Commercial Pest Control Training Webinar
Now with both a live Webinar option and an In-person option (Mississippi State University Campus)!
The Commercial Pest Control Training Workshop provides training and recertification for owners, managers, pest control registered technicians, and certified applicators working in the Mississippi pest control industry. This 6-hour workshop (live webinar and in-person options) covers both structural and household insect pests and is approved for recertification in the following Mississippi categories: GRC License (general pest and rodent control), GRC Permit, GRC Registered Technician, Category VII-A (Industrial, institutional, structural, and health-related pest control).
This training is co-sponsored by the Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Urban Pest Management Program and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce/Bureau of Plant Industry, in cooperation with the Mississippi Pest Control Association.
This is a one-day workshop with three hours of training in the morning, a one-hour break for lunch, and three hours of training in the afternoon (6 training hours). There will be both a live webinar option (via Zoom link) as well as an in-person option (Clay Lyle Entomology Building, Rm. 117, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS). Note: Participants must each have a paid registration and participate in the entire 6-hour workshop to receive credit for recertification.
Benefits of participation in the Commercial Pest Control Training Workshop:
- Recertification for GRC License, GRC Permits, GRC Registered Technicians, Category VII-A, and other listed categories.
- Training for new registered technicians
- Training enhancement for experienced registered technicians, managers, and owners
- Training for persons preparing to take licensing or permit exams
Topics Covered
- Overview of Pest Termites in Mississippi, Dr. Santos Portugal, MSU-ES
- Common Household Spiders, Dr. Blake Layton, MSU-ES
- Structural Pest Control: Past, Present, and Future, Mr. Russell Kohler, MDAC-BPI
- Pesticide Safety for Commercial Pest Control Applicators, Mr. Gene Merkl, MSU-ES
- Pest Control in Commercial Accounts, Dr. Jerome Goddard, MSU-ES
- Rodents and Other Wildlife in Urban Environments, Dr. Adam Rohnke, MSU-ES
Commercial Pest Control Training Workshop
June 28, 2024, (Registration closes June 26, 2024)
- 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (with a break from Noon - 1:00 PM)
- Registration Fee: $35, payable online by credit card
- Webinar and In-person options:
- Webinar Option: You will receive a Zoom webinar link by email a day or two before the meeting. Be sure to provide the e-mail address where you want to receive the training when you register.
- In-Person Option: You will participate live (Clay Lyle Entomology Bldg., Rm. 117. Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS.). MAX of 50 in-person participants. To keep costs low, lunch will not be provided; however, there are numerous lunch options in Starkville available to in-person participants during the hour-long lunch break. Permits for parking will be provided, please limit number of vehicles and email Dr. Portugal ASAP after registration to discuss parking. If you would like to bring additional participants that are not seeking recertification, please contact Dr. Portugal to discuss options.
- Be sure to provide license number/technician card number if taking for recertification
- Register Here
You will receive an e-mail confirming your registration.
A second e-mail with information and a link for those joining the webinar will be sent one to two days before the webinar (after registration closes).
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If you have problems registering or accessing the webinar on the day of training, please call 662-325-3226
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancel seven or more days before the webinar to receive full refund.
- No refunds within 7 days of the webinar (there is a $35 fee for refunds within 7 days of event)
Questions, contact Dr. Santos Portugal:
E-Mail: sportugal@entomology.msstate.edu
Phone: 662-325-0972
Registration/Payment/Technical Problems, contact MSU-ES Center for Technology Outreach:
Phone: 662-325-3226
Resources and Literature
Extension Publication 2443: Control Household Insect Pests
Tawny Crazy Ant Control Recommendations
Extension Publication 2546: Bed Bugs, and what to do about them
Extension Publication 2429: Control Fire Ants in Your Yard
Extension Publication 3346: Control Cockroaches in and around your home
Bug’s Eye View Newsletter (200+ archived articles, many on household and structural pests)
MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry Web Site
Manual for Respiratory Protection for Occupational Users of Pesticides.ppt
Common Pest Control Products and PPE Material Options for Protective Gloves.docx
Regulations for Comm. Pests, 11-9-2020.pdf
For disability accommodation, please contact Dr. Santos Portugal at sportugal@entomology.msstate.edu .
Publications
News
House and building owners must be on high alert each spring as structures face dangerous attacks by swarms of both native and introduced termite species.
Native, subterranean termite species have started swarming in late February in South Mississippi to early March in more northern areas. The non-native, invasive and very damaging Formosan subterranean termite begins swarming in some parts of Mississippi in May.
Professionals involved in pest management in Mississippi can attend a Mississippi State University workshop on March 26 to renew a variety of licenses and certifications. The 2024 General Pest Management Workshop will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MSU Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond. Lunch will be provided. Participants must pay a $25 registration fee by March 15 to reserve a spot in the workshop.
MISSISSIPPI STATE , Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension Service specialist has been elected to the executive board of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Gene Merkl, program manager for pesticide safety education for the state of Mississippi, will serve as president-elect for the nationwide organization. His service on the board is a three-year commitment.
Success Stories
When most people think of mosquito control, they envision a large chemical tank in the bed of a pickup truck.
Spraying chemicals is actually the last resort in integrated pest management (IPM), a scientific process of preventing invasive insects from reaching adulthood. IPM uses environmentally responsible alternatives, such as habitat removal, structural barriers, and larval control, before using sampling and resistance management to determine treatment plans for adult mosquitoes.
A dream of the Mississippi Pest Control Association and the Mississippi State University Extension Service is coming true after more than 20 years, thanks to a generous donation by one of Mississippi’s oldest pest-control companies.
