Indiana Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Category 7a – Industrial, Institutional, Structural,
and Health-Related Pest Management Exam
Questions with Answers and Rationales| Latest Update
.
Page 1
,Section 1: Laws, Regulations & Certification
1. In Indiana, commercial pesticide applicators are regulated primarily
by which agency?
A. Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
B. Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC)
C. Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
D. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Answer: B. Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC)
Rationale: The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC), housed at Purdue
University, administers pesticide applicator certification, licensing, and
enforcement in Indiana under state pesticide law.
2. Category 7a certification authorizes a commercial applicator to
perform pest control in which general setting?
A. Agricultural row crops only
B. Industrial, institutional, structural, and health-related facilities
C. Forest pest management only
D. Aquatic weed control only
Answer: B. Industrial, institutional, structural, and health-related
facilities
Rationale: Category 7a covers structural and health-related pest
management, including work performed in industrial, institutional, and other
structural settings such as schools, hospitals, food plants, and office
buildings.
3. Under Indiana law, a person applying restricted use pesticides
commercially must:
A. Be at least 16 years old with no other requirement
B. Hold a valid commercial applicator license in the appropriate category
issued by OISC
C. Only carry proof of employment
D. Be a licensed pharmacist
Answer: B. Hold a valid commercial applicator license in the
appropriate category issued by OISC
Page 2
,Rationale: Anyone applying restricted use pesticides (RUPs) for hire in
Indiana must be certified and licensed by OISC in the category appropriate to
the work being performed.
4. Federal pesticide law (FIFRA) is enforced at the state level in Indiana
primarily through:
A. Local police departments
B. The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) under a cooperative
agreement with EPA
C. The Indiana State Police
D. The county health department exclusively
Answer: B. The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) under a
cooperative agreement with EPA
Rationale: OISC enforces both state pesticide law and, through a cooperative
agreement with the U.S. EPA, applicable provisions of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) within Indiana.
5. A commercial applicator's certification in Category 7a must generally
be renewed:
A. Never; it is permanent once issued
B. Periodically, typically requiring recertification credits or examination
within the state's certification cycle
C. Only if a violation occurs
D. Every 10 years with no requirements
Answer: B. Periodically, typically requiring recertification credits or
examination within the state's certification cycle
Rationale: Commercial applicator certification in Indiana must be renewed on
a periodic cycle, generally by earning continuing certification hours (CCHs) or
by re-examination, as set by OISC rules.
6. Which of the following best describes a 'restricted use pesticide'
(RUP)?
A. A pesticide that can only be purchased and used by certified
applicators due to potential hazards to humans or the environment
B. Any pesticide sold in a hardware store
C. A pesticide banned from all use in the United States
Page 3
, D. A pesticide used only outdoors
Answer: A. A pesticide that can only be purchased and used by
certified applicators due to potential hazards to humans or the
environment
Rationale: EPA classifies certain pesticides as restricted use because of their
potential for adverse effects on human health or the environment even when
used according to label directions; RUPs may only be purchased and applied
by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.
7. The primary legal document governing how a pesticide may be
lawfully used is:
A. The Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) alone
B. The pesticide product label
C. The invoice from the distributor
D. Verbal instructions from a coworker
Answer: B. The pesticide product label
Rationale: The product label is a legal document approved by EPA; 'the label
is the law' means all directions, restrictions, and precautions on the label
must be followed, and using a product inconsistently with its labeling is a
violation.
8. Applying a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is:
A. Acceptable if the applicator believes it will work better
B. A violation of federal and state pesticide law
C. Only a problem if someone is harmed
D. Permitted for commercial applicators only
Answer: B. A violation of federal and state pesticide law
Rationale: FIFRA and corresponding Indiana law prohibit using a registered
pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling; the label's directions, use
sites, rates, and restrictions are legally binding.
9. Recordkeeping requirements for commercial pesticide applications
in Indiana generally require documentation of which of the following?
