Inspection
33%of exam
Reporting & Recordkeeping
15%of exam
Planning
17%of exam
Pesticide NoticeTreatment GoalsNotice To OwnerUtility Locating
Treatment
16%of exam
Label LawSignal WordsPPE RulesSoil TreatmentBait Stations
Repairs & Corrective Measures
19%of exam
Structural RepairMoisture FixesBuilding CodeDebris Removal
Quick Facts
- Exam
- Branch 3 (WDO)
- Levels
- Field Rep + Operator
- Items
- 150 questions
- Time
- 2.5 hours
- Pass score
- 70%
- FR exam fee
- $75
- Operator exam fee
- $100
- Provider
- PSI computer-based
- Retake wait
- 30 days
- Board
- SPCB under DCA
Field Evidence
Tubes=Sub | Pellets=Dry | Moisture=Damp
Mud tubes: subterraneanPellets: drywood termitesHigh moisture: dampwood termitesCracking: decay fungus
FR vs Operator Weights
Field Representative
- Inspection 33%
- Reporting 15%
- Planning 17%
- Treatment 16%
- Repairs 19%
Operator
- Inspection 25%
- Planning 20%
- Treatment App. 15%
- Repairs 20%
- Regs/Reporting 20%
Same content, different weights
Section 1 vs 2 Picker
- Visible active infestation found→Section 1 finding(Active evidence or damage)
- Conducive condition, no evidence→Section 2 finding(Likely future risk)
- Area inspector could not reach→Further-inspection item(Neither Section 1 nor 2)
- Roof was not inspected→Boldface roof statement(Recommend licensed roofer)
WDO Identification
- Subterranean Termites
- Need soil; build mud tubes
- Drywood Termites
- No soil; six-sided pellets
- Dampwood Termites
- Need high-moisture decayed wood
- Wood-Decay Fungus
- Moisture-driven; no insect
- Wood-Boring Beetles
- Round exit holes, powdery frass
- Carpenter Ants/Bees
- Tunnel to nest, not feed
License Ladder
RA -> FR -> Operator
RA: apply pesticide onlyFR: inspect and signOperator: owns the company
Section 1 vs Section 2
Section 1
- Visible evidence
- Active infestation
- Resulted damage
Section 2
- No visible evidence
- Conducive condition
- Likely future risk
Evidence now vs risk later
Field Evidence Signs
- Mud Tubes
- Subterranean termite evidence
- Pellet Piles
- Drywood termite evidence
- Cuboidal Cracking
- Decay fungus sign
- Exit Holes + Frass
- Wood-boring beetle sign
- Smooth Galleries
- Carpenter ant or bee sign
- Active Mud Tube
- Clearest subterranean field evidence
FR Weight Order
FR: 33-15-17-16-19 in that order
Inspection 33%Reporting 15%Planning 17%Treatment 16%Repairs 19%
Branch 1 vs Branch 3
Branch 1 (Fumigation)
- Lethal gas method
- Whole-structure job
- Separate license required
Branch 3 (WDO)
- Insecticide or repair
- No fumigation
- Excludes lethal gas
Method decides the branch
Conducive Conditions
- Earth-to-Wood Contact
- Reported even with no pests
- Excessive Cellulose Debris
- Debris large enough to rake
- Faulty Grade Level
- Foundation top at or below grade
- Low Subarea Clearance
- Under 12 inches to ground
- Planters & Loose Stucco
- Moisture source needing correction
FR vs Operator Privileges
Field Representative
- Inspect and identify
- Sign reports/contracts
- Cannot own company
Operator
- All FR privileges
- Owns registered company
- Serves as Qualifying Manager
Practice license vs business license
License Levels
- Registered Applicator
- Applies pesticide, supervised only
- Field Representative
- Inspects, signs reports and contracts
- Operator
- Owns company as Qualifying Manager
- Operator Experience
- 4 years total; 2 as FR
Report Clock
File=10 days | Deliver=10 days
Address to Board: 10 daysReport to owner: 10 daysRetention: 3 yearsReinspect done: 10 days
Complete vs Limited Report
Complete Report
- All visible areas
- Entire structure covered
Limited Report
- Partial area only
- Diagram the area
- Recommend further inspection
Full scope vs partial scope
Report Type Picker
- Inspected entire structure→Complete report
- Inspected only part of it→Limited report(Diagram area; name requester)
- Updating an earlier report→Supplemental report(References original report)
- Rechecking only listed items→Reinspection report(No more than original fee)
- New inspection after 4 months→Treated as original(Not a reinspection)
- Report made for attorney→No board filing needed
Required Report Contents
- Foundation Diagram
- Sketch of structure layout
- Roof Statement
- Inspected or not, boldface
- Inaccessible Areas
- Named specifically, not generic
- Pesticide Info
- Product and active ingredient
- Reinspection Disclosure
- Terms of any warranty
- Second-Opinion Notice
- Boldface right to compare
- Owner & Requester Info
- Names and property address
- Corrective Recommendations
- Repair or treatment advice
Report Types
