WHAT'S BUZZING?

CHANGES OF MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

BACKGROUND

In recent months, a number of members have voiced concerns to PMANZ Council about:

The low level of experience and practical knowledge of pest management displayed by new UPM graduates, who, nonetheless, meet the existing PMANZ constitutional requirement for Master Technician.

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The current lack of a pathway for Registered Technicians to be recognised as Master Registered Technicians.

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The value and meaning of the differential between Master Registered and Registered Technicians.

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Therefore, the PMANZ Council developed a plan to restructure membership categories  to address these concerns and, more broadly, to lay a platform for the future of our industry and our Association.

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PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE CHANGES

WITH EFFECT FROM RENEWAL 1 MAY 2024 NEXT YEAR:

Individual membership categories will be retitled as “Qualified Technician” (replacing Registered Technician) and “Master Qualified Technician” (replacing Master Registered Technician).

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HOWEVER, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:

• All students, whether qualifying through L3 UPM, Australian unit standards, or through an equivalent qualification approved by PMANZ Council are eligible to apply to become a Qualified Technician.

• Qualified Technicians who have qualified through L3 UPM will be entitled, on the 12-month anniversary of their becoming a Qualified Technician, to apply to be recognised as a Master Qualified Technician.

• Qualified Technicians who have qualified through the Australian standards system, may apply to be recognised as a Master Qualified Technician upon completing 12 months since their acceptance as a Qualified Technician AND completing a training module covering any items that PMANZ Council determines is necessary, primarily to “New Zealand-ise” their knowledge base for NZ legislation. For the avoidance of doubt, this upgrade path also applies to members who are currently listed as Registered Technicians.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

The maintenance of Master Qualified Technician status – for ALL Master Qualified Technicians will be dependent upon providing evidence of CPD.

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To earn and maintain status as a Master Qualified Technician, the member will be required to attend training activities in the following combination, within the calendar year prior to each renewal:

• PMANZ Biennial Conference or any two of:

• PMANZ Webinars or Training Sessions

• Third party paid training sessions

• Supplier trade show and training

Evidence of attendance will be filed by the member in the CPD section of their account on the PMANZ website membership system, to then support their renewal status.

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Master Qualified Technicians who do not undertake the necessary CPD activities within a particular year will revert to Qualified Technician status for the following year but remain eligible for upgrade in subsequent years.

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If a Qualified Technician does not want to undertake CPD, then they are eligible to remain as a Qualified Technician.

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Members may “late file” attendance certificates for “correction” of certificates issued, but CPD attendance outside the qualifying period cannot be backdated.

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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

Q:          I am currently studying L3 UPM.

A:    On successful completion of your course, you will be entitled to have your PMANZ membership upgraded from Trainee to Qualified Technician status. Then, on the first-year anniversary, you will be entitled to apply to be recognised as a Master Qualified Technician.

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Q:     I am currently a Registered Technician.

A:        Provided you have one year’s “post-qualification” practical experience, you now apply to be upgraded to Master Qualified Technician status. This will require completion of the PMANZ-approved NZ legislation training. The format for this will be a one-day course and test, that can be attended online. Details of this are currently being finalised and will be circulated to members in the near future.

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Q:      I am currently a Master Registered Technician

A:        On 1 May 2024, your membership will be retitled as Master Qualified Technician, complete with all your existing membership benefits. For this renewal, there will be NO requirement to have undertaken CPD in the previous year.

For the 1 May 2025 membership year, ALL members renewing as a Master Qualified Technician will be required to have completed CPD in the previous 2024 calendar year. For example: attendance at the August 2024 PMANZ Biennial Conference will equate to the CPD required for maintenance of Master Qualified Technician status for the 2025/2026 membership year.

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Q:        I am currently a Master Registered Technician, but am not sure about doing CPD.

A:        (As above), on 1 May 2024, your membership will be retitled as Master Qualified Technician, complete with all your existing membership benefits. There will be NO requirement to have undertaken CPD in the previous 2023 year. However, when renewing membership thereafter, if you still do not wish to undertake CPD, you will be renewed as a Qualified Technician.

If you have any questions, please email at: info@pmanz.nz or call on: 0800 476 269