INCORPORATED
1987
ACCREDITED
APCA Members are required to possess TAFE or APCA Pest Control Certificate and extensive field work experience in the pest control service industry

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APCA Pest Control Certificate Course Details

Week 1


Day 1 - Introduction & Overview - social need for pest control - benefits of being a pest controller - range of pest control services - why safety is so important - definitions and jargon - pesticide categories and formulations - basic pesticide chemistry - protective equipment
Day 2 - Pesticides - Health & Safety - overview of commonly used pesticides - categories of pesticides - scheduled poisons - LD50 ratio - safer pesticide formulations - government registration authorities - review of registered pesticide labels - routes of entry into humans - pesticide measuring and mixing rates
Day 3 Pest Control Equipment - overview of pesticide formulations - protective equipment - overalls - gloves - respirators - WorkCover Codes of Practice - mechanical applicating equipment - sprayers - fogging machines - bait stations -
Day 4 - Pesticide Formulations - liquid concentrates - emulsifiable concentrates - wettable powders - rodenticide baits - cockroach baits - other pest baits -

Day 5 - Practical Field Training – apply as much as possible in the field of what you have learnt, ask questions with the technician you are working with.


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


Day 10 - Practical Field Training

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 - Fleas 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 - Practical Field Training – Project Work


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 - Assessment – on units 5,6 & 18


Day 18 - Trees  - timber and wood decay fungi – tree biology – bark – phloem – sapwood – heartwood – pith – medallary rays – identification of hardwood vs softwood timbers –


Day 19 - Timber Pests – termites – borers - wood decay - ecology – biology – identification of pest species – nest identification.


Day 20 - Timber Borers – ecology – biology – identification & types attacking Australian timbers – leaf eating insects – gall forming insects – sap sucking insects – conductive tissue feeding - timber Pests overview


Week 5


Day 21 - Termite Control - finding & killing termites – monitoring – baiting – dusting.

Day 22 - Managing Termites – timber preservation – chemical and non-chemical barriers – writing termite proposals & specifications


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


Day 24 - Assessment -


Week 6


Day 25 - Commercial Quoting – how to quote – considerations – prior preparation – meeting the customer – the walk around – calculations – presenting the quote.


Day 26 - 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.


Day 27 - Commercial Assessment – given a scenario on a commercial building with 3 types of pest problems, prepare and produce a quote.


Day 28 - Termite Assessment – given a plan of a house that has a termite infestation, produce a quote based on an inspection report which will be provided.

 
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