Study Material and Scope of Examination for Applicator License Branches 2 and 3

The following outlines the scope of the applicator licensing examination, and provides a list of reference material sources available to pest control operators to use in training employees to take the examination to become licensed as a pesticide applicator.

PEST LOCATION

• Typical harborage areas for structural pests in different life cycle stages
• Structural deficiencies and construction practices that invite pest entry and harborage

PREAPPLICATION ASSESSMENT

• Common signs of wood-pest infestations and infections
• Methods to minimize pesticide exposure to non-target pests and organisms
• Effects of pesticides on surfaces
• Factors that influence or enhance pesticide effectiveness
• State laws pertaining to worker safety in pest control operations
• State laws pertaining to handling and storage of pesticides
• Contents of wood-destroying pests and organisms inspection report
• Procedures to notify consumers and persons in adjacent areas about planned pesticide application
• First-aid techniques to treat injuries resulting from pesticide exposure
• Methods to handle pesticide explosions and fires
• Different types of emergencies resulting from misapplication of pesticides
• Contents of major sections of pesticide labels
• Types of property damage that could result from pesticide application
• Laws pertaining to storage of pesticides during transport
• Different types of foundations associated with different types of structures
• Chemical control measures for non-termite wood pest infestations
• Laws regarding use of personal protective equipment
• Techniques to prevent pesticide accidents during application
• Techniques to mix volumes of pesticides
• Methods for preventing pesticide spills
• Procedures for cleaning and maintaining personal protective equipment

TREATMENT METHOD DETERMINATION

• Chemical families of pesticides used for structural pest control
• Level of toxicity to humans of chemical families used for structural pest control
• Occupant conditions (e.g., age, health) with potential for increased risk of sensitivity to pesticides
• Residues associated with different pesticide formulations on different surfaces
• Effects of temperature, rate of dilution, and ventilation on pesticide odor
• Mode of action on pests of chemicals used for structural pest control
• Pesticide formulations suitable for different surfaces and different pests
• Procedures for determining rate of application and pesticide dilution ratio

SITE PREPARATION AND TREATMENT APPLICATION

• Manufacturer's label restrictions on treatment application
• Equipment for applying liquid pesticides
• Methods to repair, maintain, and clean liquid application equipment
• Methods to repair, maintain, and clean dry chemical application equipment
• Techniques to confine pesticide applications to treatment areas
• Methods to clean up and contain pesticide leaks and spills
• Prescribed methods for safe disposal of used pesticides and pesticide containers
• Laws related to reporting pesticide spills and leaks
• Factors that influence compatibility of pesticides combined at time of application
• Label contents prescribed by state and federal agencies
• Requirements for area preparation for different treatment applications
• Types of, and procedures for, use of personal protective equipment
• Application of pesticide label information to select pesticides for spot treatment
• Types of, and procedures for, use of pesticide application equipment

SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING PESTICIDES AND MATERIALS

• Procedures for containing spilled liquid pesticides
• Symptoms of oral, dermal, and respiratory overexposure to applied pesticides and materials
• Procedures for disposal of absorbent material used to soak up pesticide spills
• Procedures for containing and removing spilled dry materials
• Procedures for disposal of used pesticide containers
• Laws and regulations related to storage, disposal, and transportation of pesticides
• Procedures for cleaning and maintenance of application and personal protective equipment
• Procedures for preventing malfunction of application and personal protective equipment
• Reference sources for first-aid procedures for overexposure of pesticides to humans or animals
• Application of safety precautions on pesticide labels to prevent overexposure of pesticides to self and others
• Laws and regulations related to consumer notification of pesticide application

STUDY REFERENCES

• The Handbook of Pest Control, 8th Edition, available from: GIE Media, 800/456-0707
• Residential, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control, available from: ANR Publications, 800/994-8849
• The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides, available from: ANR Publications, 800/994-8849
• Business and Professions Code, Division 3, Chapter 14, Structural Pest Control Act or www.pestboard.ca.gov
• California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Division 6, and Title 16, Division 19, same as above
• Department of Pesticide Regulation's Pesticide Safety Information Series N, www.cdpr.ca.gov