Welcome to Pacific Sierra’s QAL/QAC Exam Prep Study Group!
Why are these tests so darned hard to pass? There are two main reasons people don’t pass their QAL or QAC tests…they either study the wrong material or they don’t study at all. Our study groups address both of those issues. First, we hold you accountable to put in the study time. I’m going to ask you…personally…during each session…how your studying went that week. Second, we’ve got a laser focus on studying the material that DPR recommends you study.
What should I expect from the study groups? We will meet once a week for six weeks. Each session will be 90 minutes. Our sessions generally run from 8 am to 9:30 am.
The group sessions are meant to be interactive. The sessions aren’t lectures. We’ll be going over practice quizzes with a focus on making sure you understand why the correct answer is the correct answer…and why the other answers aren’t correct. Your active participation is a critical part of the process. The more you put in to the sessions…the more you will get out of them.
What exams will be covered during the six weeks? Each of our six-week series will review the material for the QAL and QAC Laws and Regulations test PLUS one additional category exam (either Landscape Maintenance or Right-of-Way).
Generous “Office Hours”: You can always reach me mid-week by cell or email if questions pop up during your study time.
Class Size: The study groups are limited to 10 participants. I keep the groups small so that we can maintain that interactive/discussion vibe.
Registration: $200/person for an Open Class. $1400 for a company or public agency that wants to schedule a series that will include only its own employees.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE
Using ZOOM. You don’t actually need a ZOOM account to join the study sessions. All you need to do to join a session is to click on the link that I will send to you the evening before each of our sessions.
It’s best if each participant logs in on their own device. This generally provides the best audio/visual experience. When logging in, both your camera and your microphone need to be on.
You can log in classroom style too. Another option is for multiple participants that are in the same room to log in to the sessions on the same device (laptop or PC). When using this option, its best to connect your laptop or PC to a larger tv screen and to use an external microphone.
Your camera and microphone need to be on: Because the study sessions are intended to be interactive, its important that the instructor and participants be able to see and hear each other clearly. This means that your camera and microphone should be on for the sessions.
Don’t wait to take the tests. Its best if class participants take their DPR exams within 2 weeks of completing the 6-week course. Since it will take some time to get your testing location, date and time(s) confirmed with DPR, we recommend that you mail in your applications to DPR during the first week of our study group.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Depending on which tests are taken, each class participant will need their own copies of the following study materials. You’ll need to obtain these materials at least one week before the first session. I will be giving you your first homework a week before our first session. We only have six weeks…we need to hit the ground running!
For the Laws and Regs test
The book, The Safe & Effective Use of Pesticides https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3324
The Laws & Regulations Study Guide (free)
https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/license/pubs/laws_regs_study_guide.pdf
For the Landscape Maintenance test (Category B)
Landscape Maintenance Pest Control
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3493
For the Right-of-Way test (Category C)
Forest and Right of Way Pest Control
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3336
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by phone or by email if you have any questions. (916) 718-8962 or joeltrumbo@pacsierraseminars.com .