What you will learn:

This section of the course covers content from unit CPUPM3005. It is made up of 11 theory-based modules that cover the following:

• Work safety – What is required to work safely. We look at risks, ladders and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as safety legislation.

• The biology and ecology of pests – Taking an in-depth look at cockroaches, ants, spiders, rodents, fleas, flies, birds, bees, wasps, bed bugs, mites, occasional invaders and stored product pests.

• Inspecting for pests – Inspections are a critical part of your job. You need different techniques to check for cockroaches, ants, spiders, rodents, fleas, birds, flies, bees, wasps, bed bugs, mites, occasional invaders and stored product pests.

• Modifying an environment to manage pests – This is a very handy skill to have. We focus on reducing reliance on pesticides. You will learn integrated pest management for common and uncommon pests.

• Spotting termites – This module will give you the knowledge required to recognise possible termite activity. This is advantageous knowledge to be equipped with and is looked upon favourably in the pest control industry.

• Paperwork – Paperwork and record-keeping are an essential part of the working day for pest managers. This module covers the basic documentation required for daily use by pest managers.

Through our studies in human learning, we have come to realise that theory is just as important as practical for the best learning outcomes. This course contains many practical tasks. You will need to demonstrate practising safety procedures and show you are confident climbing into and out of a roof void safely, as well as feeling confident climbing safely into a sub-floor. These will be day-to-day tasks in your life as a pest controller.

Section 2: Managing pests with pesticides

This is the largest section of the course and covers content from units CPUPM3005, CPUPM3006 and CPUPM3018. It is made up of seven theory modules that cover the following:

• Pesticides – In three very important modules you will learn about pesticides, how to handle them, their environmental impact, pesticide labels and pesticide safety data sheets. This is a section no pest controller should be without.

• Calculations – We take you through the types of calculations you will need to do every day to work out how much chemical application you need to treat an area.

• Pesticide application – You’ll learn about pesticide application and we will look at specific pests and how to manage them with pesticides – both common and uncommon.

• Applying pesticides to manage pests.

The practical tasks in this module will look over what we have learnt and give you an opportunity to show you have understood these things. You will be given three Work Order tasks, which will be real life work examples where you can showcase your abilities, and seven site assessment tasks. You will also need to submit your workplace supervisor Training on the Job checklist in this section.

Congratulations, you're almost there! This final section of the course covers the remainder of unit CPUPM3018. It contains one very important theory module, in which, you will learn everything you need to know about using your work vehicle, storing and maintaining chemicals and equipment so you can operate with the most effective pest management.

• Storing pesticides - This will cover storing and transporting chemicals. We will go through the legislations as well as the Australian Standards and industry Codes of Practice
• Your vehicle and chemical storage - How to handle chemical spills and what is required of your vehicle.
  
• Emergency Equipment - Let's not forget that you are working with chemicals and safety needs to be at the forefront of your attention.
• Pesticide inventory - Managing inventory is important for managing risks as well as knowing when to re-order.
• Equipment usage, inventory and cleaning - Here we talk everything from equipment maintenance to correctly cleaning and disposing of chemical containers and more 

When you set out as a pest control operator, it is important to set yourself good standards to carry throughout your career. This module will help. The lessons in this module will set you up well if you ever want to own and run your own pest control business, with attention to the requirements of due diligence. Understand the record-keeping that comes with storing and transporting chemicals. Develop good habits that you will carry throughout your pest control career. In addition, we cover what to do if things go wrong when transporting chemicals.

In your practical tasks, you will demonstrate that you know how to deal with a chemical spill, clean and dispose of a chemical container safely and demonstrate that your vehicle complies with legislative and good practice requirements. Not only will this mean you will pass this course but it will give you the confidence you need to be of service to your clients. 

I want to do this course - what next?

1. Register with WRT.

2. You will receive a link to a free Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test.

3. Complete the LLN test (allow 20–30 minutes).

4. We will email you with the results and the next steps in the enrolment process.

5. Pay the course fee.

6. Complete the induction (you will need to provide ID and a USI number as part of this process).

Have any questions? Call us on 1800 842 100

Important information

• You will need to find a licensed pest technician in your workplace who is willing to be your workplace supervisor. This is someone who will agree to officially oversee your training at work.

