To become a BCE, each applicant must complete the BCE qualifying exam, in addition to fulfilling the other requirements. In addition, those seeking full certification must take at least one specialty examination of their choice. One specialty examination is included in the initial examination fee. Additional specialties require an additional fee. Generally, all BCE examinations are administered online through the proctor's computer. Click here for details on how to take an examination.
The four BCE specialties are listed below.
- General Entomology
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology
- Urban and Industrial Entomology
- Plant-related Entomology
General Entomology
This information applies to the BCE General Entomology Specialty exam, which is not to be confused with the BCE Qualifying Exam. To become a BCE specializing in general entomology, you must pass the qualifying exam as well as this specialty exam. After you have been accepted into the program, confirm with your proctor a date when you are ready to take the exam and inform the ESA Certification Coordinator by email to bce@entsoc.org.
General Entomology
Study topics include pests and management practices of:
- Fruit and vegetable crops
- Forage crops
- Field crops
- General insect classification and biology
- Insect morphology and physiology
- Insect behavior and ecology
- Insect development and metamorphosis
Recommended Study Materials
Destructive and Useful Insects 5th Edition, by R.L. Metcalf and R.A. Metcalf, 1993
Insect Pests of Farms, Garden and Orchards, by R. Davidson and W. Lyon, 1987 (8th Edition or newer)
Introduction to Insect Pest Management, R. L. Metcalf and W. H. Luckman, 1994
An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th Edition, by Borror, Triplehorn, and Johnson, 1989
Entomology and Pest Management, by Larry Pedigo (newest edition)
Medical and Veterinary Entomology
To become a BCE specializing in medical entomology, you must pass the qualifying exam as well as this specialty exam. After you have been accepted into the program, confirm with your proctor a date when you are ready to take the exam and inform the ESA Certification Coordinator by email to bce@entsoc.org.
Knowledge Domains Covered:
Identification of arthropods of medical-veterinary importance
Biology of arthropods of medical-veterinary importance
Epidemiology of arthropod-borne diseases
Non-vector arthropods of medical and veterinary importance
Surveillance and control of arthropods of medical-veterinary importance
History of medical and veterinary entomology
Regulatory guidance and its impact on medical-veterinary entomologists
Recommended Study Materials
Adams, J. ed. 1992. Insect Potpourri. Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, FL.
Blum M. S. 1985. Fundamentals of Insect Physiology. Wiley-Interscience.
Bram, R. 1978. Surveillance and Collection of Arthropods of Veterinary Importance. USDA Agric. Handbook No. 518, USDA, Washington, DC.
Byrd, J.H., and J.L. Castner. eds. 2010. 2nd ed. Forensic Entomology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Chapman, R. F. 2013. 5th ed. The Insects: Structure and Function, Cambridge University Press.
Clements, A. N. The Biology of Mosquitoes Volume 1 (1992), Volume 2 (1999), Volume 3 (2012). CABI Publishing.
Darsie, Jr., R., and R. Ward. 2005. 2ed. Identification and Geographic Distribution of the Mosquitoes of North America, North of Mexico. Amer. Mosq. Contr. Assn., Univ. Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Debboun, M., S. Frances, and D. Strickman. eds. 2007. 2nd ed. Insect Repellents Handbook. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
ldridge B. F. and Edman, J. 2003. 2nd ed. Medical Entomology. Springer.
Gold, R.E., and S.C. Jones. eds. 2000. Handbook of Household and Structural Insect Pests. Entomol. Soc. Amer., Lanham, MD.
Goddard, J., 2012. 6th ed. Physicians’ Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Heymann, D.L. ed. 2008. 19th ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. Amer. Publ. Health Assn. (APHA), Washington, DC.
Hoy, M. A. 2013. 3rd ed. Insect Molecular Genetics: an Introduction to Principles and Applications. Academic Press.
Levi, H.W., and L.R. Levi. 1990. Golden Guide [to] Spiders and their Kin. Golden Books, New York, NY.
