Also called: PCA, Crop Consultant (California)
Walks specialty-crop fields and writes the legal recommendations for which pest treatments growers may use.
A PCA checks traps and leaves in vineyards, orchards, and vegetable fields before dawn, identifies the bugs and diseases, and writes recommendations that balance crop yield, safety, and the environment. In California, growers cannot use many pesticides without a PCA's written recommendation.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in a plant or pest science plus a state license exam (California and Arizona).
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Entomology, Plant Science, Agronomy.
Growing about average. High demand in California specialty crops.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI pest ID and models speed scouting; the licensed, signed recommendation and grower trust stay human, with fewer per acre.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1013.
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