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CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
EXAM COVERAGE — CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
The CDFW Fish and Wildlife Technician examination is administered by CalHR and consists of
a Training and Experience Evaluation weighted 100% of the final score.
Key content areas include:
Fisheries & Hatchery Operations — Methods of stripping, spawning, and caring for eggs;
raising fry and young fish; transporting and planting fish; fish raceways and troughs;
incubation temperatures and egg tray management; recognition and control of hatchery
fish diseases (furunculosis, bacterial kidney disease) and parasites (Gyrodactylus);
anadromous fish life cycles (salmon, steelhead); fish ladder and fish screen construction,
maintenance, and repair.
Wildlife Management & Habitat Conservation — Wildlife habitat construction,
maintenance, and improvement methods; stream improvement procedures (backfilling,
riffle construction, spawning gravel placement); riparian zone management; beaver
damage management and legal requirements; wildlife corridors; invasive species
control; population surveys (seine nets, electrofishing, traps, weirs); tagging, marking,
and tracking techniques.
California Fish and Game Regulations — License requirements (FG 1054.2); tagging
rules for deer (FG 4330, FG 4336); possession limits (FG 2001); prohibited activities
including use of artificial light for taking game (FG 2005), loaded firearms in vehicles (FG
2006), hunting from boats/vehicles (FG 3002), hunting under the influence (FG 3001);
hunting hours (FG 3000); protection of bird nests/eggs (FG 3503); license transfer
prohibitions (FG 1052); and requirements to present license, equipment, and taken
game upon request (FG 2012).
Safety & Field Procedures — Electrofishing safety (electrical current hazards, insulated
waders); forklift and heavy equipment safety; trenching and dewatering for screen
installations; personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements; wilderness survival and
first aid; water safety and boating regulations.
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Equipment & Construction — Power tools (saws, drills, lathes), welding, carpentry,
concrete work, painting; operation of trucks, bulldozers, backhoes; fabrication of metal,
plastic, or wood components for fish screens, ladders, and traps; concrete curing;
reading blueprints and plans.
Conservation & Environmental Compliance — Ecosystem management principles;
biodiversity conservation; climate change impacts on wildlife; water quality monitoring
(dissolved oxygen, temperature); identification of pollution-sensitive aquatic insects as
indicators of water quality.
Minimum Qualifications — Possession of a valid driver license; six months of experience
in natural resources field OR one year of experience in mechanical/construction trades
(completion of one year of college with six semester units in biological sciences may
substitute for experience).
CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM — 200 RANDOMIZED
SCENARIO-BASED MCQS
1. A Fish and Wildlife Technician observes a large fish kill in a freshwater lake during mid-
summer. The water has a greenish scum on the surface. What is the most likely primary cause?
A) Overpopulation of predatory birds
B) Toxic algal bloom (cyanobacteria) producing hypoxia
C) Introduction of a non-native predatory fish species
D) Sudden drop in water temperature
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Greenish scum on the water surface during summer indicates a cyanobacterial
(blue-green algae) bloom. When such blooms die, their decomposition consumes dissolved
oxygen, causing hypoxia and fish kills.
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2. In hatchery operations, which bacterial disease is most common in trout and caused by
Aeromonas salmonicida?
A) Chilodonella
B) Furunculosis
C) Ichthyophthirius
D) Anchor worm infestation
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Furunculosis is a prevalent bacterial disease in salmonid hatcheries caused by
Aeromonas salmonicida. It causes lesions and internal organ damage, requiring prompt water
quality and treatment management.
3. Which California regulation prohibits taking wildlife without a valid license?
A) FG 1054.2
B) FG 2000
C) FG 3001
D) FG 4336
Answer: A
RATIONALE: FG 1054.2 establishes that a license is required to take wildlife in California, with
violations subject to penalties.
4. You are electrofishing for a population survey in a stream. What is the most critical safety
concern you must constantly monitor?
A) Risk of slipping on wet algae-covered rocks
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B) Electrical current passing through water is dangerous to humans
C) Losing expensive sampling equipment in deep pools
D) Disturbing natural sediment and reducing water clarity
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Electrofishing uses electrical current to temporarily stun fish for capture and study;
the same current is dangerous or fatal to humans if safety protocols like insulated waders are
not followed.
5. A fish ladder is installed at a dam primarily to achieve what objective?
A) Divert water for agricultural irrigation systems
B) Filter debris and sediment from the water flow
C) Enable fish to bypass barriers and migrate upstream
D) Measure flow velocity for hydroelectric generation
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Fish ladders allow migratory fish like salmon to swim upstream past obstructions
such as dams, reaching spawning grounds.
6. What is the primary purpose of a fish raceway in a hatchery setting?
A) To separate different species for breeding isolation
B) To aerate water before it enters the main facility
C) To confine and rear fish in a controlled flowing-water environment
D) To filter debris and sediment from incoming water
Answer: C
CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
EXAM COVERAGE — CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
The CDFW Fish and Wildlife Technician examination is administered by CalHR and consists of
a Training and Experience Evaluation weighted 100% of the final score.
