Pesticide license Cancel The title field is required!

1. Steven Fowler

   

   0 posts
   
   4/24/2012 7:04 PM

   I just passed my pesticide license for the second time. The people a used to work for thought it was cheaper to make the super or spray tec. retake the pesticide test for renewing his license. They thought is was not cost effect to send someone to different workshops for credited for renewal.
   
   What is your thoughts on doing that?
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   4/24/2012 8:04 PM

   It is better for you and the company to pass on CEUs. You interact with you peers. You are told something in the hallway that you had not heard before. You're reminded of stuff you forgot. Not sending the superintendent out for continuing education is very shortsighted for the employer and easy to rationalize for the employee. Go even if you have to pay for it particularly if you are young. Having said that, I am sure there are ways to get around this on the computer for both peer interaction and obtaining CEUs.
   
   I pray for young superintendents. I do not know how I made it.

   
   
   
   
3. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   4/25/2012 5:04 AM

   I am able to obtain enough CEU's for both of my pesticide licenses through classes offered free of charge by vendors and through our local Superintendent Association. But, I also participate in some paid training. I feel that the education you receive from these classes, and just chapter meetings in general will pay for itself in a short amount of time.
   
   Take for instance the knowledge learned of a new pesticide formulation or agronomic procedure during one of these classes that could result in a savings for your club of hundreds of dollars, if not thousands, per year. That in itself would pay for the classes over and over.

   
   
   
   
4. Richard Lavine

   

   3 posts
   
   4/25/2012 6:04 PM

   What is a good education worth? While it is cheaper to just retake the test, I feel it is penny wise and pound foolish. It should be about EDUCATION, not just taking taking and passing the test. It is probably good for you that this is a previous employer.

   
   
   
   
5. Jack Tripp

   

   3 posts
   
   4/25/2012 9:04 PM

   In Wisconsin you have to retake the test evey five years. No getting by on CEU's.
   
   Jack Tripp
   La Crosse Country Club
   Onalaska, WI

   
   
   
   
6. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   4/25/2012 9:04 PM

   Illinois requires testing every 3 seasons. No CEU's, however you can take their training seminar the day of the testing for a fee.

   
   
   
   
7. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   4/25/2012 11:04 PM

   I know a couple guys (California) who have decided on their own to skip all the "education" and just take the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR) test every two years. It's easier, and cheaper in the long run, and they don't have to leave the golf course for three or four days every two years. Their decision, not their employers.
   
   In California, CA DPR doesn't give a crap whether your education hours are specific to golf, or even turf. A guy could literally do crossword puzzles all day in the back of the room, maybe even taking a nap once in a while (believe me, I've seen it), while he supposedly learns about Glassy Winged Sharpshooters and their potential destruction of wine grapes, or how the Alfalfa butterfly larvae might devastate.....I don't know....alfalfa, I guess. Just send us your money and get your hours, and maybe we'll leave you alone for another two years.
   
   It really is a racket.

   
   
   
   
8. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   4/26/2012 6:04 AM

   I know in NJ, we could take classes for core and category, (or at least that was the way it was when I left in 97) I would take the classes for Core, 3A and 3B, but for aquatic I would retake the test, they were open book and I can't remember the cost but it was a lot cheaper then the aquatic classes that were offered.
   
   Here in Missouri you can either take the test or take a class every three years, no points to gather. The one difference I guess from CA is 1/2 our day is on updates and the 2nd half is on our category.
   
   But I concur with some of the others, education is valuable, I remember taking a seminar in Indiana about OM in greens, it was suggested to just use straight sand topdressing because, the OM is going to build in the root sluff or fluff or die back (not sure if I am using the correct terminology or spelling it correctly). Plus it was noted that getting the peat into the canopy was really hard. The cost savings of going back to straight sand topdressing paid for that class and then some.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO