QUALIFICATIONSRequired for the control of INNS

The National Proficiency Test Council

(NPTC) introduced changes to the

assessment of practical units under the

PA6 Award, which came into effect on 1

January 2015. From this 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 (PTO).

Additional training time and cost would

be required to cover these units.

There have recently been some changes in the legislation which

dictates the necessary qualifications required to use herbicide in

the control of invasive non-native plants.

Use of knapsack sprayer by water (PA6w)

Stem Injection (PA6INJ)

PA6 Training

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE USE OF PESTICIDES

CODE DESCRIPTION OF CONTENT REQUIRED FOR INNS

PA1

The Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides.

Mandatory qualification applicable to all operators/applicators. It is a prerequisite to meet the

legislative requirements of all additional training, and qualifications required to use the different

equipment and application methods of herbicides.

YES, all species

PA6A

Operating pedestrian hand held applicators.

This is one of the optional 7 units available under the level 2 Award in the Safe Application of

Pesticides using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment. The PA6A unit covers the use of knapsack

sprays, fitted with hydraulic nozzles or rotary atomisers to apply pesticide to land.

YES, all species

PA6WOperating pedestrian hand held to or near water.

This covers the legislation of applying pesticides to or near water with a knapsack sprayer fitted

with hydraulic nozzles or rotary atomisers.

YESSpecies in water: Floating

pennywort, parrots feather

Near water: Himalayan balsam,

Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed

PA6INJOperating hand held pesticide injection equipment.

The covers the use of stem injections kits used in the control of Japanese knotweed. YES

Japanese knotweed

PA6G Operating hand held pesticide injection equipment to apply pesticide pellets or granules to land. NO

PA6GWOperating Pedestrian Hand Held Applicators to apply Pesticide Pellets or Granules to or near

Water.NO

PA6PP Installing Pesticide Plugs in Tree Stumps NO

PA6MC Operating other Hand Held Applicators Requiring Minimal Calibration NO

Breakdown of which PA qualifications are required for the treatment of invasive plants on the Wandle