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Educational Materials: Pesticide Safety

Maintenance Gardener Pest Control Exam Preparation Help Page

UC IPM has developed tools to help prepare for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Pesticide Applicators exam in the Maintenance Gardener category (Q).  The category Q certificate authorizes you to use pesticides or supervise the use of pesticides in your work as a maintenance gardener.

Maintenance gardeners use pesticides only incidentally as a minor part of their landscape maintenance businesses. If pesticide application is a major part of your job you will need the Landscape Maintenance Pest Control (category B) certificate or license.

What do you need to know to pass the exam?

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has developed a list of Knowledge Expectations (KEs) that describe the information you must know to pass the exam:

• Knowledge expectations: English (PDF), Spanish (PDF).

You'll also find them in the study guide and workbook described below.

Prepare for the exam (en español)

1. Study guide. Read each chapter of the official study guide for category Q, which contains the information you are required to know to become certified:
   • Order the Lawn and Residential Landcape Pest Control: A Guide for Maintenance Gardeners.
   • Order the Control de plagas para césped y jardines residenciales: Una guía para jardineros de mantenimiento
2. Online training course. After reviewing a chapter in the study guide, watch the presentation for that chapter in the online training course. (Be sure your computer's sound is on to hear the narration.)
   
   • Chapter 0. Introduction, 3 minutes 18 seconds
   • Chapter 1. Pesticide Laws and Regulations,17 minutes 54 seconds
   • Chapter 2. Pests and Problem Diagnosis, 13 minutes 4 seconds
   • Chapter 3. Integrated Pest Management,14 minutes 26 seconds
   • Chapter 4. Pesticides and Their Hazards,18 minutes 14 seconds
   • Chapter 5. Protecting People and the Environment and Handling Emergencies,11 minutes, 59 seconds
   • Chapter 6. Selection and Use of Pesticide Application Equipment,12 minutes 51 seconds
3. Workbook. Complete the exercises and practice test questions for the chapter in the workbook.
   • Download the workbook (87 pages), English (PDF), Spanish (PDF).

If you get some answers wrong, review the study guide again.

When you have completed the course and completed the exercises and example test questions correctly, you should be ready to take the exam. Check the California Department of Pesticide Regulation web page for more information about certification and licensing.

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