Botanist Certification Exam Registration
Prepare and register for the exam
Botanist Certification helps ensure that the most qualified people conduct California’s environmental reviews and that our decision-makers have the information they need to make sound land-use decisions.
Registration opens Spring 2027.
Learn how to prepare for the exam
Important Information and FAQs
Pricing
- $250 Certified Field Botanist Exam
- $350 Certified Consulting & Field Botanist Exams
- $115 retake of exam (if you have taken before)
- $115 Certified Consulting Exam only (for Certified Field Botanists)
Capacity
25 participants per exam
Last day to register
3 weeks before exam (or until full)
Schedule
The order of the exams may change as the need arises, so come prepared to take the exams without needing to review on the day of the exams.
8:15 – 8:30 am
Registration/Sign-in – Rules for taking exams
8:30 – 10:00 am
EXAM 1 – Sight Identification of 100 Plants
Genus: 1 point
Species: 1 point (or if to Genus only, then 2 points)
Correct spelling not required, but must be reasonably recognizable, old names OK
Some Genus only, limited to 20% of total (20 taxa)
Subset can include only photographs (up to 20%)
10:00 – 10:15 am
Break
10:15 am – 12:15 pm
EXAM 2 – Identification by Keying
5 plants will be provided that must be identified using dichotomous keys from The Jepson Manual 2nd Ed. Basic dissecting scopes will be provided.
12:15 – 1:15 pm
Lunch (You may bring your own packed lunch and water or there are food options off campus.)
1:15 – 2:45 pm
EXAM 3 – Field Botanist – 100 Multiple Choice/True-False questions – no test aides allowed
2:45 – 3:00 pm
Break, those taking just the Certified Field Botanist Exam are dismissed
3:00 – 5:00 pm
EXAM 4 – Consulting Botanist – 200 Multiple Choice/True-False questions
Materials and requirements
Please bring:
Clipboard, pen/pencil
10X hand lens, metric ruler, Jepson Manual (2nd Ed)
Dissecting tools (probe, tweezers, razor blade)
Plenty of water, lunch (if desired) and snacks
Physical Requirements: Participants will be primarily standing for the Sight ID exam. Please contact us at botcert@cnps.org if you need accommodations.
Scoring
The passing score for each exam is 75% for the Certified Consulting Botanist and Certified Field Botanist levels, and between 60-74% for the Associate Field Botanist Level.
Applicants must achieve a passing score on each exam in order to become certified. Failure to pass any one part is considered a failure to become eligible for certification.
After scores and test questions are analyzed, test results will be sent to each registrant, pass/fail, with test scores provided. Those passing will be requested to submit their annual maintenance fee and a signed copy of the Code of Ethics, after which they will be presented a certificate and certification number.
I see that there are two tests given each year. When is the next?
The dates and venues of next year’s exams will be posted on the Botanist Certification webpage as soon as they have been established. The BOC will strive to make those decisions at least 4 months in advance to allow sufficient time for botanists to plan accordingly.
What do the exam fee and annual dues cover?
The exam fee covers the costs associated with developing and administering the examinations.
The annual dues cover the cost of maintaining all the records associated with those that are certified, as well as producing and distributing educational and informational materials, such as the newsletter, keeping track of Professional Development Credits (PDCs), liability insurance, overhead to provide space and time for staff, etc.
Will these exams be offered in a wider variety of locations?
Demand will be a large determining factor in when and where certification exams will be held; however, an effort will be made to move the venue around the state, with at least one set of exams each year in northern and southern California. This will be true for the dates of the exams.
Has a basic knowledge of the California flora and the ability to use dichotomous identification keys to determine a plant’s identity. The Associate Field Botanist also has a basic understanding of botanical terminology and field survey methods. They can be considered an apprentice to become a Certified Field Botanist. An Associate Field Botanist certification is awarded to those who have received a score between 60% and 74% on each exam.
Competent in identifying native and naturalized plants found in California, the Certified Field Botanist is able to use appropriate field survey methods and protocols that satisfy documentation and assessment requirements. They can identify the dominant and characteristic plants that compose the CA flora and know how to identify those native and naturalized species that they may not be able to identify on sight. They have a good grasp of botanical terminology and know how to conduct field surveys and map plant occurrences and populations that are necessary for laboratory analyses and/or impact assessments. They can also monitor plant populations during and after construction, and perform monitoring of mitigation implementation (during and afterwards). The Certified Field Botanist knows how to characterize the botanical resources of a site and record their findings.
Has satisfied all requirements of a Field Botanist, as well as demonstrated competence in document preparation, such as: describing baseline conditions of a study/project area, critically analyzing project-related impacts to botanical resources, developing feasible mitigation measures to avoid or compensate for identified impacts, and demonstrating a clear understanding of environmental laws and regulations pertaining to plants. They know how to research environmental policies and regulations that apply to a variety of projects and how to document the existing conditions of a project site or study area. The Certified Consulting Botanist knows how to assess project-related impacts to the botanical resources of the site and whether those impacts are considered significant pursuant to environmental regulations, whether they be federal, state, or local. They also can develop feasible mitigation measures to reduce any significant impacts to less-than-significant levels, and are adept at assisting clients through the environmental permitting process, at least as far as the botanical resources are concerned.