Key content areas include:
Fisheries & Hatchery Operations — Methods of stripping, spawning, and caring for eggs;
raising fry and young fish; transporting and planting fish; fish raceways and troughs;
incubation temperatures and egg tray management; recognition and control of hatchery
fish diseases (furunculosis, bacterial kidney disease) and parasites (Gyrodactylus);
anadromous fish life cycles (salmon, steelhead); fish ladder and fish screen construction,
maintenance, and repair.
Wildlife Management & Habitat Conservation — Wildlife habitat construction,
maintenance, and improvement methods; stream improvement procedures (backfilling,
riffle construction, spawning gravel placement); riparian zone management; beaver
damage management and legal requirements; wildlife corridors; invasive species
control; population surveys (seine nets, electrofishing, traps, weirs); tagging, marking,
and tracking techniques.
California Fish and Game Regulations — License requirements (FG 1054.2); tagging
rules for deer (FG 4330, FG 4336); possession limits (FG 2001); prohibited activities
including use of artificial light for taking game (FG 2005), loaded firearms in vehicles (FG
2006), hunting from boats/vehicles (FG 3002), hunting under the influence (FG 3001);
hunting hours (FG 3000); protection of bird nests/eggs (FG 3503); license transfer
prohibitions (FG 1052); and requirements to present license, equipment, and taken
game upon request (FG 2012).
Safety & Field Procedures — Electrofishing safety (electrical current hazards, insulated
waders); forklift and heavy equipment safety; trenching and dewatering for screen
installations; personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements; wilderness survival and
first aid; water safety and boating regulations.
, Page 2 of 80
Equipment & Construction — Power tools (saws, drills, lathes), welding, carpentry,
concrete work, painting; operation of trucks, bulldozers, backhoes; fabrication of metal,
plastic, or wood components for fish screens, ladders, and traps; concrete curing;
reading blueprints and plans.
Conservation & Environmental Compliance — Ecosystem management principles;
biodiversity conservation; climate change impacts on wildlife; water quality monitoring
(dissolved oxygen, temperature); identification of pollution-sensitive aquatic insects as
indicators of water quality.
Minimum Qualifications — Possession of a valid driver license; six months of experience
in natural resources field OR one year of experience in mechanical/construction trades
(completion of one year of college with six semester units in biological sciences may
substitute for experience).
CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM — 200 RANDOMIZED
SCENARIO-BASED MCQS
1. A Fish and Wildlife Technician observes a large fish kill in a freshwater lake during mid-
summer. The water has a greenish scum on the surface. What is the most likely primary cause?
A) Overpopulation of predatory birds
B) Toxic algal bloom (cyanobacteria) producing hypoxia
C) Introduction of a non-native predatory fish species
D) Sudden drop in water temperature
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Greenish scum on the water surface during summer indicates a cyanobacterial
(blue-green algae) bloom. When such blooms die, their decomposition consumes dissolved
oxygen, causing hypoxia and fish kills.
, Page 3 of 80
2. In hatchery operations, which bacterial disease is most common in trout and caused by
Aeromonas salmonicida?
A) Chilodonella
B) Furunculosis
C) Ichthyophthirius
D) Anchor worm infestation
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Furunculosis is a prevalent bacterial disease in salmonid hatcheries caused by
Aeromonas salmonicida. It causes lesions and internal organ damage, requiring prompt water
quality and treatment management.
3. Which California regulation prohibits taking wildlife without a valid license?
A) FG 1054.2
B) FG 2000
C) FG 3001
D) FG 4336
Answer: A
RATIONALE: FG 1054.2 establishes that a license is required to take wildlife in California, with
violations subject to penalties.
4. You are electrofishing for a population survey in a stream. What is the most critical safety
concern you must constantly monitor?
A) Risk of slipping on wet algae-covered rocks
, Page 4 of 80
B) Electrical current passing through water is dangerous to humans
C) Losing expensive sampling equipment in deep pools
D) Disturbing natural sediment and reducing water clarity
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Electrofishing uses electrical current to temporarily stun fish for capture and study;
the same current is dangerous or fatal to humans if safety protocols like insulated waders are
not followed.
5. A fish ladder is installed at a dam primarily to achieve what objective?
A) Divert water for agricultural irrigation systems
B) Filter debris and sediment from the water flow
C) Enable fish to bypass barriers and migrate upstream
D) Measure flow velocity for hydroelectric generation
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Fish ladders allow migratory fish like salmon to swim upstream past obstructions
such as dams, reaching spawning grounds.
6. What is the primary purpose of a fish raceway in a hatchery setting?
A) To separate different species for breeding isolation
B) To aerate water before it enters the main facility
C) To confine and rear fish in a controlled flowing-water environment
D) To filter debris and sediment from incoming water
Answer: C
