Structural Pest Control Board
Applicators Exam Study Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the main goal of structural pest control?
✔✔ To prevent, control, and eliminate pests that affect structures and health
What is an integrated approach to pest management called?
✔✔ Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
What does IPM emphasize before chemical use?
✔✔ Inspection, identification, and non-chemical controls
Why is correct pest identification important?
✔✔ It ensures the most effective and safe control method
What is a pesticide?
✔✔ A substance used to control or repel pests
What does the term “label” mean in pest control?
✔✔ The legal instructions for pesticide use
1
,Why is the pesticide label considered a legal document?
✔✔ Because applicators must follow it by law
What does PPE stand for in pest control work?
✔✔ Personal Protective Equipment
Why is PPE important for applicators?
✔✔ To reduce exposure to harmful substances
What is exposure in pest control?
✔✔ Contact with pesticides through skin, inhalation, or ingestion
What is the most common route of pesticide exposure?
✔✔ Skin contact
What does toxicity describe?
✔✔ The degree to which a substance is harmful
What is acute toxicity?
✔✔ Harmful effects from short-term exposure
What is chronic toxicity?
2
,✔✔ Harmful effects from long-term exposure
What is an insecticide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control insects
What is a rodenticide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control rodents
What is a fungicide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control fungi
What does “residual control” mean?
✔✔ A pesticide remains effective after application
What is pest resistance?
✔✔ When pests survive and adapt to control methods
How can resistance be reduced?
✔✔ By rotating control methods and using IPM
What is sanitation in pest control?
✔✔ Removing food, water, and shelter for pests
3
, Why is exclusion important in structural pest control?
✔✔ It prevents pests from entering buildings
What is exclusion?
✔✔ Sealing or blocking pest entry points
What is monitoring in IPM?
✔✔ Regular checking for pest activity
What is an action threshold?
✔✔ The pest level at which control is needed
What is a target pest?
✔✔ The specific pest being controlled
What is a non-target organism?
✔✔ An organism not intended to be affected
Why should non-target exposure be minimized?
✔✔ To protect people, pets, and the environment
4
Applicators Exam Study Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the main goal of structural pest control?
✔✔ To prevent, control, and eliminate pests that affect structures and health
What is an integrated approach to pest management called?
✔✔ Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
What does IPM emphasize before chemical use?
✔✔ Inspection, identification, and non-chemical controls
Why is correct pest identification important?
✔✔ It ensures the most effective and safe control method
What is a pesticide?
✔✔ A substance used to control or repel pests
What does the term “label” mean in pest control?
✔✔ The legal instructions for pesticide use
1
,Why is the pesticide label considered a legal document?
✔✔ Because applicators must follow it by law
What does PPE stand for in pest control work?
✔✔ Personal Protective Equipment
Why is PPE important for applicators?
✔✔ To reduce exposure to harmful substances
What is exposure in pest control?
✔✔ Contact with pesticides through skin, inhalation, or ingestion
What is the most common route of pesticide exposure?
✔✔ Skin contact
What does toxicity describe?
✔✔ The degree to which a substance is harmful
What is acute toxicity?
✔✔ Harmful effects from short-term exposure
What is chronic toxicity?
2
,✔✔ Harmful effects from long-term exposure
What is an insecticide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control insects
What is a rodenticide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control rodents
What is a fungicide?
✔✔ A pesticide used to control fungi
What does “residual control” mean?
✔✔ A pesticide remains effective after application
What is pest resistance?
✔✔ When pests survive and adapt to control methods
How can resistance be reduced?
✔✔ By rotating control methods and using IPM
What is sanitation in pest control?
✔✔ Removing food, water, and shelter for pests
3
, Why is exclusion important in structural pest control?
✔✔ It prevents pests from entering buildings
What is exclusion?
✔✔ Sealing or blocking pest entry points
What is monitoring in IPM?
✔✔ Regular checking for pest activity
What is an action threshold?
✔✔ The pest level at which control is needed
What is a target pest?
✔✔ The specific pest being controlled
What is a non-target organism?
✔✔ An organism not intended to be affected
Why should non-target exposure be minimized?
✔✔ To protect people, pets, and the environment
4
