and download your free copy. NWCOA, a nonprofit, professional trade association devoted to professional development of the Wildlife Damage Management Industry thru the individual development of well educated, experienced, and dedicated wildlife control operators. NWCOA has sought to promote and strengthen professional standards within the wildlife damage management industry. To this end, NWCOA has developed a professional certification program designed to evaluate the education and professional experience of wildlife control operators.
A professional wildlife control operator is a person with demonstrated expertise in the art and science of applying the principles of wildlife damage management to the sound resolution of wildlife conflict with humans. An applicant for professional certification who demonstrates this expertise through education and experience and is judged to be able to represent the profession as an ethical practitioner will be designated as a Certified Wildlife Control Professional.
Present-day professional wildlife control operators have developed and continue to develop as the industry evolves from many disciplines. Strict application of precisely defined certification criteria would be detrimental to the continued development of the profession these operators have built.
These requirements for certification are intended to be a means of demonstrating the special expertise required to practice as a professional wildlife control operator. A Certification Review Board (CRB), composed of highly qualified wildlife control operators, determine whether the education, experience, and professional contributions of the applicant satisfy the intent of the established minimum requirements.
The program for certification of wildlife control operators is a service provided by NWCOA for its members, as well as nonmembers and the public, who may desire a peer evaluation statement. Certification constitutes recognition by NWCOA that, to its best knowledge, an applicant meets the minimum educational, experience, and ethical standards adopted by this Association. Certification does not constitute a guarantee that the applicant meets a certain standard of competence or possesses certain knowledge.
NWCOA has established the following objectives, rules, and procedures for certification and the administration of the program. NWCOA will maintain and disseminate a registry of certified wildlife control operators. An appropriate schedule of fees ensures that the program is financially self-sustaining.
Read the program outline below and do a self-assessment on how well you meet the qualifications. If you feel you meet the qualifications, request an application from your Regional Director.
I - OBJECTIVES
1. The primary objective of the NWCOA certification program is to provide public and private clients and employers more positive access to professional advice in matters concerning wildlife damage management.
2. To guide operators, governmental agencies and the public in defining optimum standards of education and experience for professional wildlife control operators, and to encourage all practicing wildlife control operators to meet such standards.
3. To create and maintain public confidence in the advice and opinions of certified wildlife control operators who have pledged to uphold the Code of Ethics of NWCOA and to act in the best interest of the public and wildlife resources.
4. To assist the public in evaluating wildlife control operators by establishing a procedure for critical peer evaluation based upon defined minimum educational, experience, and ethical requirements.
II - CERTIFICATION
Certified Wildlife Control Professional (CWCP): Persons who have successfully completed the requirements of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association and proven to the Certification Review Board, One Hundred Hours of Developmental Education, Over Thirty Six Months Experience and agrees to follow a strict Code of Ethics. Having thus been proven and reviewed, the National Wildlife Control Operators Association shall confirm certification as a Certified Wildlife Control Professional.
III - REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY
A. Education
1. An applicant must have completed 100 Developmental Credit Units as approved by the NWCOA accreditation committee. To ensure a well-rounded educational background, twenty-five (25) DCU must be earned in each of the following categories with the remaining twenty-five (25) distributed in any or all of the categories:
Category 1. Wildlife Biology and Handling. Topics include information relating to life cycles, habits, and effects of Control on wildlife, health of wildlife, population dynamics, and habitat management. Care, Euthanasia, Diagnostics of Diseases and anything relating to the possession of an animal.
Category 2. Technical. Topics include Methods, Equipment, Research and Business Management.
Category 3. Human Health, Safety and Community Relations. Topics relating to the Human aspects of Wildlife Damage Management, including Zoonosis, Equipment Safety, Employee, Public and Client Safety, Risk Management, Legalities and other related topics.
2. Once certified, wildlife control operators are not required to conform to changes in educational requirements resulting from future revisions. However, all applicants for Certified Wildlife Control Professional must renew their certification every 5 years by completing a minimum of 40 developmental credit units. These may be earned in any combination.
3. NWCOA recognizes the varied sources of training currently available and encourages involvement in creation of new sources. NWCOA will maintain a list of accredited training and assign developmental credit units to each. New courses may be added to the list at any time. To request credit for an unlisted course submit course materials with application. All training, seminars, conferences and activities of a developmental nature are worth credit units. A course of training must only be evaluated once to add it to the list. Once added only proof of attendance is required to receive credits associated with the listed course.
4. Generally credit will be assigned or awarded to courses on the basis of One hour of instruction shall equal One (1) DEU. If a course is only partially related to Wildlife Damage Management it may be awarded partial credit. The Certification Review Board (CRB) will assign all credits based on applicability to the Industry and Quality of instruction. They are the final authority as to credit awarded to courses of training.
