Upcoming events

What: VPMA Jeffrey M Johnson Memorial ACE Prep Course
When: June 7, 2022, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Where: Virginia Tech Center, 2810 N. Parham Rd., Ste. 300, Richmond, VA 23294
Cost:
Recert credits only - the cost is $85 for VPMA members or $100 for non-members.
ACE Prep Course & Exam - the cost is $125 for VPMA members or $150 for non-members.

Recertification Credits: applied for in VA, MD, WC, NC & DC in categories 7A, 7B, 8 and 60

Take this course to earn your ACE Designation - you can use this course to kick-start your studies and just attend the Prep Course on the 7th, or use it as a final review and register with ESA to take the proctored exam at the same location on the 8th. If you opt to test later, you will be able to test free at a future VPMA proctored testing opportunity.  The cost is $125 for VPMA members or $150 for non-members.
OR
Take this course to earn VDACS Recertification Credits only - recertification credits have been applied for in 7a, 7b, 8 and 60, and in the corresponding categories in DC, MD, WV and NC.  The cost is $85 for VPMA members or $100 for non-members.

Why Become an ACE?

Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) can lead to better visibility, opportunities, and jobs. In today’s increasingly complex and highly-specialized economy, credentials are important. Thinking about becoming an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE)? Attend this Prep Course and take the Exam the next day!

Sure, you know you’ve got the skills to do the job, but how do you convince potential customers and employers you’re the best one for the job? For many career-minded pest management professionals, certification is often the answer.

The Entomological Society of America, long the industry leader in certification through its Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) program, also offers a certification option geared specifically toward the pest management industry. People become ACEs for a variety of reasons, but one thing is clear – the ACE program has become the benchmark for professionalism in the pest management industry.

Steps to Becoming an ACE

1. Meet these pre-requisites:

• Hold a current pesticide applicators license.

• Have a minimum of 5 years of verifiable pest management experience, less if a related degree is held.

2. Complete the ESA ACE application process as outlined at https://entocert.org/ace/apply, pay the fee to ESA, and pick VPMA as your proctor.

3. Complete the VPMA ACE Prep Course - click the Individual or Group registration buttons above to register! The cost is $125 for VPMA members and $150 for non-members. Registration Deadline for ACE is: May 24, 2022.

4. Studying for this exam is key to successful completion. Find study material, practice exams and resources here.

What: VPMA Recertification Webinar - 7a, 7b, 8 and 60
When: June 15, 2022, log in by 7:45 am, sessions run from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm
Where: Livestreaming online training event with pre-recorded speaker sessions

Click here for a full brochure.

This livestreaming event will be held on Zoom and will feature four of our Gold Education Sponsors and a VDACS Update. Attendees will earn recertifiation credit in VDACS categroies 7a, 7b, 8 and 60. Recertification has also been applied for in the corresponding categories in MD, WV, DC and NC. To earn recertification each attendee must log into the Zoom meeting on their own device using their own meeting link that will be sent to their unique email address one week prior to the event.

• Successful Termite Inspections and Baiting presented by Jessi Allen, Senior Territory Manager at Corteva
• Getting to the Source: Practices for Solving and Preventing Small Fly Issues presented by John Singletary, ACE, Territory Manager for Nisus Corporation
• Mosquitoes: Biology and Control presented by Kevin R Moran, BCE, Technical Advisor/Trainer, Forshaw
• General Perimeter Pest Control: Ants & Spiders presented by Michael Ivey, Sales Territory Manager, Syngenta 

Thank you to all of our Gold Sponsors for making this training possible!

Certify New Techs to Perform WDI Inspections
Applied for VDACS Recertification Credits in 7-B & 60.
Also applied for recertification in the corresponding categories in MD, NC, WV & DC.

ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS AT 7:00 AM ON JUNE 17th.
TO REGISTER AFTER THAT DATE EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When: June 21, 2022, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $175 for Members, $315 for non-Members

This course is designed to ensure that your technician is able to carefully detect conducive conditions, know the habits and damage of wood destroying organisms and is able to accurately pinpoint and report signs of infestations. The event will be conducted as an online webinar. A weblink will be shared to each tech’s own, unique email address to access the live stream session.

During this live-streaming event, attendees will listen to professionally pre-recorded modules presented by Bryan Vaughan, BCE and John Reid, VPMA WDI Chair. After each module, John will discuss specific take aways, facilitate discussion and answer questions. 

At the end of the course attendees will be given access to an online exam that must be completed within 90 minutes of starting the exam. Attendees must pass the exam with a score of 75% to earn their voluntary VPMA Certified WDI Inspector designation. In addition, each participant must be employed by a VDACS-licensed pest management company and have minimum certification in category 60 (registered technician) to earn the designation.

Those not meeting requirements can still attend the course, but will not be designated as a VPMA Certified WDI Inspector.

Self-study prior to the event is strongly encouraged in order to be prepared to test successfully. A link to an electronic VPMA Certified WDI Inspector manual will be shared with each registrant and it is suggested that the first 4 chapters be reviewed prior to the webinar.

What: VPMA Certified WDI Inspector Recertification Webinar
When: Jun 21, 2022, 8:00 - 4:00 (or 2:30 if your certification has not expired)
Cost: $85 Members/$100 Non-Members

Already WDI Certified?  Use this training to recertify your VPMA WDI Inspector status!

VPMA Certified WDI Inspectors must recertify every 2 years. To maintain your certification you can take this live webinar, or take the static VPMA WDI Inspection Recertification course available on NPMA's Online Learning Center. We recommend this live webinar to get the full benefit of trainer interaction and updated instruction on completing the form! If your certification has expired you can renew it by taking the course and passing the exam. If your certification has not expired, you will not need to test and can leave the Webinar after the training portion is completed - around 2:30pm.

What: VPMA Master Technician: Rodents

When:October 18, 2022, 2:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Where: TBD

Cost: $190/members; $300/non-members

The Master Technican Series provides technicians with in-depth training in insect ID using using state-of-the-art microscopes; and hands-on training in control methods.  The series of eight workshops investigate eight major pest groups – Ants, Bed bugs, Blood Feeders, Termites, Occasional Invaders, Cockroaches, Rodents, and Pest Flies.

Once a technician has mastered at least four of the pest groups, special recognition will be made at the final workshop designating them as a Master Technician. 

 Please note:

• Registration begins at 8:00 am; the class begins at 8:15 am and ends at 5:30 pm.. 
• Lunch will be provided.
• Some lab sessions will be held outside, so please dress accordingly.

What: VPMA Master Technician: Blood Feeding Arthropods
When: October 19, 2022, 8:00am - 5:30 pm 
Where: Blacksburg, Meeting site TBD
Cost: $190/members; $300/non-members

The VPMA Master Technician: Blood Feeding Arthropods workshop will focus on fleas, ticks, lice, and mosquitoes. This workshop will teach technicians about blood-feeding arthropods that can be found in and around your customers’ homes. First, technicians will learn the biology, behavior, and habitats of fleas, ticks, lice, and mosquitoes that are most common in our region and throughout the country. Next, technicians will be walked through a reference collection of specimens, and using an identification guide and taxonomic key, they will learn to identify blood-feeding pests by their physical characteristics.

After lunch, technicians will participate in interactive laboratory sessions designed to prepare them to address customer concerns and hot topics in the media. These sessions will teach technicians what they need to know about arthropod-borne diseases in humans and pets (i.e. Zika virus, Lyme disease, dog heartworm, and more), the control and management of blood-feeding pests both indoors and outdoors, and how to protect people, pets, and property from these ectoparasites.

What is a Master Technician?

The Master Technican Series provides technicians with in-depth training in insect ID using using state-of-the-art microscopes; and hands-on training in control methods.  The series of eight workshops investigate eight major pest groups – Ants, Bed bugs, Blood Feeders, Termites, Occasional Invaders, Cockroaches, Rodents, and Pest Flies.

Once a technician has mastered at least four of the pest groups, special recognition will be made at the final workshop designating them as a Master Technician. 

 Please note:

• Registration begins at 8:00 am; the class begins at 8:15 am and ends at 5:30 pm.. 
• Lunch will be provided.
• Some lab sessions will be held outside, so please dress accordingly.