Krantz G. W. and Walter D. E.eds. 2009. 3rd ed. A Manual of Acarology. Texas Tech University Press.
Merritt, R.W., Cummins, K. W. and Berg, M. B. eds. 2008. 4th ed. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall Hunt Publishing.
Mullen, G.R., and L.A. Durden. eds. 2009. 2nd ed. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press, Orlando, FL.
Nation, J. L. 2015. 3rd ed. Insect Physiology and Biochemistry. CRC Press.
Peters, W. 1992. A Colour Atlas of Arthropods in Clinical Medicine. Wolfe Publ., Ltd., London, UK.
Service, M. 2012. 3rd ed. Medical Entomology for Students. Cambridge University Press.
Stafford, III, K. 2004. Tick Management Handbook. Conn. Agric. Exper. Sta., New Haven, CT. and avail as PDF @ www.caes.state.ct.us .
Strickman, D., S. Frances, and M. Debboun. 2009. Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease. Oxford Univ. Press, Inc., New York, NY.
Triplehorn, C.A., and N. F. Johnson. 2005. 7th ed. Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects. Thomson, Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA.
Warrell, D., and H. Gilles. 2002. 4ed. Essential Malariology. Oxford Univ. Press, Inc., New York, NY.
WHO. 2004. Global Strategic Framework for Integrated Vector Management. WHO, Geneva.
Wigglesworth, V. B. 1984. 8th ed. Insect Physiology. Springer.
Williams, R. 2010. Veterinary Entomology, Livestock and Companion Animals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Zim, H.S., and C. Cottam. 1987. Golden Guide [to] Insects. Western Publ. Co., Racine, WI (Div. of Golden Books, New York, NY).
Suggested Web Sites for Resources on Diseases, Vectors and Hazardous Arthropods.
World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov ,
Armed Forces Pest Mangement Board (AFPMB): http://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/
American Mosquito Control Association. (AMCA): www.mosquito.org , then browse or use links. National Pest Management Association (NMPA): www.pestworld.org , then browse.
Lucid keys: http://www.lucidcentral.com/
American Arachnolological Society: www.americanarachnology.org
North American Forensic Entomology Association: http://www.nafea.net/
Pan American Health Organization: http://www.paho.org/hq
The Scorpion Files (Scorpion information): http://www.ntnu.no/ub/scorpion-files/links.php
Euscorpius (Scorpion information): http://www.science.marshall.edu/fet/euscorpius/
Clinical Toxicology Resources: www.toxinology.com
WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES ): http://www.who.int/whopes
World Map(s) of Interactive disease distribution:
Urban and Industrial Entomology
To become a BCE specializing in urban and industrial entomology, you must pass the qualifying exam as well as this specialty exam. You must have applied and been accepted into the BCE program prior to taking this exam.
Recommended Study Materials
The Handbook of Household and Structural Insect Pests by: Roger Gold, Susan Jones.
ISBN 0-9385-2278-7
Handbook of Pest Control by: Mallis (Newest Edition)
The Pesticide Book by George Ware
Trumans' Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations by: Bennet, Corrigan, Owens
ISBN 0-9298-7000-X
Urban Entomology, Robinson
ISBN 0-412-60750-6
Plant-related Entomology
To become a BCE specializing in Plant-related entomology, you must pass the qualifying exam as well as this specialty exam.
You must have applied and been accepted into the BCE program prior to taking this exam. After you have been accepted into the program, confirm with your proctor a date when you are ready to take the exam and inform the ESA Certification Coordinator by email to bce@entsoc.org.
Recommended Study Materials
Destructive and Useful Insects 5th Edition, by R.L. Metcalf and R.A. Metcalf, 1993
Insect Pests of Farms, Garden and Orchards, by R. Davidson and W. Lyon, 1987 (8th Edition or newer)
Introduction to Insect Pest Management, R. L. Metcalf and W. H. Luckman, 1994
An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th Edition, by Borror, Triplehorn, and Johnson, 1989
Entomology and Pest Management, by Larry Pedigo (newest edition)