – families of spiders – control strategies – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies.

Day 9 - Ants  - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques – structure of ants – life cycle - ant behaviour – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies.

Week 3

Day 11 - Stored Product Pests - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - impact on food industries – identifying different species – primary and secondary pest status – inspection techniques – chemical control - IPM non-chemical methods – cultural controls - sanitation - storage recommendations - physical controls - exclusion - other pest control strategies.

Day 12 - Fabric Pests - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - life cycle - learn what stage these pests cause damage – ecology – biology – environmental issues that cause presence – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies - flea control.

Day 13 - Flies – pest status - pest species - identification features - common habitat and breeding areas - preferred feeding habits – life cycle – area of distribution – chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – physical controls - cultural controls - other pest control strategies.

Day 14 - Bees – pest status - species dangerous to humans – social wasps – native bees – social honey bees – identification of bees and wasps – safe removal of bees – area of distribution – common breeding and habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – physical controls - cultural controls - other pest control strategies.

Day 15 - Assessment for Units 5, 6 and 18 of National Competancy Units – receive details of a project ie document your servicing of a building for specific pests - take still pictures of all important stages and procedures.

Week 4

Day 16 - Bird Pests – pigeons - starlings - myna birds - other bird pest species - pest status - diseases – building defacement - identification techniques - permitted chemical controls - IPM non-chemical methods – bird proofing options – bird shooting – bird capture – other bird control strategies - ladder safety

Day 17 - Trees and Timber technology - building construction methods - timber and wood decay fungi - tree biology - bark - phoelum - sapwood - heartwood - pith - mediallary rays - identification of hrdwood and softwood timbers.

Day 18 - Introduction to Termites and Control Methods - references - ecology – biology - pest status - caste system - king - queen - reproductives - workers - soldiers - behavioural aspects - cellulose digestion - identification of pest species – nest types - termite control options - termites baits - soil treatments - cultural controls - physical barriers - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - collection and preservation of termites.

Day 19 - Termite Control Methods - termite baits - Termidor dust - liquid termiticides - soil barrier treaments - destruction of nest where practicable - physical barrier systems installed during construction.

Day 20 - Termite Baiting Systems (morning)  Exterra - Nemises - Sentricon - Termidor dust - advantages and limitations - termite (aggrregation) stations - monitoring.

Day 20 - Borers (afternoon) ecology – biology – identification & types attacking Australian timbers – leaf eating insects – gall forming insects – sap sucking insects – conductive tissue feeding.

Week 5

Day 22 - Australian Standards - Termites  - Australian Standards 3660 termite inspection reports for existing owners - termite control in existing buildings and during construction - Australian Standard 4349 timber pest inspection reports prior to purchase - inspect your own premises and do a report to AS 4349.

Day 23 - Termite Inspections – legal aspects – how to inspect – writing the report – discussing findings with customer – legal responsibilities and pitfalls.

Day 24 - Revision of course to date

Day 25 - Assessment for Units 8 and 10 of National Competancy Units

Week 6

Day 26 - Commercial Quoting – how to quote – considerations – prior preparation – meeting the customer – the walk around – calculations – presenting the quote - Assessment – student is given a scenario on a commercial building with 3 types of pest problems, prepare and produce a professionally presented quote.

Day 27 - Termite Quoting – how to quote – considerations – chemical selection – environmental decisions – legal points to consider – customer requests – special equipment required – rent, buy equipment? – clauses to put into quote - student is given a plan of a house that has a termite infestation, produce a quote based on an inspection report which will be provided. .

Day 28 - Additional Assessment / Revisions  / Open Discussion