GEORGIA PEST CONTROL CERTIFICATION
Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition
100% Correct Questions and Answers with Rationales - State Licensing Exam
Aligned with Georgia Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Commission Standards & EPA Pesticide
Applicator Certification Requirements
Total Questions: 150 | Format: Multiple Choice (A-D) | Cognitive Levels: 30% Recall, 50% Application, 20% Analysis |
Question Style: 75% Scenario-Based, 25% Direct Knowledge
Sections: (1) Pest Identification & Biology - 25; (2) Pesticide Safety & Toxicology - 20; (3) Application Methods & Equipment -
20; (4) IPM Principles - 15; (5) Structural Pest Control (Termites & WDO) - 20; (6) General & Household Pests - 15; (7) Georgia
State Laws, Regulations, & Recordkeeping - 20; (8) Environmental Protection & Wildlife Management - 15.
Special Inclusions: 10 Georgia-specific termite treatment regulations (Section 5); 10 PPE & chemical-handling questions
(Section 2); 10 pesticide-label interpretation questions (Section 7).
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 1
,Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Section 1: Pest Identification & Biology
This section tests knowledge of insect anatomy, life cycles, identification characteristics, and rodent biology — the foundational
science underlying accurate pest identification and treatment selection under Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission
standards.
Q1: During a structural inspection, a technician observes insects with three body regions (head, thorax,
abdomen), six legs, two pairs of wings (forewings larger than hindwings), elbowed antennae, and a distinct
constricted petiole (waist). To which insect order do these specimens belong?
A. Isoptera
B. Hymenoptera *[CORRECT]*
C. Blattodea
D. Coleoptera
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps) is identified by three body regions, six legs, elbowed antennae, and a distinct petiole
connecting the thorax and abdomen. Isoptera (termites) lack a constricted waist and have beaded antennae. Blattodea
(cockroaches) have a flattened oval body with no waist. Coleoptera (beetles) have hardened forewings (elytra). Order-level
identification is foundational under Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission inspection standards.
Q2: Which body region of an insect bears the legs and wings?
A. Head
B. Thorax *[CORRECT]*
C. Abdomen
D. Cephalothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thorax is the middle body region of insects and bears the legs and wings via sclerites and musculature adapted
for locomotion. The head contains mouthparts, compound eyes, and antennae; the abdomen houses digestive and reproductive
organs. "Cephalothorax" is a fused head-thorax found in arachnids (spiders), not insects. Accurate anatomical knowledge is
required for certification by the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission.
Q3: A technician in Columbus identifies an insect with chewing mouthparts, bead-like antennae, and a soft,
cream-colored body. Workers are wingless and approximately 6 mm long. Which pest is most likely?
A. Carpenter ant worker
B. Eastern subterranean termite worker (Reticulitermes flavipes) *[CORRECT]*
C. Powderpost beetle larva
D. Silverfish
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cream-colored, soft-bodied workers with bead-like antennae and chewing mouthparts are diagnostic of Eastern
subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) workers — the dominant termite species in Georgia. Carpenter ant workers are
dark, hard-bodied, and have elbowed antennae. Powderpost beetle larvae are grub-like and rarely visible outside wood.
Silverfish have three long caudal appendages and silvery scales. Correct identification drives treatment selection.
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 2
,Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Q4: A technician in Macon observes small (3 mm), reddish-brown, dorsoventrally flattened insects with three
pairs of legs clustered around a pet's bedding. The insects can jump significant distances. Which pest is
identified?
A. Bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
B. Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) *[CORRECT]*
C. Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
D. Louse (Pediculus humanus)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reddish-brown coloration, dorsoventrally flattened body, powerful jumping legs, and association with pet bedding
identify the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Bed bugs crawl and do not jump. Ticks are not flattened when fed and quest on
vegetation rather than jumping. Lice crawl and cannot jump. Correct identification drives selection of an EPA-registered flea
adulticide combined with an insect growth regulator (IGR) to break the life cycle.
Q5: A homeowner in Augusta reports dark brown to black ants trailing along a kitchen baseboard. The
technician notes a single petiolar node, an uneven thoracic profile, and polymorphic workers (varying sizes
within the same trail). Which ant species is most likely?
A. Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
B. Carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) *[CORRECT]*
C. Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
D. Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Polymorphic workers, a single petiolar node, an uneven thoracic profile, and dark coloration are diagnostic of the
black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). Pharaoh ants are tiny (~2 mm) and monomorphic. Argentine ants are
uniformly small and monomorphic with a single node. Fire ants have a two-segmented petiole and a functional stinger.
Misidentification can lead to inappropriate bait selection and treatment failure.
Q6: A pest control operator in Albany finds cast wings of uniform size (all four wings equal in length) with no
sign of a petiole or elbowed antennae on the discarded specimens. No fecal pellets are observed. Which
conclusion is best supported?
A. The infestation is by carpenter ants
B. The infestation is by subterranean termites *[CORRECT]*
C. The infestation is by drywood termites
D. The infestation is by powderpost beetles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subterranean termite swarmers shed all four wings, which are equal in size (unlike the unequal fore/hind wings of
Hymenoptera). The absence of a petiole and elbowed antennae rules out ants. The absence of six-sided fecal pellets suggests
subterranean rather than drywood termites, which produce dry, six-sided pellets. Powderpost beetles leave round emergence
holes and fine flour-like frass but no shed wings. This distinction determines whether treatment is soil-applied liquid, baiting, or
wood injection.
Q7: The complete (holometabolous) life cycle of a flea consists of which four stages?
A. Egg, nymph, subimago, adult
B. Egg, larva, pupa, adult *[CORRECT]*
C. Egg, nymph, adult
D. Egg, instar, pupa, adult
Correct Answer: B
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 3
, Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Rationale: Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The pupal stage can
remain viable for months inside a silken cocoon, complicating control. "Egg, nymph, adult" describes incomplete
(hemimetabolous) metamorphosis, as in cockroaches. "Nymph, subimago, adult" is characteristic of mayflies. Knowing the life
cycle guides selection of an IGR (e.g., methoprene, pyriproxyfen) to break the cycle.
Q8: A technician encounters cockroaches in a commercial kitchen in Macon. The specimens are large (~3.5
cm), reddish-brown, with a yellowish pronotal margin bearing two dark parallel stripes. Which species is
identified?
A. German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
B. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) *[CORRECT]*
C. Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
D. Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The large size (3-4 cm), reddish-brown body, and yellowish pronotal margin with two dark stripes are characteristic
of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), common in commercial kitchens and steam tunnels. German cockroaches
are much smaller (~1.5 cm), tan, with two dark longitudinal stripes on the pronotum. Oriental cockroaches are dark brown to
black and ~2.5 cm. Brown-banded cockroaches are small with light bands across the wings. Species identification informs bait
selection and harborage focus.
Q9: Which arthropod group possesses two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen) and four pairs of legs
as adults?
A. Insects
B. Arachnids *[CORRECT]*
C. Crustaceans
D. Myriapods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Adult arachnids (spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites) have two body regions — a cephalothorax and an abdomen — and
four pairs of legs. Insects have three body regions (head, thorax, abdomen) and three pairs of legs. Crustaceans typically have
two body regions and five or more pairs of legs. Myriapods (centipedes, millipedes) have elongated segmented bodies with one or
two pairs of legs per segment. This distinction is fundamental for accurate pest identification and treatment selection.
Q10: A homeowner in Valdosta reports small (~12 mm), silvery, wingless insects in a bathroom. The
technician notes a pronotum resembling a hood covering the head and three long caudal filaments. Which pest
is identified?
A. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) *[CORRECT]*
B. Firebrat (Thermobia domestica)
C. Psocid (Liposcelis bostrychophila)
D. Springtail (Collembola)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Silvery coloration, a hooded pronotum covering the head, three long caudal filaments, and preference for humid
environments (bathrooms) identify the silverfish (Lepisma saccharina). Firebrats are mottled brown and prefer warm
environments near boilers. Psocids (booklice) are much smaller (~1 mm) and lack caudal filaments. Springtails have a ventral
furculum used for jumping and are found in damp soil. Proper identification informs humidity control recommendations and
insecticide selection.