• To complete this program you will need to have (or have access to) some basic pest management equipment (see ‘Equipment’ tab above for additional information).

• This course does not include a one-day practical tutorial. However, you may be required to complete one at an additional cost of $500, if you do not demonstrate a satisfactory level of practical competency in the online practical tasks.

• This course is provided in partnership with the Registered Training Organisation, Rentokil Initial (RTO no. 40919), and your statement of attainment certificate will be issued by them. For more information on this please see the RTO Information tab above.

We cover in great detail all the common pests such as ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders, bed bugs, bees and wasps and birds. We also go to the next level and cover less common pests such as fabric pests, fleas, flies, mites and occasional invaders (amphipods, millipedes, springtails, thrips, booklice [psocids] and stored product pests). In addition, we have a comprehensive course on termite identification and control, which is necessary to become the complete pest controller.

The beauty of doing an online course is that you can work in your own time. If you are working full-time you can study in your own time.

On average the course would take a person working in the pest industry about 160 to 180 hours to complete. You can take your time with this course or do it as quickly as you like, but you will need to complete the course within one year.

The working in industry program is comprised of the following training components:

• Online learning program: This includes video material demonstrating and discussing pest management in real locations. It also includes theory, diagrams and photographs.
• Online tutorials: Monthly live, online tutorials provide the opportunity to listen and discuss aspects of pest management with other students and a tutor. These tutorials also allow you to discuss any questions you have in relation to your learning.
• Video tasks: You will need to find a friend or colleague to video you putting theory into practice for a number of practical tasks, including three pest management job scenarios.
• Workplace supervisor tasks: You will need to find a qualified pest technician at your place of work, who can be your workplace supervisor. They will be responsible for assessing your competency in a number of pest control tasks that you can perform ‘on the job’.

Yes there will be. But rest assured, our training process makes learning easy so these assessments will not have you staying up night after night in sweat and stress. To successfully complete our pest technician training course you will demonstrate your competence through the following:

• Online multiple-choice questions – marked and feedback provided immediately on completion of the questions.
• Practical tasks – provided in modules as you progress through the program. Tasks will be videoed by you and submitted for assessment.
• Site assessment tasks – completed with your workplace supervisor at the end of section 2. Tasks will be documented by your workplace supervisor and submitted to us for review and assessment.
• Training on the job checklist – completed by your workplace supervisor and submitted to us for review.

On successful completion of this course, you will be issued with a Statement of Attainment for three units of competency (CPUPM3005 Manage pests by applying pesticides, CPUPM3006 Maintain equipment and CPUPM3018 Pesticide storage area in pest management vehicle).

You can use this as evidence of training when applying for your state or territory pest licence (WA excepted).

You will need to contact your state or territory licensing board for details on how to apply for a pest technician’s licence as this varies depending on the jurisdiction.

Do I need to be working in the industry?

Yes. We used to offer a ‘new to industry’ course for people out of the industry, but unfortunately, the industry training requirements have changed and students now need to have a pest technician job to complete the practical training. 

Can I get my full Certificate III in Urban Pest Management through WRT?

Not through WRT at the moment. However, you can complete the additional units required with another provider. 

What will I get when I finish?

On successful completion of a course, you will receive a Statement of Attainment covering the units you have passed. This is sent out as both a paper certificate and a pdf.

How do I get my pest licence when I finish the course?

When you completed the Pest Technician Training Course you will be able to use the Statement of Attainment as proof of training. Each state/territory licencing board is different, and you should contact your state/territory licencing board direct for their licencing requirements. Links below.

• NSW Licencing Board
• Victoria licencing board
• Queensland licencing board
• South Australia licencing board
• ACT licencing board
• Northern Territory licencing board 

Who can be my workplace supervisor?

A workplace supervisor is an essential part of this course. You cannot complete the course without one. A work colleague can be a workplace supervisor if they have a current pest management licence and have a minimum of two years experience in the work being supervised. They must also have passed the following three units of competency themselves (or the equivalent):

• Manage pests without pesticides
• Manage pests using pesticides
• Chemical and equipment storage

1. Register with WRT.
2. You will receive a link to a free Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test.
3. Complete the LLN test (allow 20–30 minutes).
4. We will email you with the results and the next steps in the enrolment process.
5. Pay the course fee.
6. Complete the induction (you will need to provide an ID and a USI number as part of this process).

