BASIS course overviewThe course offered by the Real IPM company can be taken wholly as distance learning, but many students prefer to study as a mixture of distance learning and attendance days. Two levels of fees apply, the ‘full’ course fee includes all attendance days. Taking the final examination is not obligatory, but if as part of GLOBALGAP or another development path it is desred, the exam can be sat either in Nairobi or in the UK. (An additionl fee is payable to BASIS if students enter the examination.)
BASIS is a very practical qualification and not ideal for students wishing to pursue an academic or theoretic approach to the subject. Some candidates conclude the course by sitting the BASIS examination, others use the course simply to help develop practical skills and knowledge useful in the horticultural industry. Click here for a full description of the course syllabus contained within the learning material. Course overviewThis table summarises the elements of the course. Each element is explained in more detail below. The distance learning modules come in the form of ‘learning packs’, which contain lesson materials, practical activities and multiple-choice practice papers. The learning packs are available online for subscribers, alternatively they can be obtained in hard-copy.
| |
Location |
Duration |
Overnight* |
Included** |
Introduction session |
Real IPM |
1 day |
No |
Yes |
Distance learning (17 modules) Practice activities Practice papers |
On-farm |
Advised: min 6 months |
No |
Yes |
Practical training sessions |
Real IPM |
2 days |
Yes |
Yes |
Tutorial sessions |
Real IPM |
4 days |
No |
No |
Examination |
At Real IPM or in UK |
2 days |
Yes |
No |
*Overnight accommodation needed (included in ‘full’ course fee) **Included in course fee. Non-included items are optional - additional fees payable. |
EnrolmentTrainees can enroll at any time of year. Introduction sessionThis 1-day session is designed to make trainees aware of the scope and objectives of the BASIS Crop Protection Certificate examination and ensure that the training offered meets their needs, irrespective of whether they intend to enroll for the examination. Trainees are encouraged to identify their strengths and weaknesses as crop protection advisors and develop an action plan to improve weak areas. At this session, candidates are introduced to the ‘learning packs’ which divide the course into topic-oriented modules that cover the BASIS syllabus. The packs contain information far in excess of that required to pass the BASIS exam and are intended to be a useful ongoing reference for those working in horticultural crop protection. The introduction session is an opportunity to practice the techniques used in the distance learning packs. Learning packsClick here for a full description of the course syllabus contained within the learning material. Multiple choice practice papersThroughout the distance learning course multiple choice question papers are used to test the trainees’ knowledge. These can either be completed online or sent by post to the course manager who will return the marks to the candidate. Practice activitiesAll learning packs incorporate a number of activities, which are completed at the trainee’s location. These are intended to make trainees responsible for their own learning by needing to research information from product labels and other documents. This will start to equip them to respond to typical questions which growers may ask of someone selling or advising on the use of a pesticide. The answers to the practice multiple choice questions, and to the on-farm practical activities do not contribute to trainees’ final exam mark but are used to develop self-sufficient learning abilities and build expertise. Tutorial sessionsGroup tutorial days are available and have been set aside for trainees to discuss course material and activities with which they have had difficulty. Their written attempts to answer these questions may be sent to the course manager for feed-back. Practical training sessionsThe practical days take place at the Real IPM facility and are designed to build pest, weed and disease identification skills and well as problem solving ability.
Satisfactory performance at the practical days will lead to accrual of BASIS Professional Development points. ExaminationNot everyone who takes part in the course wishes to sit for the examination so we do not build the exam fee into our standard pricing. See further details on examination costs and locations.
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