Congratulations to the University of Florida-Gainesville team for another very successful ACE Prep Course. Today we welcome the following new individuals as ACEs -- all but one of whom took the Florida course.

• James Scot Hodges (Ball Ground, GA)
• Rick Hodnett (Daytona Beach, FL)
• Victor Palermo (Canton, MA)
• Joseph Scheffler (Sarasota, FL)
• Joseph Weidman (Jacksonville, FL)
• Clarence Johnson III (Mobile, AL)
• Jon Stoddard (Port Orange, FL)
• Jason Kirkland (Slocomb, AL)
• Charles Dulicai (Sanford, FL)
• Anthony DiPanni (Port St Lucie, FL)
• Philip Maready (Smithfield, NC)
• Christopher Sloane (Saugerties, NY)
• Laurin Athey (Flushing, MI)

Most of the ACEs today went through a prep course at least once before passing their examination. If you are considering becoming Associate Certified Entomologist, bookmark this site where we promote any upcoming ACE Prep Courses that we know of.  If you want to host an ACE Prep Course, please contact me at admin@entocert.org and we can get you started.

Change in the ACE Code of Ethics

At their latest meeting the ESA Certification Board made a small change to the ACE Code of Ethics. And while the wording change is not huge, the overall impact is indicative of a new direction that the ACE is heading. Well, maybe even that is a little strong. I think that we've always been heading this way, but the wording change codifies it.

First off ... the full Code of Ethics is here for a reference point.

Section 2.1 had read this way:  "The Associate Certified Entomologist - Pest Control will have proper regard for the safety, health, and welfare of the public in performance of all his or her professional duties."  Two things to note:

1) An often-overlooked point is that the full name of the current ACE program is ACE-Pest Control. At some point in the future the program is likely to grow and include other areas of specialization. Anyone currently ACE certified by ESA is an ACE-Pest Control.
2) The referenced portion of the Code of Ethics did not explicitly mention anything about Integrated Pest Management, or IPM.

As discussed in previous posts, ESA believes that IPM is the present and future of pest management. It was decided that the Code of Ethics should reference this. Section 2.1 of the Code of Ethics now reads this way:  "The Associate Certified Entomologist – Pest Control will follow standard IPM guidelines in the performance of his or her professional duties – ensuring proper regard for the safety, health, and welfare of the public and environment; documenting findings as appropriate and required; and keeping all stakeholders informed of the process."

ESA Enters a New Era ...

OK, this is exciting. Well, at least for those of us who work with or for the urban pest management profession.

The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has long-hosted meetings that have become the standard bearer for academic conferences in entomology. A few months ago we started to wonder if we could apply that same rigor and level of expertise to the structural pest management industry. The result ....

Under the Lens: The Science of Urban Pest Management.


With unparalleled scientific credentials, ESA is proud to host two incredible learning opportunities targeted at the urban pest management industry. Timed to coincide with the ESA’s Annual Meeting in Knoxville, TN, this meeting is designed with the busy PMP in mind and is structured to allow participants to target their learning to fit their schedule.  Choose from a single-day session to a three-day session that includes testing to become ACE certified.

It all starts with Under The Lens: The Science of Urban Pest Management. The day will be full of educational sessions on emergent topics such as Invasive Urban Pests, Impacts of Recent Label Changes, New Developments in Bed Bug Management, and Entomology 101. ESA will seek CEU credit in the states of Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi (and possibly others). At no extra charge, attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the ESA’s Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall during breaks and at lunch to see some of the latest products and services in the field.

The following day will be a series of sessions designed to review the material that is on the ACE Exam. Attendees will hear industry professionals give instruction in entomology, biology, pest management, and more. An ACE Prep Course is designed to review materials that the applicant has already studied and truly hone their knowledge. ACE professionals combine the best talents of entomologists, pest control, and IPM practitioners.

For those who are ready for the challenge, ESA will host two mornings of testing in a proctored environment for the ACE exam. Successful candidates will be able to receive their new ACE materials as soon as they complete the exam.

We hope to see you there! Registration will be online soon.

Double Specialty

It does not happen that often, but my congratulations go out to Dr Andrew Mason Sutherland, our newest BCE who passed not just one, but two specialty exams.  Well done. Andy.

Newest ACE and BCE

Welcome to the program, gentlemen: Our congratulations go out to John Joseph Kane IV (Western Pest Services) the newest person to become a BCE and also to Blake Harston (Northwest Exterminating), our newest ACE. Jersey City, NJ and Sugar Hill, GA (respectively) just became a slightly more dangerous place to be an insect.

IPM and the PMP

I've been reading a great page from the folks over at StopPest.org that teaches managers of multi-family housing how to shop for a pest management professional.  My two favorite takeaways:

1) Know the difference between IPM and green technologies. Green more often than not refers to carbon impact. Green can be recycling office materials, fuel-efficient vehicles, or using energy-efficient light bulbs. And while it can also mean using lower-impact chemicals, that does not translate into being green per se.  Remember, if it kills insects, it is toxic.

2) Identifying the insect is critical to proper treatment. This is why entomology is such an important part of being a PMP.

And that is the real value of the BCE and ACE programs. We exist so that the public can rely on the fact that their PMP knows what the creature is and can treat it effectively and as safely as possible.

PCT's Top 100 list

I found it interesting to review the PCT Top 100 list this year. So many of the businesses who made the list are also the same businesses that either hire certified PMPs or help their employees become certified. Termix, Rollins, Ecolab, Ehrlich, Massey, Steritech, Cook's, Arrow, Clark, Western Exterminator, Truly Nolen, Abell, and on and on and on.

Encouraging employees and managers to become certified as either an ACE or a BCE does not make a business successful. But what it does do is show customers and competitors that you are serious about this industry. It shows that you care enough to be the best and to hire the best.

So congratulations to all ACEs and BCEs who work for firms that made the Top 100. And to the firms that hired them or encouraged them.