Texas Pest Control Exam – Actual Questions
Latest 2026 Update | TDA Structural & General
Standards | Verified Answers with Explanations|
Instant Pdf Download
INTRODUCTION
This practice exam is designed for candidates preparing for the Texas Pest Control
Technician and Certified Applicator exams regulated by the Texas Department of
Agriculture (TDA) . The exam covers:
General Standards – FIFRA regulations, Texas pesticide laws, safety protocols,
PPE, drift management, WPS
Structural Pest Control – Wood-destroying insects (termites, carpenter ants,
powderpost beetles), cockroaches, ants, spiders, bed bugs, stored product pests
IPM Principles – Identification, monitoring, treatment selection, evaluation
Pesticide Application – Equipment calibration, formulations, label comprehension
Vertebrate & Wildlife Control – Rodents, bats, birds, snakes
Key Exam Information :
Administered by: Metro Institute (contracted by TDA)
Prerequisite: Pre-qualification by TDA and Eligibility Letter
Passing: Must pass General Standards + at least one category exam
,SECTION 1: GENERAL STANDARDS – LAWS, SAFETY & IPM (Questions 1-40)
1. What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A. Eliminate all pests immediately
B. Use a combination of methods to manage pests with minimal environmental
impact
C. Increase pesticide use
D. Focus only on biological control
Rationale: IPM promotes long-term prevention and control using environmentally
sensitive techniques including biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods as
needed .
2. True or False: To legally perform structural pest control in Texas, you must have a
license regardless of the kinds of pesticides you use.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Texas requires licensing for all structural pest control work, not just
restricted-use pesticide applications .
3. Which agency shares responsibility for pesticide applicator licensing and
certification in Texas?
,A. EPA only
B. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS)
C. Texas A&M AgriLife
D. Local county governments
Rationale: TDA is designated as the state's lead agency for pesticide regulation, with
SPCS overseeing structural pest control licensing .
4. True or False: If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with
restricted pesticides, but not to work with state-limited pesticides.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Both restricted-use AND state-limited-use pesticides require proper
licensing for unsupervised application .
5. A pesticide label states "Restricted Use – Texas only." Who can purchase it?
A. Any adult with a driver's license
B. A certified applicator or someone under their direct supervision
C. Any farmer with a tax ID
D. Homeowner with a TDA waiver
Rationale: Restricted-use pesticides require certified applicator status; Texas law
aligns with federal RUP rules .
, 6. What is the first action when a school nurse reports multiple children with itchy
welts after a sleepover, with bed bugs suspected?
A. Fumigate the entire classroom
B. Apply insect repellent to students
C. Inspect the sleepover location and student bedding areas
D. Treat all students with permethrin cream
Rationale: Proper inspection confirms the pest before any chemical application;
treating without evidence wastes resources and risks exposure .
7. A technician mixes a concentrated insecticide with water but forgets to triple-rinse
the empty container. The residue is:
A. Acceptable if container is crushed
B. A violation of Texas hazardous waste rules
C. Fine if stored inside van overnight
D. Diluted by rain within 24 hours
Rationale: Triple rinsing is mandatory; failure creates hazardous waste residue and
violates state law .
8. While calibrating a boom sprayer for a turfgrass application, you collect 15 ounces
per 30 seconds from one nozzle. The target rate is 20 ounces. What should you do?
A. Increase pressure until output matches 20 oz
B. Replace all nozzles with larger orifice sizes
Latest 2026 Update | TDA Structural & General
Standards | Verified Answers with Explanations|
Instant Pdf Download
INTRODUCTION
This practice exam is designed for candidates preparing for the Texas Pest Control
Technician and Certified Applicator exams regulated by the Texas Department of
Agriculture (TDA) . The exam covers:
General Standards – FIFRA regulations, Texas pesticide laws, safety protocols,
PPE, drift management, WPS
Structural Pest Control – Wood-destroying insects (termites, carpenter ants,
powderpost beetles), cockroaches, ants, spiders, bed bugs, stored product pests
IPM Principles – Identification, monitoring, treatment selection, evaluation
Pesticide Application – Equipment calibration, formulations, label comprehension
Vertebrate & Wildlife Control – Rodents, bats, birds, snakes
Key Exam Information :
Administered by: Metro Institute (contracted by TDA)
Prerequisite: Pre-qualification by TDA and Eligibility Letter
Passing: Must pass General Standards + at least one category exam
,SECTION 1: GENERAL STANDARDS – LAWS, SAFETY & IPM (Questions 1-40)
1. What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A. Eliminate all pests immediately
B. Use a combination of methods to manage pests with minimal environmental
impact
C. Increase pesticide use
D. Focus only on biological control
Rationale: IPM promotes long-term prevention and control using environmentally
sensitive techniques including biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods as
needed .
2. True or False: To legally perform structural pest control in Texas, you must have a
license regardless of the kinds of pesticides you use.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Texas requires licensing for all structural pest control work, not just
restricted-use pesticide applications .
3. Which agency shares responsibility for pesticide applicator licensing and
certification in Texas?
,A. EPA only
B. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS)
C. Texas A&M AgriLife
D. Local county governments
Rationale: TDA is designated as the state's lead agency for pesticide regulation, with
SPCS overseeing structural pest control licensing .
4. True or False: If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with
restricted pesticides, but not to work with state-limited pesticides.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Both restricted-use AND state-limited-use pesticides require proper
licensing for unsupervised application .
5. A pesticide label states "Restricted Use – Texas only." Who can purchase it?
A. Any adult with a driver's license
B. A certified applicator or someone under their direct supervision
C. Any farmer with a tax ID
D. Homeowner with a TDA waiver
Rationale: Restricted-use pesticides require certified applicator status; Texas law
aligns with federal RUP rules .
, 6. What is the first action when a school nurse reports multiple children with itchy
welts after a sleepover, with bed bugs suspected?
A. Fumigate the entire classroom
B. Apply insect repellent to students
C. Inspect the sleepover location and student bedding areas
D. Treat all students with permethrin cream
Rationale: Proper inspection confirms the pest before any chemical application;
treating without evidence wastes resources and risks exposure .
7. A technician mixes a concentrated insecticide with water but forgets to triple-rinse
the empty container. The residue is:
A. Acceptable if container is crushed
B. A violation of Texas hazardous waste rules
C. Fine if stored inside van overnight
D. Diluted by rain within 24 hours
Rationale: Triple rinsing is mandatory; failure creates hazardous waste residue and
violates state law .
8. While calibrating a boom sprayer for a turfgrass application, you collect 15 ounces
per 30 seconds from one nozzle. The target rate is 20 ounces. What should you do?
A. Increase pressure until output matches 20 oz
B. Replace all nozzles with larger orifice sizes
