Weekly outline

  • Welcome to the SPS Plant Health Modules

    • Welcome to the SPS Plant Health Course!

    • Getting Started

      Each module in this library is self-paced and can be explored in any order. 

      You can leave each module by selecting the X on the upper right (if on a desktop) or closing your browser tab (if on a mobile device).

      Learning Experience Support Documents: 


      Select a Plant Health topic below to begin learning:

  • Pest Surveillance

    Welcome to Pest Surveillance, after completing this module you will be able to do the following:

    1. understand the importance of pest surveillance, and how it is used to address pest threats.
    2. work through the basic steps for conducting both general surveillance and specific surveillance also knowns as survey.
    3. learn the specifics of conducting a pest survey.

  • Plant Pest ID Systems

    Welcome to Plant Pest ID Systems, after completing this module you will be able to do the following:

    1. recognize the importance for each country to have an official plant pest identification system that provides the appropriate level of traceability and legal authority for regulatory action as required by international standards.
    2. recognize the critical need to keep organized records with complete information for each pest identification made.

  • Inspections

    Welcome to Inspections, after completing the module you will be able to do the following: 

    1. define the purpose of Inspections.
    2. work through examples of common inspections procedures.
    3. list the basic requirements of an effective inspections program.

  • The SPS Agreement

    Welcome to The SPS Agreement Course! After completing the module you will be able to do the following:

    1. Describe the key historical events that led to the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
    2. Describe what types of measures the SPS Agreement covers
    3. List the basic rights and key concepts included in the SPS Agreement
    4. Explain how one country, the United States, implements the SPS Agreement
    5. Name three standard-setting organizations that are included in the SPS Agreement


    **Please note: In 2022, the USDA released a new, abridged version of the original SPS Agreement Module, called the SPS Agreement Module, 2nd Edition (2022). Instead of 4 hours contact time, the new version has been slimmed down to 1.5 hours contact time. Despite the release of a newer version of this module, learners may still take the original version of the SPS Agreement Module if that is their preference.

  • Pest Risk Assessment

    Welcome to Pest Risk Assessment, after completing the course you will be able to do the following:

    1. Identify the fundamental components of Pest Risk Assessment.
    2. Explain how the results of a pest risk assessment are used in pest risk management.
    3. Describe the types of information included in a PRA, where to obtain this information, and how to ensure the information included in a PRA is reliable and can withstand scrutiny from international trading partners.

  • Pest Risk Management

    Welcome to Plant Pest Risk Management, after completing the course you will be able to do the following:

    1. Define the terms used in plant pest risk management and list the most important principles.
    2. Describe the basic framework for managing plant pest risks and how pest risk management relates to other parts of pest risk analysis (risk assessment, uncertainty, and risk communication).
    3. Recognize the obligations a country has within an international framework of plant pest risk management.
    4. Identify the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) that provide guidance in selecting appropriate options for managing plant pest risks.
    5. Describe the most common plant pest risk management options and strategies.
    6. Recognize the ongoing nature of monitoring risk management practices.

  • Pest Risk Analysis

    Welcome to Pest Risk Analysis, after completing the course you will be able to do the following:

    1. List the major components of a risk analysis and describe it's relationship and applications to the SPS Agreement.
    2. Describe the role of uncertainty in Pest Risk Analysis.
    3. Define terminology specific to Pest Risk Analysis.
    4. Explain different situations (pathway, organism and commodity) that require context specific Pest Risk Analysis approaches.

  • Phytosanitary Certification

    After completing the Phytosanitary Certification course you will be able to do the following:

    1. Describe what a certification system is, and who has the legal authority to operate the program.
    2. Explain the certification system steps and process for issuing phytosanitary certificates for both export and re-export.
    3. Discuss future developments in phytosanitary certification.
    4. Explain the importance for reliable record keeping.

  • Pest Risk Communication

    Welcome to Pest Risk Communication, after completing the module you will be able to do the following:

    1. Understand the basic concepts, definitions, and framework used in risk communication. You will also understand how risk communication relates to the other components of risk analysis (risk assessment, risk management, and uncertainty).
    2. Discuss how people perceive and construct risk based on the factors that influence how people understand, react, and respond to risk.
    3. Identify three types of risk communication campaigns, along with methods and tools for communicating risk.
    4. List constraints to effective risk communication for various plant protection stakeholders.
    5. Apply risk communication principles to a fictional, real-world scenario.

  • Pest Free Concepts

    Welcome to Pest Free Concepts, after completing the module you will be able to do the following:

    1. Define a PFA.
    2. List the advantages for creating and maintaining a PFA.
    3. Describe factors that influence creation and maintenance of a PFA.
    4. Identify different applications of PFA for different scenarios.

  • Market Access Process

    Welcome to Market Access Process. By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:

    1. Explain why World Trade Organization members are allowed to develop and implement their own system of sanitary and phytosanitary policies and restrictions consistent with each member’s WTO commitments.
    2. Describe how U.S. statutes and regulations work to prevent the importation of animal and plant pests and diseases into the United States.
    3. Explain the importance of expert judgment when developing regulations.
    4. Describe the basic requirements of the statute governing U.S. rulemaking and locate approved sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and policies on the Internet.
    5. List the steps of the U.S. regulatory process for market access requests and explain how they might affect a country’s market access request.
    6. Describe factors other than sanitary and phytosanitary risks that are considered during the U.S. regulatory process and explain why considering these factors is important to successful completion of the process.
    7. Describe the three most common reasons for updating existing market access requirements and the methods to make these updates.

  • Phytosanitary Treatments for Agriculture Commodities

    Welcome to Phytosanitary Treatments for Agriculture Commodities. By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
    1. Define what phytosanitary treatments are.
    2. Explain why phytosanitary treatments are necessary for agricultural commodities.
    3. List the basic steps for planning a treatment.
    4. Identify and explain the use of different types of phytosanitary treatments.

  • The IPPC and the Standard Setting Process

    Welcome to The IPPC and the Standard Setting Process. After completing the course you will be able to do the following:

    1. Discuss the history and role of the IPPC within the larger framework of global trade organizations.
    2. Define what an ISPM is and describe their role in phytosanitary regulations.
    3. Describe the general process for creating and using ISPMs.

  • SPS Course Review

    Welcome to the SPS Course Review. This module reviews the most important concepts encountered throughout the SPS curriculum.