Course prerequisites

There are certain requirements you MUST meet before you can enrol on our accredited courses. You must:

• Be over 18.
• Pass a Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test.
• Provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number.
• Provide photographic proof of your identity.

Why do I need to do an LLN test? 

An LLN is a short test that checks that you have the necessary level of English and maths to understand the course properly. Pest controllers read product labels and mix and apply pesticides as part of the job. It is therefore extremely important that your English and numeracy is of a sufficient standard to do this competently and safely. 

Where can I do an LLN test?

1. Register on Work Ready Training and you will be sent a link for an online LLN test.
2. Complete the test (allow approximately 30 minutes).
3. We will confirm your results.

Once you have passed the LLN test, you will be able to enrol on a course. 

What if I fail the LLN test?

Unfortunately, if you do not pass the LLN test, we do not currently have the resources to work with you to bring your skills up to the necessary Certificate III level. Therefore, if you do not pass the online test, you will need to do an LLN course with an external provider, before you can enrol.  If you do fail the LNN test, any course fee payment you have made will be refunded. 

What is a USI and how do I get one? 

You need a USI to enrol on a course and to receive your qualification or statement of attainment at the end of a course. USIs are obtained from the government and if you have completed vocational training before you may already have one. For more information on USIs, including how to apply for one, click here.

Pest control equipment

To complete all the exercises in this course, you will need access to the following pest control equipment:

1. Personal protection equipment (PPE): goggles, hat, gloves, face respirator
2. Overalls (cotton or disposable)
3. Hand-held sprayer
4. Hand duster
5. Gel applicator
6. Rodent bait station
7. Torch
8. Ladder.

Since you're already working in the industry, your employer should be able to help you with these. If not, you will need to purchase these items from a pest control supplier. They are likely to cost about $200–$300 (depending on what you go for). We understand that this is a bit of an outlay, but you will need all this equipment to be a pest technician, so it is a long-term investment. You will not need access to any pesticides. All exercises will be carried out with water (to simulate a liquid pesticide) or talc (to simulate a dust). Some examples of well-known pest control suppliers are: 

• Agserv
• Garrards
• Globe Pest Solutions

Smartphone

You will be required to film some of the exercises you do, so you will also need access to a video camera. We recommend you use your smartphone video camera.

Course Payment

We require full payment of $1300 to start the enrolment process. This can be paid by direct bank transfer, debit/credit card or PayPal.

Refund policy

Our refund policy is dependent on course section commencement. In all circumstances, the enrolment fee of $325 is non-refundable. Of the remaining course fee:

1. No refund is available if we do not receive your written request within one year of your initial payment for the course.

2. A full refund (less the enrolment fee) is available by giving written notice prior to starting a course. Online courses are considered to have been formally started once a student has completed the course induction section of a course.

    

3. A section refund is available by giving written notice prior to starting that section. Course sections are considered to have been formally started once a student has started the first module in that section.

Consideration will be given to hardship. 

Course fee breakdown

Course fees for our Pest Technician Courses are made up of the following elements:

1. Enrolment fee – $325 (non-refundable).

2. Section 1 unit fee (CPPPMT3005) – $550.

3. Section 2 unit fee (CPPPMT3006) – $325.

4. Section 3 unit fee (CPPPMT3018) – $100.

RTO Information

The RTO for this course is Rentokil Initial Pty Ltd (RTO no. 40919). Rentokil Initial issues the statements of attainment for this course.

What is an RTO?

An RTO or Registered Training Organisation is a training organisation which is registered by a State or Territory recognition authority to issue Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and statements of attainment. Work Ready Training is not an RTO. This means that although we can provide training and assessment, we are not authorised to issue nationally recognised qualifications on our own. We partner with an industry leading RTO to provide you with your statment of ascertainment when you successfully complete your training with us.

Details about our RTO for this course

For more information about RTOs, in general, please visit the ASQA website.

If you have any queries or concerns about our RTO for this course please call us on 1800 842 100.