TEXAS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
GENERAL STANDARDS EXAM PREP
MASTERY: CERTIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS, RATIONALES, AND
REGULATORY REFERENCES –
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE FOR
COMMERCIAL, NON-COMMERCIAL,
AND PRIVATE APPLICATORS
SECTION 1: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK – FEDERAL & TEXAS
PESTICIDE LAWS (Q1-Q35)
Q1. Which federal act governs the registration, labeling, and
distribution of pesticide products in the United States?
A) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C) Clean Water Act (CWA)
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Answer: B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
,Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal law that gives the EPA authority to
register pesticides and enforce label compliance. All pesticides distributed
or sold in the U.S. must be registered with the EPA under FIFRA .
Q2. Under Texas law, which agency issues pesticide applicator licenses
and enforces state pesticide regulations?
A) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C) Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
D) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
Answer: B) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
Rationale: The TDA administers the Texas Pesticide Applicator Licensing
Program and enforces state pesticide regulations. The Texas Administrative
Code Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7 contains the pesticide regulations
administered by TDA .
Q3. If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with
restricted pesticides, but not to work with state-limited pesticides.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B) False
Rationale: Both restricted-use AND state-limited pesticides require a license
if you are working unsupervised. This is a common misconception that is
specifically tested on the exam .
,Q4. To legally perform structural pest control, you must have a license
regardless of the kinds of pesticides you use.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A) True
Rationale: Any person applying pesticides in or around structures must hold
the appropriate license from the Texas Structural Pest Control Service
(SPCS), regardless of whether they are using restricted-use, state-limited, or
general-use pesticides .
Q5. Which agency is NOT responsible for pesticide applicator training,
certification, and licensing?
A) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B) Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS)
C) Texas A&M AgriLife Research
D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Answer: C) Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Rationale: While Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides training and
education, AgriLife Research is not directly responsible for applicator
training, certification, or licensing. TDA, SPCS, and EPA all share
responsibility in this area .
, Q6. What is the exam administration fee for each pesticide
certification exam in Texas?
A) $25
B) $50
C) $64
D) $100
Answer: C) $64
Rationale: Texas Administrative Code §7.22(d)(2) specifies that an exam
administration fee of $64 is required for each pesticide certification exam,
including the General Standards exam and each license use category and
subcategory .
Q7. How long are individual exam scores valid for in Texas?
A) 6 months
B) 12 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: B) 12 months
Rationale: Texas Administrative Code §7.22(d)(3) states that individual exam
scores are valid for only 12 months. Applicants must complete all licensing
requirements within this timeframe .
Q8. A person who applies pesticides on property owned or leased by
their employer is classified as a:
GENERAL STANDARDS EXAM PREP
MASTERY: CERTIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS, RATIONALES, AND
REGULATORY REFERENCES –
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE FOR
COMMERCIAL, NON-COMMERCIAL,
AND PRIVATE APPLICATORS
SECTION 1: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK – FEDERAL & TEXAS
PESTICIDE LAWS (Q1-Q35)
Q1. Which federal act governs the registration, labeling, and
distribution of pesticide products in the United States?
A) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C) Clean Water Act (CWA)
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Answer: B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
,Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal law that gives the EPA authority to
register pesticides and enforce label compliance. All pesticides distributed
or sold in the U.S. must be registered with the EPA under FIFRA .
Q2. Under Texas law, which agency issues pesticide applicator licenses
and enforces state pesticide regulations?
A) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C) Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
D) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
Answer: B) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
Rationale: The TDA administers the Texas Pesticide Applicator Licensing
Program and enforces state pesticide regulations. The Texas Administrative
Code Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7 contains the pesticide regulations
administered by TDA .
Q3. If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with
restricted pesticides, but not to work with state-limited pesticides.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B) False
Rationale: Both restricted-use AND state-limited pesticides require a license
if you are working unsupervised. This is a common misconception that is
specifically tested on the exam .
,Q4. To legally perform structural pest control, you must have a license
regardless of the kinds of pesticides you use.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A) True
Rationale: Any person applying pesticides in or around structures must hold
the appropriate license from the Texas Structural Pest Control Service
(SPCS), regardless of whether they are using restricted-use, state-limited, or
general-use pesticides .
Q5. Which agency is NOT responsible for pesticide applicator training,
certification, and licensing?
A) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B) Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS)
C) Texas A&M AgriLife Research
D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Answer: C) Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Rationale: While Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides training and
education, AgriLife Research is not directly responsible for applicator
training, certification, or licensing. TDA, SPCS, and EPA all share
responsibility in this area .
, Q6. What is the exam administration fee for each pesticide
certification exam in Texas?
A) $25
B) $50
C) $64
D) $100
Answer: C) $64
Rationale: Texas Administrative Code §7.22(d)(2) specifies that an exam
administration fee of $64 is required for each pesticide certification exam,
including the General Standards exam and each license use category and
subcategory .
Q7. How long are individual exam scores valid for in Texas?
A) 6 months
B) 12 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: B) 12 months
Rationale: Texas Administrative Code §7.22(d)(3) states that individual exam
scores are valid for only 12 months. Applicants must complete all licensing
requirements within this timeframe .
Q8. A person who applies pesticides on property owned or leased by
their employer is classified as a:
