PHOTO: NPMA
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) launched several new technical and business training tools specifically designed for the pest management industry, including:
1. Online training courses.
Access advanced training courses — and earn state recertification credits — from the comfort of your home or office through the NPMA’s Online Learning Center. This state-of-the-art learning management system delivers exclusive business and technical training courses on topics ranging from business development and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to pest control in food plants and structural pest management. The newest offerings in the NPMA course catalog include “Pest Management in Health Care Facilities,” “Using Pyrethroids Responsibly” and “New Hire Training for Service Technicians.” There are more than 25 courses from which to choose, with more to come later this year.
2. Virtual reality (VR) training videos.
Hosted on the NPMA’s new YouTube channel, NPMA360, these three- to five-minute instructional videos on various pest control topics are all shot with advanced VR cameras and are viewable from any mobile or desktop device. Take your training sessions to a whole new level with these interactive videos, which allow you to put your staff right in the middle of the action without having to leave the office. Pair these videos with a VR headset to engage in a truly immersive training experience that can be shared with an entire classroom of trainees.
3. New episodes on NPMA BugBytes.
Are you struggling to find time to watch training videos, but you still want to stay informed on the latest information surrounding the pest management industry? Try the NPMA BugBytes podcast. Episodes are kept to around 30 minutes, making them perfect to listen to between service calls or during your daily commute. Episode 1, featuring an engaging interview with PMP Hall of Famer Dr. Bobby Corrigan (Class of 2008), is available for download now through your favorite podcast platform. After listening, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an installment.
4. An upgraded version of the NPMA’s Field Guide PRO app.
Last month, the NPMA launched its latest version of the NPMA Field Guide to Structural Pests app: the NPMA Field Guide PRO. With several advancements over the original hardcover manual, the new app is available on iOS and Android devices for an annual subscription rate. It puts the advanced biology and control information of more than 200 different structural pests right at your fingertips. Scroll through high-resolution pest images and charts for confident identification; send control recommendations directly to clients from within the app; add customized notes; and even send identification requests directly to NPMA entomologists. Other new features and enhancements include:
- An intuitive search function to quickly and easily find pests within the app.
- A comprehensive pest identification key to help you identify your pest and develop the best control solution.
- The ability to back up and restore your custom notes and pest images, so you always have access to your personalized field guide information.
- Information on eight new pests, including the European fire ant (Myrmica rubra), kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria), western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis), tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus), skunks, possums and raccoons.
More information on these and other NPMA training resources can be found online.
I think this is good for the industry and technicians in the field.