Texas Pesticide Applicators General Standards Exam Questions With
Correct Answers
Section One: Federal and State Laws and Regulations (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which agency is primarily
responsible for registering pesticides before they can be sold or distributed in the United
States?
A. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
D. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA grants the EPA primary authority for pesticide registration at the federal level.
The EPA evaluates pesticide safety data and registers pesticides before they may be legally sold
or distributed nationwide. State agencies like TDA enforce regulations within Texas but do not
conduct federal registration.
Question 2
Which state agency is responsible for licensing pesticide applicators in Texas?
A. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
D. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The TDA has primary authority over pesticide regulation and licensing in the state of
Texas.
,Question 3
What federal law provides the foundation for all state pesticide applicator certification
programs?
A. Clean Water Act
B. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C. Endangered Species Act
D. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide registration, distribution,
sale, and use. It requires EPA to approve state certification plans and mandates that restricted-
use pesticides be applied only by certified applicators.
Question 4
A licensed applicator must notify the TDA of a change of address within how many days?
A. 10 days
B. 30 days
C. 60 days
D. 90 days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA regulations require notification of any contact information changes within a 30-
day window.
Question 5
How many years must a commercial or non-commercial applicator keep records of pesticide
applications in Texas?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 5 years
D. Permanently
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: State law requires these records to be maintained and available for inspection for at
least two years.
Question 6
Under FIFRA, a "Restricted Use" pesticide (RUP) can be purchased by:
A. Anyone over the age of 21
B. Only certified applicators or those under their direct supervision
C. Any homeowner for residential use
D. Only government employees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: RUPs are deemed to have a higher risk and require specialized training to purchase
and apply. Only certified applicators or persons working under their direct supervision may
purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides.
Question 7
What is the minimum passing score on the Texas pesticide applicator certification exam?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Texas requires a minimum score of 70% on both the core (general) exam and any
category-specific exams to obtain pesticide applicator certification.
Question 8
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
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: This statement is false. You must have a license regardless of the kinds of pesticides
you use when working unsupervised.
Question 9
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility shared by the Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA) regarding pesticide applicator certification?
A. Conducting pesticide applicator training programs
B. Enforcing pesticide misuse violations
C. Issuing pesticide applicator licenses
D. Conducting agricultural research on pesticide alternatives
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The TDA focuses on regulatory functions including training, licensing, and
enforcement. Agricultural research on pesticide alternatives is typically conducted by
institutions like Texas A&M AgriLife Research, not the TDA itself.
Question 10
Which agency enforces the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act?
A. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) enforces the Texas Solid
Waste Disposal Act.
Question 11
No pesticide may be bought, sold, or used in the United States until it has federal registration
for the product, the use, and the label.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answers
Section One: Federal and State Laws and Regulations (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which agency is primarily
responsible for registering pesticides before they can be sold or distributed in the United
States?
A. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
D. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA grants the EPA primary authority for pesticide registration at the federal level.
The EPA evaluates pesticide safety data and registers pesticides before they may be legally sold
or distributed nationwide. State agencies like TDA enforce regulations within Texas but do not
conduct federal registration.
Question 2
Which state agency is responsible for licensing pesticide applicators in Texas?
A. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
D. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The TDA has primary authority over pesticide regulation and licensing in the state of
Texas.
,Question 3
What federal law provides the foundation for all state pesticide applicator certification
programs?
A. Clean Water Act
B. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C. Endangered Species Act
D. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide registration, distribution,
sale, and use. It requires EPA to approve state certification plans and mandates that restricted-
use pesticides be applied only by certified applicators.
Question 4
A licensed applicator must notify the TDA of a change of address within how many days?
A. 10 days
B. 30 days
C. 60 days
D. 90 days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA regulations require notification of any contact information changes within a 30-
day window.
Question 5
How many years must a commercial or non-commercial applicator keep records of pesticide
applications in Texas?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 5 years
D. Permanently
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: State law requires these records to be maintained and available for inspection for at
least two years.
Question 6
Under FIFRA, a "Restricted Use" pesticide (RUP) can be purchased by:
A. Anyone over the age of 21
B. Only certified applicators or those under their direct supervision
C. Any homeowner for residential use
D. Only government employees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: RUPs are deemed to have a higher risk and require specialized training to purchase
and apply. Only certified applicators or persons working under their direct supervision may
purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides.
Question 7
What is the minimum passing score on the Texas pesticide applicator certification exam?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Texas requires a minimum score of 70% on both the core (general) exam and any
category-specific exams to obtain pesticide applicator certification.
Question 8
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
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: This statement is false. You must have a license regardless of the kinds of pesticides
you use when working unsupervised.
Question 9
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility shared by the Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA) regarding pesticide applicator certification?
A. Conducting pesticide applicator training programs
B. Enforcing pesticide misuse violations
C. Issuing pesticide applicator licenses
D. Conducting agricultural research on pesticide alternatives
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The TDA focuses on regulatory functions including training, licensing, and
enforcement. Agricultural research on pesticide alternatives is typically conducted by
institutions like Texas A&M AgriLife Research, not the TDA itself.
Question 10
Which agency enforces the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act?
A. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
B. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) enforces the Texas Solid
Waste Disposal Act.
Question 11
No pesticide may be bought, sold, or used in the United States until it has federal registration
for the product, the use, and the label.
A. True
B. False
