Page 1 of 146
Massachusetts Commercial Applicator Certification –
Category 36 Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest Control
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR
Massachusetts Commercial Applicator Certification – Category 36: Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest
Control
Summarized Exam Coverage (Point-Form)
I. Regulatory & Legal Framework (Massachusetts-Specific)
• Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act (M.G.L. c. 132B) – Establishes MDAR authority, licensing
requirements, enforcement, penalties for illegal use, and public notification provisions.
• 333 CMR 10.00 (Pesticide Board Regulations) – Codifies standards for certification of
commercial applicators, including examination content, training materials, recordkeeping, and
categories.
• MDAR Division of Crop & Pest Services – Responsible for testing, licensing, recertification, and
auditing of pesticide applicators in Massachusetts.
• License Types & Experience Requirements – Commercial Certification (Category 36) requires 2
years of relevant experience, passing written exam with score >75%; Applicator License
(Core) requires passing core exam (>70%).
• Continuing Education – Commercial certified applicators require 12 contact hours per
category every 3 years; Applicator License (Core) requires 6 contact hours every 3 years.
• Recordkeeping – Must keep true and accurate operational records for each pesticide
application; available to MDAR upon request.
• Annual Use Reporting – Licensed and certified pesticide applicators must submit annual reports
detailing quantities of all pesticides used.
• Restricted-Use Pesticides (RUPs) – Commercial certified applicators may purchase and apply
RUPs; those with only an Applicator License (Core) may only apply under direct supervision of a
certified applicator.
II. Core Pest Control Principles
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Pest identification, monitoring (growing degree days,
plant phenology, indicator plants), economic thresholds,
cultural/mechanical/biological/chemical controls.
• Label Comprehension – Signal words (Caution, Warning, Danger), active ingredients, EPA
registration number, restricted-entry intervals (REIs), use restrictions, environmental hazard
statements, first aid, storage/disposal.
• Routes of Exposure – Dermal (most common), inhalation, oral; symptoms of pesticide
poisoning, first aid procedures.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Chemical-resistant gloves, coveralls, goggles/face shield,
respirator, head/body protection.
III. Pests of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals
• Insect & Mite Pests (Section Two of UMass Professional Management Guide) – Identification,
biology, monitoring (growing degree days), damage symptoms, and management:
o Wood-Borers – Emerald ash borer (D-shaped exit holes, S-shaped galleries), Asian
longhorned beetle.
, Page 2 of 146
o Defoliators – Gypsy moth, Eastern tent caterpillar, fall webworm, Japanese beetle
(skeletonizes foliage).
o Sap-Feeders – Hemlock woolly adelgid (white woolly masses), aphids, scales
(oystershell, pine needle, tuliptree), azalea lace bug, spider mites.
o Gall-Formers – Eriophyid mites, gall wasps.
o Root & Trunk Feeders – Black vine weevil, white grubs.
• Diseases of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals (Section Three) – Identification, disease cycles,
environmental conditions favoring development, and management strategies:
o Foliar Diseases – Powdery mildew vs. downy mildew (white powdery growth on leaf
surfaces vs. bluish growth on undersides); apple scab vs. cedar apple rust (olive-green
velvety growths vs. bright yellow/orange spots with horn-like protrusions); anthracnose,
leaf spots, rusts.
o Vascular Diseases – Verticillium wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, Dutch elm disease.
o Root & Crown Diseases – Phytophthora root rot, Armillaria root rot.
o Canker Diseases – Nectria canker, Cytospora canker.
o Galls – Crown gall (bacterial), black knot fungus galls (on Prunus spp.).
• Weeds of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals (Section Four) – Identification and management
of woody and herbaceous weeds in landscapes and nurseries.
IV. Pesticides & Application Techniques
• Insecticide Formulations – Emulsifiable concentrates (EC), wettable powders (WP), soluble
concentrates (SC), microencapsulated, granular, bait; advantages, limitations, and
environmental hazards.
• Fungicide Types – Protectant (contact) vs. systemic; local penetrant vs. mobile systemic.
• Herbicides – Pre-emergence vs. post-emergence; selective vs. non-selective; contact vs.
systemic.
• Adjuvants – Surfactants, spreader-stickers, crop oils, drift control agents.
• Systemic Insecticides for Wood-Borers – Imidacloprid (soil drench/injection), dinotefuran (soil
drench/bark spray), emamectin benzoate (trunk injection).
