Arizona – Industrial and Institutional Pest
Control Exam – Study Guide and Practice Test
Exam Overview
This study guide and practice test is designed for the Arizona Commercial Pesticide Applicators
– Category 7 Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control examination.
Category 7 covers pest management in, on, around, or adjacent to structures not covered by
another category, including certain health-related pests .
Exam Format: Multiple choice | Passing Score: 70% | Administering Agency: Arizona
Department of Agriculture
Section 1: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Fundamentals (Questions 1-35)
Question 1
Which of the following best defines Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A) Use of only chemical controls
B) Elimination of all insects from the environment
C) Combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods
D) Routine application of pesticides regardless of need
Answer: C
Rationale: Integrated Pest Management emphasizes using multiple strategies — not just
chemicals — to manage pests in the most effective and environmentally sound way .
Question 2
In IPM programs, the action threshold for a pest is set at:
A) The maximum pest population the environment can support
B) The level at which pest control action must be taken
C) The level at which pests cause no damage
D) The point at which all pests must be eliminated
Answer: B
Rationale: The action threshold is the pest population level at which control measures must be
initiated to prevent unacceptable damage .
,Question 3
Which statement best describes the difference between IPM and traditional pest management?
A) IPM is primarily reactive while traditional pest management is proactive
B) IPM considers all approaches including nonchemical methods while traditional pest
management prioritizes pesticide application
C) IPM uses only baits while traditional pest management uses only sprays
D) There is no difference between the two approaches
Answer: B
Rationale: IPM considers all approaches, both nonchemical and chemical, while traditional pest
management gives priority to pesticide application because that tends to be easy, quick, and
responsive to complaints .
Question 4
In an IPM program, pesticides are used:
A) Routinely on a calendar schedule
B) Only when necessary, with low-risk products chosen
C) Always at the highest labeled rate
D) Only for outdoor applications
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike traditional pest management, in an IPM program, pesticides are used only
when necessary. Low-risk products are chosen and applied in a manner that reduces exposure
to people .
Question 5
What is the primary reason IPM programs are most useful in sensitive accounts like schools and
hospitals?
A) These accounts have larger budgets
B) Residents are more sensitive than the general population to pesticides
C) These accounts have fewer pests
D) These accounts require less frequent service
Answer: B
,Rationale: IPM programs are most useful and most desired in sensitive accounts like schools
and hospitals where the residents are more sensitive than the general population to pesticides .
Question 6
Why are children more vulnerable to pesticide exposure in schools?
A) They have more body weight
B) They crawl on floors and put hands in their mouths
C) They have stronger immune systems
D) They spend less time in classrooms
Answer: B
Rationale: Young children crawl on the floor and touch many surfaces and then put their hands
in their mouths, transferring pesticide residues. They also have less body weight and less ability
to detoxify contaminants .
Question 7
What is the first step in controlling a pest problem?
A) Applying pesticide
B) Identifying the pest
C) Notifying the client
D) Calibrating equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper pest identification is essential before any control measures can be selected.
Different pests require different management strategies .
Question 8
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of an IPM program?
A) Identifies structural and sanitation problems through monitoring
B) Reduces pesticide exposure for students and staff
C) Regular application of pesticides regardless of pest presence
D) Effective, long-term control of pests using less pesticide
Answer: C
, Rationale: Regular application of pesticides is not a benefit of an IPM program. IPM's goal is to
reduce the amount of pesticide used .
Question 9
IPM records should document:
A) Only pesticide applications
B) Only structural deficiencies
C) Pest sightings, pesticide applications, control actions, housekeeping problems, and structural
deficiencies
D) Only sensitive areas
Answer: C
Rationale: IPM records document all aspects of the IPM program including pest sightings,
pesticide applications, other control/management actions, housekeeping problems, structural
deficiencies, other problems contributing to pests, and the location of sensitive areas .
Question 10
Anyone in a school who sees a pest should:
A) Ignore it if it's small
B) Report the sighting in the logbook
C) Only tell the IPM coordinator verbally
D) Wait for the technician's next visit
Answer: B
Rationale: Anyone in the school who sees a pest should report the sighting in the logbook, as
should the IPM technician. The more people are using the logbook, the more useful it will be .
Question 11
When a pest-sighting log becomes inactive, what is the consequence?
