California Supplemental Exam

[Joe Horvath]

I was wondering if anyone has taken the California Supplemental Exam recently? I started gathering resources and information the past year or so but I haven't seen much about the test or even where to start besides the Candidate Guide they send you.

I have spoken Sarah Gronquist and looked at her site which has been a big help in getting started and directing me towards more current and better resources to review than what the Candidate Guide tells. 

Thanks 

[XHT]

Hi Joe, I'm also trying to gather the resources for the CSE recently, but find the exam scope is so broad and vague... I also looked at Sarah's website and the beta CSE tutorial that she has so far. Wondering if there's any updated syllabus from Sarah, or if there's any other more current resources that you would recommend? Thanks!

[Joe Horvath]

Thanks for reaching out. I have found Sarah's information a great place to start so far. Like you said it's so broad it's hard to find a direction to start that won't waste too much time studying areas that won't really be covered. I would assume plants and water are a big portion. I need to review the Candidate guide again to verify the topics. 

I am just getting back into it so I don't know what I have bookmarked from that past is applicable or not. I started looking into this before Covid and bookmarked a bunch of sites but I let it slide when Covid hit but now I have to take it this year. 

[Mary_C]

I am also planning to get CSE this year. I did review some of Sarah's info and would like to know whether there is a recommended reference book list? I know LATC listed a lot of books on their web. 

[Sarah Gronquist]

Hi all, I am still building it - but I can share a few highly subjective opinions and additions. All of our materials are still free (we're calling it 'beta' but I am just too busy). If you register and find it useful, please email me and let me know what works/doesn't work in supporting your studies. Everything is at sarahgronquist.com. 

I would review Doug Kent's Firescaping book for sure. You probably need to glance at Gilmer but it is extremely dated.

I would not bother with the University of Georgia Xeriscape doc at all. Krieg is also very dated and includes many plants we can't use now. I would instead invest time in looking at WUCOLS, especially understanding the different climate zones of CA that they identify. What is the difference between a coastal palette, a high desert palette, a Central Valley palette? We break it down in the CSE course (and it's still free, so check it out). We also have a draft spreadsheet of 100 plants to know. I hear from candidates that it needs to include more plants! So we will be expanding that but you can download the spreadsheet and add to it if you find it a useful resource. 

Stephen Smith's Landscape Irrigation is all about spray. Excellent but too dated - I would not invest in it. Follow me on Instagram if you want to see my photos of empty California reservoirs this summer. :(   You will do better working through free tutorials offered by irrig manufacturers. We summarize that as well and you can pick up the major concepts about pressure and head layout.   

I think the highway design manual is important but LATC's link does not work. Try this one instead:  https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/design/documents/chp1000.pdf

[Mary_C]

Thank you so much, Sarah!!!