Master Technician Program Overview
This career-advancing program is composed of a series of workshops investigating eight major pest groups - Ants, Bed bugs, Blood-Sucking Arthropods, Cockroaches, Occasional Invaders, Pest Flies, Rodents, and Termites.
At the completion of each pest group workshop, participants will receive a certificate designating them as a VPMA Master for the pest group they have completed. Once a technician has mastered four of the eight pest groups, they become a Master Technician. While 4 pest groups will earn an individual the Master Technician designation, most knowledge-seeking Master Technicians complete all 8 pest workshops to gain superior knowledge and control of just about any pest they may encounter in the field.
Earning a Master Technician designation sets a PMP apart from your standard technician. When mastering a pest group, a technician delves deep in to understanding the biology, behavior, and characteristics of each pest. For most of the pest groups in the program technicians learn to use a microscope and taxonomic key to learn how to accurately identify a specific pest. Proper ID can make a major difference to the treatment methodology and formulation selection to achieve the best control of certain pests. Once the biology and ID has been mastered, the rest of the course focuses on exploring all viable control methods, formulations, and tools available for the management of each pest group.
Recertification credits are applied for in the appropriate category for the pest species being taught.
Upcoming events are listed below, if they are scheduled.
Registration Fees:
Member rate: $230 per pest group or $438 for both pest groups
Non-member rate: $305 per pest group or $588 for both pest groups
March 2026
Wed
11
2026
March 11, 2026
8:00AM - 5:00PM
Master Technician: Occasional Invaders
Cost: One Pest: VPMA Member $230/Non-member $305 Both Pests: VPMA Member $438 /Non-member $588
Virginia Tech Richmond Center, 2810 N Parham Rd STE 300, Richmond, VA 23294
Workshop Summary: The homes and structures that PMPs (Pest Management Professionals) work to protect are often attacked by structurally-damaging insects. But sometimes, Occasional Invaders crawl, slink, or fly their way into a structure simply looking for harborage, food, or they may have just wandered in. While they may not cause structural damage, they can certainly alarm the human residents of a structure. As a technician, having a firm understanding of the wide variety of creatures that fall into this category can equip you to better assure your customers that you can provide a solution to eradicate these invaders.
Recertification credits have been applied for in 7a and 60 in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington DC, and West Virginia.
Details >Thu
12
2026
March 12, 2026
8:15AM - 5:00PM
VPMA Master Technician Series: Pest Ants
Cost: One Pest: VPMA Member $230/Non-member $305 Both Pests: VPMA Member$438 /Non-member $588
Virginia Tech Richmond Center, 2810 N Parham Rd STE 300, Richmond, VA 23294
Workshop Summary: Ants are among the most persistent and challenging pests that Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) encounter in residential and commercial environments. From nuisance infestations to species capable of causing structural damage or contaminating food, ants present complex problems that require more than basic control measures. This Master Technician Pest Ants Workshop provides an in-depth understanding of ant biology, behavior, and colony dynamics, along with accurate identification of common and emerging pest ant species. By mastering inspection techniques, treatment strategies, and integrated pest management (IPM) approaches specific to ants, technicians will be better equipped to diagnose infestations, implement effective control programs, and communicate long-term solutions to their customers with confidence.
Details >
