taking the l&o test monday morning

[bug-guy]

i'm sitting in a hotel in central florida, reviewing some material.
test starts at 7:45 am.

i remember when i took my termite test they had pictures you could look at in the front of the room, if you wanted a better view. this guy goes up and looks at some and comes back and all his test paperwork is gone! a little commotion insuses and long story short some other guy got up and set back in the wrong spot when he realized he grabed all the paperwork and went to his seat. they finally worked it out but the poor guy was all shook up and lost some time to complete. i ran into some time later and he failed by 1 pt.

does any one have any stories from their exam experiences?

[Ric]

i'm sitting in a hotel in central florida, reviewing some material.
test starts at 7:45 am.

i remember when i took my termite test they had pictures you could look at in the front of the room, if you wanted a better view. this guy goes up and looks at some and comes back and all his test paperwork is gone! a little commotion insuses and long story short some other guy got up and set back in the wrong spot when he realized he grabed all the paperwork and went to his seat. they finally worked it out but the poor guy was all shook up and lost some time to complete. i ran into some time later and he failed by 1 pt.

does any one have any stories from their exam experiences?

Bug Guy

My go to Guy took the test many years ago without studying. He Aced the L&O part but missed the the Law Part by one point also. That was when There were two separate scores. Today the tests are put together with one score. My go to Guy never retested.

It is Interesting talking with other people before taking the test. It blows your mind on how many of them are testing for the 4th or 5th time. I was over prepared for the L&O and was driving home by 8:50 that morning knowing I had aced both sections. However GHP and Termite were a different story.

Good Luck. By the time you read this you will be starting the long sweat waiting for your results. I second guessed myself a 100 times waiting for my results.

[A.T.A.K]

Funny Ric GHP Termite and Fume were the easy ones for me. L&O was not that bad but second guessed all the way till i got my letter still made a 90 and 93 on it. I wish when I took mine there was only 1 score. Good luck Bug-guy let us know how you did.

[bug-guy]

thanks ric and a.t.a.k. now 2 weeks to wait. i believe i did ok but.... we will have to wait and see.

i watched two people arguing with Terry(writes the test) today during the test.
one guy say's he's been doing this for 20 yrs. and terry tells him then just read the label and answer the question.
i think a lady was pissed because she felt there was trick questions. i think she left real early

[A.T.A.K]

When I took my exams they were all trick questions. Thank god Dr. Sing no longer writes the exams.

[Ric]

When I took my exams they were all trick questions. Thank god Dr. Sing no longer writes the exams.

Tim

I might be mistaken but I believe he spells it Dr. Sung but pronounces it Dr. Sing.

Dr Sung's English is worse than mine and for that reason alone the questions were tricky. As for the 20 year guy, that sounds like shades of a popular member here that posts much misinformation and claims to be an expert.

Buy Guy

Was there not a question about Moonlighting on the test?? BTW I have heard there is a much higher pass rate now that Dr. Sung no longer writes the test. In any case what is on the test and done everyday are two different things.

If you get yourv results back in two weeks I will be surprised. It always took me a month. but good luck any way.

[bug-guy]

no moonlighting questions
i believe i was told that they have a set number of questions say 500 and they pick 200 from, if there are questions that are constantly answered correct by everyone they remove it and add another.
i also understand that this a state test and some grass types and insects are on it that i have very little experience (in my area) with so i found it kind of fun to learn some new stuff.

[bug-guy]

here's another test tale... the test results take 2 wks(not this friday but next). they always tell you do not call untill then. i know a guy who took ghp a few months ago. 2 wks go bye and no letter... 3 wks he's real anxious... finally calls talahasse and they take his name, match it up with number of the test package. open the package and they found they never pulled his test answer sheet to be graded... he passed

[JConner]

what does it take to take these test. I am currently working for a pest company now and i would like to get certified. thanks for any help .

[bug-guy]

482.132 Qualifications for examination and certification.--

(1) The department may award a pest control operator's certificate to an individual who has passed the examinations prescribed by the department and who submits to the department proof that she or he is not under the disability of minority and is qualified to be a certified operator with regard to the safety of persons and property, and is otherwise qualified under the provisions of this chapter and the rules made pursuant to this chapter.

(2) Each applicant for examination for a pest control operator's certificate must possess the minimum qualifications specified in one of the following paragraphs:

(a) Three years' employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in the category or categories in which the applicant seeks certification, 1 year of which employment must have been completed in this state during the year immediately preceding application for examination.

(b) A degree with advanced training or a major in entomology, botany, agronomy, or horticulture from a recognized college or university, which training or major included the completion of at least 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of college credits in those subjects, plus 1 year's employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in the category or categories in which the applicant seeks certification or the successful completion of a 1-year entomology program at a public university in this state which specializes in urban pest management and includes practical pest management experience. If such advanced training or major is in entomology, the applicant is qualified for examination in all categories; but if such advanced training or major is in botany, agronomy, or horticulture, the applicant is qualified for examination only in the category of lawn and ornamental pest control.

(c) A 2-year degree in horticultural technology or the equivalent from a college or university, with advanced training of 20 or more semester hours or 30 or more quarter hours of credit in horticulture, plus 1 year's employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control only in the category of lawn and ornamental pest control. Such an applicant is qualified for examination only in the category of lawn and ornamental pest control.

