IPM For the Urban Professional

A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist & More

Designed as a study guide for those pursuing their ACE, CIT, or PHE credentials, IPM for the Urban Professional also serves as a comprehensive introduction to the concepts of integrated pest management (IPM); basic classification, identification points, and pest biology; an outline of pesticide concepts; and an overview of important safety and regulatory issues. The book fills a gap in the structural pest control book market. It is far more comprehensive than an introductory overview, but does not get bogged down in the details on specific management techniques for every structural pest.

IPM for the Urban Professional is designed to be used in conjunction with the NPMA Field Guide (now available as an app) as a comprehensive way for a person to prepare for their ACE or CIT examination. For those preparing for their PHE exam, we recommend complementing it with Medical Entomology for Students by Mike Service. 

As noted in the foreword by Dr. Austin Frishman, BCE-Emeritus, "This is a must-read for anyone in this industry whether they are going for their ACE or not." 

Authors: Mike Merchant, Ph.D., BCE and Richard H. Levine
Published by the Entomological Society of America (ESA)
Published: October, 2015

PRICES:
ACE/CIT/PHE applicants: $49
Members, BCEs, and ACEs: $75
Non-members: $94
Shipping fees extra. Bulk discounts are available (minimum of 10 books per order at $57/book). 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY NOW

The following text is excerpted from IPM for the Urban Professional: A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist

By: Austin M. Frishman, PhD, BCE-Emeritus

In my association with the pest management industry, I’ve met many very capable technicians who do not have the opportunity to seek a higher education. Financial, family, military and other obligations prevent them from seeking an advanced degree. The ACE program allows a dedicated and inquiring mind to achieve higher, recognized status. From my standpoint, enrolling in the ACE program instantly triggers three actions:

  • It allows a pest management professional to improve his or her knowledge and to be recognized for it. I have always felt that there is more practical knowledge in the heads of field PMPs than is available in textbooks.
  • It allows customers to feel more comfortable, knowing that the work at their residences or commercial facilities is being done by the best of the best.
  • It significantly raises the level of excellence for our industry by improving the performance of employees, companies, and therefore all of us.

I applaud all of the PMPs who take the necessary steps to complete the ACE program. Congratulations to you! Before writing this foreword, I had the obligation and opportunity to read the enclosed contents of this publication. I was able to glean two pertinent points:

  1. This is really good! Whether one is eligible for the ACE program or not, a thorough review of this guide will serve everyone who works in urban pest management. This is a must-read for anyone in this industry, whether they are going for their ACE or not. I found that it really “condenses down” what we as pest management professionals should know.
  2. After more than 50 years in the industry, it is heartwarming to see how far we have advanced as an industry and how proud I am to be associated with it. I am sure that over the next 50 years this guide will be revised and updated many times over, but this first manual is a giant step forward in verifying that our industry works hard at providing a valuable service to all who need us.

As “Guardians of our Environment,” we have an obligation to lead the way to perform pest management in a manner that protects the people, pets, and structures we service. The knowledge obtained by becoming an ACE best equips you to do this. Just as medical doctors, pharmacists, and auto mechanics must stay up-to-date to perform their services at ever-increasing standards, so must we.

Be aware that ACE is a certification program, not a certificate. As with any other professional certification (medical, teaching, etc.), you are mandated to keep up with your professional training in order to keep your certification active. This is what makes the achievement so meaningful.

The culmination of the ACE program fulfills a dream of mine. In 1960 while an entomology student at Cornell University (the only entomology undergraduate in the entire university), I worked full-time in the summers and part-time while in school for a conscientious pest management company. I saw the need to have entomologists provide training to produce individuals that could work full-time in the urban pest management industry. Now that the Entomological Society of America and the National Pest Management Association are partnering to create, promote, and implement the ACE and ACE-International Programs, my dream is coming true.

I rest assured that our industry is engaged in creating a plethora of competent people to carry on the task of ever improving our services.