Virginia Commercial Pesticide
Applicator CORE Exam
Questions & Answers with Rationales| Latest Update
,1. Which federal law gives the EPA authority to regulate the sale,
distribution, and use of pesticides in the United States?
A. The Clean Water Act
B. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
D. The Endangered Species Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide
registration, labeling, and use. It authorizes EPA to register pesticides and
establish use requirements enforced through the label.
2. In Virginia, which agency is primarily responsible for administering the
state's pesticide control program and certifying applicators?
A. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
C. Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: VDACS, through its Office of Pesticide Services, administers the
Virginia Pesticide Control Act, certifies and licenses applicators, and enforces
state pesticide law.
3. A person who applies pesticides for hire (for compensation) on
someone else's property must hold which type of credential in Virginia?
A. A private applicator certification only
B. A commercial applicator license/certification
C. No credential is required if under $500 in sales
D. A driver's license endorsement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anyone applying restricted-use or general-use pesticides for hire in
Virginia must be a certified and licensed commercial applicator; private
applicator certification only covers use on one's own or an employer's
,agricultural land.
4. How often must a commercial pesticide applicator generally renew
certification in Virginia?
A. Every year, with no recertification hours required
B. Every 2 years, typically requiring continuing education credits
C. Every 10 years
D. Certification never expires once issued
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia commercial applicator certifications are renewed on a
recurring cycle and require documented continuing education (recertification)
credits in the certified category to keep skills and knowledge current.
5. Under Virginia law, who is legally responsible for pesticide applications
made by a registered technician?
A. The technician alone
B. The certified commercial applicator who supervises the technician
C. The pesticide manufacturer
D. The customer who hired the company
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A registered technician works under the supervision of a certified
commercial applicator, who bears legal responsibility for ensuring applications
comply with label and law.
6. What is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)?
A. A pesticide that can only be purchased at farm supply stores
B. A pesticide that can only be sold to and used by certified applicators (or
persons under their direct supervision) due to potential hazards
C. A pesticide banned from all use in the U.S.
D. A pesticide only used in greenhouses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA classifies pesticides as RUP when they pose greater risk to
applicators or the environment; sale and use are restricted to certified
applicators or those under their direct supervision.
, 7. Which of the following is required recordkeeping for a Virginia
commercial pesticide applicator after a restricted-use pesticide
application?
A. No records are required for commercial applicators
B. Records of product used, EPA registration number, date, location, and
amount applied must be kept for a specified period
C. Only the customer's name needs to be recorded
D. Records may be discarded immediately after application
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial applicators must maintain application records (product,
rate, location, date, target pest) for a set retention period, supporting
enforcement, liability defense, and integrated pest management review.
8. What federal law requires employers to protect agricultural workers
and pesticide handlers from exposure to pesticides on farms, forests,
nurseries, and greenhouses?
A. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
B. The Clean Air Act
C. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EPA's Worker Protection Standard establishes requirements such
as restricted-entry intervals, training, notification, and decontamination
supplies to protect agricultural workers and handlers.
9. If a commercial applicator's certification is suspended or revoked by
VDACS, what is the applicator generally prohibited from doing?
A. Nothing changes; they may continue applying pesticides
B. Purchasing, using, or supervising the use of restricted-use pesticides
during the suspension/revocation period
C. Only prohibited from purchasing general-use pesticides
D. Only prohibited from working on weekends
Correct Answer: B
Applicator CORE Exam
Questions & Answers with Rationales| Latest Update
,1. Which federal law gives the EPA authority to regulate the sale,
distribution, and use of pesticides in the United States?
A. The Clean Water Act
B. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
D. The Endangered Species Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide
registration, labeling, and use. It authorizes EPA to register pesticides and
establish use requirements enforced through the label.
2. In Virginia, which agency is primarily responsible for administering the
state's pesticide control program and certifying applicators?
A. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
C. Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: VDACS, through its Office of Pesticide Services, administers the
Virginia Pesticide Control Act, certifies and licenses applicators, and enforces
state pesticide law.
3. A person who applies pesticides for hire (for compensation) on
someone else's property must hold which type of credential in Virginia?
A. A private applicator certification only
B. A commercial applicator license/certification
C. No credential is required if under $500 in sales
D. A driver's license endorsement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anyone applying restricted-use or general-use pesticides for hire in
Virginia must be a certified and licensed commercial applicator; private
applicator certification only covers use on one's own or an employer's
,agricultural land.
4. How often must a commercial pesticide applicator generally renew
certification in Virginia?
A. Every year, with no recertification hours required
B. Every 2 years, typically requiring continuing education credits
C. Every 10 years
D. Certification never expires once issued
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia commercial applicator certifications are renewed on a
recurring cycle and require documented continuing education (recertification)
credits in the certified category to keep skills and knowledge current.
5. Under Virginia law, who is legally responsible for pesticide applications
made by a registered technician?
A. The technician alone
B. The certified commercial applicator who supervises the technician
C. The pesticide manufacturer
D. The customer who hired the company
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A registered technician works under the supervision of a certified
commercial applicator, who bears legal responsibility for ensuring applications
comply with label and law.
6. What is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)?
A. A pesticide that can only be purchased at farm supply stores
B. A pesticide that can only be sold to and used by certified applicators (or
persons under their direct supervision) due to potential hazards
C. A pesticide banned from all use in the U.S.
D. A pesticide only used in greenhouses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA classifies pesticides as RUP when they pose greater risk to
applicators or the environment; sale and use are restricted to certified
applicators or those under their direct supervision.
, 7. Which of the following is required recordkeeping for a Virginia
commercial pesticide applicator after a restricted-use pesticide
application?
A. No records are required for commercial applicators
B. Records of product used, EPA registration number, date, location, and
amount applied must be kept for a specified period
C. Only the customer's name needs to be recorded
D. Records may be discarded immediately after application
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial applicators must maintain application records (product,
rate, location, date, target pest) for a set retention period, supporting
enforcement, liability defense, and integrated pest management review.
8. What federal law requires employers to protect agricultural workers
and pesticide handlers from exposure to pesticides on farms, forests,
nurseries, and greenhouses?
A. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
B. The Clean Air Act
C. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EPA's Worker Protection Standard establishes requirements such
as restricted-entry intervals, training, notification, and decontamination
supplies to protect agricultural workers and handlers.
9. If a commercial applicator's certification is suspended or revoked by
VDACS, what is the applicator generally prohibited from doing?
A. Nothing changes; they may continue applying pesticides
B. Purchasing, using, or supervising the use of restricted-use pesticides
during the suspension/revocation period
C. Only prohibited from purchasing general-use pesticides
D. Only prohibited from working on weekends
Correct Answer: B
