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Board seeks outreach and OPES support to complete Branch 1 occupational analysis and address falling exam pass rates
Summary
Board and Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) discussed a stalled Branch 1 occupational analysis and recent drops in exam pass rates; staff and industry agreed to run targeted interviews and two workshops (January–March timeframe) with Southern California satellite sessions and to consider CE credit for participation.
Board staff and the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) told the Structural Pest Control Board they are having difficulty recruiting subject‑matter experts for the Branch 1 occupational analysis, a required step to keep certification exams current.
Staff noted the last Branch 1 occupational analysis began in 2002 and was not completed until 2006; boards are required under Business and Professions Code (BMP) section 139 to update occupational analyses every five to seven years. OPES said prior efforts stalled because of low participation and limited technical/resources availability. The board’s licensing staff and OPES discussed outreach options, including holding two workshops in Southern California (to increase participation from fumigators concentrated in the Los Angeles/San Diego area), telephone interviews in advance of workshops, and mailing surveys to licensed practitioners. Industry volunteers offered facilities in Orange County and Irvine as possible venues.
Board members also discussed recent exam pass‑rate declines that industry said are creating staffing challenges for the summer season. Staff reported year‑to‑date pass rates for the field representative exam fell from 46% to 31% and applicator pass rates fell from 51% to 37% compared with the prior period. OPES said a recently released applicator exam in January and normal exam‑development cycles could explain some variability.
OPES described a proposed timeline: (1) targeted telephone interviews of practitioners in late fall/early winter, (2) two workshops (8–10 subject‑matter experts each) in the January–March period (with one Southern California site to improve recruitment), (3) surveying licensed practitioners and compiling results for test‑blueprint updates. Industry representatives offered to publicize the recruitment at fumigator and vendor meetings and to host sites. OPES and board staff discussed offering continuing‑education credit to encourage survey and workshop participation; counsel and staff said they would confirm CE eligibility before committing credits.
The board directed staff to pursue recruitment with OPES, reach out to industry groups (including PCOC and fumigator networks), and report progress at the next board meeting. Several industry speakers committed to assisting with outreach and venue support. OPES warned that occupational analyses can be time‑consuming and that delays could risk challenge to the affected examinations if not completed.