5. Self Study. It is understood that much of the training available to operators has been self-study books and videos. To recognize this type of training a person needs to write a one to two page summary of the materials use for self study and discuss the value of the training as it relates to the industry. In general one credit hour will be awarded per summary in the appropriate category.
6. Extra credit may be awarded to persons actively involved in providing training in the form of writing courses or training materials, presenting classroom or hands-on training, producing videos, etc. Generally double credit will be award in these cases. For example if you present a one-hour block of instruction on Raccoon biology, participates could claim one credit hour for attending and you could claim two credits for presenting and preparing the course.
7. Applicants may have completed a course of study in a college or university gaining knowledge applicable to the Wildlife Damage Industry and shall receive educational credit as follows: 1 Semester hour = 3 Developmental Credit Units
a. Below are examples only. Many other courses could also qualify.
1. Biological Sciences
a. Wildlife management: Courses emphasizing the principles and practices of wildlife management.
b. Wildlife biology: Courses in the biology and behavior of birds, mammals, reptiles, or amphibians.
c. Ecology: Courses in general plant or animal ecology (excludes human ecology).
d. Zoology: Courses in general zoology, genetics, physiology, anatomy, invertebrate zoology, or taxonomy.
* Credit Hours. The educational requirements are expressed in Developmental Credit Units (DCU). One semester hour usually reflects 1 lecture hour or 3 laboratory hours of instruction per week for a 16-week term. One-quarter hour normally equals 0.67 semester hours. Applicants for certification who attended educational institutions that grant credits in different units must convert their credits to semester hours according to definitions above. For example, in many Canadian universities a 1-credit course meets 3 hours per week for 2 terms and thus equals 6 semester hours. 6 Semester hours equals 18 DCUs.
B. Experience
1. In addition to the educational requirements, the Certified Wildlife Control Professional must have a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience (36 Months).
2. Experience must demonstrate the application of wildlife damage control techniques in a professional environment. Identification of professional-level experience will require careful evaluation of each application. Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to fully document for each experience the percentage of time devoted specifically to wildlife damage control activities. Credit will be awarded within the following guidelines:
a. Experience credit normally will be awarded on a basis of one-month full time experience for one-month credit. Employment or experience of a Part-time nature will be awarded credit on a basis of one half that of Full Time.
b. Partial credit may be granted for experience gained in positions peripheral to wildlife damage management. Peripheral experience credit may be used to meet not more that one-half (18 months) of experience credit.
c. Applicant’s estimate of percent of time devoted specifically to professional wildlife damage management work.
d. The smallest component of creditable time is one-half (.5) month.
e. Description of specific duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments as it relates to wildlife damage management will be evaluated.
f. Working on two (2) or more jobs at the same time does not result in double credit.
g. All work and experience related to “Wildlife” will be worth some credit.
5. Up to 12 months of volunteer experience will be creditable toward the 3-year experience requirement provided that the position constitutes professional wildlife control duties supported by a letter from the supervisor.
6. Experience must be gained within the six (6) years prior to the date the application is submitted.
C. Ethical Requirements
1. All applicants must pledge to uphold and conduct their activities in accordance with the Code of Ethics as prescribed by NWCOA. In the event any applicant has engaged in past activity or conduct that the CRB determines violates a provision of the Code of Ethics, the CRB shall thoroughly investigate such activity or conduct, to determine whether such past activity, conduct, or record shows a propensity on the part of the Applicant to act contrary to the provisions of the Code of Ethics and thereby constitutes grounds for denying certification.
2. Certified Wildlife Control Operators shall conduct their activities in accordance with the Code of Ethics as prescribed by NWCOA outlined below:
Code of Ethics
1. I affirm my strict adherence to all laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife damage management.
2. I ascribe to a professional code of conduct that embodies the traits of honesty, sincerity and dedication.
3. I will show exceptionally high levels of concern and respect for people, property and wildlife.
4. I will promote the understanding and appreciation of the numerous values of wildlife and scientific wildlife management, as well as an appreciation for the economic and health concerns of humans adversely affected by wildlife.
5. I will be sensitive to the various viewpoints on wildlife damage management.
6. I will provide expertise on managing wildlife damage to my clientele upon request, within the limits of my experience, ability and legal authority.
7. I will promote competence and present an image worthy of the profession by supporting high standards of education, employment and performance.
8. I will strive to broaden my knowledge, skills and abilities to advance the practice of commercial wildlife damage management.
9. I will, in good faith, select new or time proven methods for resolving wildlife damage conflicts and give due consideration to humaneness, selectivity, effectiveness and practicality.