• Soil Fumigants – Restricted-use; require specialized training and equipment.
V. Equipment Calibration & Application Methods
• Sprayer Types – Hydraulic (boom, handgun), air-blast (orchard), backpack, compression, mist
blower.
• Granular Applicators – Drop spreaders, rotary (spinning disc) spreaders.
• Calibration Calculations – GPA = (GPM × 5940) ÷ (MPH × nozzle spacing (in)); flow rate (GPM) =
(GPA × MPH × nozzle spacing) ÷ 5940.
• Drift Management – Nozzle selection (low-drift), droplet size, wind speed/direction,
temperature inversions, buffer zones.
• Soil Application Methods – Soil drench, soil injection, basal bark spray, trunk
injection/implantation.
VI. Environmental Protection & Safety
• Protecting Water Resources – Wells, surface water, groundwater; avoiding back-siphoning (air
gap, check valves); buffer zones around water bodies.
• Protecting Non-Target Organisms – Pollinators (bees), fish, wildlife, beneficial insects; residue
management; drift prevention.
• Worker Protection Standard (WPS) – Pesticide safety training, REIs, decontamination supplies,
emergency medical information for workers on agricultural establishments (nurseries,
greenhouses).
, Page 3 of 146
• Hazard Communication – Safety Data Sheets (SDS), container labeling, spill response, storage,
disposal.
• Poison Control & Emergency Response – Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222); first aid for
pesticide poisoning.
VII. Plant Health & Cultural Management
• Plant Stressors – Compacted/poorly drained soils, nutrient imbalances, unsuitable soil pH, air
pollution, limited air circulation, plant crowding, road salt injury, improper planting,
inappropriate light, poor irrigation, drought, extreme temperatures.
• Hardiness Zones – Plant selection based on average minimum temperatures; microclimates.
• Cultural Practices – Watering, fertilizing, mulching, pruning, planting techniques, sanitation.
• Growing Degree Days (GDDs) – Measure of heat accumulation used to predict insect activity
and time treatments.
• Phenological Indicators – Indicator plants for timing pest management actions.
VIII. Applicator Certification & Licensing Procedures
• Application Process – Submit application to MDAR with fee, proof of experience (2 years),
passing exam score (>75%).
• Examination Administration – Written exams offered by MDAR; in-person, online
pre-registration only.
• Recertification – Renew every 3 years with continuing education credits (12 hours per category).
• Non-Certified Applicators – May apply general-use pesticides only; RUP applications require
direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
• MDAR Contact Information – Division of Crop & Pest Services, 251 Causeway St, 5th Floor Suite
500, Boston, MA 02114.
IX. Invasive Species & Emerging Threats
• Spotted Lanternfly – Invasive planthopper; host plants include tree of heaven (Ailanthus), grape,
apple, oak, pine, poplar, sycamore, walnut, willow.
• Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) – D-shaped exit holes, S-shaped galleries under bark,
crown dieback, epicormic sprouting, woodpecker damage (“blonding”).
• Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) – Round exit holes, frass accumulation,
oviposition pits on bark, branch dieback.
• Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) – Early spring defoliator of oaks, maples, apple,
blueberry; use of burlap bands for monitoring.
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) – White woolly masses at base of hemlock needles;
needle drop, tree decline.
QUESTION 1: Under Massachusetts regulations, a commercial applicator applying pesticides to shade
trees on a client’s property must hold which category of certification?
A) Category 29 (General Pest Control)
, Page 4 of 146
B) Category 36 (Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest Control)
C) Category 37 (Turf Pest Control)
D) Category 40 (Mosquito Control)
Answer: B – Shade tree and ornamental pest control is specifically governed by Category 36, which
covers pesticide applications to shade trees and ornamental plants on property other than the
applicator’s own.
QUESTION 2: A landscape contractor is applying a restricted-use insecticide to a client‘s oak trees. The
contractor holds only an Applicator License (Core) but not Commercial Certification. Is this allowed
under Massachusetts regulations?
A) Yes, because the pesticide is applied to trees, not food crops.
B) Yes, if the contractor has at least 5 years of experience.
C) No, because restricted-use pesticides require direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
D) No, because shade tree applications always require Commercial Certification regardless of pesticide
type.
