Continuing Professional Development Points
RCA renewal
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 100 points during the previous 5 years.
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.
Note: the point system changed in April 2025 from 10 points to 100 points. Points previously earned were converted at as 1:10 basis.
Growsafe Standard renewal
From mid-2026, holders of the Growsafe Standard certificate who are renewing for the second (or more) time can renew through evidence of professional development. Those renewing by this method are required to have achieved 50 points during the previous 5 years.
The process
To enrol in a Growsafe online course, please log in to your account on the Growsafe website and go to our online learning store.
To submit a training activity for assessment, please log in to your account on the Growsafe website, go to our Online learning site and submit your training as External Training and request CPD points.
Video: How to register CPD
Growsafe training activities
Growsafe offers a number of options for earning CPD points.
| Training activity |
Details |
Estimated CPD points |
| Growsafe Standard Renewal course |
Online or face to face course |
30 |
| Growsafe Advanced courses |
Registered Calibrator certification or one of the Advanced modules such as Application and Calibration which requires attendance at course and completion of a formal assessment. |
20-50 |
| Growsafe online courses |
Various courses to choose from. 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, ten CPD points are earned for each activity but this can vary based on the content. |
5-20 |
Approved training activities
The following are examples of training courses currently approved for the points value listed.
| Training activity |
Details |
Estimated CPD points |
| Online courses run by agrichemical distributors such as Corteva |
Various series of courses to choose from. |
10-30 |
| D endorsement on driver's licence |
New or renewal course |
20 |
| Certified Handler certificate |
Issued for class 6.1A or 6.1B agrichemicals |
10 |
| Certified Handler training |
For example, Vertical Horizons Hazardous Substances Course |
20 |
| Massey University Understanding Herbicides |
Online course held annually |
50 |
Approved industry events
The following events are examples of events that have been approved in the past. The points value of each specific event depends on the relevance, time commitment and level of the event and will be assessed by Growsafe. You will be asked to provide evidence that you have attended, for example, an invoice; or we may receive an attendance list from the organiser.
| Event |
Details including date |
Estimated CPD points |
| NZ Wilding Pine Conferences |
|
20 |
| NZ Plant Protection Society |
Annual conference; |
30 |
| New Zealand Winegrowers Association events |
Spray Days (usually 30 CPD), Grape Days and other events |
10-30 |
| Rural Contractors NZ events |
Agrichemical workshop at annual conference and agrichemical sessions at roadshows |
10-20 |
| A Lighter Touch Webinars and Events |
Please provide registration details of event |
10-20 |
| Growsafe Spray Quality Webinar |
November 13th 2024 |
10 |
| Vegetables NZ Lettuce IPM Field Days |
2023 Ten X 2-hour sessions Plant and Food Research Pukekohe |
40 |
| Nufarm Technical presentations and events |
Please provide registration details of event. |
10 |
| NZ Biosecurity Institute events |
For example Tongariro Pest Plant Presentations and annual education/training seminar |
20-30 |
| NZ Agronomy Society 50th Anniversary Symposium |
September 2022 Lincoln University |
10 |
| APHANZ Conference |
Summer or Winter conference (previously Agcarm) |
20 |
| FAR Conference |
Annual event |
20-30 |
| FAR Technical Presentations and Events |
Agrichemical focused sessions please provide registration details of event or webinar |
10 |
Event organisers and training organisations
To submit an event or training programme for assessment, please email
[email protected] with a schedule for the event including times, topics and a contact name for the event. We can advise CPD points in advance of your course or event so that you can include it in promotional material for the event.