Pest Control Operator Accredited Short Course
The cost of the Pest Control Operator Accredited Short Course is R2,500 (excluding VAT) per person.
Estimated completion period: 10 weeks
In February 2025 the Registrar for Act 36 of 1947 initiated the immediate implementation of the Pest Control Operator (PCO) regulation that was published in 2011.
This means that restricted agricultural remedies can only be bought, handled and applied by or under the direct supervision of a registered Pest Control Officer.
Restricted agricultural remedies includes some formulations that are critical to the control of pests and diseases in the citrus industry. This means that almost all farms in South Africa will have to employ at least one licenced PCO.
If you have a diploma or degree in a biological field (entomology, pathology, crop protection, weed science, etc.) you can immediately apply for a PCO licence, provided that you have at least 6 months relevant experience. If you don’t have such a qualification, you need to complete an accredited short course and obtain a certificate from an accredited training provider.
The Citrus Academy, an AgriSETA accredited provider, has an e-learning short course that meets these requirement, with the following content:
- Integrated Pest Management
- The Pest Control Operator
- Restricted Agricultural Remedies
- Agrochemical Storage
- Application Preparation
- Agrochemical Application
Please visit the PCO registration page to register.