Step By Step Certification Guide

Step 5: Have an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner on Staff

To become an EcoWise Certified Practitioner, you must be associated with a business that is seeking EcoWise Certification or is already EcoWise Certified and you must:

  1. Be licensed at the level of Field Representative or Operator in Branch 2 for at least 2 years.
  2. Be willing to adhere to the "EcoWise Certified IPM Guiding Principles"
  3. Be willing to provide IPM service following the EcoWise Certified Standards for IPM Certification in Structural Pest Management
  4. Attend an Orientation session
  5. Fill out a Practitioner Application at the orientation session
  6. Demonstrate IPM knowledge in one of the following ways:

    • Pass a written exam
      The exam is designed to recognize practicing pest management professionals who have a solid grasp of integrated pest management and applied entomology. You must pass the EcoWise Standards section with a score of at least 80% and the technical section with a score of at least 70%. To arrange a time to take the exam, contact:

      Ted Shapas, Program Manager
      Phone: (866) 858-6386
      Email: ecowisecertified@comcast.net

      To prepare for the exam, see the following:

      • The Knowledge Requirements for an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner, which provide a detailed list of the information covered in the exam.
      • A list of suggested study materials
      • The program Study Guide for information not easily found elsewhere.
      • The 14-question sample exam, which will give you a better understanding of the types of questions and your overall preparedness for the exam.
    • Complete Purdue University's "Intermediate Level Industrial and Urban IPM" correspondence course, or similar approved course
    • Hold certification as a Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) or an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) from the Entomological Society of America
    • Hold a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, or Doctoral degree in pest management, applied entomology, urban entomology, or similar approved course of study from an accredited college or university
    • Have individually demonstrated compliance with IPM Star certification

NOTE: If you do not pass the exam, the Program Manager will provide you with a written report on the number and types of questions you missed, and will be available to make suggestions for further study. If you wish to re-take the exam, the test must be taken no sooner than 30 days, but no more than 1 year later, otherwise you must re-apply to the program. You may take the exam up to 3 times in one calendar year.

Upon becoming an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner, you are entitled to use the title "EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner" in all materials for yourself and in company materials that make reference to you.

On the job, the duties and responsibilities of the EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner are to:

  • Provide the initial site assessment and IPM plan for the customer
  • Implement the plan or directly supervise the plan's implementation
  • For on-going accounts, visit the site at least once a year

With experience and education you can attain higher levels of certification:

Requirements for Journeyman Level IPM Practitioner

  1. Successful completion of Purdue University's "Intermediate-Level Industrial and Urban IPM" correspondence course
  2. Three (3) years experience as an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner An EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner may petition the certifying agent to accept alternate credentials for promotion to Journeyman Level IPM Practitioner.

Requirements for Master Level IPM Practitioner

  1. Certification as an Associate Certified Entomologist (the ACE exam is given by the Entomological Society of America) OR
    Successful completion of Purdue University's "Intermediate-Level Industrial and Urban IPM" and "Advanced-Level Industrial and Urban IPM" correspondence courses
  2. Five (5) years experience as an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner
  3. Experience giving presentations on pest management, or experience providing formal training to peers in IPM

An EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner may petition the certifying agent to accept alternate credentials for promotion to Master Level IPM Practitioner.

Step 1: Determine Eligibility
Step 2: Attend orientation session
Step 3: Fill out the Business Application
Step 4: Send in the Business Application for review
Step 5: Have at least 1 staff member become an EcoWise Certified IPM Practitioner
Step 6: Document at least 20 IPM service visits for 7 different customers following the Structural IPM Standards
Step 7: Schedule an office visit and field evaluation for your business
Step 8: Become fully certified
Step 9: Maintain your business and practitioner certifications