OTBA IQOT study guide
OTBA IQOT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The OTBA IQOT is a professional credential for people who work with cannabis in a regulated setting, whether in a dispensary, a cultivation facility, a processing lab, or a compliance role. Its purpose is to demonstrate that a candidate understands the rules that govern legal cannabis operations as well as the practical science and business skills those operations depend on. The OTBA IQOT study guide has 7 sections and about 2,000 words.
01Cannabis Laws and Regulations: Structure, Authority, and Compliance Traps
A candidate must be able to distinguish the three layers that govern cannabis: federal law, state (or provincial) statute, and local ordinance plus the administrative rules issued by the licensing agency. Federal prohibition does not erase state-legal compliance duties; a business must satisfy the strictest applicable layer.
352 words, about 2 min02Cannabis Plant Biology, Genetics, and Cultivation Fundamentals
Candidates should understand cannabis as a dioecious, photoperiod-sensitive flowering plant. Know the difference between photoperiod and autoflowering genetics, the roles of light cycle in triggering flowering (roughly 12 hours dark for photoperiod varieties), and the anatomy of the inflorescence including pistils, bracts, and trichomes.
297 words, about 1 min03Product Processing, Extraction, and Manufacturing
Understand the major extraction methods: hydrocarbon (butane/propane), ethanol, supercritical CO2, and solventless (rosin, ice-water hash). Know the trade-offs: selectivity, yield, safety, and regulatory acceptance.
302 words, about 2 min04Laboratory Testing, Quality Assurance, and Product Safety
Candidates must know the standard test panels: cannabinoid potency, terpene profile, residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, microbial contamination (including Aspergillus), mycotoxins, and water activity/moisture. Understand sampling: representative sampling, composite versus individual samples, and why sample size and homogeneity matter.
278 words, about 1 min05Pharmacology, Cannabinoids, and Terpenes
Candidates should understand the endocannabinoid system: CB1 and CB2 receptors, endocannabinoids (anandamide, 2-AG), and the enzymes that synthesize and degrade them. Know the major phytocannabinoids: THC (psychoactive), CBD (non-intoxicating, modulatory), CBG, CBN, CBC, and the acid forms THCA and CBDA.
262 words, about 1 min06Dispensary Operations, Patient Care, and Sales
Candidates must understand intake procedures: verifying age or patient status, checking recommendation validity, and documenting transactions in the seed-to-sale system. Know purchase limits and how they are calculated across product types (flower equivalents for concentrates and edibles).
252 words, about 1 min07Business Management, Security, and Inventory Control
Candidates should understand the economics of a cannabis business: capital intensity, licensing costs, taxation (including 280E constraints), banking limitations, insurance, and cash-handling controls. Know the difference between gross margin and net margin and how testing failures, waste, and shrinkage affect profitability.
257 words, about 1 min