Training & Certification

Farmers

Q1: I hold membership of a Farm Assurance Scheme (CRRU UK approved) and have been purchasing and using professional-use rodenticides. What do I need to do to be ready for 2026?

A1: Membership of Farm Assurance Schemes will not be accepted at the point of sale for the purchase of professional-use rodenticides, from 1st January 2026.

You will need either:

1. Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course within the past 5 years (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/

Or :

2. Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course more than 5 years ago and current membership of a CRRU UK approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q2: I am a farmer with training and certification listed here
https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/
and have been purchasing and using professional-use rodenticides. What do I need to do to be ready for 2026?

A2a: Check the date on your certificate – if it is within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. from 2021 onwards) you will be able to purchase and use professional-use rodenticides at that point. (Remember to check your certificate date at regular intervals to ensure that it is no older than 5 years to-date).

A2b: Check the date on your certificate – if it is not within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. pre-2021) you will not be able to purchase and use professional-use rodenticides. You will need either:

You will need either:

1. Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course within the past 5 years (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/

Or :

2. Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course more than 5 years ago and current membership of a CRRU UK approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q3: Which CPD schemes are CRRU UK approved?

A3: CRRU UK approved CPD schemes are listed here: https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q4: If I choose the CPD route, when do I need to join a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme?

A4: Users joining an approved CPD scheme for the first time will need to join in 2025 and complete their membership criteria during this period to be ready for the 1st January 2026 changes. Remember to continue to maintain your membership in the following years. (CRRU UK approved CPD schemes feature 3 points / hours / credits of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines, required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event.)

Q5: What will the 3 points / hours / credits of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines look like? (Required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event)

A5: CRRU UK will support delivery of CPD by producing learning resources available to CRRU UK approved CPD schemes, for dissemination via their established routes to users. The expertise of CRRU UK member companies, stakeholder organisations, and individuals will be harnessed to create a series of CPD training modules made freely available at the CRRU UK website (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/). The modules, each comprising a PowerPoint presentation taking 45-60 minutes for completion, will be supported by detailed trainers’ notes. The resources will be downloaded by training organisations and used during face-to-face or online education events. Resources will be made available in January 2025.

Q6: If I choose the training and certification route, when should I take the training and exam so I’m prepared for the 1st January 2026?

A6: Course availability and processing times for exam results vary. Ensure you have enough time to access a course, undertake the training, and take the exam. Also factor in time needed for results to be processed and certificates produced with potential for exam re-sits also considered.

Gamekeepers

Q1: I am a gamekeeper with training and certification listed here https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/ and have been purchasing and using professional use rodenticides. What do I need to do to be ready for 2026?

A1a: Check the date on your certificate – if it is within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. from 2021 onwards) you will be able to purchase and use professional use rodenticides at that point. (Remember to check your certificate date at regular intervals, to ensure that it is no older than 5 years to-date).

A1b: Check the date on your certificate – if it is not within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. pre-2021) you will not be able to purchase and use professional use rodenticides. You will need either:

• Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course within the past 5 years (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/)
• Or:
• Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course more than 5 years ago and current membership of a CRRU UK approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q2: Which CPD schemes are CRRU UK approved?

A2: CRRU UK approved CPD schemes are listed here: https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q3: If I choose the CPD route, when do I need to join a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme?

A3: Users joining an approved CPD scheme for the first time will need to join in 2025, and complete their membership criteria during this period, in order to be ready for the 1st January 2026 changes. Remember to continue to maintain your membership in the following years. (CRRU UK approved CPD schemes feature 3 points / hours / credits, of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines, required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event.)

Q4: What will the 3 points / hours / credits, of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines look like? (Required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event)

A4: CRRU UK will support delivery of CPD by producing learning resources that are available to CRRU UK approved CPD schemes, for dissemination via their established routes to users. The expertise of CRRU UK member companies, stakeholder organisations and individuals will be harnessed to create a series of CPD training modules made freely available at the CRRU UK website (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/). The modules, each comprising a PowerPoint presentation taking 45-60 minutes for completion, will be supported by detailed trainers’ notes. The resources will be downloaded by training organisations and used during face-to-face or online education events. Resources will be made available in January 2025.

