Education
If you want to learn more about this field, contact a local pest control
company and ask to speak to an experienced technician. Set up a meeting and
have a list of questions ready.
The more contacts you make ahead of time, the better. Most of your learning
will be done on the job. The sooner you get yourself hired with a company,
the sooner you'll start learning.
Many large pest control companies offer three-week training
programs for new employees.
"Most trainees usually go along with a more experienced technician for
a couple of months to learn the ropes. After that, they go out on their own,"
says pest control worker Carol Watt.
In some states, however, you'll need to be certified in order to work with
chemicals. Certification is obtained through a series of exams and annual
upgrading.
Regulations governing pest control workers vary across the U.S. Each state
licenses pest control operators, but not necessarily the individuals.
Regulations are governed by state authorities. For example, 40 hours of
training is all that's required in some areas. Those working in Georgia must
pass a state exam before they can work in the field. And in Maryland, certification
can take as long as two years.
There are also technical colleges, such as Virginia Tech College, that
offer courses in pest control and pesticide application.
There are also those working in the industry who have degrees in pest management.
Purdue University offers advanced training in pest management.
The more you know about the pests you're taking on, the better prepared
you'll be for the job.
"The more information you have about the target, the better prepared you'll
be. Treatment materials come and go, but the basic biology of the pests changes
little over time," says pest control worker Stephen Opal.