SECTION 7.125. Examinations  


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  • (a) Examination required. Each individual not previously qualified by examination in the category or categories for which the license is requested must pass an appropriate examination. An application must be submitted to the department specifying the examination category desired and pay the fee for each exam requested prior to the scheduled examination session.

    (b) Examination categories. Examinations will be administered, maintained, and evaluated on a routine basis as determined by department examination policy in the following categories:

    (1) Pest control;

    (2) Termite and Wood Destroying Insect Control;

    (3) Lawn and Ornamental;

    (4) Weed Control;

    (5) Structural Fumigation;

    (6) Commodity Fumigation; and

    (7) Wood Preservation.

    (c) Military requests to expedite examinations. Military members, military veterans, and military spouses, as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 55, may request their application for examination to be expedited by noting on their application to the department. To qualify, all other licensing requirements must also be met.

    (d) Examinations standards and requirements.

    (1) A fee shall be charged for each examination.

    (2) All examination fees are to be paid as prescribed by the department.

    (3) Applicants must present photo identification issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or an equivalent from another state prior to taking an examination.

    (4) All examinations shall be maintained and administered by the department or its designee.

    (5) The examination will be administered in written or electronic form and in general, cover the subject of the categories designated on the application.

    (6) Examinations shall only be administered in English.

    (7) No written materials, scratch paper, or electronic devices, other than calculators, may be brought into the examination room or used during the examination.

    (8) Scratch paper will be provided, as necessary, and must be returned to the examination proctor at the end of each examination.

    (9) Applicants who do not take a scheduled examination shall not receive a refund of the examination fee.

    (10) Persons who make a minimum grade of 70% shall be issued a certified applicator license upon issuance of the grades.

    (11) Individual exam scores are valid for only 12 months.

    (e) Cheating is Prohibited.

    (1) Cheating consists of giving or receiving unauthorized assistance to answer examination questions; bringing unauthorized materials into the exam room or using unauthorized materials to answer examination questions; using answers from another examinee; copying questions or answers to examination questions to take from the examination room; removing an examination booklet, answer sheet, or scratch paper from the examination room; or any other action which may undermine the integrity of the examination process.

    (2) 'Unauthorized assistance' means any verbal, written, or electronic communication during the examination made for the purpose of receiving or providing answers to examination questions.

    (3) Upon a final determination that an examinee has cheated, any current license issued by the department is subject to suspension or revocation.

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.125 adopted to be effective January 9, 2018, 43 TexReg 42; amended to be effective September 10, 2018, 43 TexReg 5773; amended to be effective January 16, 2023, 48 TexReg 129