Q5: If I choose the training and certification route, when should I take the training and exam, so I’m prepared for the 1st January 2026?

A5: Course availability and processing times for exam results vary. Ensure you have enough time to access a course, undertake the training and take the exam. Also factor in time needed for results to be processed and certificates produced with potential for exam re-sits also considered.

Q1: I am a professional pest controller with training and certification listed here https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/ and I already maintain current membership of a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/. What do I need to do to be ready for 2026?

A1: Congratulations, you are a standard-bearer for stewardship! You meet the CRRU requirements, with no further action required. Continuing this approach will help ensure ongoing compliance with these requirements. Thank you for your support of stewardship.

Q2: I am a professional pest controller with training and certification listed here https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/ and have been purchasing and using professional use rodenticides. What do I need to do to be ready for 2026?

A2a: Check the date on your exam certificate – if it is within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. from 2021 onwards) you will be able to purchase and use professional use rodenticides at that point. (Remember to check your exam certificate date at regular intervals, to ensure that it is no older than 5 years to-date).

A2b: Check the date on your exam certificate – if it is not within the past 5 years on the 1st January 2026 (i.e. pre-2021) you will not be able to purchase and use professional use rodenticides. You will need either:

Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course within the past 5 years (https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/)

Or:

Proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course more than 5 years ago and as recommended retain current membership of a CRRU UK approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q3: Which CPD schemes are CRRU UK approved?

A3: CRRU UK approved CPD schemes are listed here: https://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship/

Q4: If I choose the CPD route, when do I need to join a CRRU UK approved scheme?

A4: Users joining an approved CPD scheme for the first time will need to have done so in 2025, and will need to have met their full annual membership criteria during 2025, in order to be ready for the 1st January 2026 changes. Remember as recommended you need to continue to maintain your membership in the following years. (CRRU UK approved CPD schemes feature 3 points / hours / credits, of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines, required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event.)

Q5: What will the 3 points / hours / credits, of rodent control content that conforms to CRRU guidelines look like? (Required each year as part of the normal quota for membership. This is to be assessed as part of the event)

A5: CRRU UK will support delivery of CPD by producing learning resources that are available to CRRU UK approved CPD schemes, for dissemination via their established routes to users. The expertise of CRRU UK member companies, stakeholder organisations and individuals will be harnessed to create a series of CPD training modules made freely available at the CRRU UK website (http://www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/continuing-professional-development-cpd-and-stewardship). The modules, each comprising a PowerPoint presentation taking 45-60 minutes for completion, will be supported by detailed trainers’ notes. The resources will be downloaded by training organisations and used during face-to-face or online education events. Resources will be made available in January 2025.

Q6: If in 2025 I am not part of a current CRRU UK approved CPD scheme and my certificate is older than 5 years, when should I take the training and exam, so I’m prepared for the 1st January 2026?

A6: Course availability and processing times for exam results vary. Ensure you have enough time to access a course, undertake the training and take the exam. Also factor in time needed for results to be processed and certificates produced with potential for exam re-sits also considered. Once passed it is recommended that professional pest controllers maintain annual membership of a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme, as an element of best practice.

Advice for professional pest controllers:

Professional pest controllers are often involved in continuous and daily use of rodenticides across multiple client sites. For this reason, it is recommended that professional pest controllers maintain annual membership of a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme, as an element of best practice, even if their exam certificate is within 5 years old.

Maintaining annual membership of a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme is likely to future-proof professional users for any further stewardship strengthening measures.

Note that the requirements being brought in for 2026 are the minimum standards needed to purchase and use professional rodenticides under stewardship, as a starting point for professional users. Further development and progression in training, including practical experience, is a responsible approach.