This month, in lieu of an installment of Training Module Mania!, we will be discussing a miscellanea of resources related to private pesticide safety training in 2022:
• An “Introduction” PowerPoint presentation for private training;
• An Excel tool for keeping track of private training preregistrations;
• The letter sent by Educators to recertifying private applicators in their area;
• A Word document with applicator training options and Frequently Asked Questions;
• Social media infographics for pesticide safety training; and
• The onboarding process for Educators new to teaching pesticide safety training.
For 2022, the PSEP Office will provide a short “Introduction” PowerPoint that will summarize important updates to applicator certification and licensing in Nebraska. The slides will cover the new private applicator categories that require examinations (Soil Fumigation, Non-Soil/Structural Fumigation), the need for aerial pest controllers to acquire commercial/noncommercial licenses, the new look of private licenses, and how applicators can get copies of EC130. Educators shouldbegin their 2022 private pesticide safety training sessions with this presentation, however, the format and layout can be changed. If Educators wish to change the format they should keep the information they teach as close as possible to the original presentation.
An Excel workbook has been created that will allow Educators to conveniently track preregistrations for each of their private training sessions. The workbook consists of:
• A master sheet that lists each training session; and
• A separate sheet for each individual training session.
As people preregister for a given training session, you can add their name and contact information to that session’s sheet. Each time you add a person, a “seats remaining” counter on the master sheet will subtract one seat for that session. For example, say Training Session A begins with 20 seats available. Someone calls to preregister for Session A, and they are added to Session A’s sheet. The master sheet will then automatically show 19 seats remaining for Session A. For questions regarding this excel sheet please contact Jennifer. If you prefer a Qualtrics template please reach out for help with creation of one.
Each year, pesticide safety Educators send a letter to each private applicator due for recertification in their area. The PSEP Office has created a form letter for this purpose in 2022 which will describe the significant changes coming to applicator certification and licensing in Nebraska, similar to the “Introduction” PowerPoint discussed above. The idea is to give this information to applicators multiple times in multiple ways. Educators are welcome to use this letter or make their own.
A Word document is available on OneDrive that lays out all available training/testing options for private, commercial, and noncommercial applicators in 2022, plus a list of Frequently Asked Questions. This can serve as a handy reference when answering client questions. If you have information you feel should be included in this please contact Jennifer.
The PSEP Office is in the process of creating infographic templates to which counties can add their own training dates and locations. They will be available to be shared on social media to get the word out about training options. Infographics present important information in an eye-catching, easily-digestible format perfect for Facebook or Twitter.
Based on feedback received during the PSEP Listening Session in April, the PSEP Office has been working on how best to onboard Educators who are new to teaching pesticide safety training. Last week, we had our first onboarding meeting with a new Educator. Presently, our intention is to meet monthly with new Educators during their first year. The goal of this plan is to give us an opportunity to touch base, answer questions, and provide guidance.