THE BCE/ACE
PROGRAM
AND
YOU
WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?
• ESA conducts a program that tests the
knowledge & experience of practicing
entomologists & certifies their professionalism.
• Continuing education & adherence to a strict
code of ethical standards are required to
maintain certification.
IS
CERTIFICATION
FOR ME?
In today's increasingly complex and
highly-specialized economy,
credentials are everything.
Sure, you know you've got the skills
to do the job, but how do you
convince potential customers and
employers????
For many career-minded pest
management professionals,
certification is often the
answer.
CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS
• Do you work frequently with the
public, or among other
professionals who are not
scientists?
• Does your employer require you to
stay current with the latest industry
developments?
• Are you the kind of person who likes
to be the best at what you do?
• Are you considering switching jobs
and want to make the best
impression possible?
• Is there a lot of competition in your
field of work (e.g., do you need to
stand out from the crowd)?
• Are you required to maintain an
annual license as a professional to
practice?
If you answered yes to any
one of these questions, then
perhaps certification is right
for you.
Many professionals (such as crop
consultants, administrators,
public health, veterinary, urban
entomologists, and pest control
professionals) frequently choose
to become certified.
BOARD CERTIFIED
ENTOMOLOGIST (BCE)
OR
ASSOCIATE CERTIFIED
ENTOMOLOGIST (ACE)
WHAT IS THE BEST
AVENUE FOR YOU?
BOARD CERTIFIED ENTOMOLOGIST
PROGRAM
BCE ELIGIBILTY
PhD or Doctoral degree
A PhD in entomology or a related field, plus 1 year work
experience in the field.
Masters degree
A Masters degree in entomology or a related field, plus 2
years work experience in the field.
Bachelor's degree
A Bachelor's degree in entomology or a related field, 3 year's
work experience in the field.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NEEDED IN BCE APPLICATION
• Academic transcripts (for degreed
candidates)
•
•
•
Current CV
2 contacts for letters of reference (or a
minimum of 2 completed letters of
reference)
Required fees, & a willingness to abide by
ethical standards set in the BCE Code of
Ethics.
EXAMINATIONS FOR BCE
CERTIFICATION
• A GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY QUALIFYING
EXAMINATION IS FIRST REQUIRED TO
TEST GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
• A SECOND EXAMINATION IS REQUIRED
IF CANDIDATE WISHES CERTIFICATION
IN ONE OF (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) 6
CATEGORIES, THESE ARE:
BCE CERTIFICATION SPECIALTIES
• GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY
• URBAN & INDUSTRIAL ENTOMOLOGY
• MEDICAL & VETERINARY
ENTOMOLOGY
• REGULATORY ENTOMOLOGY
• PLANT-RELATED ENTOMOLOGY
• PESTICIDE DEVELOPMENT, ANALYSIS,
& TOXICOLOGY
BCE
APPLICATION AND INFORMATION
ALL APPLICANTS MUST TAKE AN ONLINE
ON STUDY GUIDES AND PROCTOR
SELECTION FOR THE EXAMINATION
CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
AMERICA'S WEBSITE:
http://www.entsoc.org
click on "CERTIFICATION"
or go directly to:
http://wwwentocert.org
MAINTAINING YOUR BCE
CERTIFICATION
ALL BCE MEMBERS ARE
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A
PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE
& CERTIFICATION REPORT
EVERY 3 YEARS TO THE ESA
CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR
BCE PROGRAM
FEE SCHEDULE
Description
BCE Application/
Examination fee including
1 specialty
ESA
Non-ESA
member member
$180
$225
Each additional specialty
$50
$75
Annual renewal fee
$100
$200
Tri-annual PM&C fee
$25
$50
ARE YOU CURRENTLY A STUDENT
BUT LACK THE PROFESSIONAL
WORK EXPERIENCE TO BECOME A
BOARD CERTIFIED
ENTOMOLOGIST?
THEN THE BCE
INTERN PROGRAM IS
FOR YOU!
ADVANTAGES
•
No application/testing fee.
• $20.00 annual fee as ESA member until experience met
($40 nonmember).
•
Use testing as preparation for prelims and/or
departmental written exams!
•
Use to prepare for Linnaean Games competitions!
• Must take BCE General Qualifying Exam and may take
one or more specialty exams as Intern.
•
Once work experience requirement is met, BCE Interns
must take a specialty exam and become a full BCE .
ASSOCIATE CERTIFIED
ENTOMOLOGIST PROGRAM
ACE ELIGIBILTY
• The Associate Certified Entomologist
(ACE) program makes entomological
certification possible for those without
a formal degree in entomology.
• If you have extensive experience and
knowledge in entomological pest
management through on-the-job
training, experience, and self-study, you
may qualify to become an ACE.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
OF BEING AN ACE?
• Be eligible to use the ACE Designation after
your name (business cards, advertising,
etc.)
• Receive on-line subscription to ESA
newsletter
• Be able to attend ESA meetings at belowmarket rates
APPLICANTS TO ACE PROGRAM
MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
• Current pesticide applicators license (a
copy must be sent to ESA's
Certification Coordinator)
• A minimum of 7 years of verifiable pest
management experience
• A willingness to adhere to the ACE
Code of Ethics
ALL ACE CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED
ALL APPLICANTS
MUST
TAKE AN ONLINE
TO
TAKE AN
ONLINE
EXAMINATION
The ACE examination is designed to recognize practicing pest
management professionals who have a solid grasp of the practical aspects
of applied entomology. The major categories of competency covered by the
exam include:
• Basic entomology
• Identification, life cycles, practical control measures for important
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
structural pests
Health impacts of pests
Ecological principles pertaining to pest control
Environmental impacts related to pest control
Integrated pest management (IPM) principles
Pesticide safety and health issues
Pesticide technology and resources
Organizations & associations of significance to pest control industry
Laws and regulations affecting the industry
ACE PROGRAM
FEE SCHEDULE
Application Fee - $125 ESA members, $150 nonmembers
Includes your first year of certification, online examination, and processing of
your application. If you become an ACE after October 1st of the current year,
your application fee also includes the following year's certification.
Annual Renewal Fee - $100 ESA members, $125 nonmembers
Each year an ACE will be required to submit a renewal application with a
copy of current Pesticide Applicators license. Failure to submit renewal in a
timely fashion will result in the revocation of certification status and loss of all
rights and privileges associated with certification. Reinstatement may require
re-application to the program.
Re-testing Fee - $50 ESA members, $75 nonmembers
This nominal fee is assessed in the case where an applicant does not pass
the examination on the first attempt and needs to retake the test. The fee will
be assessed each time that the test needs to be re-administered.
MAINTAINING YOUR ACE
CERTIFICATION
To retain their certification, ACEs must
renew annually with ESA. For those who
are ESA members, the process is simply a
matter of ensuring that the appropriate fees
are included with the standard membership
renewal and that a photocopy of the
pesticide applicator's license is submitted to
the Certification Coordinator.
CURRENTLY, THE
FASTEST GROWING
PART OF THE
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
IS THE ACE PROGRAM
ACE
APPLICATION AND INFORMATION
ALL APPLICANTS MUST TAKE AN ONLINE
ON STUDY GUIDES AND PROCTOR
SELECTION FOR THE EXAMINATION
CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
AMERICA'S WEBSITE:
http://www.entsoc.org
click on "CERTIFICATION"
or go directly to:
http://wwwentocert.org
SHOW YOUR PROFESSIONALISM
BECOME CERTIFIED
TODAY!