CTAG Current Activities

Exam and Manual Development Workgroup
CTAG WorkGroups - formed Jan. 2006

• Tim Drake, South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture
• Margaret Tucker, Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
• John Scott, Colorado State Dept. of Agriculture
• Drew Martin, Purdue Univerity
• Ron Gardner, Cornell University
• Dan Wixted, Cornell University
• Clyde Ogg, University of Nebraska
• Dean Herzfeld, University of Minnesota
• Michelle Devaux, US EPA

This committee's tasks are to scope out the 1) issues for developing credentialling exams and corresponding study manuals and 2) develop an issue paper discussing terminology, strategies, benefits, and barriers to the process.

Workgroup Archives

Exam and Manual Development Documents (step #4, drafts under Board consideration, Aug. 2006)

• A Model Process for Developing Effective, Integrated Pesticide Training Manuals and Licensure Tests
• Developing Content Relevant Licensure Tests and Corresponding Manuals
• Storage Chapter example

Executive Summary of Issue Paper

EPA is anticipating requiring states to adopt and follow a formal test development process. They believe that this approach is necessary and will result in the development of nationally consistent, content relevant licensure tests for the certification and training program. This issue paper documents a flexible process for the development of these licensure tests. The objectives of this approach are:

• Tests and manual content that reflect knowledge necessary to perform the work of a certified pesticide applicator, based on a job analysis
• Tests that are good measures for determining who should and should not be a certified pesticide applicator
• Manuals that are designed to be useful both for learners preparing for tests and as a basic educational tool to help new applicators properly handle and apply pesticides.

In order for this process to be effective, it needs to occur in unison with the development of the corresponding study material and be flexible since states are at varying degrees of readiness. Appendix A describes the components of test and manual development. It also provides examples of how a state may combine manual and test development into a single overlapping process. These examples demonstrate how a state can improve test and manual development by adapting and building on what it is already in place, rather than having to start over with a new process. There are many challenges and obstacles to implementing such a process that include, but are not limited to, skill and resource deficits. States should, through their state plans, describe the process used to ensure the development of content relevant licensure tests and corresponding study manuals and EPA should do everything possible to facilitate the states' efforts to integrate the process into their certification programs.

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page late updated January 27, 2006