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100+ Free CA Branch 1 Practice Questions

Pass your California Structural Pest Control Board Branch 1 (Fumigation) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CA Branch 1 Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

~75

Exam Questions

CA SPCB / PSI

70%

Passing Score

CA SPCB

$75

Exam Fee

CA SPCB

1 ppm

Reoccupancy Clearance

Vikane label

Branch 1

Fumigation Category

CA SPCB

California Structural Pest Control Board Branch 1 is the fumigation license category covering control of household and wood-destroying pests with poisonous or lethal gases. The computer-based examination is delivered by PSI with about 75 multiple-choice questions and requires 70% to pass; the SPCB examination fee is $75. Branch 1 is distinct from Branch 2 (general pest) and Branch 3 (wood-destroying organisms) and from the Department of Pesticide Regulation's agricultural applicator program. Content centers on sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) properties and safety (5 ppm worker exposure limit, SCBA above 100 ppm, ~1 ppm reoccupancy clearance), Fumiguide dosage and the CT product, tarping and sealing, monitoring and aeration, the chloropicrin warning agent, warning-sign posting, and the California Structural Pest Control Act. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample CA Branch 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CA Branch 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which fumigant is the primary structural fumigant used by California Branch 1 licensees to control drywood termites?
A.Methyl bromide
B.Sulfuryl fluoride
C.Chloropicrin
D.Phosphine
Explanation: Sulfuryl fluoride (sold as Vikane and ProFume) is the standard structural fumigant for drywood termites and other wood-destroying pests in California. Methyl bromide was largely phased out as an ozone-depleting substance, leaving sulfuryl fluoride as the dominant Branch 1 fumigant.
2Sulfuryl fluoride gas has which physical property that makes a warning agent essential?
A.It is bright yellow and visible
B.It is colorless and odorless
C.It has a strong rotten-egg smell
D.It is heavier than mercury vapor
Explanation: Sulfuryl fluoride is a colorless, odorless gas, so occupants cannot detect a leak by sight or smell. Because of this, a warning agent (chloropicrin) with a sharp, irritating odor must be released so people are alerted to the presence of fumigant.
3What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) / ACGIH TLV-TWA for sulfuryl fluoride that fumigators must respect for worker exposure?
A.1 ppm
B.5 ppm
C.50 ppm
D.100 ppm
Explanation: The 8-hour time-weighted average exposure limit (OSHA PEL and ACGIH TLV) for sulfuryl fluoride is 5 ppm. Workers must keep airborne concentrations at or below this level without respiratory protection, which is why concentrations are monitored throughout the operation.
4Above what airborne sulfuryl fluoride concentration does the Vikane label require the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or supplied-air respirator?
A.5 ppm
B.25 ppm
C.100 ppm
D.962 ppm
Explanation: When sulfuryl fluoride concentrations exceed 100 ppm, an air-purifying cartridge respirator is no longer adequate and a NIOSH-approved SCBA or supplied-air respirator must be worn. Cartridge respirators do not reliably protect against sulfuryl fluoride at high concentrations.
5Air-purifying cartridge respirators provide which level of protection against sulfuryl fluoride?
A.Complete protection at any concentration
B.No protection because there is no approved cartridge for sulfuryl fluoride at high levels
C.Protection only against the warning agent
D.Protection that increases with concentration
Explanation: There is no air-purifying cartridge that reliably removes sulfuryl fluoride at high concentrations, so cartridge respirators cannot be relied upon for protection inside a charged fumigation. At elevated concentrations only SCBA or supplied air protects the worker, which is why fumigators leave the structure once gas is introduced.
6How does sulfuryl fluoride kill target pests such as drywood termites?
A.By suffocating them with carbon dioxide
B.By disrupting energy metabolism through release of fluoride, blocking cellular energy production
C.By dehydrating their exoskeleton
D.By a contact insecticide residue left on wood
Explanation: Sulfuryl fluoride acts as a metabolic poison: it releases fluoride in the insect's body, interfering with the glycolysis and Krebs-cycle enzymes so cells can no longer produce energy. It works as a gas that penetrates wood, not as a surface residue.
7Because sulfuryl fluoride leaves essentially no residual on treated wood, what is an important limitation a Branch 1 licensee should explain to a customer?
A.The treatment sterilizes the soil for years
B.Fumigation does not prevent future re-infestation by new pests
C.The gas will keep killing insects for months
D.No follow-up inspection is ever needed
Explanation: A fumigation kills the pests present at the time of treatment but leaves no lasting residue, so it provides no protection against a new infestation later. Customers should understand that fumigation is a corrective, not a preventive, treatment and that future inspections may be warranted.
8What is the approximate dosage concentration produced by 4 oz of sulfuryl fluoride per 1,000 cubic feet, a typical drywood-termite rate?
A.96 ppm
B.962 ppm
C.5 ppm
D.9,620 ppm
Explanation: Four ounces of sulfuryl fluoride per 1,000 cubic feet produces roughly 962 ppm, a common dosage range for drywood termites. The precise dosage (oz per 1,000 ft3) is determined with the Fumiguide using temperature, exposure time, and required CT product for the target pest.
9Sulfuryl fluoride gas is heavier than air. What practical fumigation consequence does this have?
A.It rises and concentrates at the roof peak
B.It tends to settle and must be circulated with fans to distribute it evenly
C.It floats away and cannot fill a structure
D.It is unaffected by air movement
Explanation: Because sulfuryl fluoride is denser than air, it tends to settle toward lower levels of a structure. Fumigators use circulating fans during introduction to mix the gas and achieve a uniform concentration throughout the tented space so every void reaches lethal dosage.
10Which historical structural fumigant was phased out largely because it is an ozone-depleting substance regulated under the Montreal Protocol?
A.Sulfuryl fluoride
B.Methyl bromide
C.Chloropicrin
D.Carbon dioxide
Explanation: Methyl bromide is a potent ozone-depleting substance and was phased out for most structural uses under the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act. Sulfuryl fluoride, which does not deplete ozone, became the standard replacement structural fumigant.