A) It remains useful for historical reference
B) It serves no purpose and pest problems tend to get out of control
C) It automatically updates with new data
D) It triggers an alert to the IPM coordinator
Answer: B
Control Exam – Study Guide and Practice Test
Exam Overview
This study guide and practice test is designed for the Arizona Commercial Pesticide Applicators
– Category 7 Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control examination.
Category 7 covers pest management in, on, around, or adjacent to structures not covered by
another category, including certain health-related pests .
Exam Format: Multiple choice | Passing Score: 70% | Administering Agency: Arizona
Department of Agriculture
Section 1: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Fundamentals (Questions 1-35)
Question 1
Which of the following best defines Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A) Use of only chemical controls
B) Elimination of all insects from the environment
C) Combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods
D) Routine application of pesticides regardless of need
Answer: C
Rationale: Integrated Pest Management emphasizes using multiple strategies — not just
chemicals — to manage pests in the most effective and environmentally sound way .
Question 2
In IPM programs, the action threshold for a pest is set at:
A) The maximum pest population the environment can support
B) The level at which pest control action must be taken
C) The level at which pests cause no damage
D) The point at which all pests must be eliminated
Answer: B
Rationale: The action threshold is the pest population level at which control measures must be
initiated to prevent unacceptable damage .
,Question 3
Which statement best describes the difference between IPM and traditional pest management?
A) IPM is primarily reactive while traditional pest management is proactive
B) IPM considers all approaches including nonchemical methods while traditional pest
management prioritizes pesticide application
C) IPM uses only baits while traditional pest management uses only sprays
D) There is no difference between the two approaches
Answer: B
Rationale: IPM considers all approaches, both nonchemical and chemical, while traditional pest
management gives priority to pesticide application because that tends to be easy, quick, and
responsive to complaints .
Question 4
In an IPM program, pesticides are used:
A) Routinely on a calendar schedule
B) Only when necessary, with low-risk products chosen
C) Always at the highest labeled rate
D) Only for outdoor applications
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike traditional pest management, in an IPM program, pesticides are used only
when necessary. Low-risk products are chosen and applied in a manner that reduces exposure
to people .
Question 5
What is the primary reason IPM programs are most useful in sensitive accounts like schools and
hospitals?
A) These accounts have larger budgets
B) Residents are more sensitive than the general population to pesticides
C) These accounts have fewer pests
D) These accounts require less frequent service
Answer: B
,Rationale: IPM programs are most useful and most desired in sensitive accounts like schools
and hospitals where the residents are more sensitive than the general population to pesticides .
Question 6
Why are children more vulnerable to pesticide exposure in schools?
A) They have more body weight
B) They crawl on floors and put hands in their mouths
C) They have stronger immune systems
D) They spend less time in classrooms
Answer: B
Rationale: Young children crawl on the floor and touch many surfaces and then put their hands
in their mouths, transferring pesticide residues. They also have less body weight and less ability
to detoxify contaminants .
Question 7
What is the first step in controlling a pest problem?
A) Applying pesticide
B) Identifying the pest
C) Notifying the client
D) Calibrating equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper pest identification is essential before any control measures can be selected.
Different pests require different management strategies .
Question 8
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of an IPM program?
A) Identifies structural and sanitation problems through monitoring
B) Reduces pesticide exposure for students and staff
C) Regular application of pesticides regardless of pest presence
D) Effective, long-term control of pests using less pesticide
Answer: C
, Rationale: Regular application of pesticides is not a benefit of an IPM program. IPM's goal is to
reduce the amount of pesticide used .
Question 9
IPM records should document:
A) Only pesticide applications
B) Only structural deficiencies
C) Pest sightings, pesticide applications, control actions, housekeeping problems, and structural
deficiencies
D) Only sensitive areas
Answer: C
Rationale: IPM records document all aspects of the IPM program including pest sightings,
pesticide applications, other control/management actions, housekeeping problems, structural
deficiencies, other problems contributing to pests, and the location of sensitive areas .
Question 10
Anyone in a school who sees a pest should:
A) Ignore it if it's small
B) Report the sighting in the logbook
C) Only tell the IPM coordinator verbally
D) Wait for the technician's next visit
Answer: B
Rationale: Anyone in the school who sees a pest should report the sighting in the logbook, as
should the IPM technician. The more people are using the logbook, the more useful it will be .
Question 11
When a pest-sighting log becomes inactive, what is the consequence?
A) It remains useful for historical reference
B) It serves no purpose and pest problems tend to get out of control
C) It automatically updates with new data
D) It triggers an alert to the IPM coordinator
Answer: B