- Complete Report
- Covers entire structure
- Limited Report
- Covers only part inspected
- Supplemental Report
- Updates an original report
- Reinspection Report
- Rechecks listed items only
Filing & Delivery Deadlines
- Address Filing
- 10 business days to Board
- Report Delivery
- 10 business days to owner
- Report Retention
- 3 years by company
- Reinspection Completion
- 10 business days of request
- CSA Record Retention
- 3 years after cancellation
- CSA Correction Deadline
- 6 months after discovery
Pesticide Notice Rules
- Notice Content
- Pest, product, active ingredient
- Symptom Instruction
- Call poison control in 24 hrs
- Delivery Methods
- Mail, email, post, or hand
- Branch 1 Timing
- 48 hours before fumigation
- Branch 2/3 Timing
- Just prior to application
- Periodic Contract Notice
- Only required at first treatment
Planning Essentials
- Utility Locating
- Gas, water, drain, electric lines
- Notice To Owner
- Mechanics-lien warning before contract
- Treatment Goals
- Method, hazard, and site prep
- Infestation Reaching Inaccessible Area
- Fumigate, treat fully, or treat locally
- Control Agreement Inspection
- Full inspection every 3 years
Monitoring vs Bait Station
Monitoring Device
- No pesticide inside
- Indicates presence only
- Inspection still required
Bait Station
- Contains pesticide
- Treated as control agreement
- Toxicant removed at end
Detect only vs control
Treatment Method Picker
- Tubes connect to ground→Soil treatment(Accessible tubes must be removed)
- Infestation reaches inaccessible area→Enclose and fumigate(All-encompassing method required)
- Accessible local infestation only→Local spot treatment(Disclose limited scope)
- Bait program is ending→Remove toxicant and tubes(Required at contract end)
Treatment & Safety Rules
- Pesticide Label
- Legally binding application limits
- Signal Word Danger
- Most hazardous category
- Signal Word Warning
- Moderate hazard category
- Signal Word Caution
- Lowest hazard categories
- PPE Cleaning
- Inspect and clean daily
- Pesticide Transport
- Vehicle locked, never unattended
- Soil Treatment Trigger
- Tubes touch ground or soil infestation
- Bait Station Tubes
- Removed once treatment ends
Chemical vs Nonchemical Control
Chemical
- Soil termiticide barrier
- Borate wood treatment
- Bait station (has pesticide)
Nonchemical
- Heat treatment
- Electrocution device
- Remove and replace wood
Pesticide vs physical method
Repair Rule
Pest wood: replace | Fungus wood: dry first
Pest damage: no moisture ruleFungus damage: under 20% moistureFix moisture source first
Repair Method Picker
- Pest-weakened structural member→Replace or reinforce(No moisture condition applies)
- Fungus member under 20% moisture→Reinforce in place(Fix the moisture source)
- Surface-only fungus damage→Chemically treat in place(If moisture is corrected)
- Earth-to-wood contact found→Break the contact(Use concrete or treated wood)
Repairs & Corrective Rules
- Pest-Weakened Member
- Replace or reinforce it
- Fungus-Weakened Member
- Under 20% moisture to keep
- Surface-Only Fungus
- Chemical treat, leave in place
- Earth-to-Wood Fix
- Break contact; use concrete
- Vapor Barrier
- Covers exposed subarea soil
- Subarea Ventilation
- Reduces persistent excess moisture
- Building Code Rule
- Repairs follow Title 24 CCR
Common Traps
Monitoring vs Bait Station
Monitoring has no pesticide ≠ Bait station contains pesticide
Report Clock Start Point
Clock starts at inspection start ≠ Not at report completion
Conducive Condition vs Defect
Conducive means likely future risk ≠ Defect means current evidence
Branch 3 vs Branch 1
Branch 3 uses insecticide repair ≠ Branch 1 uses lethal gas
Business Days vs Calendar Days
Deadlines count business days only ≠ Weekends and holidays excluded
Extermination vs Repair
Extermination means killing the pest ≠ Repair is a separate step
FR vs Operator Privilege
FR inspects and signs reports ≠ Operator also owns the company
Last Minute
- 1.150 questions / 2.5 hrs / 70% pass
- 2.FR Inspection 33% vs Operator 25%
- 3.Operator Reporting 20% vs FR 15%
- 4.Branch 3 = insecticide or repair only
- 5.Lethal gas fumigation is Branch 1
- 6.Section 1 = active evidence found
- 7.Section 2 = conducive risk no evidence
- 8.Address + report due 10 business days
- 9.Reports kept 3 years by company
- 10.Retake wait: 30 days both levels
- 11.Fungus repair needs under 20% moisture
- 12.Monitor = no pesticide; bait = pesticide
- 13.FR fee $75; Operator fee $100
- 14.License fee: $45 FR, $150 Operator
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