Pesticide Education, Training and Certification in Canada Jennifer Hamm Craig, Federal Co-Chair, WGPETC Pest Management Regulatory Agency Vivianne Servant, Provincial Co-Chair, WGPETC Alberta Environment August 2003
Pesticide Regulatory System kFederal (PMRA, Health Canada) 'Product registration for use in Canada kProvincial/Territorial 'sale, use, storage, transport, disposal regulations 'certification and training of applicators and vendors
The Standard for Pesticide Education, Training and Certification in Canada kReleased in 1995 kEstablishes the basic (minimum) knowledge requirements to obtain applicator/vendor certification kSeries of documents kOnline at
Framework kPurpose/Scope kComponents 'Common Terminology 'Basic Knowledge Requirements (Applicator/Vendor Standards) 'Certification Criteria 'Recertification Criteria 'Reciprocity Mechanism
The Applicator Standard kAerial kAgriculture kAquatic Veg. kForestry kFumigation kGreenhouse kIndustrial Veg. kLandscape kMosquito & Biting Flies kStructural kCore (applicable to all categories) kTen Applicator Categories
The Vendor Standard kVendor Core kModule for Commercial and Restricted Products
Concepts Covered in Core & Module Structure kGeneral Information kRegulations kLabelling kHuman Health kSafety kEnvironment kPest Management kApplication Technology kEmergency Response kProfessionalism
Structure of Basic Knowledge Requirements kCourse outline – information to include in courses kInstructional Objectives – what instructors must cover kLearning Outcomes – concepts student must be able to describe or do after taking the course (used to develop exam blueprints)
Revisions to the Standard kFramework (not finalized) 'Revised category definitions 'Incorporated recertification by Continuing Education Program criterion 'Added Exam Guidelines kApplicator Core Standard (finalized) 'Expanded IPM concepts/principles 'Included new legislation (PCP Act)
Revisions to the Standard (continued) kLandscape module (final draft prepared) 'Revised templates (guides to revise all modules) 'Incorporated IPM concepts, treatments and examples 'Updated pest management and application technology sections 'enhanced resistance management information 'enhanced human health & safety information
Criteria for Certification Exams kLearning Outcomes in BKRs establish the key concepts that can be examined kCritical for exam blueprint development
Criteria for Certification Exams kDeveloped Exam Guidelines 'Percent of questions from key concepts (based on Learning Outcomes) 'Percent recall versus application type questions 'Core and category exam blueprints 'Standardized Pass Mark/Pass Rate 'Failure/Rewrite Exam Policy
Criteria for Certification Exams kDeveloping Directions for Administration of Exams (NAFTA) 'Standardize exam taking sessions 'Enhance security of exams 'Incorporate on-line exam procedures
Certification Exams Being Developed kNAFTA core exam 'Validated and legally defensible exam 'Pilot phase kOn-line National Aerial Exam 'Based on National Aerial Standard & Manual 'Validated and legally defensible exam 'field testing phase
U.S. Interactions kDeveloping NAFTA exam kDeveloping Exam Administration Procedures kSharing information/resources/experiences kParticipating together (CTAG, Working Group, AAPSE) kFuture possibilities?