10. I will treat my competition and clientele in a courteous manner and in accordance with honorable business practices.
11. I will encourage, through word and through deed, all Commercial Wildlife Control Operators to adhere to this code and to participate in state associations of Commercial Wildlife Control Operators.
IV - CERTIFICATION REVIEW BOARD
1. The Certification Review Board (CRB) shall be comprised of a Chairman, appointed, hired or contracted by the Governing board of NWCOA, at least four reviewers each of whom must have obtained the CWCP status, appointed by the chairman. The CRB shall determine eligibility of applicants, by majority vote if necessary, and shall have the authority to evaluate applicants and recommend certification as a Certified Wildlife Control Professional. Chairman shall present successful applicants to the Governing Board of NWCOA for confirmation and awarding of honors.
2. The Chairman shall report on progress and issues to the NWCOA governing board. CRB members shall correspond as necessary to ensure equitable and timely evaluation of each applicant. No member of the Board shall discuss at any time a particular application with any person other than a member of the CRB, except to clarify or verify the contents of the application.
3. The CRB shall also act as the official Accreditation Committee of NWCOA and assign DEU to all courses of training submitted or found to have direct educational value to the industry. They shall evaluate training, maintain and publish a list of accredited training with support from the Secretary of NWCOA.
4. Certification normally will be confirmed or denied within 90 days from the date a complete application is received unless the Board advises the applicant that additional time is needed for review. The chairman of the CRB shall notify an applicant who is denied certification with a written explanation.
5. The CRB shall function as follows: At least five members shall make up the board. All members of the board, except the chairman shall be available to evaluate and forward processed applications to the chairman.
a. The chairman shall initially review all applications, review for completeness and assign a reviewer.
b. The reviewer will evaluate the application and return to the chairman.
c. The Chairman will than prepare the Certificate, sign, date and assign certification numbers and forward to NWCOA as a recommendation to confirm certification. Applicants that are not found to meet the requirements will receive written notice of action taken from the chairman with the NWCOA board being notified of the same.
d. Certification Certificates shall be forwarded to the President of NWCOA who will confirm on behalf of the governing board, sign and forward to the successful applicant their Certification Certificate.
V - SCHEDULE OF FEES
1. Certification is a service extended to qualified wildlife control operators. However, the certification procedure was developed and is administered by NWCOA. Members of the Association subsidize this effort with their volunteer efforts and membership dues to maintain a viable peer review process. Nonmembers contribute nothing in this regard; therefore, there is a differential fee for certification. The fee structure for certification is:
NWCOA Member/Nonmember
Initial application fee for Certified Wildlife Control Professional $90/ $120
Renewal application fee for Certified Wildlife Control Professional $75/ $100
2. Fees shall be reviewed periodically and set by the governing board of NWCOA at levels sufficient to sustain the program.
VI - APPEALS OF CERTIFICATION DENIAL
1. Any applicant may appeal the decision of the CRB to the Governing Board of NWCOA, documenting charges of discrimination or arbitrary and capricious action by the CRB. The Governing Board shall appoint a Board of Inquiry (BOI) from the NWCOA membership to review the appeal and make a final disposition recommendation to the Governing Board. To appoint the Board of Inquiry the Governing Board shall offer six names of members whom have agreed to serve on a Board of Inquiry, to the appealing applicant who shall then select three from the list to serve as the Board of Inquiry. The members on the six-member list shall have no knowledge of the specific appeal until such time they are appointed to a board of inquiry. The Governing Board shall inform the applicant by written notice of final disposition of the appeal.
2. Appeals must be made within one (1) year from the date of denial. Only information on education and experience previously submitted to the CRB will be subject to review by the Inquiry. Submission of new information or additional documentation may invalidate an appeal and require the applicant to file a new application for certification without prejudice. Therefore, it is incumbent on applicants to fully and completely document their education and experience in their original applications.
VII - VIOLATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
1. Suspension or revocation of certification for violation of the Code of Ethics as prescribed by NWCOA is a serious matter that reflects unfavorably on the entire profession. Considerable effort must be expended to ensure equitable treatment of all concerned. A BOI will be appointed as stated above in the case of appeals and ask to review and make recommendations to the Governing Board.
2. NWCOA assumes no liability for charges of misconduct filed by or against a Certified Wildlife Control Professional and the association provides no financial or legal assistance to either the person(s) bringing a charge of misconduct or the individual charged with misconduct.
3. The disciplinary action that may be recommended by the Board of Inquiry or the Governing Board against a certified operator who has been found by the Board of Inquiry or Governing Board to demonstrate consistent incompetence and/or be in violation of provisions of The Code of Ethics of NWCOA shall be suspension of Certification for a specified time, permanent revocation of certification or other actions as deemed appropriate by the Governing Board of NWCOA or the BOI.
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