CPO License in Florida

[tandotech]

Next week I am taking my test to be a CPO for L&0 in Florida, I have been spraying for a year and 6 months under my supervisor and going to my local community college. I have been studying my tail off:hammerhead:, but I still do not know what to expect with the test. My question is am I worrying to much, and if anyone has experience with the test and what was the most difficult part.

[Ric]

Next week I am taking my test to be a CPO for L&0 in Florida, I have been spraying for a year and 6 months under my supervisor and going to my local community college. I have been studying my tail off:hammerhead:, but I still do not know what to expect with the test. My question is am I worrying to much, and if anyone has experience with the test and what was the most difficult part.

Tandotech

Say hello to Dr lee for me. Are you taking the test in Winter Haven on March 9th?????? Or at your local county extention office???

[abrightday]

The test can be tricky, questions with could have 2 or 3 of the answers, but it has to be the one Dr. Lee wants. Doug Palmer has the best 3 day classes to attend, he teaches the test. Good luck!:drinkup:

[Ric]

The test can be tricky, questions with could have 2 or 3 of the answers, but it has to be the one Dr. Lee wants. Doug Palmer has the best 3 day classes to attend, he teaches the test. Good luck!:drinkup:

Abrightday

Terry Montgomery writes the 482 tests now that Dr Sung is no longer writing them. Dr Lee (his first name) is head of the Golf Course Management dept at Edison State College. It is the only Agi or turf grass class in S.W. Florida. Broward county College where Doug Palmer used to teach, no longer offers any Agi classes. However U of F South Florida research center in Ft Liquiordale does.

Before I can tell tandotech what to study, I must first find out whether he is taking 482 or 487 certification tests. Although it is possible to sit for 482 with 1 year experience and enough college credits, it is not common.

[abrightday]

Got my test makers mixed up however Mr. Palmer teaches his course privately in 3 locations thru-out Florida. :drinkup:peace out

[Ric]

Got my test makers mixed up however Mr. Palmer teaches his course privately in 3 locations thru-out Florida. :drinkup:peace out

Doug Palmer is the man.

[tandotech]

I am taking my test in in winter haven march 9. On my application it says to be familiar with 482 and 5e-14. I have my approval letter, I qualified through the 1 year experience and the 24 credit requirement. Since I started spraying I spend my spare time trying to educate myself in horticulture and pest control. I have no Idea what to expect from this test, is it common to fail the first time around, is the test multiple choice?

[olive123]

if you are spraying for the last year there should be no problem. The hard stuff is the laws. The rest is common sense and stuff you see and do daily

[tandotech]

Yeah, everyone I work with says that I am worrying to much. I am in the field daily and when the weather does not cooperate I usually read for class. I am going to thoroughly study the laws and be as familiar with them a possible. I went through chapter 487, now I am reviewing 482 and 5e-14.

b.t.w. I am new to this site and i love it!

[Ric]

I am taking my test in in winter haven march 9. On my application it says to be familiar with 482 and 5e-14. I have my approval letter, I qualified through the 1 year experience and the 24 credit requirement. Since I started spraying I spend my spare time trying to educate myself in horticulture and pest control. I have no Idea what to expect from this test, is it common to fail the first time around, is the test multiple choice?

Tandotech

The test is 200 multiply choice questions of which you must get 150 correct to pass. You will have 4 hours to take the test which is more than enough time. Those without an formal training normally don't pass on the first or even 5th time. Those with formal education will fly through the test in under an hour. As Olive said the Law is the hard part. Chapter 482 and 5E-14 of Florida law will be half the test.

It has been a few years since I took the L&O test. So anything I tell you might be old information. Normally there will be 2 Labels supplied as part of the test. Information on those labels can be helpful on answering question not related to the label questions. Names of weeds might be an example. Questions about North Florida turf might be a problem for you as they were for me because I never worked on North Florida turf. That all I can remember right now.

