California SPCB Applicator Continuing Education Courses

1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 2
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.

1 hour: Technical Branch 2
Bed bugs are a common and difficult household pest that can be linked to a number of health effects such as psychological issues, cutaneous reactions, allergic reactions, anemia, and potential disease transmission. This course outlines various management methods for bed bug control and treatment as well as common symptoms and signs of health effects caused by the presence of bed bugs.

1 hour: IPM
1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 2
Structural applicators know that managing a bed bug infestation is difficult on many levels. This course looks at the history of bed bugs, current integrated pest management approaches to preventing and managing an infestation, and several of the chemical options available when your non-chemical controls and methods have failed.

3 hours: PAU, Technical Branch 2
This course focuses on the use of cage and box traps in the management of vertebrate pests in both urban and suburban environments. Best practices surrounding appropriate traps for target animals, effective baits, and safe and humane use of traps will be outlined.
 

2 hours: PAU, Technical Branch 2
This course teaches the basics of pest and disease management in enclosed spaces where exposure is increased, and the different tools and techniques needed to successfully control the environment.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
Pesticides are regulated to utilize their benefits while protecting public health and welfare and preventing harm to the environment. This course addressed the federal pesticide laws that control the labeling, sale and distribution, storage, transportation, use, and disposal in the best public interest.

2 hours: Technical Branch 2 or 3
.5 hour: Rules and Regulations
.5 hour: IPM for Field Representatives and Operators
As certified or licensed professionals we have legal responsibilities that we must fulfill in every job that we do. Not only do have to control pests, but we also have to do the paperwork and legwork that documents our applications. This course reviews the basics of general structural pest management.

1 hour: Technical Branch 2
German cockroachs can be a difficult pest to control. The temptation for most pest control operators is to reach for the pesticide right away, but there is much more involved in controlling a German cockroach infestation. This class will focus on an eco-friendly approach to German roach control strategies in the most difficult environments.

1 hour: IPM
What is integrated pest management? The reality is nobody can agree on what integrated pest management is. This course will cover what IPM is and what isn't and how to be practical about IPM strategies.

2 hours: Technical Branch 2
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.

2 hours: Technical Branch 2
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.
 

1 hour: IPM
Termites are one of the most destructive pests in the United States. But there are several common-sense IPM practices that can be implemented to make a structure less inviting to termites from the start. This course will provide a review of IPM principles, termite biology, and several IPM practices to make any structure less attractive to termites.

1 hour: Technical Branch 2
This course will cover five different species of tree squirrel so you can identify the differences between each species in terms of their behaviors and abilities, habitats, and damage. This course will also discuss the many control techniques to use and requirements of each.

1 hour: Technical Branch 2
There are many species of woodpeckers and they are all protected, so managing them requires careful and diligent observation. This course will cover differences between species and common behaviors. It will also cover many non-lethal methods of control and legal requirements for lethal control.

3 hours: Technical Branch 2
Correct identification of each mosquito species is an important step to managing the mosquito population in your area. Each species of mosquito has its own preferred habitat and breeding environment. This course covers the preferred habitat, breeding ground, and physiological differences between five major species of mosquitoes found throughout the United States.

1 hour: IPM
1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 2
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 hour: Rules and Regs
Wearing PPE can reduce exposure (dermal, inhalation, ocular, or oral) and thereby lower the chances of pesticide injury, illness, or poisoning. It is important that all pesticide applicators and handlers understand the protections and limitations of PPE.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
Pesticides are formulated to make them safer or easier to use. There are many formulations available for various pest control sites and situations and it is important that applicators choose the best one for the job.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
Pesticides are designed to be toxic so they can control pests (e.g., plants, insects, rodents, fungi, and bacteria) while not harming non-target organisms and anyone else exposed to the product. Pesticide users need to be concerned with the hazards associated with exposure to the chemical and not just the toxicity of the pesticide.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
The pesticide label is the main method of communication between a pesticide manufacturer and pesticide users. By law, pesticide users are required to comply with all instructions and use directions found on the pesticide product label.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
Pesticide labels and safety data sheets (SDS) appear to contain much of the same information. While the label is the law, an SDS is not considered the law. As an applicator, it is important to understand the difference between a pesticide label and a safety data sheet and know what information can be found in each document. This course will review the various parts of pesticide labels and safety data sheets to identify the similarities and differences.

1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 2 
Applicators and the public share concerns about how pesticides may harm the environment in California. Initially, hazards to humans were the primary reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to classify a pesticide as a restricted-use product.

1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 2
This course provides an outline of the primary concerns of the bee-keeping industry including colony collapse disorder (CCD), factors affecting honey bee decline, invasive insects, fungal disease, best practices for pollinator stewardship, and minimizing pesticide risks for pollinators.

2 hours: Rules & Regs
Labels are increasing in complexity and depth of information. It is never suggested that anyone try to memorize a pesticide label. By reviewing parts of a label and recognizing label language and use, we hope that you feel more comfortable with the information on pesticide labels and feel confident in understanding the information present.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
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.

2 hours: Technical Branch 2
An animal with a backbone or spinal column is called a vertebrate. A few vertebrates, such as rats and mice, are common pests in urban and industrial areas. Others are not pests in their normal habitats but may occasionally become pests when they conflict with humans. This course looks at basic management of common vertebrate pests. Be sure to understand all the regulations that apply in your geographic area before attempting to control vertebrate pests.

3 hours: Technical Branch 2
Having a clear understanding of the hierarchy of insect classification is important. It helps us better understand the background of our pest decide the best course of action in controlling the pest. This course will cover some of the structure infesting pests commonly encountered by structural pesticide applicators and technicians.

3 hours: Technical Branch 2
As a pest control technician, it's important to be familiar with the pests in the region as well as where they reproduce. In some cases, it is difficult to determine if the designated living space is inside or outside. This course covers the identification and management of pests that generally live outside but will invade a structure if the conditions are favorable.

1 hour: PAU, Technical Branch 3
Inspecting and treating for termites can be a difficult process. Being familiar with common types of construction is extremely helpful. This course is a tour of the Mississippi State University Extension termite training facility. The facility consists of 12 different stations, each representing an area of a building or home where termites could enter the structure.

1 hour: Rules and Regs
This course discusses safety and security issues that may arise when pesticides are moved or stored, under what conditions uncertified people can make applications of restricted use products, and how to communicate these issues with customers.

4 hours: Technical Branch 2
This course focuses on the fundamentals of wildlife damage inspection including identification based on habitat, routes of entry, scat, and tracks. It will help you understand the unique biological and legal risks that are involved with the inspection process as well as the proper equipment and PPE that should used.

5.5 hours: Technical Branch 3
.5 hour: Rules and Regs
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 hour: Technical Branch 2
This course covers a range of mosquito-borne diseases with an emphasis on the Zika virus. Zika's extent, side effects, testing, and diagnostics are detailed along with protection and reduction techniques of mosquitoes to minimize the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.