Purity Pest Control’s Goldman Earns ACE Certification

THORNHILL, Ontario, Canada -  Michael Goldman, CEO of Purity Pest Control recently became an A.C.E. - Associate Certified Entomologist. Goldman is the first non-U.S. resident to earn the designation of ACE, Associate Certified Entomologist from the Entomological Society of America.

On his exam, Goldman wrote, “I have been touting myself as a bed bug expert and I felt it was time to get some official certification to back up my claims.”

Goldman said it was a real ordeal applying and attaining the designation. Among other criteria needed to qualify for the ACE exam you must hold a US applicator's license from any one of the 50 states. At this time the ESA does not allow non U.S. applicators to write the exam because a thorough knowledge of EPA and FIFRA regulations is needed for the exam.

“Being a Canadian and having only Ontario certification I needed to write a U.S. applicator license which meant learning the U.S. regulations,” Goldman says. “I want to thank Jim Rutherford of Action Termite & Pest Control out of Manistee, Mic., for sponsoring me and taking me to Traverse City to write my Michigan applicator's license.”

In order to keep the exam above board Goldman needed a proctor, an ESA member in good standing to oversee the exam. “I want to thank Dr. Michael Potter from the University of Kentucky for loaning me a computer and desk to write my three hour exam at his office and for showing me his southern hospitality.”

Goldman said the room was adequate but that he was a little distracted by the two tarantulas staring from the terrariums next to him.

The exam was three hours long and was comprised of questions ranging from how many nodes a specific ant has to U.S. chemical labels, insect biology and behaviour and pest management practices.

“Bed bugs are the biggest thing to happen to pest management in years and a thorough understanding and knowledge of them is necessary to win the battle. Just by studying as much as I did has made me a more knowledgeable pest management professional.”