If you are not ready to sit for the test this coming Monday. You can call the Bureau and reschedule for June at no charge. I went to Doug Palmer for test prep on every category and passed with flying colors in less than an hour. Doug Palmer is well known and respected for his test prep. Their is another guy who does test prep and I wouldn't recommend him.

http://www.dougpalmer.net/tuition.html

In Edit Chapter 487 will not be on your test. That is a different bureau of DACS.

[abrightday]

:hammerhead:The Heritage label is being used currently on the test. Common names for fire ant controls, there is also a slide section where you name what's pictured.

[Ric]

:hammerhead:The Heritage label is being used currently on the test. Common names for fire ant controls, there is also a slide section where you name what's pictured.

abrightday

I forgot about the pictures because when I took the test they sucked. But the questions about the pictures gave enough clues I didn't need the pictures to answer.

Tandotech

legal Dates or time are ask many times on the test. Like how soon do you have to report a loss of a CPOIC? Which is immediately, but you can take 24 hours to notify of a death caused by pesticides. What is the law about losing a CPOIC and how much time can a company operate on an emergency certificate? etc.

Watch for tree hugger questions because Florida is now politically correct. One question I will never forget was "What is the best way to kill a Fire Ant Mound?" Answers were all insecticides except for Boiling Water which was the answer they wanted because of less impact on the environment. And that was before the Green Movement.

Now like all certification tests for any profession, the test is about theory and not everyday practices. Doug Palmer told me years ago to learn how to pass the test before you learn how to do the work is the best way to pass the test. That is why people with formal education have a much higher passing rate than field trained.

[abrightday]

Watch for tree hugger questions because Florida is now politically correct. One question I will never forget was "What is the best way to kill a Fire Ant Mound?" Answers were all insecticides except for Boiling Water which was the answer they wanted because of less impact on the environment. And that was before the Green Movement.
That's what I meant about tricky type questions!!:dizzy:

[tandotech]

Thanks everyone for the comments (big help!) , about the fire ant mound s,IFAS say that the boiling water technique is not effective, but that is a correct answer?

[Ric]

Thanks everyone for the comments (big help!) , about the fire ant mound s,IFAS say that the boiling water technique is not effective, but that is a correct answer?

Tandotech

Opinion and protocol change in this industry constantly. One time they said rod Ant mounds then changed to drench only. Now back to rodding etc etc. I am not sure if that question is still on the exam. When Dr Sung wrote the test their were several correct answers, he wanted the MOST correct answer. I am not sure that has changed and that is one reason for the high failure rate. I have never and never plan to kill ants with boiling water.

[bug-guy]

ric is right about doug palmer, i set in on 3 classes L&O,GHP and termite and passed the 1st time in all.
there is alot of core(law and safety) i tried to get as close to 100 % of these right which gave me more time on the other categories practical side.
there will be some math on fert $ and coverage per bag and how many bags to get x amount of N,P,K.
and the label when i took it was heritage.

a few tips (learn from D.P.) use your scrap paper(more is available if needed) write down the # of the question you do not know the answer for at the end of the test go back and some answers are given from other questions.
be careful not to lose your place on the answer sheet when skipping over a question

most important is to sleep well, arrive early(i have seen people late because of traffic and have lost time, but 4 hrs is more than enough)

and the most important... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bug-guy]

tandotech

how do you think you did!

[Ric]

tandotech

Enough time has passed that you should have your results from the Test. Because you never posted back, I have a bad feeling you found out how hard the Fla CPO test can be???? More than half fail.

50% of the test is about Fla, Law not actual application. You posted that you studied chapter 487 which is not on that test. Chapter 482 and 5E 14 can be hard to understand.

[tandotech]

Sorry, I created a new thread thanking everyone for their help. So anyway, I passed!! I got a 78 and yes that is a hard test and I am glad that I studied as much as I did. And they definitely need better pictures for the i.d.

[Ric]

tandotech

Glad you passed. I am not going to play one upmanship and say My score was higher than yours. Because you still have CPO behind your name. Yes the Pictures always have sucked. They love to ask question about the law you will never come across. And of course the Biggie of having several right answers to the question. I have seen smarter men than me fail that test.