About the CA Branch 1 Exam

California Branch 1 is the structural pest control license category for controlling household and wood-destroying pests by fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases. The computer-based exam is delivered through PSI with roughly 75 multiple-choice questions and requires 70% to pass. It covers sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) safety, fumigation procedures, tarping and clearance, aeration, the chloropicrin warning agent, and California law.

Assessment

Approximately 75 multiple-choice questions for the Branch 1 Field Representative exam, delivered by computer through PSI, with 70% required to pass; this practice bank is 100 selected-response items

Time Limit

Approximately 2 hours (per PSI candidate handbook)

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$75 examination fee paid to the SPCB (license fees separate) (California Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB); examination delivered by PSI Exams)

CA Branch 1 Exam Content Outline

25%

Fumigants & Lethal-Gas Safety

Sulfuryl fluoride properties and mode of action, methyl bromide phase-out, exposure limits, SCBA above 100 ppm, dosage and CT product, overexposure first aid, and restricted-use handling

18%

Structural Fumigation Procedures

Pre-fumigation search, volume/temperature measurement, Fumiguide dosage, gas introduction and circulation, monitoring lines, exposure period, utility safety, and supervision

17%

Tarping, Sealing & Clearance

Gas-impervious 4-mil tarps, sand-snake seals and seam clamps, secondary locks, securing entries, approved clearance devices, and the ~1 ppm reoccupancy level

15%

Monitoring & Aeration

Half-loss-time monitoring, active aeration, the 24-hour minimum below 40 F, breathing-zone clearance testing, device calibration, and the reentry declaration

15%

California SPCB Law & Regulations

Structural Pest Control Act and Title 16 CCR, the branch system, licensing and exam rules, county-commissioner notice, occupant disclosure, and label-is-law

10%

Warning Agents & Posting

Chloropicrin warning agent rate and properties, slower dissipation, warning-sign content, and posting on all entrances and sides until clearance

How to Pass the CA Branch 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: Approximately 75 multiple-choice questions for the Branch 1 Field Representative exam, delivered by computer through PSI, with 70% required to pass; this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
  • Time limit: Approximately 2 hours (per PSI candidate handbook)
  • Exam fee: $75 examination fee paid to the SPCB (license fees separate)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CA Branch 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the three sulfuryl fluoride numbers: 5 ppm worker exposure limit, 100 ppm SCBA trigger, and ~1 ppm reoccupancy clearance
2Know that sulfuryl fluoride is colorless and odorless, so chloropicrin (0.5-1.0 oz/1,000 ft3) must be added as a warning agent
3Understand the dosage equation: dose is concentration x exposure time (CT product), set with the Fumiguide using temperature and half-loss time
4Study the California sequence: search, secure entries with secondary locks, post signs on all sides, expose, aerate, then clearance-test before reentry
5Review the law: SPCB licensing, 70% passing score via PSI, 24-hour notice to the county agricultural commissioner, and the occupant fumigation disclosure
6Complete all 100 practice questions and review every miss with the AI tutor before sitting the exam

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the California Branch 1 fumigation exam and what score do I need?

The Branch 1 Field Representative exam has roughly 75 multiple-choice questions delivered by computer through PSI, and you need 70% to pass. It focuses on lethal-gas fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride.

What does the California Structural Pest Control Board Branch 1 license cover?

Branch 1 covers the control of household and wood-destroying pests or organisms by fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases. It is distinct from Branch 2 (general pest) and Branch 3 (wood-destroying organisms).

Which fumigant and warning agent are central to Branch 1?

Sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane/ProFume) is the primary structural fumigant; because it is colorless and odorless, chloropicrin is added at about 0.5 to 1.0 oz per 1,000 cubic feet as a warning agent so leaks can be detected.

What are the key sulfuryl fluoride safety numbers I should know?

The 8-hour worker exposure limit (PEL/TLV) is 5 ppm, SCBA is required above 100 ppm, and the conservative reoccupancy clearance level is about 1 ppm measured with an approved device such as an Interscan or Spectros analyzer.

Who administers the Branch 1 exam and what does it cost?

The SPCB approves applicants and PSI Exams delivers the computer-based examination. The SPCB examination fee is $75; license and renewal fees are separate.

Is this free Branch 1 practice as good as paid prep?

Our 100 practice questions cover the same fumigation safety, procedure, clearance, law, and warning-agent content as the official Branch 1 material, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor interactions. All content is free forever and updated for 2026.