Answer: C – An Applicator License (Core) allows general-use pesticide applications but does not permit
Massachusetts Commercial Applicator Certification –
Category 36 Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest Control
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR
Massachusetts Commercial Applicator Certification – Category 36: Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest
Control
Summarized Exam Coverage (Point-Form)
I. Regulatory & Legal Framework (Massachusetts-Specific)
• Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act (M.G.L. c. 132B) – Establishes MDAR authority, licensing
requirements, enforcement, penalties for illegal use, and public notification provisions.
• 333 CMR 10.00 (Pesticide Board Regulations) – Codifies standards for certification of
commercial applicators, including examination content, training materials, recordkeeping, and
categories.
• MDAR Division of Crop & Pest Services – Responsible for testing, licensing, recertification, and
auditing of pesticide applicators in Massachusetts.
• License Types & Experience Requirements – Commercial Certification (Category 36) requires 2
years of relevant experience, passing written exam with score >75%; Applicator License
(Core) requires passing core exam (>70%).
• Continuing Education – Commercial certified applicators require 12 contact hours per
category every 3 years; Applicator License (Core) requires 6 contact hours every 3 years.
• Recordkeeping – Must keep true and accurate operational records for each pesticide
application; available to MDAR upon request.
• Annual Use Reporting – Licensed and certified pesticide applicators must submit annual reports
detailing quantities of all pesticides used.
• Restricted-Use Pesticides (RUPs) – Commercial certified applicators may purchase and apply
RUPs; those with only an Applicator License (Core) may only apply under direct supervision of a
certified applicator.
II. Core Pest Control Principles
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Pest identification, monitoring (growing degree days,
plant phenology, indicator plants), economic thresholds,
cultural/mechanical/biological/chemical controls.
• Label Comprehension – Signal words (Caution, Warning, Danger), active ingredients, EPA
registration number, restricted-entry intervals (REIs), use restrictions, environmental hazard
statements, first aid, storage/disposal.
• Routes of Exposure – Dermal (most common), inhalation, oral; symptoms of pesticide
poisoning, first aid procedures.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Chemical-resistant gloves, coveralls, goggles/face shield,
respirator, head/body protection.
III. Pests of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals
• Insect & Mite Pests (Section Two of UMass Professional Management Guide) – Identification,
biology, monitoring (growing degree days), damage symptoms, and management:
o Wood-Borers – Emerald ash borer (D-shaped exit holes, S-shaped galleries), Asian
longhorned beetle.
, Page 2 of 146
o Defoliators – Gypsy moth, Eastern tent caterpillar, fall webworm, Japanese beetle
(skeletonizes foliage).
o Sap-Feeders – Hemlock woolly adelgid (white woolly masses), aphids, scales
(oystershell, pine needle, tuliptree), azalea lace bug, spider mites.
o Gall-Formers – Eriophyid mites, gall wasps.
o Root & Trunk Feeders – Black vine weevil, white grubs.
• Diseases of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals (Section Three) – Identification, disease cycles,
environmental conditions favoring development, and management strategies:
o Foliar Diseases – Powdery mildew vs. downy mildew (white powdery growth on leaf
surfaces vs. bluish growth on undersides); apple scab vs. cedar apple rust (olive-green
velvety growths vs. bright yellow/orange spots with horn-like protrusions); anthracnose,
leaf spots, rusts.
o Vascular Diseases – Verticillium wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, Dutch elm disease.
o Root & Crown Diseases – Phytophthora root rot, Armillaria root rot.
o Canker Diseases – Nectria canker, Cytospora canker.
o Galls – Crown gall (bacterial), black knot fungus galls (on Prunus spp.).
• Weeds of Shade Trees & Woody Ornamentals (Section Four) – Identification and management
of woody and herbaceous weeds in landscapes and nurseries.
IV. Pesticides & Application Techniques
• Insecticide Formulations – Emulsifiable concentrates (EC), wettable powders (WP), soluble
concentrates (SC), microencapsulated, granular, bait; advantages, limitations, and
environmental hazards.
• Fungicide Types – Protectant (contact) vs. systemic; local penetrant vs. mobile systemic.
• Herbicides – Pre-emergence vs. post-emergence; selective vs. non-selective; contact vs.
systemic.
• Adjuvants – Surfactants, spreader-stickers, crop oils, drift control agents.
• Systemic Insecticides for Wood-Borers – Imidacloprid (soil drench/injection), dinotefuran (soil
drench/bark spray), emamectin benzoate (trunk injection).
