RCA Professional Development Points

From 2020, following the merger of the Growsafe and Rural Contractors RCA scheme, evidence of professional development has been formalised. It has always been a requirement of the audit undertaken for RCA renewal. However, there is now a more structured approach requiring evidence of attendance at approved industry events, relevant training or online learning. RCAs renewing are required to have achieved 2 points per year for each year since June 2019.

Approved training activities

The following events are currently approved for the points value listed.

     
Training activity Details Points
Growsafe Standard or Renewal courses Online or face to face course 3
Growsafe RCA Renewal online courses Six RCA courses to choose from 1 - 2
D endorsement on driver's licence New or renewal course 2
Certified Handler certificate   Issued for class 6.1A or 6.1B agrichemicals  1
Certified Handler training Vertical Horizons Hazardous Substances Course 2
Massey University Understanding Herbicides Online course held annually (face-to-face course in Palmerston North prior to 2020) 5

Visit our online learning space to see options for online learning. These will usually require you to watch a video and then answer some questions. Generally, one PDP is earned for each activity but this can vary based on the content.

To submit a training activity for assessment, please email info@growsafe.co.nz with details of the training and a contact name or website. Please note that first aid courses do not count towards professional development points. The training needs to be related to agrichemicals and their safe, responsible and effective use. Having a current first aid certificate is one of the questions on the checklist for RCA renewal, so renewing your certificate will enable you to tick off this requirement but not the professional development points.

Approved industry events

The following events are currently approved for the points value listed. To submit an event for assessment, please email info@growsafe.co.nz with a schedule for the event including times, topics and a contact name for the event.

     
Event Details including date Points
 A Lighter Touch Webinars and Events  Please provide registration details of event 1-2 
 Growsafe Spray Quality Webinar  November 13th 5pm to 6pm contact dean.bowden@growsafe.co.nz 1 
 Vegetables NZ Lettuce IPM Field Days  19th September to 21st November 2023 Ten X 2-hour sessions Plant and Food Research 49 Cronin Rd Pukekohe 4
 Nufarm Technical presentations and Events  Please provide registration details of event.  1
 FAR Technical Presentations and Events   Agrichemical focused sessions please provide registration details of event or webinar. 1 
 New Zealand Wine Growers Association Spray Days South Island 2023  28th-30th August Blenheim, 1st September Nelson, 12th September Waipara 3 
 New Zealand Wine Growers Association Spray Days South Island 2023  14th September Cromwell. 3
 New Zealand Winegrowers Association Spray Days North Island 2023  8th August Keri Keri, 10th August Waiheke, 15th August Gisborne,  3 
 New Zealand Winegrowers Association Spray Days North Island 2023  17th August Hawkes Bay, 18th August Martinborough. 3 
 New Zealand Winegrowers Association Grape Days South Island 2023  18th July Marlborough  2
 New Zealand Winegrowers Association Grape Days North Island 2023  20th July Hawkes Bay and Gisborne  2
 Rural Contractors NZ Conference 2023 Invercargill  June 20th Nufarm Phenoxies category workshop; resistance and modes of action.  2
 FAR Autumn Round-ups North and South Island events  March-April 2023 Register on the FAR website for dates and venues  1
 FAR Conference 2023  30th June Lincoln Event Centre 15 Meijer Drive Lincoln. Session four: Keeping up with Agchem and the alternatives  3
 FAR Herbicide Resistance management for Ryegrass contamination  30th November 2022 Highway Road  Makikihi 1pm-2pm  1 
FAR CROPS Annual Expo 2022 Managing Herbicide Resistance  23rd November 2022 Chertsey Arable Research Site SH1 1904 Rakaia Highway  1
FAR Cocksfoot Disease Management Field Day  4th November 2022 839 Rakaia River Road 1:00pm to 3:00pm   1
FAR Herbicides for Grass Weeds 20th September 2022 FAR's Chertsey Arable site 1:30 -3:00pm 1
NZ Biosecurity Institute North Island Central Branch Seminar  8th and 9th September 2022 Tongariro Pest Plant Presentations   2 
NZ Agronomy Society 50th Anniversary Symposium 31st August-1st September 2022 Lincoln University 1
Sustainable Wine NZ Spray Days 2022    North Island August 2022, South Island September 2022 3 
Rural Contractors Association Road Show  Completion of self audit checklist from below events 1
Rural Contractors Association Road Show Monday 8th August 2022 Distinction Hotel Palmerston North 1
Rural Contractors Association Road Show Tuesday 9th August 2022 Comfort Hotel Whangarei 1
Rural Contractors Association Road Show Wednesday 10th August 2022 Distinction Hotel Hamilton 1
Rural Contractors Association Road Show Wednesday 24th August 2022 Croydon Gore 1
Rural Contractors Association Road Show Thursday 25th August 2022 Chateau on the Park Christchurch 1
Agcarm Annual Conference 2022 Te Papa Museum Wellington 28th July 2022 2
APHANZ Summer Conference 2023 Nelson 16 February 2023 2
FAR Conference CROPS 2022 Field Day Rakaia Chertsey Arable Research Facility 23rd November 2022 2
NZ Biosecurity Institute annual education/training seminar Christchurch Town Hall 3rd -5th August 2022 3
NZPPS conference Christchurch Town Hall 9th-11th August 2022 3
NZ Wilding Conifer Conference Blenheim, 13th-15th September 2022 2
 FAR Conference  28th-29th July 2021 2
 RCNZ Road Show  3rd -25th May 2021 2
 NZ Wilding Pine Conference  25th-27th November 2020 2
 NZPPS Conference  10 -12 August 2021 Napier 3
 NZ Wilding Pine Conference  24th September 2019 2
 RCNZ Road Show  29th May 2019 2
 FAR Conference   27th-28th June 2019 2
 Agcarm AGM  25th July 2019 2