Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation
Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation
The Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation is designed to prepare students to develop the core skills necessary to meet the needs and challenges of modern agricultural production. Students integrate concepts from plant science, pest management, and agronomy, and apply them to agricultural production operations. A student completing the Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation may apply the credits completed towards qualification for examination to take the Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA) licensing exam through the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
Students who complete this certificate will be prepared for careers in crop protection, pest control, agronomy, crop science, soil science, agricultural biology, entomology, and environmental applications related to pest management. The program emphasis is on local career opportunities such as pest management and control, pest control advising, agronomy, and agricultural inspection. This program will also adequately prepare students for further study in many agricultural science fields including: agriculture plant science, crop protection, agriculture science and agronomy.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
List A: Physical and Biological Sciences - Select 12 units from the following: | ||
| BIOL V01 & V01L | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL V03 | Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIOL V04 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL V10/ESRM V01 | Introduction to Environmental Issues | 3 |
| BIOL V14 | Field Biology: A Natural History of California | 4 |
| CHEM V120A | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM V120B | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHEM V160A | General Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM V160B | General Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHEM V101 | Elementary Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM V104 | Foundations of General, Organic, and Biochemistry | 5 |
List B: Crop Health - Select 9 units from the following: | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| AG V96 | Work Experience Education in Agriculture | 3 |
| ESRM V14/AG V54A | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
List C: Pest Management - Select 6 units from the following: | ||
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
List D: Production Systems - Select 6 units from the following: | ||
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V61 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
List E: Restricted Electives - Select an Additional 9 units unused from List B, List C, or List D. | ||
| Required Core Units | 42 | |
| --------------------- | ||
| Total Units for the Certificate | 42 | |
One-Year Plan:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V61 or ESRM V14 | Introduction to Animal Science or Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Units/Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| AG V96 | Work Experience Education in Agriculture | 3 |
| Select courses from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 9 | |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 42 | |
Two-Year Plan:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V61 or ESRM V14 | Introduction to Animal Science or Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 5 | |
| Units/Hours | 11 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V96 | Work Experience Education in Agriculture | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 4 | |
| Units/Hours | 7 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 42 | |
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Identify and describe various methods to diagnose and manage a wide range of plant pests for effective crop protection.
- Prescribe economical, effective, legal, and safe control measures for agricultural and horticultural pests in various agricultural production settings.
- Demonstrate effective application of pesticides in a safe manner, include selecting proper PPE, mixing, calibration and application.