Cereal Official Retest Course - Part I & II 2027

Cereal official retest crop inspectors training courses and APHA examinations 2027

The training course for returning Cereal Official Seed Crop Inspectors will be held in two parts, Part I online on 10th February 2027 and Part II will be held in our demonstration plots on 15th June 2027.

Intensive training is provided by experts in Cereal variety identification, aided by demonstrators who are experienced Official Crop Inspectors. The course is designed to provide the appropriate refresher training for candidates sitting the Part I examination for an APHA Cereal Crop Inspector’s Licence, Category 'A' which is held at the end of the training. To retain a full licence, candidates must pass the Part II examination in the same calendar year as the Part I. In 2027, candidates can attend the Part II exam on 15th June 2027. Further training will be available in the morning before the examination.

The training course will concentrate on the botany, classification and identification of cereals, and will also cover the theory and practice of crop inspection. 
Candidates should note paragraph 5 of the Crop Inspectors Licence. This states that a crop inspector may charge a reasonable fee for making an inspection but otherwise shall not derive any private gain in carrying out his/her functions.

Features of the retest course include:

  • Detailed instructions of crop inspection techniques
  • Comprehensive literature
  • Identification of major cereal species

It is a requirement under the Seeds Marketing Regulations 2011 that a person applying for a crop inspector’s licence has “completed an appropriate training course relating to the inspection of seed crops of that species and category”. Cancellations made after the closing date will still be charged for. Please enquire about substituting candidates if required.

Book now

Failure to attend the course may mean your licence will be revoked. 

Applications will not be accepted after 20/01/27. 

If you have any queries, please contact: [email protected]

Note:  
Your contact details will be included in APHA’s online register of Crop Inspectors unless you indicate otherwise. You should inform the Seeds team, APHA 1st Floor, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8DR. Email: [email protected] if you do not want your details released.