Core Courses
Here you will find all of the information for each of the Core Courses offered through our training program! Each section will provide information on the content of the course, key learning objectives, when the course is offered, and the respective credits for each course. A simplified table is located immediately below for quick reference of credits granted for each Core Course.
Core Course Quick Glance
Price: $110.00 per seat
Available Seats per course: 20
Location: J.E Booth Learning Lab (SPMTF Pavilion) – 4000 Chi Rd., Raleigh NC 27603
Included with registration: ID Card Pack (Ant & Fly), Journal, Pen, Pocket ID Guide, Wallet Magnifier, Course Notebook, Coffee, Drinks & Snacks!
Register HERE or through the WolfPest Urban Extension App!
| Course | P-phase Credits | W-Phase Credits | Public Health Credits | Turf & Ornamental Credits | Offerings |
| Ant Core | 3 | – | – | – | May, Oct |
| Cockroach Core | 3 | – | – | – | May, Oct |
| Bed Bug Core | 3 | – | – | – | Feb, Aug |
| Rodent Core | 3 | – | – | – | Feb, Aug |
| Mosquito Core | 3 | – | 3 | – | May, Oct |
| Tick Core | 3 | 3 | – | May, Oct | |
| Fly Core | 3 | – | 3 | – | Feb, Aug |
| Product & Fabric Core | 3 | – | – | – | May, Oct |
| Biting & Stinging Core | 3 | – | 3 | – | Feb, Aug |
| WDI Core | – | 3 | – | – | May, Oct |
| Termite Core | – | 3 | – | – | Feb, Aug |
| Construction & Reg. Core | – | 3 | – | – | Feb, Aug |
| Turf & Ornamental I | 3 | – | – | 3 | Oct |
| Turf & Ornamental II | 3 | – | – | 3 | Oct |
Ant Core Course
The Ant Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the basics of ant biology, behavior, management, and identification. In the course you will learn about the ant lifecycle, use ID keys and stereo microscopes to compare important physical characteristics of ant specimens, and put your skills to the test with mystery ant id! We will introduce you to multiple baiting systems and tools, discuss structure and mound treatment, get hands on with live ants in a baiting demo, and learn about two invasive and dangerous ant species in North Carolina: Asian Needle Ants (ANA) and Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA). This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s.
Cockroach Core Course
The Cockroach Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the basics of domestic and peri-domestic cockroach biology, behavior, and management. In the course you’ll learn just what makes a cockroach tick, get the latest on cockroach insecticide resistance updates, and see a little cockroach-on-cockroach romantic action…mood music included! We will also discuss key components of cockroach exclusion, baiting systems, physical management, and chemical control. Plus, you’ll get to try out our custom UV resin cockroach ID molds (image below) – for sale in our e-store! This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s.
most common pest cockroach species.
Take this training aid home with you and elevate your pest game!
Bed Bug Core Course
The Bed Bug Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the most difficult and persistent pest in the industry, bed bugs. In the course we will discuss the origins of bed bugs, why they love us so much, and how they used to be used as a form a medicine…..disgusting! You will get hands on with live colony jars, see insecticide resistance at work in real time, and learn about the cutting edge research helping guide bed bug management. We will discuss management best practices, compare heat/steam, chemical, and even fungus in their effectiveness for bed bug management. This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s.
Rodent Core Course
The Rodent Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering commensal rodent biology, behavior, identification, and management. Our primary focus is on the House Mouse, Norway Rat, and Roof Rat. However, we will discuss other rodents of concern including field mice and deer mice – occasional furry invaders that can present challenges for control. Rodents are not only a nuisance, but are vectors for disease, easily contaminate food and surfaces, and can even bite if directly encountered! In this course we will demonstrate some of the latest technology for rodent monitoring and management, bait safety and best practices, and exclusion to prevent infestations before they occur. This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s.
to look for mouse evidence on multiple surfaces!
Mosquito Core Course
The Mosquito Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the fundamentals of mosquito biology, behavior, medical importance, and management tactics. This course is taught in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, where we discuss the medical significance and disease risks associated with mosquitoes in NC. Join us to learn “on the arm” ID tactics that can inform your management strategy and target areas, to discuss the utility and reliability of “green” mosquito management, to learn about the various forms of larval and adult management, and to get hands on with some of these bloodsuckers! This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s and 3 Public Health License Credits.
