AMES, Iowa – Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is offering a Pork Quality Assurance Plus 5 certification session for program advisors on August 29 in Ames. This in-person session is the final IPIC one before all existing advisor certifications under the previous level expire. ISU extension swine veterinarian and interim IPIC director Chris Rademacher is coordinating the session and said those interested need to submit their application soon.

"With the release of the new version, current advisors have the option to do their recertification online or in an in-person setting.  Anyone whose certification has expired or who is a first time advisor must do an in-person training and that is what we are planning to host with this session," Rademacher said.

Potential attendees should plan on an approximately six-hour session, followed by an exam, he said. There's no session length difference between new certification and recertification for those doing in-person training.

To be eligible to submit an application or recertify as a current advisor, people must meet the following qualifications:

1. Be a veterinarian, extension specialist or ag educator (defined for this program as a person who spends full time in adult education or at least half time in production training) AND
2. Have a D.V.M. or B.S. in animal science (or equivalent) AND
3. Have two years of recent documentable swine production experience.

Those who qualify should download the two-page application form from the certification page on the IPIC website and complete and submit the form soon. The form is available as both a fillable pdf document and a word document. Applicants may use either version.

This session will be held at the Economic Development Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Place, in Ames. There is a 35-person maximum with the application deadline of either August 22 or when the maximum is reached, whichever occurs earlier. No walk-ins are allowed and no individual spot is guaranteed until the application is approved and specific payment is accepted by IPIC. The cost is $85 per person and includes all materials, refreshments and the noon meal. The session begins with registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and instruction starting at 9 a.m.

Veterinary CE credits have been requested.

-30- 

IPIC was established in 1994 as a coordinated effort of the colleges of Agriculture (now Agriculture and Life Sciences) and Veterinary Medicine at ISU. Its mission is to promote efficient pork production technologies in Iowa, maintain Iowa's pork industry leadership and strengthen rural development efforts. IPIC focuses its efforts on programs that are integral and complementary to ISU Extension and Outreach. Through IPIC, Iowa producers receive accurate and timely information to make their operations more efficient and profitable.