A. Only the total invoice amount
B. Date, location, target pest, product used, rate, and applicator
information
Page 4
Category 7a – Industrial, Institutional, Structural,
and Health-Related Pest Management Exam
Questions with Answers and Rationales| Latest Update
.
Page 1
,Section 1: Laws, Regulations & Certification
1. In Indiana, commercial pesticide applicators are regulated primarily
by which agency?
A. Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
B. Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC)
C. Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
D. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Answer: B. Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC)
Rationale: The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC), housed at Purdue
University, administers pesticide applicator certification, licensing, and
enforcement in Indiana under state pesticide law.
2. Category 7a certification authorizes a commercial applicator to
perform pest control in which general setting?
A. Agricultural row crops only
B. Industrial, institutional, structural, and health-related facilities
C. Forest pest management only
D. Aquatic weed control only
Answer: B. Industrial, institutional, structural, and health-related
facilities
Rationale: Category 7a covers structural and health-related pest
management, including work performed in industrial, institutional, and other
structural settings such as schools, hospitals, food plants, and office
buildings.
3. Under Indiana law, a person applying restricted use pesticides
commercially must:
A. Be at least 16 years old with no other requirement
B. Hold a valid commercial applicator license in the appropriate category
issued by OISC
C. Only carry proof of employment
D. Be a licensed pharmacist
Answer: B. Hold a valid commercial applicator license in the
appropriate category issued by OISC
Page 2
,Rationale: Anyone applying restricted use pesticides (RUPs) for hire in
Indiana must be certified and licensed by OISC in the category appropriate to
the work being performed.
4. Federal pesticide law (FIFRA) is enforced at the state level in Indiana
primarily through:
A. Local police departments
B. The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) under a cooperative
agreement with EPA
C. The Indiana State Police
D. The county health department exclusively
Answer: B. The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) under a
cooperative agreement with EPA
Rationale: OISC enforces both state pesticide law and, through a cooperative
agreement with the U.S. EPA, applicable provisions of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) within Indiana.
5. A commercial applicator's certification in Category 7a must generally
be renewed:
A. Never; it is permanent once issued
B. Periodically, typically requiring recertification credits or examination
within the state's certification cycle
C. Only if a violation occurs
D. Every 10 years with no requirements
Answer: B. Periodically, typically requiring recertification credits or
examination within the state's certification cycle
Rationale: Commercial applicator certification in Indiana must be renewed on
a periodic cycle, generally by earning continuing certification hours (CCHs) or
by re-examination, as set by OISC rules.
6. Which of the following best describes a 'restricted use pesticide'
(RUP)?
A. A pesticide that can only be purchased and used by certified
applicators due to potential hazards to humans or the environment
B. Any pesticide sold in a hardware store
C. A pesticide banned from all use in the United States
Page 3
, D. A pesticide used only outdoors
Answer: A. A pesticide that can only be purchased and used by
certified applicators due to potential hazards to humans or the
environment
Rationale: EPA classifies certain pesticides as restricted use because of their
potential for adverse effects on human health or the environment even when
used according to label directions; RUPs may only be purchased and applied
by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.
7. The primary legal document governing how a pesticide may be
lawfully used is:
A. The Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) alone
B. The pesticide product label
C. The invoice from the distributor
D. Verbal instructions from a coworker
Answer: B. The pesticide product label
Rationale: The product label is a legal document approved by EPA; 'the label
is the law' means all directions, restrictions, and precautions on the label
must be followed, and using a product inconsistently with its labeling is a
violation.
8. Applying a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is:
A. Acceptable if the applicator believes it will work better
B. A violation of federal and state pesticide law
C. Only a problem if someone is harmed
D. Permitted for commercial applicators only
Answer: B. A violation of federal and state pesticide law
Rationale: FIFRA and corresponding Indiana law prohibit using a registered
pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling; the label's directions, use
sites, rates, and restrictions are legally binding.
9. Recordkeeping requirements for commercial pesticide applications
in Indiana generally require documentation of which of the following?
A. Only the total invoice amount
B. Date, location, target pest, product used, rate, and applicator
information
Page 4
