Thank you for your strong and
continued interest in the ESA Certification programs. I am pleased and proud to
serve as your 2015 Director of the ESA Certification Board. Continuing a
tradition that was started by my predecessor, Pat Copps, my purpose in writing
today is to report to you on the state of our Society's certification and
credentialing programs (Pat's 2014 report is on the blog).
The BCE, ACE, and new ACE-International certification programs are strong and continue to provide a platform for personal credentialing in our industry. Last year continued a recent track record of record growth for ACE and BCE. Here are some of the highlights:
- ACE
grew at rate of 9%, closing the year with 833 ACEs.
- BCE
grew at a more modest 1%, but that is significant after several years of
flat growth and small declines. Of note is that for the first time in
recent history, BCE recorded back-to-back growth years, having also grown
by 1% in 2013.
- I
am pleased to welcome a new member to the Certification Board with the
addition of Robert Kunst, ACE, filling the ACE Representative role. He was
elected last summer and will serve a three-year term.
- ACE-International
was successfully launched at PestWorld, NPMA's industry trade show, in
October 2014. While ESA HQ has been receiving applications, as of this
writing we have not yet had anyone pass both exams (read more about the launch). Zia Siddiqi, BCE, is
Chairing the new ACE-I Support committee.
- The
Certification Board approved the process of beginning to update all of the
BCE exams. Two of these are underway now. Harold Harlan, BCE, is chairing
a task force to examine and update the BCE Qualifying (Core) exam and
George Schoeler, BCE, is leading a similar group to review and revise the
Medical and Veterinary Specialty exam.
- Two
other groups are currently and actively exploring alternative ACE
designations with Nic Ellis, BCE, leading a group on ACE-Turf and
Ornamental and Ed Bordes, BCE-Emeritus, leading a group investigating
ACE-Public Health.
- The
long-discussed ACE Study Guide is nearing completion and a manuscript will
go out for review by April 1st with a book expected for sale by late
summer or early fall.
- At
the 2014 annual business meeting during the ESA Annual Meeting in
Portland, OR, the group discussed the perennially low attendance at the
business meeting. In an effort to have a wider impact, those assembled
voted to try something new this year for the annual business meeting. Late
this fall watch for the first ever virtual BCE business meeting to be held
sometime after the ESA Annual Meeting. Details will be forthcoming.
And finally, last year new logos for ACE and BCE were
unveiled. The new logos do a good job of portraying the prestige and purpose of
our two proud credentialing programs.
As always, I am available to answer
any questions you may have about BCE, ACE, or any of our related
programs.
Your Certification Board and staff are hard at work building these programs. If you would like to contribute, please consider either serving on a committee, running for an office, encouraging your peers and colleagues to become certified, and possibly serving as a proctor. This is YOUR program. Help make it a success for all of us by contributing.
Your Certification Board and staff are hard at work building these programs. If you would like to contribute, please consider either serving on a committee, running for an office, encouraging your peers and colleagues to become certified, and possibly serving as a proctor. This is YOUR program. Help make it a success for all of us by contributing.
Laura Higgins, BCE (Plant-related specialty)
2015 Director, Certification Board
ESA Certification Corporation
