2025 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATORS FINAL
EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026
GRADED A+
what is cultural control? - changing the habitat where the pest flourishes. ex. cultural
practices and sanitation
name at least 6 cultural practices used to manage pests - pruning, thinning and
fertilization
rotating crops
tillage
mulching
varying time of planting or harvest
trap crops
adjusting row width
what is sanitation? - use of hygiene practices to manage pests.
what type of mechanical methods could you use to control weeds? - weed eaters,
shovels, scythes, plows, disks, and mowers
what is physical control and how can it be used to manage certain pests? - changing
certain environmental conditions such as water, air movement, temperature, light and
humidity. such changes can control or even eradicate pests.
name 5 important qualities to consider when choosing a pesticide. - efficacy,
persistence, mobility, toxicity, and mode of action
what is the difference between selective and non selective herbicides? - a selective
herbicide controls some plants and not others (ex. sethoxydim only controls grasses
and not broadleaf)
non selective controls all types of plants.
what is the difference between residual and non residual pesticides? - nonresidual
pesticides break down quickly into nontoxic by-products. a residual pesticide may
remain active for weeks, months, or even years
define pesticide resistance - the ability of a pest population that is repeatedly exposed to
a given pesticide to resist and survive its effects. an insect population, for example,
often has "abnormal" members that can tolerate exposure to insecticide doses that kill
"normal" members. Each time the same MOA is used, the susceptible members die,
and the resistant members survive and breed. in time most of the members will be
resistant to the insecticide.
how can you slow down or limit pesticide resistance? - 1. rotate MOAs
2. use pesticides that target multiple sites in a pest
, 3. use new or altered pesticides
4. treat alternate generations of pests
5. use non chemical control methods where feasible
explain the difference between the words "label" and "labeling" - The label is the
information printed on tor attached to the pesticide container. labeling includes the label
itself, plus all other info recieved from the manufacturer about the product
what is registration of a pesticide - the ongoing review of a registered pesticide to
assess the risks and benefits associated with its labeled uses. the goal of registration is
to identify and reduce risks, based on current scientific knowledge
what is a tolerance - the max amount of pesticide residue that may remain on food or
reed at harvest or slaughter. tolerance levels are set by EPA. observing tolerances is
crucial in ensuring food safety.
when and why may a pesticide product be registered for a special local need SLN? - if a
manufacturer wants to register a pesticide for use only on a regional crop or to manage
a localized pest problem. SLN registrations allow states to expand or limit the uses of
federally registered pesticides within their jurisdictions.
what is a federal Section 3 registration? - an EPA registered product with a label
reviewed and approved by that federal agency. Most pesticides are registered this way.
these have an EPA registration number
true or false: ALL pesticide products must be registered with EPA. This agency reviews
the labels of ALL pesticide products sold in the US - False. Minimum risk pesticides are
exempt from the federal registration process.
under what conditions may a pesticide be labeled "minimum risk" and thus be exempt
form federal regulations? how do labels of minimum-risk Section 25(b) products differ
from those that are EPA registered (section 3)? - EPA has produced a list of minimal
risk active and inert ingredients. to be exempt, all of the active and inert ingredients in a
pesticide product must be on this list.
are minimum risk products exempt from Virginia's state registration requirements? - no.
all pesticides that are sold or used in the Commonwealth of Virginia must be registered
with VDACS office of pesticide services.
what are emergency (section 18) exemptions> - responses to pest problems for which
no pesticides are registered. section 18 exemptions allow the sale and use of a certain
pesticide for a specific nonregistered purpose for a specified period. the four types of
emergency exemptions are: specific, quarantine, public health, and crisis.
what is a restricted use pesticide? - RUPs are pesticides that require special care and
handling. the restricted use designation limits the use of a pesticide product. RUPs are
EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026
GRADED A+
what is cultural control? - changing the habitat where the pest flourishes. ex. cultural
practices and sanitation
name at least 6 cultural practices used to manage pests - pruning, thinning and
fertilization
rotating crops
tillage
mulching
varying time of planting or harvest
trap crops
adjusting row width
what is sanitation? - use of hygiene practices to manage pests.
what type of mechanical methods could you use to control weeds? - weed eaters,
shovels, scythes, plows, disks, and mowers
what is physical control and how can it be used to manage certain pests? - changing
certain environmental conditions such as water, air movement, temperature, light and
humidity. such changes can control or even eradicate pests.
name 5 important qualities to consider when choosing a pesticide. - efficacy,
persistence, mobility, toxicity, and mode of action
what is the difference between selective and non selective herbicides? - a selective
herbicide controls some plants and not others (ex. sethoxydim only controls grasses
and not broadleaf)
non selective controls all types of plants.
what is the difference between residual and non residual pesticides? - nonresidual
pesticides break down quickly into nontoxic by-products. a residual pesticide may
remain active for weeks, months, or even years
define pesticide resistance - the ability of a pest population that is repeatedly exposed to
a given pesticide to resist and survive its effects. an insect population, for example,
often has "abnormal" members that can tolerate exposure to insecticide doses that kill
"normal" members. Each time the same MOA is used, the susceptible members die,
and the resistant members survive and breed. in time most of the members will be
resistant to the insecticide.
how can you slow down or limit pesticide resistance? - 1. rotate MOAs
2. use pesticides that target multiple sites in a pest
, 3. use new or altered pesticides
4. treat alternate generations of pests
5. use non chemical control methods where feasible
explain the difference between the words "label" and "labeling" - The label is the
information printed on tor attached to the pesticide container. labeling includes the label
itself, plus all other info recieved from the manufacturer about the product
what is registration of a pesticide - the ongoing review of a registered pesticide to
assess the risks and benefits associated with its labeled uses. the goal of registration is
to identify and reduce risks, based on current scientific knowledge
what is a tolerance - the max amount of pesticide residue that may remain on food or
reed at harvest or slaughter. tolerance levels are set by EPA. observing tolerances is
crucial in ensuring food safety.
when and why may a pesticide product be registered for a special local need SLN? - if a
manufacturer wants to register a pesticide for use only on a regional crop or to manage
a localized pest problem. SLN registrations allow states to expand or limit the uses of
federally registered pesticides within their jurisdictions.
what is a federal Section 3 registration? - an EPA registered product with a label
reviewed and approved by that federal agency. Most pesticides are registered this way.
these have an EPA registration number
true or false: ALL pesticide products must be registered with EPA. This agency reviews
the labels of ALL pesticide products sold in the US - False. Minimum risk pesticides are
exempt from the federal registration process.
under what conditions may a pesticide be labeled "minimum risk" and thus be exempt
form federal regulations? how do labels of minimum-risk Section 25(b) products differ
from those that are EPA registered (section 3)? - EPA has produced a list of minimal
risk active and inert ingredients. to be exempt, all of the active and inert ingredients in a
pesticide product must be on this list.
are minimum risk products exempt from Virginia's state registration requirements? - no.
all pesticides that are sold or used in the Commonwealth of Virginia must be registered
with VDACS office of pesticide services.
what are emergency (section 18) exemptions> - responses to pest problems for which
no pesticides are registered. section 18 exemptions allow the sale and use of a certain
pesticide for a specific nonregistered purpose for a specified period. the four types of
emergency exemptions are: specific, quarantine, public health, and crisis.
what is a restricted use pesticide? - RUPs are pesticides that require special care and
handling. the restricted use designation limits the use of a pesticide product. RUPs are