Fly Core Course
The Fly Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the biology and behavior of common nuisance fly species (drain flies, phorid flies), as well as those of significance to public health (house flies, deer /stable flies). We will also discuss fly management at length, including fly inspection ID and tactics, larval control, and adult management. Plus, have you ever wondered how quickly flies can infest a dead animal in a crawlspace? Using fetal pigs, we simulate fly infestation in a field, mock attic, and mock crawlspace, to discuss the complex cycle of host reinfestation that can complicate fly management! This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s and 3 Public Health License Credits.
Product & Fabric Core Course
The Product & Fabric Core Course is a 3-hour workshop combining training on some of the most frustrating and cryptic pest insects you’ll come across: stored product and fabric pests. These two groups bond over their preference for infesting products found within the home, and their uncanny ability to exploit even the tiniest amount of food – yes, the single cheerio between the cushion is enough for a moth larva! In this course you will practice identification and inspection, as we highlight areas and examples of “hidden” pest sources. We will discuss stored product management, prevention, and in some accounts the reality of reduction. This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s.
Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) Core Course
The WDI Core Course is a 3-hour workshop focused on a variety of wood-targeting pests, with a general overview of ants and termites (take the respective core courses to go in depth), and a deep dive into wood-destroying bees, beetles, and fungi. You will learn how to identify clear signs of structural infestation, including insect ID, damage type, and even frass ID (yes, frass is bug poop!). Throughout the course we provide hands-on experience with samples of damage for each WDI pest, including cases of unique damage where traditional inspection methods may fall short. This allows you to put principle to practice! This course is approved for 3 W-phase CCU’s.
Termite Core Course
The Termite Core Course is a 3-hour deep dive underground into the world of the most damaging insect pest – the termite! Throughout the course we focus on the most abundant termite in NC, the eastern subterranean termite, but we don’t stop there. You will learn about what we call the “sleeper cell termite”, otherwise known as drywood termites, which can go undetected for years. You will also meet and learn about the newest termite in NC, the invasive Formosan subterranean termite – with colonies up to 10x the size of our native species, and damage to match! Best of all, we will spend time using stereoscopes to learn the ins and outs of termite ID, and get your hands directly onto the latest termite management technology. This course is approved for 3 W-phase CCU’s.
Construction & Regulation (C&R) Core Course
The C&R Core Course is a 3-hour workshop, taught in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, that covers the ins and outs of construction types and rules & regulations around termite management in NC. In this course you will learn about the variety of complex construction types you may encounter in the field (crawlspace-basement combination, superior wall construction, or even insulated concrete form foundation). We will go in depth on inspection methods for each construction type, key points to remember for treatment, and will practice several liquid termiticide calculations using the various floor plans. You’ll hear directly from NCDA about key rules and regulations, and have the chance to ask them your burning termite questions! Finally, you’ll tour our termite pavilion where you’ll see some of these elements in action. This course is approved for 3 W-phase CCU’s.
Tick Core Course
The Tick Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering the fundamentals of general tick biology, behavior, identification, and management. We highlight the medical importance of ticks, the spread of ticks and their pathogens with urban development, and the importance of prevention alongside control. Join us for hands-on identification, learn how to survey for ticks in the field, and what to do if you find a tick on you! This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s and 3 Public Health License Credits.
Biting & Stinging Core Course
The Biting and Stinging Core Course is a 3-hour workshop covering those pesky pests that bite or sting – not including bed bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and flies (for more on those – visit us during our other core courses!). Instead, we focus on fleas, lice, mites, spiders, stinging ants, bees, and wasps, and a newcomer to the pest management spaces for this area – the kissing bug. We will go in depth about these pests biology, identification (plus lookalikes), disease transmission, dispelling myths, and how to manage these arthropods. This course is approved for 3 P-phase CCU’s and 3 Public Health License Credits.
Turf & Ornamental Core Courses
A new offering this year are the Turf & Ornamental Core Courses I & II! These workshops will be conducted in collaboration with NCSU’s turf and ornamental specialists! T&O I will focus on ornamental pest management, while T&O II will focus on turf pest management. These courses will be approved for a combination of P-phase and T&Ophase CCU’s.
We are always in the process of developing new course material to better serve the pest management industry of the region!