Training by the Numbers

The U.S. Census Bureau shows by 2015, revenues of professional trainings in the United States are projected to reach about $7.93 billion. More specifically, the Census Bureau shows revenues of computer trainings in the U.S. reached about $3.18 billion in 2015.

By 2020, both professional and computer training will have an expected revenue of a combined $11.8 billion.

According to Andrew Assir, marketing manager for Univar, it’s no surprise that pest management training, including CEU certifications, is available electronically. Some companies have provided this service since the late ’90s, he said. However, the desire for e-learning certification systems to become more user friendly and mobile friendly have grown. 

In 2014, 30 percent of online learners say they took non-degree classes for personal growth, compared to classes that were work related (24 percent), according to the Online Computer Library Center. 

Because each state has its own pesticide regulatory agency, some technicians acquire CEUs that are not required by their state they practice in, but want additional certifications to better themselves. 

“If you have someone new in the industry who’s looking at a career in pest management, you want (him or her) to be well rounded in the science (of pest management) — and at least understand enough and be able to articulate to a homeowner what it is they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” Assir said.

Pest control companies in states such as Illinois do not have to hire licensed technicians to handle pesticides but Kevin McClernon, branch manager for Chem-Wise Ecological Pest Management, Berwyn, Ill., said it’s a company goal to have all of the company’s technicians certified. “We can confidently provide service not only to our clients and that they’re hiring a reputable company. It’s a level of confidence on all parties,” he said. “CEUs are only important for those who actually need them to maintain their certification.”

Whether it’s a requirement or a choice, technicians who complete CEU certifications each year can do so online or in person. Regardless if you’re a veteran technician or just starting out, CEUs need to be completed and passed before they expire, which, depending on the state, can be between one to two years. 

“I would go and take online courses because a lot of us wait till the last minute,” Erin Monteagudo, technical content and training specialist for Univar, said. “Our online ProTraining courses contain difficult information but in a reasonable format, because the industry has become more scientific. You can’t say you’re not an entomologist and can't be expected to know these things. You do have to know these things. However, we have to provide better ways of teaching them to you and I think we're doing that with out new interactive courses.”