STATES & AERIAL APPLICATORS WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL COMPETENCY

News Date January 14, 2008

           As part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA/OPP), the NASDA Research Foundation (NASDARF) is working closely with the aerial applicator community and pesticide stakeholders to develop a national aerial applicator competency exam and accompanying study guide for use by States with aerial applicator certification categories. Twenty-eight states currently have aerial pesticide application certification categories. 

            The NASDARF is collaborating with EPA/OPP, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), State Departments of Agriculture, and cooperative extension service representatives to develop a comprehensive exam and study guide. The NASDARF has contracted with Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP) to manage the exam development process. AMP has a well established reputation in the field of exam development for certification organizations, government agencies, professional associations, and industry. Patrick O'Connor-Marer, formerly of the University of California at Davis cooperative extension service, has been asked to independently develop a study guide to be used in conjunction with the exam. Dr. O'Connor-Marer has extensive experience developing adult education materials for pesticide applicators, and was intimately involved in numerous national pesticide safety initiatives.

           
            The assistance provided to the NASDARF and EPA/OPP by NAAA's Andrew Moore and Ken Degg during the exam and study guide development processes has been invaluable. The process has involved significant outreach to more than one thousand of the nation's aerial pesticide applicators in an effort to learn more about their profession, especially their routine practices and occupational tasks involving mixing, loading, and applying pesticides. The exam development process began in January 2006, and is almost completed. Working as a team with project stakeholders, the NASDARF hopes to have the national aerial exam and study materials ready for use in late 2008.

            
             The NASDARF looks forward to working with certification organizations in the coming months as the exam and study guide become available. (Contact: Dick Herrett)