NATIONAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
CERTIFICATION CORE MANUAL 2026 STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SAFETY AND APPLICATION
PRACTICES REVIEW
◉ Chapter 1: Pest Management:
Using barriers to prevent pests from getting into an area is an
example of which type of pest management method?
A. Biological.
B. Mechanical.
C. Genetic. Answer: B. Mechanical
◉ Which statement about cultural control practices is true?
A. They reduce pest establishment, reproduction, and survival.
B. They use naturally derived and/or synthesized chemicals to
control pests.
C. They involve the release of parasites and predators found in
foreign countries. Answer: A. They reduce pest establishment,
reproduction, and survival.
◉ Which statement about biological control methods is true?
,A. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is
recommended in biological control.
B. Biological control involves importing exotic pests to control
natural enemies.
C. Using several cultural practices and a wide variety of pesticides
works best in biological control. Answer: A. Modifying the
environment to enhance natural enemies is recommended in
biological control.
◉ Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an
example of which type of pest management method.
A. Physical.
B. Genetic
C. Biological Answer: A. Physical
◉ Monitoring pests at airports and ocean ports that pose a serious
threat to public health or widespread damage to crops or animals is
an example of which type of pest management method?
A. Regulatory.
B. Genetic
C. Biological Answer: A. Regulatory.
◉ Which statement about pest management strategies in IPM is
true.
,A. The goal is to prevent pests from reaching damaging levels.
B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program.
C. Non chemical methods are short-term solutions to control pests
Answer: A. The goal is to prevent pests from reaching damaging
levels
◉ Which would be considered a preventive pest management
strategy?
A. Planting weed-and disease-free seed on an athletic field.
B. Releasing natural enemies to help reduce pest populations.
C. Removing a pest that is a public health concern from an area.
Answer: A. Planting weed-and disease-free seed on an athletic field
◉ Which statement about action thresholds is true?
A. The IPM technician needs to implement control measures below
the action threshold level.
B. The action threshold for a pest may be set at a zero pest
population density.
C. In an urban landscape, action thresholds are usually more related
to economics than aesthetics Answer: B. The action threshold for a
pest may be set at a zero pest population density.
◉ Which would increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance.
A. An insect that has one generation per year.
, B. Continual use of pesticides from the same chemical class.
C. Applying a pesticide that has little or no residual effect. Answer: B.
Continual use of pesticides from the same chemical class
◉ Chapter 2: Federal pesticide Laws and Regulations:
Which Statement about FIFRA is false?
A. It provides the overall framework for the federal pesticide
regulatory program.
B. It prevents states, tribes, and territories from creating pesticide
use laws more stringent than federal regulations.
C. It allows applicators to deviate from the pesticide label under
specific use situations. Answer: B. It prevents states, tribes, and
territories from creating pesticide use laws more stringent than
federal regulations.
◉ Under federal law, which statement about trained and certified
applicators is true?
A. They may apply and/or supervise the application of restricted-use
pesticides.
B. They must receive supplemental training before mixing RUPs.
C. They are exempt from obtaining county bulletins for the
protection of endangered species. Answer: A. They may apply
and/or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides.
CERTIFICATION CORE MANUAL 2026 STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SAFETY AND APPLICATION
PRACTICES REVIEW
◉ Chapter 1: Pest Management:
Using barriers to prevent pests from getting into an area is an
example of which type of pest management method?
A. Biological.
B. Mechanical.
C. Genetic. Answer: B. Mechanical
◉ Which statement about cultural control practices is true?
A. They reduce pest establishment, reproduction, and survival.
B. They use naturally derived and/or synthesized chemicals to
control pests.
C. They involve the release of parasites and predators found in
foreign countries. Answer: A. They reduce pest establishment,
reproduction, and survival.
◉ Which statement about biological control methods is true?
,A. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is
recommended in biological control.
B. Biological control involves importing exotic pests to control
natural enemies.
C. Using several cultural practices and a wide variety of pesticides
works best in biological control. Answer: A. Modifying the
environment to enhance natural enemies is recommended in
biological control.
◉ Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an
example of which type of pest management method.
A. Physical.
B. Genetic
C. Biological Answer: A. Physical
◉ Monitoring pests at airports and ocean ports that pose a serious
threat to public health or widespread damage to crops or animals is
an example of which type of pest management method?
A. Regulatory.
B. Genetic
C. Biological Answer: A. Regulatory.
◉ Which statement about pest management strategies in IPM is
true.
,A. The goal is to prevent pests from reaching damaging levels.
B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program.
C. Non chemical methods are short-term solutions to control pests
Answer: A. The goal is to prevent pests from reaching damaging
levels
◉ Which would be considered a preventive pest management
strategy?
A. Planting weed-and disease-free seed on an athletic field.
B. Releasing natural enemies to help reduce pest populations.
C. Removing a pest that is a public health concern from an area.
Answer: A. Planting weed-and disease-free seed on an athletic field
◉ Which statement about action thresholds is true?
A. The IPM technician needs to implement control measures below
the action threshold level.
B. The action threshold for a pest may be set at a zero pest
population density.
C. In an urban landscape, action thresholds are usually more related
to economics than aesthetics Answer: B. The action threshold for a
pest may be set at a zero pest population density.
◉ Which would increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance.
A. An insect that has one generation per year.
, B. Continual use of pesticides from the same chemical class.
C. Applying a pesticide that has little or no residual effect. Answer: B.
Continual use of pesticides from the same chemical class
◉ Chapter 2: Federal pesticide Laws and Regulations:
Which Statement about FIFRA is false?
A. It provides the overall framework for the federal pesticide
regulatory program.
B. It prevents states, tribes, and territories from creating pesticide
use laws more stringent than federal regulations.
C. It allows applicators to deviate from the pesticide label under
specific use situations. Answer: B. It prevents states, tribes, and
territories from creating pesticide use laws more stringent than
federal regulations.
◉ Under federal law, which statement about trained and certified
applicators is true?
A. They may apply and/or supervise the application of restricted-use
pesticides.
B. They must receive supplemental training before mixing RUPs.
C. They are exempt from obtaining county bulletins for the
protection of endangered species. Answer: A. They may apply
and/or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides.
