Course Title

1. Introduction to Pest Control

• Overview of pest categories including (insects, rodents, and birds)

• Economic and health impacts of infestations including (property damage, contamination, and disease transmission)

• Industry regulatory landscape including (EPA FIFRA, state pesticide control acts, and local health codes)

• Roles and responsibilities of pest control personnel including (technicians, supervisors, and facility managers)

• Overview of professional standards including (NPMA (National Pest Management Association) guidelines and licensing requirements)

2. Pest Biology and Identification

• Common structural pests including (cockroaches, ants, and termites)

• Rodent identification and behavior including (rats, mice, and burrowing patterns)

• Seasonal pest activity trends including (breeding cycles, migration, and food-source dependency)

• Signs of infestation including (droppings, gnaw marks, and nesting materials)

• Species-specific risk factors including (disease vectors, structural threats, and allergen exposure)

3. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles

• Prevention-first strategies including (sanitation, exclusion, and moisture control)

• Monitoring and inspection techniques including (traps, bait stations, and visual surveys)

• Threshold-based intervention including (action levels, escalation criteria, and treatment triggers)

• Non-chemical control methods including (physical barriers, habitat modification, and biological controls)

• Documentation and recordkeeping practices including (inspection logs, treatment history, and compliance files)

4. Pesticide Safety and Application

• Pesticide classification and selection including (insecticides, rodenticides, and fumigants)

• Label reading and compliance requirements including (EPA FIFRA-regulated instructions, dosage limits, and hazard warnings)

• Application equipment and calibration including (sprayers, dusters, and bait stations)

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements including (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 respirators, gloves, and eye protection)

• Storage, transport, and disposal protocols including (chemical containment, spill response, and waste handling)

5. Workplace and Environmental Safety

• Hazard communication practices including (Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labeling systems, and employee training)

• Exposure control measures including (ventilation, decontamination stations, and first-aid procedures)

• Environmental protection considerations including (water source protection, non-target species safety, and drift prevention)

• Emergency response planning including (spill containment, evacuation procedures, and incident reporting)

• Facility-specific risk assessments including (high-risk zones, sensitive areas, and access restrictions)

6. Regulatory Compliance and Documentation

• Licensing and certification requirements including (state pesticide applicator regulations and renewal timelines)

• Inspection readiness practices including (audit preparation, compliance checklists, and corrective actions)

• Recordkeeping obligations including (treatment logs, chemical usage reports, and client documentation)

• Reporting requirements including (incident reports, regulatory notifications, and violation remediation)

• Industry standard alignment including (NPMA best practices and quality assurance benchmarks)

7. Group Discussion and Case Studies

• Review of real-world infestation scenarios including (commercial kitchens, warehouses, and multi-unit housing)

• Facilitated discussion on compliance challenges including (EPA FIFRA violations, audit findings, and corrective planning)

• Comparative analysis of treatment approaches including (chemical vs. non-chemical interventions)

• Peer-to-peer problem-solving exercises including (site-specific pest management plan development)

• Lessons-learned discussion including (common mistakes, near-miss incidents, and best practice takeaways)