Training for Structural Pest Management (SPM)
SPM happens at the customer’s property—so techs must be trained as problem preventers and problem solvers, not routine applicators. Our approach combines classroom, hands-on workshops, and apprenticeship with clear, measurable objectives.
What the Job Really Is
The ultimate job of an SPM technician is to prevent and solve pest problems. Keeping this description broad preserves the essential traits of an ideal technician—capable of inspection, resolution, and prevention—while serving the full SPM framework.
How We Train
- Classroom learning for core concepts and procedures.
- Hands-on workshops to build tactile/kinesthetic skills.
- Apprenticeship with experienced personnel to reinforce correct, real-world performance.
Learning blends auditory, visual, and tactile elements with repetition, and is supported by practical reference materials that technicians (and sales associates) keep handy.
Inspection-First Skills
Every service starts with inspection to decide if, where, what, and when intervention is needed. Training targets the 12 inspection objectives: identification, distribution/density, age, origin, entry, conditions conducive, sustaining practices, mapping, critical control points, pesticide selection criteria, documentation, and the written plan. See Mapping & Documentation.
Curriculum Focus (Need-to-Know)
- Building ecology & moisture: modern structures, cladding/wall failures, and why bulk water drives pest suitability. See Moisture & Building Performance.
- Non-chemical tactics: fix/seal, perimeter adjustments, and clean/remove actions tied to findings.
- Customer coaching: focusing the client on the one or two most impactful corrections first. See Customer Coaching.
- Targeted pesticide use: knowing when not to apply; matching formulation/technique to site sensitivity, surfaces, moisture/grease, and odors. See Pesticide-Use Policy.
- Monitoring vs. inspection: where formal monitoring belongs (e.g., audited sites). See Monitoring vs. Inspection and Regulated Facilities.
Program Design: Measurable Objectives
Effective SPM training sets clear, measurable objectives and separates need-to-know from nice-to-know. Planners should run a needs assessment to identify skill gaps, then deliver targeted modules that change on-the-job behavior.
Avoid broad, vague topics that invite mediocrity (e.g., “How to Treat a House,” “Commercial Pest Control,” “Top Ten Treatment Methods”). Instead, build specific, skill-based modules aligned with inspection-first SPM.
Apprenticeship & Sign-Off
After classroom and workshops, a period of apprenticeship under experienced personnel ensures correct execution of SPM tasks. Use practical checklists and sign-offs tied to inspection quality, documentation, repair recommendations, perimeter findings, and product selection rationale.
Shifting the Service Model
Training reinforces a move away from fixed-schedule, routine applications toward flexible, site-specific programs based on inspection and structural/ecological findings—so resources are spent where they matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the core role of an SPM technician?
To prevent and solve pest problems—by inspecting first, correcting building/behavioral conditions, and applying products only when needed.
Why a needs assessment for training?
It identifies real skill gaps so training changes field behavior, rather than delivering generic topics that don’t move outcomes.
What teaching methods are used?
A blend of classroom, hands-on workshops, and apprenticeship—leveraging auditory, visual, and tactile learning with repetition and practical references.
Which topics matter most?
Inspection skills, building ecology and moisture, non-chemical tactics (fix/seal, perimeter, sanitation), customer coaching, and site-specific product selection—including when not to apply.
Do sales associates train too?
Yes—providing them with practical references helps set accurate expectations and align proposals to the inspection-first SPM process.