National Pesticide Applicator Certification
Core Manual questions and answers
2026\2027 A+ Grade
Using barriers to prevent pests from getting into an area is an example of which type of pest
management method?
A. Biological control
B. Mechanical control
C. Genetic control
D. Chemical control
- correct answer B. Mechanical control
Lowering the humidity of stored grains and other food products to reduce damage from mold is an
example of which type of pest management method?
A. Biological
B. Mechanical
C. Physical/environmental modification
D. Regulatory pest control
- correct answer C. Physical/environmental modification
,Which statement is "true" about biological control methods?
A. If pesticides are part of a biological control program to control an exotic pest, it is better to apply
them at the strongest label rate and to choose the more toxic pesticides
B. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is a recommended practice in biological
control
C. Biological control involves the importation of exotic pests to control natural enemies
D. Using several cultural practices and a wide variety of pesticides works best in biological control
- correct answer B. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is a recommended practice
in biological control
Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an example of which type of mechanical
control method?
A. Exclusion
B. Trapping
C. Cultivation
D. Mulching
- correct answer A. Exclusion
Which statement is "true" about cultural control practices?
A. Cultural practices alter the environment, the condition of the host, or the behavior of the pest to
prevent or suppress an infestation
,B. Trapping is an important cultural control practice
C. Sanitation is not considered a cultural practice
D. Cultural controls involve the release of parasites and predators found in foreign countries
- correct answer A. Cultural practices alter the environment, the condition of the host, or the behavior of
the pest to prevent or suppress an infestation
Which statement is "true" about regulatory pest control?
A. Pests that pose a serious public health threat are rarely regulated by federal and state agencies
B. Pests that are to be eradicated are rarely under quarantine restrictions
C. Airports and ocean ports are monitored by pest quarantine regulatory agencies
D. Entry of pests across state lines is not regulated
- correct answer C. Airports and ocean ports are monitored by pest quarantine regulatory agencies
Which statement is "true" about pest management strategies in IPM?
A. The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels
B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program
C. Pesticides are not included in an IPM strategy
D. Non-chemical methods usually provide only short-term control of a pest
- correct answer A. The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels
, Which would be considered a preventive pest management strategy?
A. Planting weed- and disease-free seed
B. Releasing natural enemies to help reduce pest populations
C. Eliminating rodents from a commercial food establishment
D. Removing from an area a pest that is a public health concern
- correct answer A. Planting weed- and disease-free seed
Which statement is "true" about action thresholds?
A. The IPM technician needs to implement control measures below the action threshold level
B. The action threshold for a pest may be set a a zero pest population density
C. Action thresholds are usually easy to establish
D. In an urban landscape, action thresholds are usually more related to economics than aesthetics
- correct answer B. The action threshold for a pest may be set a a zero pest population density
Which would increase the likelihood pesticide resistance?
A. An insect has only one generation per year
B. Continual use of the same pesticides or pesticides from the same chemical class
C. Limiting the number of pesticide applications
Core Manual questions and answers
2026\2027 A+ Grade
Using barriers to prevent pests from getting into an area is an example of which type of pest
management method?
A. Biological control
B. Mechanical control
C. Genetic control
D. Chemical control
- correct answer B. Mechanical control
Lowering the humidity of stored grains and other food products to reduce damage from mold is an
example of which type of pest management method?
A. Biological
B. Mechanical
C. Physical/environmental modification
D. Regulatory pest control
- correct answer C. Physical/environmental modification
,Which statement is "true" about biological control methods?
A. If pesticides are part of a biological control program to control an exotic pest, it is better to apply
them at the strongest label rate and to choose the more toxic pesticides
B. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is a recommended practice in biological
control
C. Biological control involves the importation of exotic pests to control natural enemies
D. Using several cultural practices and a wide variety of pesticides works best in biological control
- correct answer B. Modifying the environment to enhance natural enemies is a recommended practice
in biological control
Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an example of which type of mechanical
control method?
A. Exclusion
B. Trapping
C. Cultivation
D. Mulching
- correct answer A. Exclusion
Which statement is "true" about cultural control practices?
A. Cultural practices alter the environment, the condition of the host, or the behavior of the pest to
prevent or suppress an infestation
,B. Trapping is an important cultural control practice
C. Sanitation is not considered a cultural practice
D. Cultural controls involve the release of parasites and predators found in foreign countries
- correct answer A. Cultural practices alter the environment, the condition of the host, or the behavior of
the pest to prevent or suppress an infestation
Which statement is "true" about regulatory pest control?
A. Pests that pose a serious public health threat are rarely regulated by federal and state agencies
B. Pests that are to be eradicated are rarely under quarantine restrictions
C. Airports and ocean ports are monitored by pest quarantine regulatory agencies
D. Entry of pests across state lines is not regulated
- correct answer C. Airports and ocean ports are monitored by pest quarantine regulatory agencies
Which statement is "true" about pest management strategies in IPM?
A. The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels
B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program
C. Pesticides are not included in an IPM strategy
D. Non-chemical methods usually provide only short-term control of a pest
- correct answer A. The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels
, Which would be considered a preventive pest management strategy?
A. Planting weed- and disease-free seed
B. Releasing natural enemies to help reduce pest populations
C. Eliminating rodents from a commercial food establishment
D. Removing from an area a pest that is a public health concern
- correct answer A. Planting weed- and disease-free seed
Which statement is "true" about action thresholds?
A. The IPM technician needs to implement control measures below the action threshold level
B. The action threshold for a pest may be set a a zero pest population density
C. Action thresholds are usually easy to establish
D. In an urban landscape, action thresholds are usually more related to economics than aesthetics
- correct answer B. The action threshold for a pest may be set a a zero pest population density
Which would increase the likelihood pesticide resistance?
A. An insect has only one generation per year
B. Continual use of the same pesticides or pesticides from the same chemical class
C. Limiting the number of pesticide applications
