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North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicators Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Federal & State Pesticide Laws (Q1–Q15)
Q1. Which federal law governs the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides in
the United States?
A) Clean Water Act
B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act
Answer: C
Rationale: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) establishes the
legal framework for pesticide registration, labeling, distribution, sale, and use in the United
States.
Q2. In United States pesticide regulation, which agency is primarily responsible for
registering pesticides?
A) USDA
B) FDA
C) EPA
D) CDC
Answer: C
Rationale: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates and registers pesticides at
the federal level, assessing toxicity, environmental impact, labeling accuracy, and
effectiveness before approving products.
Q3. In North Dakota, which state agency is responsible for administering the Pesticide Act,
including certification of commercial applicators?
A) North Dakota Department of Health
B) North Dakota Game and Fish Department
C) North Dakota State University Extension Service
D) North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Answer: D
Rationale: The North Dakota Department of Agriculture enforces the state Pesticide Act,
oversees pesticide registration, applicator certification and licensing, and investigates misuse
complaints.
Q4. A commercial pesticide applicator in North Dakota must maintain records of each
pesticide application for a minimum period of:
, 2
A) One year from the application date
B) Two years from the application date
C) Three years from the application date
D) Five years from the application date
Answer: C
Rationale: North Dakota law requires commercial applicators to keep accurate records of all
pesticide applications for at least three years. Records must include information such as
date, location, target pest, pesticide used, rate, and applicator name.
Q5. In North Dakota, a person must be certified as a commercial pesticide applicator if
they apply pesticides:
A) On their own farm for agricultural commodity production
B) For hire on property owned by another person
C) In their own vegetable garden without selling produce
D) To control pests in their personal residence
Answer: B
Rationale: A commercial applicator is someone who applies pesticides for compensation on
another person's property. Private applicators apply pesticides on their own or rented
agricultural land.
Q6. Since what date has North Dakota required commercial applicators to be certified to
use general use pesticides?
A) January 1, 1990
B) August 1, 2001
C) June 15, 2010
D) March 1, 2020
Answer: B
Rationale: As of August 1, 2001, North Dakota requires commercial and public applicators to
be certified to use general use pesticides.
Q7. What is the maximum civil penalty for a pesticide violation in North Dakota?
A) $1,000 per violation
B) $2,500 per violation
C) $5,000 per violation
D) $10,000 per violation
Answer: C
Rationale: A person who violates a provision of the pesticide chapter is subject to a civil
penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation.
Q8. North Dakota does not grant reciprocity to residents of which state?
, 3
A) Minnesota
B) South Dakota
C) Montana
D) North Dakota
Answer: D
Rationale: NDSU Extension does not grant reciprocity to North Dakota residents. Reciprocity
is only available to non-residents.
Q9. A person who applies pesticides for compensation by contract or for hire is classified
under North Dakota law as a:
A) Private applicator
B) Public applicator
C) Commercial applicator
D) Dealer applicator
Answer: C
Rationale: "Commercial applicator" means a person who, by contract or for hire, engages in
the business of applying pesticides for compensation.
Q10. What is the financial responsibility requirement for commercial pesticide applicators
in North Dakota?
A) $25,000
B) $50,000
C) $100,000
D) $250,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Commercial applicators must maintain $100,000 in financial responsibility.
Q11. A non-resident commercial applicator must file what document with NDSU
Extension?
A) A copy of their driver's license only
B) A Non-Resident Appointment of Agent form
C) A letter from their bank
D) A copy of their high school diploma
Answer: B
Rationale: All applicators requesting reciprocal certification must have a Non-Resident
Appointment of Agent form on file with the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program.
Q12. Under North Dakota law, which of the following is a violation?
North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicators Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Federal & State Pesticide Laws (Q1–Q15)
Q1. Which federal law governs the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides in
the United States?
A) Clean Water Act
B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act
Answer: C
Rationale: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) establishes the
legal framework for pesticide registration, labeling, distribution, sale, and use in the United
States.
Q2. In United States pesticide regulation, which agency is primarily responsible for
registering pesticides?
A) USDA
B) FDA
C) EPA
D) CDC
Answer: C
Rationale: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates and registers pesticides at
the federal level, assessing toxicity, environmental impact, labeling accuracy, and
effectiveness before approving products.
Q3. In North Dakota, which state agency is responsible for administering the Pesticide Act,
including certification of commercial applicators?
A) North Dakota Department of Health
B) North Dakota Game and Fish Department
C) North Dakota State University Extension Service
D) North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Answer: D
Rationale: The North Dakota Department of Agriculture enforces the state Pesticide Act,
oversees pesticide registration, applicator certification and licensing, and investigates misuse
complaints.
Q4. A commercial pesticide applicator in North Dakota must maintain records of each
pesticide application for a minimum period of:
, 2
A) One year from the application date
B) Two years from the application date
C) Three years from the application date
D) Five years from the application date
Answer: C
Rationale: North Dakota law requires commercial applicators to keep accurate records of all
pesticide applications for at least three years. Records must include information such as
date, location, target pest, pesticide used, rate, and applicator name.
Q5. In North Dakota, a person must be certified as a commercial pesticide applicator if
they apply pesticides:
A) On their own farm for agricultural commodity production
B) For hire on property owned by another person
C) In their own vegetable garden without selling produce
D) To control pests in their personal residence
Answer: B
Rationale: A commercial applicator is someone who applies pesticides for compensation on
another person's property. Private applicators apply pesticides on their own or rented
agricultural land.
Q6. Since what date has North Dakota required commercial applicators to be certified to
use general use pesticides?
A) January 1, 1990
B) August 1, 2001
C) June 15, 2010
D) March 1, 2020
Answer: B
Rationale: As of August 1, 2001, North Dakota requires commercial and public applicators to
be certified to use general use pesticides.
Q7. What is the maximum civil penalty for a pesticide violation in North Dakota?
A) $1,000 per violation
B) $2,500 per violation
C) $5,000 per violation
D) $10,000 per violation
Answer: C
Rationale: A person who violates a provision of the pesticide chapter is subject to a civil
penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation.
Q8. North Dakota does not grant reciprocity to residents of which state?
, 3
A) Minnesota
B) South Dakota
C) Montana
D) North Dakota
Answer: D
Rationale: NDSU Extension does not grant reciprocity to North Dakota residents. Reciprocity
is only available to non-residents.
Q9. A person who applies pesticides for compensation by contract or for hire is classified
under North Dakota law as a:
A) Private applicator
B) Public applicator
C) Commercial applicator
D) Dealer applicator
Answer: C
Rationale: "Commercial applicator" means a person who, by contract or for hire, engages in
the business of applying pesticides for compensation.
Q10. What is the financial responsibility requirement for commercial pesticide applicators
in North Dakota?
A) $25,000
B) $50,000
C) $100,000
D) $250,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Commercial applicators must maintain $100,000 in financial responsibility.
Q11. A non-resident commercial applicator must file what document with NDSU
Extension?
A) A copy of their driver's license only
B) A Non-Resident Appointment of Agent form
C) A letter from their bank
D) A copy of their high school diploma
Answer: B
Rationale: All applicators requesting reciprocal certification must have a Non-Resident
Appointment of Agent form on file with the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program.
Q12. Under North Dakota law, which of the following is a violation?