• Soil Fumigants – Restricted-use; require specialized training and equipment.
V. Equipment Calibration & Application Methods
• Sprayer Types – Hydraulic (boom, handgun), air-blast (orchard), backpack, compression, mist
blower.
• Granular Applicators – Drop spreaders, rotary (spinning disc) spreaders.
• Calibration Calculations – GPA = (GPM × 5940) ÷ (MPH × nozzle spacing (in)); flow rate (GPM) =
(GPA × MPH × nozzle spacing) ÷ 5940.
• Drift Management – Nozzle selection (low-drift), droplet size, wind speed/direction,
temperature inversions, buffer zones.
• Soil Application Methods – Soil drench, soil injection, basal bark spray, trunk
injection/implantation.
VI. Environmental Protection & Safety
• Protecting Water Resources – Wells, surface water, groundwater; avoiding back-siphoning (air
gap, check valves); buffer zones around water bodies.
• Protecting Non-Target Organisms – Pollinators (bees), fish, wildlife, beneficial insects; residue
management; drift prevention.
• Worker Protection Standard (WPS) – Pesticide safety training, REIs, decontamination supplies,
emergency medical information for workers on agricultural establishments (nurseries,
greenhouses).
, Page 3 of 146
• Hazard Communication – Safety Data Sheets (SDS), container labeling, spill response, storage,
disposal.
• Poison Control & Emergency Response – Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222); first aid for
pesticide poisoning.
VII. Plant Health & Cultural Management
• Plant Stressors – Compacted/poorly drained soils, nutrient imbalances, unsuitable soil pH, air
pollution, limited air circulation, plant crowding, road salt injury, improper planting,
inappropriate light, poor irrigation, drought, extreme temperatures.
• Hardiness Zones – Plant selection based on average minimum temperatures; microclimates.
• Cultural Practices – Watering, fertilizing, mulching, pruning, planting techniques, sanitation.
• Growing Degree Days (GDDs) – Measure of heat accumulation used to predict insect activity
and time treatments.
• Phenological Indicators – Indicator plants for timing pest management actions.
VIII. Applicator Certification & Licensing Procedures
• Application Process – Submit application to MDAR with fee, proof of experience (2 years),
passing exam score (>75%).
• Examination Administration – Written exams offered by MDAR; in-person, online
pre-registration only.
• Recertification – Renew every 3 years with continuing education credits (12 hours per category).
• Non-Certified Applicators – May apply general-use pesticides only; RUP applications require
direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
• MDAR Contact Information – Division of Crop & Pest Services, 251 Causeway St, 5th Floor Suite
500, Boston, MA 02114.
IX. Invasive Species & Emerging Threats
• Spotted Lanternfly – Invasive planthopper; host plants include tree of heaven (Ailanthus), grape,
apple, oak, pine, poplar, sycamore, walnut, willow.
• Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) – D-shaped exit holes, S-shaped galleries under bark,
crown dieback, epicormic sprouting, woodpecker damage (“blonding”).
• Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) – Round exit holes, frass accumulation,
oviposition pits on bark, branch dieback.
• Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) – Early spring defoliator of oaks, maples, apple,
blueberry; use of burlap bands for monitoring.
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) – White woolly masses at base of hemlock needles;
needle drop, tree decline.
QUESTION 1: Under Massachusetts regulations, a commercial applicator applying pesticides to shade
trees on a client’s property must hold which category of certification?
A) Category 29 (General Pest Control)
, Page 4 of 146
B) Category 36 (Shade Tree and Ornamental Pest Control)
C) Category 37 (Turf Pest Control)
D) Category 40 (Mosquito Control)
Answer: B – Shade tree and ornamental pest control is specifically governed by Category 36, which
covers pesticide applications to shade trees and ornamental plants on property other than the
applicator’s own.
QUESTION 2: A landscape contractor is applying a restricted-use insecticide to a client‘s oak trees. The
contractor holds only an Applicator License (Core) but not Commercial Certification. Is this allowed
under Massachusetts regulations?
A) Yes, because the pesticide is applied to trees, not food crops.
B) Yes, if the contractor has at least 5 years of experience.
C) No, because restricted-use pesticides require direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
D) No, because shade tree applications always require Commercial Certification regardless of pesticide
type.
Answer: C – An Applicator License (Core) allows general-use pesticide applications but does not permit
