AMES, Iowa – The application deadline for the Iowa Pork Industry Center’s first 2025 Pork Quality Assurance Plus 6.0 Advisor certification session is just ahead, and those interested in attending should submit their application soon. The first session is Monday, May 19, and the application deadline for this virtual session is Monday, May 5. Other face-to-face training dates in 2025 are listed on the IPIC website.

Iowa State University extension swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher organizes these certification sessions and said each takes approximately six hours to complete, including the exam at the end.

“With PQA Version 6.0 being released in June, all current advisors will need to be trained in the newest version before the end of August 2025. Current advisors have the option to renew online or do a face-to-face training, like the three sessions IPIC is hosting this year,” he said. “Advisors with an expired certification and people wanting to become certified for the first time are required to attend a face-to-face training like these three. Interested and qualified people should complete and return the application form soon.”

Rademacher, who also is IPIC associate director, said no spot is guaranteed until the application is approved and payment is accepted by IPIC. The cost is $100 and includes all materials and online access. Approved applicants will receive connection information prior to the session. Six Veterinary CEUs are available for these three sessions.

Qualification requirements are listed on the two-page application form, available as both a fillable PDF document and a Word document from the PQA Page on the IPIC website. Applicants may use either version.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Central time on May 19, and the session begins at 9 a.m. Connection information will be shared with approved applicants closer to the session date.

IPIC has two more certification sessions this year: an in-person session in Ames on June 20, and an online session on Sept. 8. Applications can be submitted any time before the respective session deadline.

This article was written by IPIC student communications assistant Lauren Beyer.

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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.