SO2 QAC holders--CE requirements?

Cellar Rats (ITB)
1

So I am now among the privileged many who hold a QAC card allowing me to sulfur empty barrels. In order to renew my privileges in 2010 without retaking (and re-paying for) the exams, I need 20 hours of Continuing Education credit, at least 4 of which must be in the Laws & Regulations category.

How can I do this? The Dept of Pesticide Regulations lists approved classes here:
File Not Found" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most of them are far away (e.g., Fresno), not open to the public, do not offer the Laws & Regs units, and/or are not at all relevant. What does IPM have to do with gassing barrels? I’m all for IPM, really, but, really?

I know I’m not alone in this pickle, so how are the rest of youse meeting this requirement?

Thanks!

2

Matt,
I took the exam a few weeks ago and passed. The Sonoma County Ag Commission want me to come in when I receive my card so they can make a copy of it but also to talk about the Continuing Education part. Maybe check with the Napa Ag commissioner?

I have seen classes in Santa Rosa that will satisy credit hours but like the ones you are talking about they are not geared towards winery usage or microbial control at all.

-Bryan

3

Thanks, Bryan. I have spoken with the Napa Ag folks, but they just referred me to the DPR website. If you learn anything different from the Sonoma folks, please let me know!

At this point I am thinking that as painful and expensive as the test taking was, it would be easier and cheaper to take the test each year rather than hunt all over the state for the CE hours.

4

Matt,
Will do.

-Bryan

5

I just took a test prep class today and will take the test Thursday. The lady who gave the class has a company called P&L Marketing. They have accredited classes that you can take for $10/hour. The website is http://www.pesticideguides.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

6

I’m ignoring the CE and hoping that by the time we have to renew, it has all gone away. We have two years, correct? not just one?

You’re right in that it would be easier to just retake the exam. I spent far less than 20 hours studying for it. Scary thing is that I do find some of the subject matter interesting, so I may wind up doing some of the various classes.

Are you part of Napa Vit Tech? A lot of those meetings qualify…call the extension office on Soscol to join.

7

The lady that gave our test prep class said that the wine loby is trying to get the continuing ed requirements down to 8 hours. She said we might know how that turns out by summer.
Also, even though you may just be getting your license this year, if your last name starts with M-Z, you will have to renew this year.

8

I will need to do the most logical thing, then…change my name to Nate Abbott.

9

I’m sure that would be the least complicated thing to do. [beee.gif]

10

Thanks, Nate and Linda. I am a Vit Tech member but with ~8 meetings a year, and roughly half qualifying for CE, and none for the Laws & Regs (I think), I would not have a chance of meeting the 20/4 requirement. But if the req is dropped to 8 (with 0 laws and regs, please), there might be hope of picking up a few more hours and making the grade.

And Nate, I agree that many of the topics are interesting, but that does not mean I’ll get sent to those classes, let alone have them paid for!

11

I spoke to the Sonoma County Ag Commission this morning regarding Continuing Education and they did not specifically say the amount of hours were reduced from 20 for the 2-year period. They did point me to the California DPR website and said there are a number of on-line classes that can be taken.

For those of us up in the North Bay, Santa Rosa JC has a class that fulfills 10 hours of CE they offer in both fall (not a chance) and spring.

-Bryan

12

yeah f-ing right i am going to take a full semester class for this crap.

there are many, many subjects that i would love to take a class on for personal enjoyment or pro development that i just can’t justify taking the time to do. forget about a class i have only marginal interest in…

playing the advocate here, at this point they (the vendor) have my certificate number and are delivering the stuff. i wonder if they really will pay close attention and stop delivering if it lapses? will the ag comm care that i continue to submit reports even though my QAC is technically lapsed? will the black helicopters show up on property to take away the fruit doctor?

Honestly, I really do think at this point i’d rather sit the test each time. Or maybe make someone else here do it [stirthepothal.gif] ? there’s no chance in hell I’m going to do 20 hours.

13

Solution: Don’t gas bbls… burn disques instead. Safer, measured, and no summer school.

14

hmmmm…you and I have had very different experiences, then, with burning of sulfur accoutrements.

I would prefer to keep using gas. If I have to switch, I’d rather do it to ozone gas, something I have been playing around with in barrels lately but presents its own problems.

15

Just do the stupid online things. They take about 25% of the time that the classes do.

16

Nate,

I’ve had a QAL for a few years now and getting the 20 hours in has not been too hard. I’ve done everything on line:

http://www.pesticideguides.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that Linda mentioned has a bunch of classes. You don’t have to meet the hours requirment to renew this year if you just got the QAC this year.