In the UK it is a legal requirement for everyone who undertakes spraying of professional pesticides to hold a pesticide certificate of competence, otherwise known as a pesticide license.

In addition to the NPTC pesticide units listed here, other pesticide courses are available, including granule applicators (PA4) and hand held applicators application to water (PA6AW).

Each unit is of 1 day’s duration. NPTC assessments are arranged by us and take place on another date after the training course itself. We provide all equipment and PPE needed for training and assessment for units PA1 and PA6 held at our site; you just need to bring your wellies.

Experienced operators may wish to attend our courses as refresher training.

We also offer other specialist courses relating to pest control chemicals and pest problems, including the control of rabbits and moles, rats and mice. These courses are Lantra integrated training and assessment programmes and so candidates are assessed for competence as part of the training itself.

This course covers hand held applicators – hydraulic nozzle and / or rotary atomiser types. The equipment included in this test module is any hand held and / or pedestrian controlled sprayer of the type specified above.

• Develop knowledge covering the requirements of current legislation.
• Apply pesticides safely and efficiently with a hand held applicator fitted with hydraulic nozzles.
• Identify and select appropriate nozzles, carry out machine preparation and calibration.
• Operate the equipment in compliance with current legislation and codes of practice.
• Clean equipment and dispose of unwanted pesticides and containers.
• Identify and rectify faults and recognise conditions when spraying is inadvisable.

Assessment will be a practical test of skills.

Candidates need to have passed Unit PA1.