Day 1 (Saturday)
Practical training
This practical session will focus on the practical elements of pest management and will include:
• Identification techniques
• How to handle and use pesticides safely
• Considerations for safe and effective control measures
• Monitoring techniques
• Equipment selection and use
• Equipment maintenance
• Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
During this session learners will also begin the process of developing their portfolio for assessment. You will be expected to continue the development of your portfolio for the duration of the course.
Days 2 to 6 (Sunday to Thursday)
Portfolio development and knowledge-based modules
Learners will be given the opportunity to do some tutor-supported independent learning before beginning the interactive knowledge-based study days in preparation for the written examination for modules 1 to 3 of the RSPH Level 2 qualification.
Topics covered include:
- Legislation relevant to public health pest control
- Storage and transport of pesticides
- Biology, behaviour and control of rodents
- Control of other vertebrate pests, including birds, rabbits, foxes, moles and feral cats
- Public health insect pest biology and control, including cockroaches, ants, wasps, flies, biting insects, stored product insects
- Pesticide application equipment
- Personal protective equipment
- Pesticide formulations and active ingredients
- The importance of documentation and effective communication.
Day 7 (Friday)
Revision, portfolio and written examination
Learners will be given the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned and work on their portfolio before commencing their written examination for the three knowledge-based modules (health, safety and legal aspects, vertebrate control and invertebrate control) at 12.30pm.
Learners will have one hour to complete each of the examination papers (3 hours in total).
Day 8 (Saturday)
Portfolio completion and practical assessment
On the final day of the course, learners will be expected to complete their portfolio for submission and take their practical assessment for modules 4 and 5 of the qualification.
As part of your assessment, you will be expected to work through scenarios, correctly identifying the pest issue, selecting appropriate control measures and completing relevant reports, demonstrating your understanding of how to work in a safe and effective working environment.
The assessment will take approximately one hour, and you will be observed throughout. Video and photographic evidence will support your submitted assessment.
The assessment will consist of scenarios (vertebrate and invertebrate pest management techniques) where the learners must demonstrate their skills in selecting and performing safe and effective control strategies.
Each assessment will take approximately 1 - 1.5 hours.
You can download the full RSPH syllabus here.
Have you taken your Level 2 Award but want to bump it to Level 2 Certificate?
A two-day non-residential course is available for those learners who have already achieved their Level 2 Award in Pest Management and now want to complete the two additional practical modules to achieve their Level 2 Certificate in Pest Management.
This will require learners to attend the one-day practical training session and develop their portfolios before the assessment day. The portfolio should be submitted on the day of the assessment.
Training and assessment days will be fixed to the dates shown on the BPCA website.
The qualification is divided into five units:
• Vertebrate Pest Management
• Invertebrate Pest Management
• Health, Safety and Legal Aspects of Pest Management
• Techniques for the Management of Vertebrate Pests
• Techniques for the Management of Invertebrate Pests.
For this course, you must study the online learning section for at least six weeks before studying the classroom elements.
The classroom course runs from Saturday to Saturday, with the written examination for modules 1-3 on Friday afternoon and the practical scenario-based assessment on Saturday.
This course is residential; however, if you prefer to travel, please state non-residential on your booking form. Please note you will be required to carry out homework each evening.
Programme includes:
• Classroom course
• Exam and assessment
• Online learning
• All course material
• Accommodation (residential only)
• Lunch
• Refreshments
• Evening meal (residential only)
• BPM Manual.
Course times
- Arrive Saturday for 10am course start
- Each subsequent day 8:30am - 6pm,
- Evening work required throughout
- Course closes after the assessment at approximately 4pm Saturday.
Prerequisites
You must complete your Online Learning section before attending the classroom course. Online learning is available six weeks before the course starts. It takes at least 60 hours to complete. Once you pay the full course cost, you can request early access to the online learning.
Please note if early access is requested and subsequently cancelled and you are entitled to a refund, the online learning fee will be deducted from your refund.
The RSPH Level 2 Certificate in Pest Management assessment is included as part of this programme and will take place on days 7 and 8 of the course.
The assessment consists of a written examination and a practical scenario-based appraisal.
The written examination will take place in the afternoon of day 7 and is made up of 3 papers each relating to public health pest control:
Unit 1: Vertebrates (15 questions)
Unit 2: Invertebrates (15 questions)
Unit 3: Health, Safety and Legal Aspects (15 questions).
The examination papers will consist of short answer questions around the biology, behaviour and control of rodents, rabbits, squirrels, moles, feral cats, foxes and birds; control of insects (in particular wasps, flies, cockroaches, Pharaohs ants, stored product insects and biting insects), legislation, safe storage and transportation of pesticides, use of application equipment and much more.
If you sit the examination in the standard format, you will have up to 3 hours to complete all three papers.
You can download the full RSPH syllabus here.
Classroom Programme (with accommodation)
| |
Including VAT |
Excluding VAT |
| Members |
£1758 |
£1465 |
| Non-members |
£2214 |
£1758 |
The course fee includes tuition, 7 nights accommodation and meals from Saturday evening to Saturday lunch, course reference materials and exam entry. You will also have access to the BPCA Online Learning for 6 weeks prior to the course and receive the BPM Manual during the classroom section of the course.
Classroom Programme (without accommodation)
| |
Including VAT |
Excluding VAT |
| Members |
£1468.80 |
£1224 |
| Non-members |
£1588.80 |
£1324 |
The course fee includes tuition, lunch and refreshments each day, course reference materials and exam entry. You will also have access to the BPCA Online Learning for 6 weeks prior to the course and receive the BPM Manual during the classroom section of the course.
Upgrade from Level 2 Award to Certificate
| |
Including VAT |
Excluding VAT |
| Members |
£570 |
£475 |
| Non-members |
£684 |
£570 |
Cost includes Modules 4 and 5 practical assessments.
Cancellation terms
Course cancellations will only be accepted on receipt of written instruction and are effective from the date received by the BPCA.
• More than six weeks before the course start date = £100 (+VAT) deposit and online learning fee (if started early)
• Less than six weeks before the course start date = 100% of fee.
Please Note: A £100+VAT non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking the classroom programme. Final payment must be received 6 weeks before the classroom start date. Course bookings will not be accepted after the 6-week cut off date.
Full terms and conditions apply.
Our learners said...
The programme was excellent. The great resources and excellent delivery by the tutors really put the fun back into learning for me. The tutors put everyone in the team at ease and built our confidence in what can sometimes be a daunting situation. There was fantastic teamwork and support from everyone involved.
April Pearson, Shetland Islands Council
The course was excellent and I thought the information provided throughout was first class.
David Stainton, Xeric Systems
An amazing learning experience which I feel fortunate to have taken part in. Such an intelligent and psychologically subtle way to be encouraged to absorb information.
Peter Antrobus, Hill Farm Pest Control
The course last week was excellent, and the tutor was very good. I look forward to receiving the results
John R Corsan , Wessex Agri
Thank you to all that helped me last week, you were fantastic and made a great team. In particular, I liked the training methods of the tutors. Now, to the exam!
Ian Boxall, self-employed
Why choose to train with the BPCA