Pest Management Licenses Queensland
Pest Management License Requirements
Licensing Overview
Pest management licenses can only be issued to an individual and not to a business under section 11 of the Act. This means that only a trainee properly supervised by a PMT or a PMT licensed for pest management activity can carry out a pest management activity. Keep in mind that a license cannot be transferred to another person. In case anyone breaks this rule, you will be fined with a maximum penalty of 1000 penalty units, where 1 penalty unit is equivalent to $100. For anyone to qualify for PMT licensing, they must:
- Be over 17 years of age
- Be suitable to hold said license
- Hold all relevant pest management qualifications
Having a pest management license allows you to work as a business or contractor in the pest industry. This article covers information relating to the pest licens in Queensland. The team at Pro Pest Control Brisbane has published the article to help prospective parties find helpful and relevant ifkrmation for guidance.
Qualifications required to hold a PMT license
Before qualifying to hold this certificate, a person must:
- Have mental and physical capabilities necessary to carry out the job
- Have all required skills and qualifications
- Adhere to their licensing conditions and not partake in any other activities not listed on their license
- Have no disciplinary action pending against them or they will be convicted under a relevant law. If they have past conviction, they need to state the nature of the offense and circumstances of its commission
Single License for all Types of Activity
There are three types of pest management activities that can be issued a single license. They include:
- Fumigation activity on specific site environments
- Pest control activities including activities for timber pests
- Pest control activities excluding timber pests’ activities.
The license issued to qualifying participants will include:
- A recent photo of said applicant
- Applicant’s signature
- Applicant’s name, license number, date of issue, expiration date, pest management activities they can carry out under that license, and for fumigation activity, the specific site environments.
Applying for a license
If you wish to apply, you must adhere to all terms and conditions indicated on the application form. These forms can be downloaded from Queensland Health.
To get access to this form, you must pay a prescribed fee and attach all required documentations and qualifications when submitting your application. For individuals looking for a fumigation activity, you must complete a Declaration of Assessment. This is mainly a testimony stating that you have been assessed in and that you are qualified in fumigating the nominated site environment. NOTE: You must perform a fumigation of a site environment in the presence of your assessor.
Fees
For all licenses, there is a periodic adjustment to fees annually that reflect CPI changes made by Queensland Government. To find out about current fees, please find the latest fee schedule here.
What is the Duration and Variation of a license?
Depending on qualifications and other set conditions, PMT license duration term ranges from 1 to 5 years.
A license can be varied due to:
- A condition of the license
- Fumigation site environments
- Or, type of pest management activity to be carried out.
In the event that your certificate is damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed before delivery, applicant must cover the cost of a replacement photographic license. You will be required to fill out an application form (which can be downloaded from above mentioned website) explaining what happened to their previous document.
Pest Management Qualification
There are a series of competencies that have been endorsed by Department of Education and Training – these competencies make up the Certificate III qualification. The only documentation accepted by Queensland Health is a full certificate that lists all required competencies that is issued by a RTO. To learn more about courses/ qualifications offered and a comprehensive list of RTO’s, visit The Department of Education and Training.
If you wish to apply for fumigation activity, you’ll need to provide a Declaration of Assessment declaring that you have been assessed as being qualified in fumigating a specific site environment.
Timber Pests – Obligations under the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA) Legislation
An applicant must meet both requirements under pest-management legislation as well as those obligations under QBSA legislation. PMTs may be issued a contractor license by QBSA if their scope of work includes:
- Giving advice or report about a termite infestation in a completed building or a termite management system for a building that they are investigating or inspecting
- Pre-slab and perimeter chemical treatment of new building work for termite management.
NOTE: if you work for a business that holds a contractor license, you are not personally required to have a QBSA contractor license. Only a business owner or director is required to hold said documentation.
Pest Management Activity
What is pest management activity?
This term is used to define any pest control activity or a fumigation activity.
What is pest control activity?
These are all the steps one takes when they are preparing a pesticide for use. They include weighing, mixing, and measuring pesticide to kill, repel, or stupefy a pest.
NOTE: Under Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996, this activity should never include the use of 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) or strychnine.
What is a pesticide?
These are the chemicals used to kill, repel, or stupefy pests. Keep in mind that the pesticide you use must be registered by Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
What is a fumigant?
Just as pest control activity, fumigation includes the use of a fumigant to kill or sterilize seed to prevent germs. All fumigation must be registered by the APVMA as well. This chemical can be in the form of either vapor or gas and is used to kill a pest. It is also used to sterilize seed to prevent germination. To qualify as a fumigant, a substance needs:
- To fit a fumigant’s definition on either killing pests or sterilizing seed to prevent germination
- Needs to be ordinarily used as a fumigant
- Adhere to other functions prescribed under a regulation
Importance of Pest Licenses
Pest licenses are of high importance because their main objective is to protect the public from:
- Adverse results of the ineffective control of pests
- Any health risks that can be associated with pest control and fumigation activities
- These licenses also regulate pest control and fumigation activities and ensure that these activities are carried out by qualified technicians in a safe and effective manner.
- Pest licenses also ensures that all set rules are enforced for the safety of everyone and the environment by instilling terms and conditions that every person holding said license must comply with.
Conclusion
As we have seen, pest management licenses are instilled to provide effective and efficient methods to get rid of pests. These documentations come with steel-binding set of rules that are monitored and carefully assessed to ensure that all persons handling such toxic materials are qualified to perform such activities, that anyone dealing with pest management or fumigation uses correct chemicals that are toxic to the pests but not to individuals or the environment.
If you have any more questions about how to obtain your license, do not hesitate to comment below or follow the provided links for more up to date information.
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