Complete Story
07/05/2023
Online Pest Management Technician Training Brings New Talent to Our Industry
Cecil Community College is Seeking PMP Companies to Provide Externship Experiences
Cecil College’s Online Pest Management program will prepare students to work in the pest control industry. The 16-week online program involves virtual learning paired with an in-person externship experience. Taught by MSPCA Board Member, James Butler, students learn industry regulations, safety, entomology and insects, the use of pesticides, handling pests, customer service, route management, and more.
Students must also complete a 40-hour externship where they are gaining valuable experience in the field observing certified technicians at work. Students must secure their externship before applying for the program.
Here’s where you come in! Cecil College is looking for pest management companies to host a student(s) externship. A Pest Management Task Workbook provides the student and host company with a check list of experiences they must be exposed to during the 40-hour externship. Through the externship, students will receive training by working with certified technicians in a supporting role. The training provided during the externship will align with the classroom instruction provided by Cecil College providing students the opportunity to apply the concepts learned during classroom instruction. The student’s role during the ride-along is only as an observer – students are not allowed to mix, apply or handle any pesticides. They will observe staff in different situations, working through their workbooks, such as customer service interactions, sales, technician (route management, safety, pesticides), residential and commercial accounts, rodent services, bed bugs, and termites.
If you would be willing to serve as a host company for a student completing Cecil’s Pest Management Technician program, please reach out to Amanda Pringle at apringle@cecil.edu. For more information hosting an externship click here.
You can also help promote the program by sharing this flyer with your technicians and encourage them to share with their friends they think might be a good fit for our industry. You can also share the flyer with high schools, veteran organizations, or other career-development organizations in your community.
