Applicator Core Competency Products Now Available
News Date November 14, 2007
Using cooperative agreement funding from the U.S. EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the NASDA Research Foundation (NASDARF) has finalized a comprehensive national core competency exam for pesticide applicators, an accompanying core study manual, and an exam administration guide. The applicator exam was generated using a validation process involving workgroup representatives from all aspects of the pesticide application business.
Workgroup members were recruited with an emphasis on professional, geographic, and experiential diversity. Private and commercial agricultural applicators, structural pest control operators, aquatic pest specialists, and others in the profession were represented on the workgroup. Regulatory experts from state departments of agriculture and University cooperative extension pesticide applicator educators played a significant role in the comprehensive three-year core exam and core manual development process. Exam questions underwent extensive field trials to assess their validity in real world applicator examination scenarios.
Last summer, NASDARF released the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual designed as an educational, training, and outreach publication for applicators preparing to take the core exam. In addition to the exam and core manual, NASDA supported the Certification and Training Assessment Group (CTAG) development of an exam administration guide. The guide was developed as a best practices tool for organizations administering certification exams to pesticide applicators. The national core exam and manual, as well as the exam administration guide, are now available for use by states, tribes, and federal agencies certifying pesticide applicators. NASDARF looks forward to working with pesticide worker safety partners to implement this applicator core competency project nationally. (Contact: Dick Herrett)