CERTIFICATION
AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MANAGERS OF NOXIOUS WEEDS AND INVASIVE PLANTS
1998 nawma Survey of Certification and Continuing
Education for Noxious Weed Managers
In 1998 nawma sent out a survey to all states asking
about certification and continuing education requirements for managers of noxious weeds
and invasive plants. 28 of the 36 states with noxious weed laws responded to the survey.
12 of these states had state funding and 15 states had local funding for noxious weed
control. Only five of these states have a certification program and only 7 states have
continuing education requirements. 2 states indicated they are considering certification
programs. 8 state indicated that a NAWMA sponsored certification program would be
desirable and 12 states indicated it might be helpful. 26 states indicated they would like
information on programs in other states.
A required or
voluntary certification and/or continuing education program should be designed to meet the
needs of individual weed mangers. The NAWMA Personal Improvement Self-Test may be used to
determine or update the training needs of your weed managers. The reason for certification
and continuing education programs is to hire, and develop and maintain professional and
competent weed managers. Following is a summary of some of the state programs including
the name of a contact person.
(3)(a) Each county board shall employ one or more weed control superintendents. Each such superintendent shall, as a condition precedent to employment, be certified in writing by the federal Environmental Protection Agency as a commercial applicator under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
Superintendent;
continuing education.
LAW 2-954.02. Beginning January 1, 1988, each county weed control superintendent shall be required to complete twenty hours of annual continuing education. The cost of continuing education shall be included in the annual budget of the weed control authority. Such continuing education shall focus on the use of equipment, drift control, calibration, proper selection of pesticides, legal responsibilities, and duties of office. Any statewide association of county weed control superintendents or of local governments responsible for weed control may sponsor the required continuing education program. All continuing education programs shall be submitted to the director for review and approval. The sponsoring organization shall maintain records of attendance and notify each county board of the hours completed by its weed control superintendent by January 1 of each year. Failure to complete the required number of hours of continuing education shall subject such weed control superintendent to removal from office by the county board.
The Nebraska
Weed Control Association with Central Community College in Hastings, Nebraska offers four
10 hour training sessions per year. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture reviews and
approves the agenda for these training sessions. Attendance is verified by roll call.
Participants are given examinations to test their comprehension and understanding of the
educational material presented. Passing scores of at least 70 percent is required. The
NAWMA Personal Improvement Self-test was given to weed control managers in designing the
training program content.
Mitch Coffin,
Noxious Weed Program Manager
Nebraska
Department of Agriculture
301
Centennial Mall South
PO Box 94756
Lincoln, NE
68509-4756
Tel: 402
471-2394
1505.0756 TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS AND AUTHORIZED AGENT STATUS FOR
COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL INSPECTORS.
Subpart 1. Training requirements.
A.
To meet
qualifications as a county agricultural inspector
in the control programs for noxious weed, seed, and screenings
as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 18.80, subdivision 1, each county agricultural
inspector must complete at least 40 hours of
approved training in the first year of employment,
and 20 hours in each succeeding year as follows:
(1) 16 hours in seed law enforcement training in the first year and eight in each succeeding year;
(2) 20 hours in
noxious weed law enforcement training in the
first year and ten in each succeeding year; and
(3) four hours in
screenings law enforcement in the first year
and two in each succeeding year.
1505.0758
MEETINGS AND REPORTS REQUIRED OF INSPECTORS.
Subpart 1. Meetings.
A. The
commissioner shall provide written notice to county agricultural inspectors of meetings
they are required to attend. County
agricultural inspectors shall attend the following meetings according to Minnesota
Statutes, section 18.79, subdivision 7, to receive the training considered necessary by
Minnesota Statutes, section 18.79, subdivision 6:
(1) an annual short
course for all county agricultural inspectors at one location;
(2) an annual
meeting for the county agricultural inspectors in a designated region at several locations
throughout the state; and
(3) other regional
meetings called by the commissioner to address a special problem or training need that may
arise involving one or more duties assigned to
the position in Minnesota Statutes, section 18.81, subdivision 1.
B. The
commissioner shall provide written notice to local weed inspectors for all meetings they
are required to attend. Local weed inspectors
are required to attend the following meetings according to Minnesota Statutes, section
18.79, subdivision 7, to receive the training considered necessary by Minnesota Statutes,
section 18.79, subdivision 6:
(1) an annual noxious weed law enforcement training meeting or time allotted on the program of an annual meeting of a county township officers association;
(2) for those
unable to attend a meeting as provided in subitem (1), a correspondence refresher course
or other training approved by the commissioner; and
(3) other meetings
called by the commissioner to address a special problem or training need that may arise
involving a duty assigned to the position in Minnesota Statutes, section 18.81,
subdivision 2.
Charles G.
Dale, Supervisor
Seed and
Noxious Weed Unit
Minnesota
Department of Agriculture
90 West Plato
Boulevard
St. Paul, MN
55107
Tel: 651
296-6123
Fax: 651
297-2271
e-mail:
Charles.Dale@state.mn.us
CHAPTER
44
CERTIFICATION
RULES & REGULATIONS FOR
WEED
& PEST SUPERVISORS
Section
1. Authority.
Pursuant
to the authority vested in the Board of Certification by virtue of Wyoming Statutes
11-69.1 through 11-69.21 and Wyoming Statutes 9-276.19 through 9-276.33, the following
rules and regulations are hereby promulgated.
Section
2. Qualifications.
Agricultural background with:
a. College
degree, preferably with a major in agriculture and/or related field, who shall have
satisfactorily completed courses in Entomology and Weed Science or their equivalent, from
an accredited college or university, or;
b. High
school graduate or its equivalent and in addition has two (2) years practical experience
working in job-related fields of weed and pest operations, who shall have satisfactorily
completed courses in Entomology and Weed Science or their equivalent, from an accredited
college or university.
c. If
the qualifications as specified in Section 2 a or b have been achieved, the person shall
be deemed a certified supervisor under the Wyoming Weed and Pest Control Act of 1973. The
certified supervisor will not be subject to additional testing and examinations under the
act.
Section
3. Supervisors employed.
Prior to promulgation shall be deemed certified supervisors if the following requirements
have been met.
a. Have
satisfactorily completed Entomology and Weed Science courses or their equivalent, from an
accredited college or university.
b. If
the qualifications as specified in Section 3 a have been achieved, the person shall be
deemed a certified supervisor under the Wyoming Weed and Pest Control Act of 1973. The
certified supervisor will not be subject to additional testing and examinations under the
act.
c. If
the requirements as specified in Section 3 a have not been achieved, the supervisor will
be subject to testing and additional requirements as specified by the Weed & Pest
Board of Certification under the act.
d. A
passing grade of seventy percent (70%) shall be required. Answers to tests would be
predetermined.
Section
4. Supervisors.
Supervisors are required to attend at least one workshop and/or training course every two
years to maintain their status.
Supervisors
that do not meet the certification requirements are required to complete two
correspondence courses from the University of Wyoming within two of being hired.
The Weed
& Pest Council sponsors an annual 3 to 4 training session that must be attended by the
supervisors and assistants every other year to maintain their certifications. Most attend
the session every year.
Mr. Roy
Reichenbach, Wyoming Weed & Pest Coordinator
2219 Carey Ave.
Cheyenne, WY
82002
(307) 777-6585