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 4
Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition
100% Correct Questions and Answers with Rationales - State Licensing Exam
Aligned with Georgia Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Commission Standards & EPA Pesticide
Applicator Certification Requirements
Total Questions: 150 | Format: Multiple Choice (A-D) | Cognitive Levels: 30% Recall, 50% Application, 20% Analysis |
Question Style: 75% Scenario-Based, 25% Direct Knowledge
Sections: (1) Pest Identification & Biology - 25; (2) Pesticide Safety & Toxicology - 20; (3) Application Methods & Equipment -
20; (4) IPM Principles - 15; (5) Structural Pest Control (Termites & WDO) - 20; (6) General & Household Pests - 15; (7) Georgia
State Laws, Regulations, & Recordkeeping - 20; (8) Environmental Protection & Wildlife Management - 15.
Special Inclusions: 10 Georgia-specific termite treatment regulations (Section 5); 10 PPE & chemical-handling questions
(Section 2); 10 pesticide-label interpretation questions (Section 7).
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 1
,Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Section 1: Pest Identification & Biology
This section tests knowledge of insect anatomy, life cycles, identification characteristics, and rodent biology — the foundational
science underlying accurate pest identification and treatment selection under Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission
standards.
Q1: During a structural inspection, a technician observes insects with three body regions (head, thorax,
abdomen), six legs, two pairs of wings (forewings larger than hindwings), elbowed antennae, and a distinct
constricted petiole (waist). To which insect order do these specimens belong?
A. Isoptera
B. Hymenoptera *[CORRECT]*
C. Blattodea
D. Coleoptera
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps) is identified by three body regions, six legs, elbowed antennae, and a distinct petiole
connecting the thorax and abdomen. Isoptera (termites) lack a constricted waist and have beaded antennae. Blattodea
(cockroaches) have a flattened oval body with no waist. Coleoptera (beetles) have hardened forewings (elytra). Order-level
identification is foundational under Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission inspection standards.
Q2: Which body region of an insect bears the legs and wings?
A. Head
B. Thorax *[CORRECT]*
C. Abdomen
D. Cephalothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thorax is the middle body region of insects and bears the legs and wings via sclerites and musculature adapted
for locomotion. The head contains mouthparts, compound eyes, and antennae; the abdomen houses digestive and reproductive
organs. "Cephalothorax" is a fused head-thorax found in arachnids (spiders), not insects. Accurate anatomical knowledge is
required for certification by the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission.
Q3: A technician in Columbus identifies an insect with chewing mouthparts, bead-like antennae, and a soft,
cream-colored body. Workers are wingless and approximately 6 mm long. Which pest is most likely?
A. Carpenter ant worker
B. Eastern subterranean termite worker (Reticulitermes flavipes) *[CORRECT]*
C. Powderpost beetle larva
D. Silverfish
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cream-colored, soft-bodied workers with bead-like antennae and chewing mouthparts are diagnostic of Eastern
subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) workers — the dominant termite species in Georgia. Carpenter ant workers are
dark, hard-bodied, and have elbowed antennae. Powderpost beetle larvae are grub-like and rarely visible outside wood.
Silverfish have three long caudal appendages and silvery scales. Correct identification drives treatment selection.
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 2
,Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Q4: A technician in Macon observes small (3 mm), reddish-brown, dorsoventrally flattened insects with three
pairs of legs clustered around a pet's bedding. The insects can jump significant distances. Which pest is
identified?
A. Bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
B. Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) *[CORRECT]*
C. Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
D. Louse (Pediculus humanus)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reddish-brown coloration, dorsoventrally flattened body, powerful jumping legs, and association with pet bedding
identify the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Bed bugs crawl and do not jump. Ticks are not flattened when fed and quest on
vegetation rather than jumping. Lice crawl and cannot jump. Correct identification drives selection of an EPA-registered flea
adulticide combined with an insect growth regulator (IGR) to break the life cycle.
Q5: A homeowner in Augusta reports dark brown to black ants trailing along a kitchen baseboard. The
technician notes a single petiolar node, an uneven thoracic profile, and polymorphic workers (varying sizes
within the same trail). Which ant species is most likely?
A. Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
B. Carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) *[CORRECT]*
C. Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
D. Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Polymorphic workers, a single petiolar node, an uneven thoracic profile, and dark coloration are diagnostic of the
black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). Pharaoh ants are tiny (~2 mm) and monomorphic. Argentine ants are
uniformly small and monomorphic with a single node. Fire ants have a two-segmented petiole and a functional stinger.
Misidentification can lead to inappropriate bait selection and treatment failure.
Q6: A pest control operator in Albany finds cast wings of uniform size (all four wings equal in length) with no
sign of a petiole or elbowed antennae on the discarded specimens. No fecal pellets are observed. Which
conclusion is best supported?
A. The infestation is by carpenter ants
B. The infestation is by subterranean termites *[CORRECT]*
C. The infestation is by drywood termites
D. The infestation is by powderpost beetles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subterranean termite swarmers shed all four wings, which are equal in size (unlike the unequal fore/hind wings of
Hymenoptera). The absence of a petiole and elbowed antennae rules out ants. The absence of six-sided fecal pellets suggests
subterranean rather than drywood termites, which produce dry, six-sided pellets. Powderpost beetles leave round emergence
holes and fine flour-like frass but no shed wings. This distinction determines whether treatment is soil-applied liquid, baiting, or
wood injection.
Q7: The complete (holometabolous) life cycle of a flea consists of which four stages?
A. Egg, nymph, subimago, adult
B. Egg, larva, pupa, adult *[CORRECT]*
C. Egg, nymph, adult
D. Egg, instar, pupa, adult
Correct Answer: B
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 3
, Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission - State Licensing Exam Preparation
Rationale: Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The pupal stage can
remain viable for months inside a silken cocoon, complicating control. "Egg, nymph, adult" describes incomplete
(hemimetabolous) metamorphosis, as in cockroaches. "Nymph, subimago, adult" is characteristic of mayflies. Knowing the life
cycle guides selection of an IGR (e.g., methoprene, pyriproxyfen) to break the cycle.
Q8: A technician encounters cockroaches in a commercial kitchen in Macon. The specimens are large (~3.5
cm), reddish-brown, with a yellowish pronotal margin bearing two dark parallel stripes. Which species is
identified?
A. German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
B. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) *[CORRECT]*
C. Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
D. Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The large size (3-4 cm), reddish-brown body, and yellowish pronotal margin with two dark stripes are characteristic
of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), common in commercial kitchens and steam tunnels. German cockroaches
are much smaller (~1.5 cm), tan, with two dark longitudinal stripes on the pronotum. Oriental cockroaches are dark brown to
black and ~2.5 cm. Brown-banded cockroaches are small with light bands across the wings. Species identification informs bait
selection and harborage focus.
Q9: Which arthropod group possesses two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen) and four pairs of legs
as adults?
A. Insects
B. Arachnids *[CORRECT]*
C. Crustaceans
D. Myriapods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Adult arachnids (spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites) have two body regions — a cephalothorax and an abdomen — and
four pairs of legs. Insects have three body regions (head, thorax, abdomen) and three pairs of legs. Crustaceans typically have
two body regions and five or more pairs of legs. Myriapods (centipedes, millipedes) have elongated segmented bodies with one or
two pairs of legs per segment. This distinction is fundamental for accurate pest identification and treatment selection.
Q10: A homeowner in Valdosta reports small (~12 mm), silvery, wingless insects in a bathroom. The
technician notes a pronotum resembling a hood covering the head and three long caudal filaments. Which pest
is identified?
A. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) *[CORRECT]*
B. Firebrat (Thermobia domestica)
C. Psocid (Liposcelis bostrychophila)
D. Springtail (Collembola)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Silvery coloration, a hooded pronotum covering the head, three long caudal filaments, and preference for humid
environments (bathrooms) identify the silverfish (Lepisma saccharina). Firebrats are mottled brown and prefer warm
environments near boilers. Psocids (booklice) are much smaller (~1 mm) and lack caudal filaments. Springtails have a ventral
furculum used for jumping and are found in damp soil. Proper identification informs humidity control recommendations and
insecticide selection.
Georgia Pest Control Certification - Practice Test 2026/2027 Edition Page 4
