Changes to Safe Use of Pesticides NPTC Qualifications

For those seeking new PA1/PA6 qualification after 1 January 2015.

NPTC have introduced changes to the assessment of practical units under the PA6 Award, which came into effect on 1 January 2015. From that date, a person undergoing PA6A training and achieving the PA6A assessment will no longer be qualified to use any spraying application method other than hand-held knapsack and CDA (Controlled Droplet Application).

The implications of this change are that PA6 trainees will now be required to take an additional assessment if they require qualification in any of the units 152 – 157 (below), and additional training time to cover these units. There will be additional costs incurred for this training and assessment.

How does this affect Groundsman Training’s PA1/PA6A open courses at Allscott?

These will continue to be offered on a monthly basis, as 2 days of training and a separate day for assessment shortly afterwards, but assessment will only be on knapsack/hand-held sprayers including CDA.

To meet the needs of those operatives seeking NPTC qualification in order to deal with invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Rhododendron , we will also offer occasional 1-day open PA6 courses which will include units 152 (PA6AW) and 156 (PA6INJ. Dates and costs will be included in our courses list on this website shortly. Trainees will need to already hold a PA1 qualification.

In addition to these open courses at Allscott, we welcome enquiries to train groups of 4 or more on any of the PA1 (Foundation) and PA6 (Practical) Units and have instructors available across most of the UK to deliver on site training. Please direct your enquiry to <a href="mailto:chris@pitchcare find more information.com">chris@pitchcare.com and we will be pleased to send you a quote.

If you require further clarification on the changes, please contact NPTC/City & Guilds at information@cityguilds.com

Qualification Programme No. 0 2 1 6 – 1 5
L2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment QCF) (PA6)

Unit(s)
1 5 1
Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators Fitted with Hydraulic Nozzles or Rotary Atomisers to Apply Pesticides to Land (PA6A)
1 5 2
Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators fitted with Hydraulic Nozzles or Rotary
Atomisers to Apply Pesticides to or Near Water (PA6AW)
1 5 3
Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators to apply Pesticide Pellets or Granules to Land
(PA6G)
1 5 4
Operating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators to apply Pesticide Pellets or Granules to or near Water
(PA6GW)
1 5 5
Installing Pesticide Plugs in Tree Stumps (PA6PP)
1 5 6
Operating Hand held Pesticide Injection Equipment (PA6INJ)
1 5 7
Operating other Hand Held Applicators Requiring Minimal Calibration (PA6MC)