(d) A 2-year degree in general pest control technology or the equivalent from a college or university, with advanced training of 20 or more semester hours or 30 or more quarter hours of credit in entomology, plus 1 year of employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in any category or categories. Such an applicant is qualified for all examinations.

(e) Twenty-four semester hours or 36 quarter hours of courses in entomology, pest control technology, and related subjects, plus 1 year of employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in the category of general household pest, termite, and fumigation. Such an applicant is qualified only for examination in the categories of general household pest control, termite and other wood-destroying organisms pest control, and fumigation.

(f) Twenty-four semester hours or 36 quarter hours of courses in entomology, pest control technology, agronomy, botany, horticulture, and related subjects, plus 1 year of employment as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in the category of lawn and ornamental pest control. Such an applicant is qualified only for examination in the category of lawn and ornamental pest control.

(g) Three years' full-time employment as a service employee of the United States Department of Defense, who has been certified to perform pest control in the category or categories in which the applicant seeks certification, 1 year of which employment must have been completed in this state during the year immediately preceding application for examination. Additionally, the application for certification must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services within 12 months after the date of termination of employment from the Department of Defense.

(3) In addition, each applicant must have knowledge of practical and scientific facts of pest control and be a graduate of an accredited high school or submit to the department satisfactory evidence of equivalent education.

History.--s. 1, ch. 59-454; s. 1, ch. 63-48; ss. 1, 2, ch. 65-295; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-116; ss. 378, 379, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 8, ch. 78-292; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 14, 15, ch. 82-229; s. 2, ch. 85-335; s. 9, ch. 89-180; ss. 36, 59, ch. 92-203; s. 4, ch. 94-194; s. 431, ch. 97-103; s. 12, ch. 2000-308; s. 5, ch. 2001-280.

[Ric]

what does it take to take these test. I am currently working for a pest company now and i would like to get certified. thanks for any help .

JConner

If you qualify to sit for the test, Contact Doug Palmer of Sebring Fla. for his excellent pre-test course. His students have a very high pass rate. Doug is a retire College professor and does an excellent job of not only preparing you for the test but giving you some real world education. BTW what you do everyday on the job and what is on the test are TWO Different things. This is true of most certification tests in all professions.


Bug Guy

I am real surprised about no Moonlighting Question. Any week end I see several unmarked trailer mounted spray rigs moonlighting around town. Many of these are LCO without Licenses, But several are CPO or Spray techs moonlighting. The Ag inspector only works Monday to Friday so these guys are safe until someone complains.

[coiclawn]

Bug - Guy If you took the test monday you should call tallahassee friday and they will give you your score. I took the l&o, ghp and wdo tests all in the past two years and have always gotten the results by the end of the week.

If anyone else is taking the tests in the near future I strongly reccomend taking Bob Kessler's course, it's much more informative and unlike Palmer Bob was actually in the business.

[Ric]

Bug - Guy If you took the test monday you should call tallahassee friday and they will give you your score. I took the l&o, ghp and wdo tests all in the past two years and have always gotten the results by the end of the week.

If anyone else is taking the tests in the near future I strongly reccomend taking Bob Kessler's course, it's much more informative and unlike Palmer Bob was actually in the business.

coiclawn

I have taken both Palmer's and Kessler's pre-test course. IMHO Palmer's course is much better. Palmer you learn what to study. Kessler just tells you the answers that may be on the test. Palmer holds two 2 day classes two weeks apart. Kessler only has a one day class. My money is on Palmer.

[bug-guy]

ric
i could not agree more with you about doug's courses. i have taken all three and will remember some of his lessons for ever. and i have over 20 yrs in the business. what is the law and what is on the test (correct answers) and practical knowledge are not always equal

[Ric]

ric
i could not agree more with you about doug's courses. i have taken all three and will remember some of his lessons for ever. and i have over 20 yrs in the business. what is the law and what is on the test (correct answers) and practical knowledge are not always equal


bug-guy

Palmer was a professor of Entomology at a Florida State College for years before retiring. He has given this course for years and knows everything on the test. After the test he buys lunch or dinner for all of his students to discuss if he covered all the questions. This fed back has fine tuned his ability to help you pass the certification tests. But as I said before he teaches you what to study unlike Kessler who just gives you possible questions that are on the test.

I guess it would only be fair to say, I am not a fan of Kessler. IMHO I would not do business of any forum with him. One thing Kessler did was to copy & paste off the U of F website and then sell the information in book form. Since U of F is a land grant university, this is not totally illegal. Land grant schools are designed to educate the unwashed masses and they don't care how their information reaches the public.

[bug-guy]

i have had lunch 3x with doug. the last time he wanted me to write a letter for to use as a reference... you would do a better job than me

[Ric]

i have had lunch 3x with doug. the last time he wanted me to write a letter for to use as a reference... you would do a better job than me

bug guy

Dr Doug Palmer PhD. doesn't need any references, Doug is well known and respected by all through out the industry. Just ask any old timer.

[bug-guy]

passed! just got the word today

[Greg Amann]

Congrats!

It is a tough one.

[bug-guy]

i got the same score on all the categories