BPCA’s Employer Development Group (EDG), responsible for driving the trailblazer apprenticeship standard for professional pest management has today released the End Point Assessment for consultation with the industry.

The End Point Assessment (EPA) is the document that defines the review criteria and tools which will be used to assess if an apprentice has achieved the required ‘trailblazer’ General Pest Control Technician standard.

View document

Industry professionals are invited to download the EPA, review and feedback any comments.

All feedback must be returned to [email protected] by midday on Thursday 23 November.

EDG Chair, Martin Rose-King of Bounty Pest Control said,

“I have to thank my colleagues on the EDG for getting the document to this stage.

It has been a challenge to develop a framework that complements existing standards from the professional industry.

It’s now up to the pest control community to take the time to review and make relevant comments where appropriate, all of which we will consider.

“I must stress, this apprenticeship standard has been produced as a development pathway for a general pest control technician, and not a specialist.

"So, specific qualifications are not included within the framework.

"Should an employer require an apprentice to have additional training in such areas as Rodenticides, Control of Birds and Field Biology, these would need to be included as part of the apprentice’s internal training plan, and would not be funded through the apprenticeship programme.”

The EPA is the penultimate element of the Pest Control Technician Trailblazer apprenticeship to be delivered.

The EDG has previously published the Apprenticeship standard earlier this year, and will submit the EPA before the end of the year to the Institute of Apprentices.

Approval of the EPA by the Institute of Apprentices is the concluding step in the process of launching the apprenticeship opportunity to the industry.

In order to ensure that the General Pest Control Technician apprenticeship programme produces well rounded and competent Pest Control Technicians, the EDG has built-in assessment via an online knowledge test, a practical assessment and a professional discussion.

All three modules need to be passed in order for the apprenticeship to be achieved.

Members or supporters who have any queries regarding the EPA, should email [email protected].

Karen Dawes
Training Development Manager

02 October 2017  |  BPCA Online

Source: BPCA