Plant Protection
Certificate of Achievement Environmental Horticulture · Butte College · 2026-2027 Catalog
About the Program
Program Goal: Career
GE Pattern(s): None
Program Code: 31512.00CA
The Plant Protection Certificate prepares candidates for the California State Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA) License examinations and Qualified Applicator License exams. Required courses meet the minimum educational qualifications for the PCA License, and course objectives equip students for exams in IPM principles, laws and regulations, pest identification, physical and biological sciences, crop health, pest management systems and methods, and production systems. Technical experience is highly encouraged through work experience placement.
A rewarding career and competitive salary await licensed PCAs. Choose from several career avenues, such as corporate entities, sole proprietary businesses, governmental agencies, and academic professions. Come and learn about agriculture, plants, and how we protect crops; it’s a great time to join the crop protection industry.
Program Learning Outcome(s): Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:
- Apply fundamental principles of physical and biological sciences to integrated pest management systems and agriculture production.
- Describe the safe and effective use of equipment and products related to the plant protection industry.
- Summarize mathematical methods and physical procedures for calibrating agriculture equipment.
- Identify and apply health and safety regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR).
- Interpret and utilize information from EPA registered pesticide labels to safely and effectively apply chemistries.
- Practice professional and safe work practices that establish methodical habits based on CA DPR laws and regulations.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | 42 | |
| EH 60 | Principles of Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| Physical, Biological Science and Natural Sciences (Select 12 units): | 12 | |
| AGS 20 | Plant Science | 3 |
| BIOL 5 | Ecology and Field Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 15 | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 41 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 |
| BIOL C1000 | Introduction to Biology with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 51 | Elementary Inorganic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 52 | Elementary Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| NR 55 | Wildlife Management | 3 |
| PSC 10 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
| Crop Health (Select 9 units): | 9 | |
| AGS 30 | Ecology of Insect and Disease Management | 3 |
| AGS 50 | General Soils | 4 |
| AGS 51 | Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| AGS 99 | Work Experience-AGS | 3 |
| EH 30 | Irrigation Practices and Materials | 3 |
| EH 74 | Irrigation System Design | 3 |
| Pest Management (Select 3 units): | 3 | |
| AGS 99 | Work Experience-AGS | 3 |
| EH 61 | Plant Protection Materials | 3 |
| EH 62 | Weed Science and Invasive Plants | 3 |
| Production Systems (Select 6 units): | 6 | |
| AGS 40 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| AGS 45 | Feeds and Feeding | 3 |
| AGS 99 | Work Experience-AGS | 3 |
| EH 20 | Introduction to Environmental Horticulture | 3 |
| EH 23 | Fall Plant Identification | 3 |
| EH 24 | Spring Plant Identification | 3 |
| EH 38 | Greenhouse Production | 3 |
| EH 66 | Orchard Production and Management | 3 |
| EH 70 | Plant Propagation and Nursery Practices | 3 |
| NR 20 | Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources | 3 |
| Select any 9 units Crop Health, Pest Management and Production Systems not already used above | 9 | |
| Total | 42 | |