AMES, Iowa – Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University has scheduled three virtual certification sessions for PQA Plus Advisors in 2023, and applications are now being accepted for all of them. Iowa State extension swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher will lead the sessions, set for Aprll 21, July 18 and Oct. 2.

“We’re into a new year of PQA version 5.0 training and have set this schedule to allow people to choose the date that works best for them,” he said. “Each session, including the exam, will last approximately six hours."

Rademacher, who also is interim IPIC director, reminds potential applicants that while this session is virtual - meaning no travel is required - the application process haven't changed.

"Qualification requirements are available on the two-page application form, which is available as both a fillable pdf document and a word document from the PQA page on the IPIC website, " he said. "Applicants may use either version. 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 and online access. Registration for each session starts at 8:30 a.m. and the session begins at 9 a.m. Connection information will be shared with approved applicants closer to that date

Five hours of CE credit have been approved by the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine for each session.

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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.