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California Branch 3 WDO Cheat Sheet

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Inspection

  • 33% of exam
  • Termite ID Fungus ID Conducive Conditions Section 1 vs 2 License Levels

Reporting & Recordkeeping

  • 15% of exam
  • Report Types Filing Deadlines Required Contents Second Opinion Notice

Planning

  • 17% of exam
  • Pesticide Notice Treatment Goals Notice To Owner Utility Locating

Treatment

  • 16% of exam
  • Label Law Signal Words PPE Rules Soil Treatment Bait Stations

Repairs & Corrective Measures

  • 19% of exam
  • Structural Repair Moisture Fixes Building Code Debris 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 IN

  • Tubes=Sub | Pellets=Dry | Moisture=Damp
  • Mud tubes: subterranean Pellets: drywood termites High moisture: dampwood termites Cracking: decay fungus

FR vs Operator Weights IN

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 IN

  • 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 IN

  • 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 IN

  • RA -> FR -> Operator
  • RA: apply pesticide only FR: inspect and sign Operator: owns the company

Section 1 vs Section 2 IN

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 IN

  • 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 IN

  • FR: 33-15-17-16-19 in that order
  • Inspection 33% Reporting 15% Planning 17% Treatment 16% Repairs 19%

Branch 1 vs Branch 3 IN

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 IN

  • 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 IN

Field Representative

  • Inspect and identify
  • Sign reports/contracts
  • Cannot be qualifying manager

Operator

  • All FR privileges
  • May register own company
  • Serves as Qualifying Manager
  • Practice license vs business license

License Levels IN

  • Applicator Applies pesticide for a company
  • Field Representative Inspects, signs reports and contracts
  • Operator Can be Qualifying Manager
  • Operator Experience 4 years total; 2 as FR

Report Clock RE

  • File=10 days | Deliver=10 days
  • Address to Board: 10 days Report to owner: 10 days Retention: 3 years Reinspect done: 10 days

Complete vs Limited Report RE

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 RE

  • 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 RE

  • 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 RE

  • 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 RE

  • 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 PL

  • 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 PL

  • 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 TR

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 TR

  • 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 TR

  • 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 TR

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 RE

  • Pest wood: replace | Fungus wood: dry first
  • Pest damage: no moisture rule Fungus damage: under 20% moisture Fix moisture source first

Repair Method Picker RE

  • 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 RE

  • 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

California Structural Pest Control — Branch 3 Wood-Destroying Organisms

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