California Supplemental Examination (CSE) Experience and Notes -2022

[Yun Shi]

Hi Everyone,

I recently passed all my required exams at the first attempt. During the past several years, I received a lot of inspiration and help from this group.  And I found there is very limited info for CSE here, so I gathered my memory and put down some thoughts here. Hope it can be helpful to anyone who wants to practice in California.

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First, I went through the test plan provided by LATC and wrote down the area I only have limited work experience, which will be the topics I’m going to spend more time on. 

Here is my background: 5-year working experience, from concept to CA; Lack of experience in irrigation, coastal area projects, stormwater management, lighting design, and limited knowledge of native plants.

The material I used includes:

• Material and Example Questions by John Denson (http://www.cselandscapearchitect.com)

1. To be noted, the information about CALGreen, MWELO, Irrigation, Lighting (code-related part), and ADA should be double checked with the latest code (if you are taking the exam next year (2023), you might need to use the 2022 version code. Double check with LATC before you spend time diving in)
2. The Agency, Irrigation, Erosion Control, and Firescape chapters are the most helpful to me.
3. There are a lot of lists in planting. A LOT. I gathered about 600 plants in an excel and decided not to fill it out. 
4. For the example questions book, they are helpful to check

• California Supplementary Exam Course (BETA) By Sarah Gronquist (https://courses.sgladesign.com/courses/california-supplementary-exam-course/)

1. The topics include: Agency, Planting, and Irrigation.
2. ALL topics are very helpful, and the quiz also. I feel the quiz are harder than the exam (which I like it).
3. Please make a good use of the agency table and planting table they provided.

• Some Chapters from Landscape Architecture Time-Saver by Harris Dines

1. Erosion Control
2. Stormwater Management
3. Lighting Design

• Title 24, Part 2, and Part 11(I read both the 2022 version and the 2019 version) (https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes)

1. The CALGreen Verification Guidelines are really helpful.
2. Mainly focused on Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Appendix A4 and A5
3. Also, take a look at the definition.

• Title 23 (MWELO 2015 Revision)

1. Everything related to Irrigation!!!
2. Remember those numbers!!!
3. You might know them from work already.

• Firescape by EBMUD

1. Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3: what are the distance and requirements.
2. What the characteristics of fire-resistant plants have

• Title 24, Part 9: California Fire Code 2019

1. I know those codes already. But I still double-checked it. The code you know from your work is most likely a county code or city code.

• ADA and CalDAS

1. California enforced a stricter rule than the federal level. So please double-check the code in CA, even if you think you know the rules.
2. I used the ADA cheat sheet as a starting point (pls remember to confirm w/ the latest code!): https://www.buildingincalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ADA-InspectionsChecklist.pdf

• Caltran Bike Land Classification (A guide to bikeway classification July 2017)

1. I don’t know why, but my instinct wanted me to check this at the last minute. I am really lucky that there are questions about the bike lane!!!

• Wetland related (USACE, CDFG, RWQCB, CEQA, USFWS, SWRCB, etc.)

1. I couldn’t recall if I had these questions in my exam.
2. This material will help you to get familiar with major agencies/ programs from the federal to state level (you can ignore the local level in this material for CSE): http://pwaportal.ventura.org/ONESTOP/ESD/Wetland_Project_Permitting_Guide_in_Ventura_County.pdf

• Irrigation:

1. As I said, my work experience on this topic is limited to providing the hydrozone plan and reviewing/coordinating the irrigation plan package (or water efficient landscape documentation). And the info I learned when I prepared Section 4.
2. I will say everything in MWELO is important!!!!! 
3. Get to know the basic irrigation system (w/ spray heads and dripline), all the components, and their function. If you can make a clear diagram by yourself, that would be good enough. They will ask you, "under certain situations, what kind of component will you need to have".
4. Some equations and numbers:

• • Plant Factors from WUCOLS
  • Area needs separated water meters
  • ETWU equation (IE number)
  • MAWA equation (ETAF number)
  • Precipitation Rate equation
  • Water Pressure change per ft

• LARE related info

1. The questions I encountered included a lot of site analysis, bidding/contract, and construction observation.
2. I didn’t have to review what I prepared for LARE, but if you have time, do it.

•  Planting:

1. They only use the scientific name (😊 very lovely)
2. I put this at the end, b/c I really don’t spend a lot of time on this topic. Based on the input-output ratio, I think its “average rate of return” is low. Another reason is I personally like to spend more time in planting design at work and at home. I pay attention to them on a daily base.
3. But there are some topics I paid special attention to:
   • Toxic/ Poisonous Plants (to human beings, livestock, pets, and what’s the general symptoms)
   • Edible Plants
   • Fire-Hazardous Plants /Fire-resistant plants
   • Invasive Plants (if you have time, you can try to remember their specific invasive habitat/area)

• Others: 

1. 2.5 hours for 125 questions. I think you will have enough time to finish everything and pick up the marked question. (since you've passed section 4 :)  )
2. I didn't have any graphic questions. All text. No calculator. This is just my case though.
3. I passed section 4 last year around the same time. And I will say the total hours of preparation (or more like efficient hours) was no more than 20 hours. So it is about two-weeks long prep.
4. You will get the result right after the exam!!!

Thanks for your reading! Let me know if you have any questions. And again, thank you so much to everyone who shared their knowledge and experience here!!!

Good Luck!

Yun

[Katherine Jarosz]

Thank you so much for putting this together! I just passed all the LARE exams and ready to take the CSE. This helps a lot.

[john lambert pearson]

Thank you Yun this is very helpful - hopefully I will pass in November!! 

We miss you :)

[Penstemon Gimlet]

Wow, this is super helpful!  Thank you for putting this together.  I still need to take 4 and the CSE.  

I have a collection of study materials and notes for both if anyone is interested,  message me and I'll be happy to share.

[Leslie McKenna]

Thank you so much for posting this! 

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 8:43:13 PM UTC-7 clary...@gmail.com wrote:

[Robert Collings]

Great information, thanks for the insight.