Becoming a pest control specialist takes more time and expertise than most people realise. Pest control specialists are highly trained and once that initial training is complete, they must always seek out opportunities to learn more through continuing education.

Here is how the pest control specialists at Greenleaf become the best they can be and the continuing education opportunities they seek out to constantly improve their skills and expand their knowledge.

The Education Required

Pest control specialists must first start with a high school diploma. Once out of high school, they can seek out training programmes that give specialists the competency, skills, and knowledge required in pest control.

Trainees study areas of turf and ornamental control, fumigation, rodent control, termite control, and the safe use of pesticides.

These training programmes last for about three months. However, there are two things that must be completed before anyone can become a pest control specialist in Canada.

• Canadian online Pesticides Applicators’ Core Training completion
• Pass the Ministry of Environment, Integrated Pest Management exam

It is possible to certify in various categories of pesticide application. You can easily find information about each application category and how to become certified in it.

Other Competencies and Skills

Aside from studying to become competent as a pest control specialist, there are also skill sets that great pest control specialists have. They tend to be:

• Resourceful
• Have excellent communication skills
• Have superior interpersonal skills
• Try to stay calm under pressure
• Be detail-oriented
• Maintain good health and physically fit

Continuing Education

Another integral part of being a pest control specialist is constantly seeking to improve your skills and expand your knowledge. Canada’s PestWorld Convention is an event that Greenleaf pest control specialists look forward to each year.

Of course, this year is a little different. While our pest control services have not been sidelined by COVID, the convention has. Held in mid-October, this virtual convention offers specific topics on pest control such as:

• Bed Bugs and PTSD
• 3 Myths of Mosquito Control
• Rat Behaviour
• Pest Control Crystal Ball
• Wood Quality Deterioration
• Pest Control Food Fallacies
• Invasive Ants
• Cracking Termite Code
• Brown Recluse Spider
• Canine Scent Detection
• Pest Prevention in Public Housing
• Specialty Fumigation
• Novel Personal Safety

These are only a few of the continuing education classes available to help maintain certifications in pest control and, like the Greenleaf pest control experts, help them to go above and beyond in expanding their proficiencies and expertise.

 

Finding a Toronto pest control company staffed with experts on not only pest control but disease transmission for illnesses that pests carry isn’t easy. Primarily because keeping people safe from disease, keeping their food supply safe, and protecting human health isn’t something that just anyone can do.

Here at Greenleaf, we know that pest control is about more than ensuring mice don’t overrun a home or mosquitos don’t bother people relaxing in their backyards. It’s about making our community a safe place for everyone and ensuring that pests don’t get out of control in ways that can be harmful on a large scale.

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert and a regular guest on HGTV. He is renowned in the industry as an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions. Mackie and business partner Sandy Costa were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation to eradicate bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.