To apply pesticides legally, maintenance gardeners must pass and keep current a Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) in the Maintenance Gardener Category (Q) through the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The DPR certificate and licensing programs are in place to ensure that those applying pesticides professionally know how to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
To help maintenance gardeners prepare for the exam, the UC ANR Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) has put together study resources, most of which can be downloaded for free. Resources include knowledge expectations, study guide, online training course and workbook. All resources are available in English and Spanish and can be found here.
Additional UC IPM pesticide information, including resources for other applicators and home gardeners, can be found here.