Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA)
PQA Plus and TQA Individual Training
Please contact the ISU Extension field specialist in your area for online access or special group training sessions. Check our ISU Extension swine program specialist page for links to your respective program specialist's contact and other information.
PQA Plus Information
PQA Plus was developed by the Pork Industry Animal Care Coalition to be a continuous improvement program, most recently revised in 2016. The coalition is made up of pork producers, packers/processors, restaurants and food retailers. Dedicated to finding a food-industry solution that would give confidence to consumers U.S. pork is produced in a way that respects animal well-being. PQA Plus merges the food safety and animal well-being concepts of the original PQA program into three steps: individual certification through education, farm site assessment and the opportunity for project verification to give customer credibility. For more information on PQA Plus contact National Pork Board at 800-456-PORK, or go to their website.
Transport Quality Assurance (TQA)
Information TQA was introduced in 2002 by the Pork Checkoff as a quality assurance program designed specifically for transporters, producers and handlers of pigs. It encourages dedication to transporting and delivering the highest quality, safest pork product possible to remain competitive in the global market. The program's mission is to make a positive impact on pork industry animal movement practices through the education and continued training of animal handlers by demonstrating industry-leading techniques which lead to enhanced animal well-being; and quality pork products.
More information on TQA can be found by contacting National Pork Board at 800-456-PORK, or go to their website.
PQA Plus V6 Advisor Certification
State trainers Dr. Chris Rademacher and Dr. Anna Johnson offer scheduled trainings for PQA V6 Advisor certification. If there is no date listed below, no sessions are scheduled. Please contact Stacie Matchan at sgould@iastate.edu if you would like to be added to our waitlist, or be notified when a new session is scheduled.
In order to be eligible to become an advisor, you 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 DVM or B.S. in animal science (or equivalent) AND
3. Have two years of recent documentable swine production experience.
PQA Plus Producer CertificationPQA Plus Advisor Certification
Online and in-person sessions. Please see info for each site for location. Registration 8:30 a.m., session starts at 9 a.m. Fee is $100 per person, payable after application approval. No walk-ins are allowed and attendance is not guaranteed until payment is accepted. Download the 2-page application form in word format or fillable pdf format.
Veterinary CEUs will be available.
| Date | Application deadline | Application form | Application form | |
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virtual | May 5, 2025 | ||
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in person | June 6, 2025 | ||
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virtual | August 25, 2025 |
Return completed application form to Stacie Matchan.
Questions?
Stacie Matchan
Program Specialist
