CA Structural Pest Control Board Branch 3 Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Termite Control Q&A | Pest Control
1. According to California Business and Professions Code Section 8560, what
is the correct definition of the Branch 3 (Termite) license?
A) The practice relating to the control of household pests, excluding
fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
B) The practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests or organisms
by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections, excluding
fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
C) The practice relating to the control of household and wood-destroying
pests or organisms by fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
D) The practice relating to the control of structural pests in agricultural
settings only
Correct Answer: The practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests
or organisms by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections,
excluding fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
Rationale: Business and Professions Code Section 8560(b)(3) defines Branch
3 as the practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests or
organisms by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections,
excluding fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases. Branch 2 covers
household pests, and Branch 1 covers fumigation.
2. A candidate for a Branch 3 Field Representative license must complete a
minimum of how many total hours of training and experience?
A) 40 hours
B) 80 hours
C) 100 hours
D) 200 hours
,Correct Answer: 100 hours
Rationale: California Code of Regulations Section 1937(c) requires a
minimum of 100 hours of training and experience for Branch 3, with 80 hours
being actual field work. Branch 2 requires 40 hours, which is a key distinction
between the branches.
3. A Branch 3 Field Representative completes their initial 100 hours of
training and experience. How many of those hours must be actual field work?
A) 20 hours
B) 40 hours
C) 80 hours
D) 100 hours
Correct Answer: 80 hours
Rationale: California Code of Regulations Section 1937(c) requires that for
Branch 3, 80 of the 100 required hours must be actual field work. This higher
field work requirement reflects the technical nature of wood-destroying
organism inspections.
4. What is the minimum passing score required for the Branch 3 Field
Representative examination?
A) 60%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
Correct Answer: 70%
,Rationale: Business and Professions Code Section 8560(g) requires applicants
to make a general average of not less than 70% on each of the subjects of
the branch or branches. This applies to both Field Representative and
Operator examinations.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic that distinguishes termite
swarmers from ant swarmers?
A) Termites have four equal-sized wings
B) Termites have a pinched waist
C) Ants have elbowed antennae
D) Ants have straight, bead-like antennae
Correct Answer: Ants have elbowed antennae
Rationale: Ants possess elbowed antennae and a constricted waist, whereas
termite swarmers have straight, bead-like antennae and a broad waist. This
is a fundamental identification skill tested on the Branch 3 exam.
6. Subterranean termites build shelter tubes primarily for what purpose?
A) To store food reserves for the colony
B) To protect themselves from predators and maintain moisture
C) To signal the location of the colony to other termites
D) To deposit frass away from the nest
Correct Answer: To protect themselves from predators and maintain moisture
Rationale: Subterranean termites build shelter tubes to shield themselves
from dry air and enemies while they travel between the soil and wood
, sources. These tubes are a key indicator of subterranean termite activity
during inspections.
7. Drywood termite pellets (frass) are best described as:
A) Smooth, oval, shiny grains
B) Fine, talc-like powder
C) Hard, six-sided pellets with concave surfaces
D) Coarse, fibrous shreds
Correct Answer: Hard, six-sided pellets with concave surfaces
Rationale: Drywood termites push hexagonal fecal pellets out of kick-out
holes; the pellets are hard, six-sided, and have concave surfaces. This
distinct frass is a key sign of drywood termite infestation.
8. According to the Structural Pest Control Act, the practice of structural pest
control includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Identification of infestations or infections
B) Making inspections for the purpose of identifying infestations
C) Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
D) Making structural repairs or replacements
Correct Answer: Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
Rationale: Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases is exclusively within the
scope of Branch 1 and is specifically excluded from Branch 3 practice. The
other activities are all part of Branch 3 practice.
Termite Control Q&A | Pest Control
1. According to California Business and Professions Code Section 8560, what
is the correct definition of the Branch 3 (Termite) license?
A) The practice relating to the control of household pests, excluding
fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
B) The practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests or organisms
by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections, excluding
fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
C) The practice relating to the control of household and wood-destroying
pests or organisms by fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
D) The practice relating to the control of structural pests in agricultural
settings only
Correct Answer: The practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests
or organisms by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections,
excluding fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
Rationale: Business and Professions Code Section 8560(b)(3) defines Branch
3 as the practice relating to the control of wood-destroying pests or
organisms by the use of insecticides, or structural repairs and corrections,
excluding fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases. Branch 2 covers
household pests, and Branch 1 covers fumigation.
2. A candidate for a Branch 3 Field Representative license must complete a
minimum of how many total hours of training and experience?
A) 40 hours
B) 80 hours
C) 100 hours
D) 200 hours
,Correct Answer: 100 hours
Rationale: California Code of Regulations Section 1937(c) requires a
minimum of 100 hours of training and experience for Branch 3, with 80 hours
being actual field work. Branch 2 requires 40 hours, which is a key distinction
between the branches.
3. A Branch 3 Field Representative completes their initial 100 hours of
training and experience. How many of those hours must be actual field work?
A) 20 hours
B) 40 hours
C) 80 hours
D) 100 hours
Correct Answer: 80 hours
Rationale: California Code of Regulations Section 1937(c) requires that for
Branch 3, 80 of the 100 required hours must be actual field work. This higher
field work requirement reflects the technical nature of wood-destroying
organism inspections.
4. What is the minimum passing score required for the Branch 3 Field
Representative examination?
A) 60%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
Correct Answer: 70%
,Rationale: Business and Professions Code Section 8560(g) requires applicants
to make a general average of not less than 70% on each of the subjects of
the branch or branches. This applies to both Field Representative and
Operator examinations.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic that distinguishes termite
swarmers from ant swarmers?
A) Termites have four equal-sized wings
B) Termites have a pinched waist
C) Ants have elbowed antennae
D) Ants have straight, bead-like antennae
Correct Answer: Ants have elbowed antennae
Rationale: Ants possess elbowed antennae and a constricted waist, whereas
termite swarmers have straight, bead-like antennae and a broad waist. This
is a fundamental identification skill tested on the Branch 3 exam.
6. Subterranean termites build shelter tubes primarily for what purpose?
A) To store food reserves for the colony
B) To protect themselves from predators and maintain moisture
C) To signal the location of the colony to other termites
D) To deposit frass away from the nest
Correct Answer: To protect themselves from predators and maintain moisture
Rationale: Subterranean termites build shelter tubes to shield themselves
from dry air and enemies while they travel between the soil and wood
, sources. These tubes are a key indicator of subterranean termite activity
during inspections.
7. Drywood termite pellets (frass) are best described as:
A) Smooth, oval, shiny grains
B) Fine, talc-like powder
C) Hard, six-sided pellets with concave surfaces
D) Coarse, fibrous shreds
Correct Answer: Hard, six-sided pellets with concave surfaces
Rationale: Drywood termites push hexagonal fecal pellets out of kick-out
holes; the pellets are hard, six-sided, and have concave surfaces. This
distinct frass is a key sign of drywood termite infestation.
8. According to the Structural Pest Control Act, the practice of structural pest
control includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Identification of infestations or infections
B) Making inspections for the purpose of identifying infestations
C) Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
D) Making structural repairs or replacements
Correct Answer: Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases
Rationale: Fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases is exclusively within the
scope of Branch 1 and is specifically excluded from Branch 3 practice. The
other activities are all part of Branch 3 practice.
