Tennessee Category 3
Ornamental & Turf Pest Control — Practice Certification Exam
120 Multiple-Choice Questions | Answer Key & Rationale Included for Every Question
1. In Tennessee, who has the legal authority to certify commercial pesticide
applicators?
A. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
B. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C. The county extension office
D. The pesticide manufacturer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA administers Tennessee's applicator certification program under the
Tennessee Application of Pesticides Act (TAPA), consistent with federal FIFRA
oversight delegated to the state.
2. Category 3 certification authorizes a commercial applicator to apply
restricted-use pesticides to:
A. Field crops such as corn and soybeans
B. Forests and rights-of-way
C. Ornamental plants and turfgrass
D. Stored grain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Category 3 is the Ornamental and Turf Pest Control category, covering
woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, and turfgrass.
3. A person who applies pesticides for a fee in Tennessee must work for a
company that holds a valid:
A. Pesticide dealer's license only
B. Charter
C. Federal EPA registration number
D. Certified Crop Adviser credential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TAPA requires any business offering custom pesticide application services
to hold a charter (permit) for each business location.
,4. Which federal law provides the framework for registering pesticides and
classifying them as general or restricted use?
A. Clean Water Act
B. FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
D. Occupational Safety and Health Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide registration,
labeling, and classification for restricted use.
5. Under Tennessee law, how often must a commercial applicator generally
renew certification?
A. Every year
B. Every three years
C. Every five years
D. Only once, for life
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tennessee commercial applicator certification operates on a recurring
multi-year cycle (three years), requiring recertification through continuing education
points or re-examination.
6. A private applicator in Tennessee is best described as someone who:
A. Applies restricted-use pesticides for hire to the general public
B. Applies restricted-use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on land
they own, rent, or lease, or as an employee of such a producer
C. Sells pesticides at a retail store
D. Works only with general-use pesticides
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Private applicators use restricted-use pesticides in the production of an
agricultural commodity on their own or their employer's land, distinguishing them from
commercial applicators who apply for hire.
,7. What must a company do if it operates pesticide application offices in two
different Tennessee cities?
A. Obtain a single charter covering both locations
B. Obtain a separate charter for each location
C. No charter is required if the company already holds a state business license
D. Register only the primary office with TDA
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A charter is issued per location; each physical business location offering
pesticide application services needs its own charter.
8. Failure to maintain required pesticide application records in Tennessee can
result in:
A. No consequence unless a customer complains
B. A civil penalty or fine assessed by TDA
C. Automatic loss of a driver's license
D. Immediate criminal prosecution only, never a fine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA can assess civil penalties for recordkeeping violations under TAPA and
its accompanying rules.
9. Which of the following is required on a commercial pesticide application
record?
A. The applicator's certification number and the product used
B. The customer's favorite color
C. The dealer's stock price
D. The manufacturer's annual sales figures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Application records must document who applied the product (certification
number), what was applied, and other details such as date, site, and rate, to
demonstrate legal, label-consistent use.
, 10. A commercial applicator applying a restricted-use pesticide without proper
certification is in violation of:
A. Only company policy
B. State and federal pesticide law
C. No law, as long as a supervisor is on-site
D. Only local zoning ordinances
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Applying restricted-use pesticides without proper state certification violates
both TAPA and FIFRA requirements.
11. Which statement about pesticide 'restricted use' classification is correct?
A. Restricted-use pesticides may only be purchased and applied by, or under the
direct supervision of, a certified applicator
B. Restricted-use pesticides are illegal in all states
C. Restricted-use pesticides never require a label
D. Restricted-use pesticides can be purchased by anyone regardless of
certification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EPA designates certain pesticides as restricted use because of their
potential to cause unreasonable adverse effects; sale and application are limited to
certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.
12. What is the primary purpose of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) as it
may apply to ornamental/nursery operations?
A. To protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from occupational
pesticide exposure
B. To set retail prices for pesticides
C. To regulate advertising claims on pesticide labels
D. To determine which pesticides can be exported
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The WPS establishes protections such as training, notification,
restricted-entry intervals, and PPE requirements for workers and handlers on
agricultural establishments, including many nurseries and greenhouses.
Ornamental & Turf Pest Control — Practice Certification Exam
120 Multiple-Choice Questions | Answer Key & Rationale Included for Every Question
1. In Tennessee, who has the legal authority to certify commercial pesticide
applicators?
A. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
B. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)
C. The county extension office
D. The pesticide manufacturer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA administers Tennessee's applicator certification program under the
Tennessee Application of Pesticides Act (TAPA), consistent with federal FIFRA
oversight delegated to the state.
2. Category 3 certification authorizes a commercial applicator to apply
restricted-use pesticides to:
A. Field crops such as corn and soybeans
B. Forests and rights-of-way
C. Ornamental plants and turfgrass
D. Stored grain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Category 3 is the Ornamental and Turf Pest Control category, covering
woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, and turfgrass.
3. A person who applies pesticides for a fee in Tennessee must work for a
company that holds a valid:
A. Pesticide dealer's license only
B. Charter
C. Federal EPA registration number
D. Certified Crop Adviser credential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TAPA requires any business offering custom pesticide application services
to hold a charter (permit) for each business location.
,4. Which federal law provides the framework for registering pesticides and
classifying them as general or restricted use?
A. Clean Water Act
B. FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
D. Occupational Safety and Health Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the primary federal statute governing pesticide registration,
labeling, and classification for restricted use.
5. Under Tennessee law, how often must a commercial applicator generally
renew certification?
A. Every year
B. Every three years
C. Every five years
D. Only once, for life
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tennessee commercial applicator certification operates on a recurring
multi-year cycle (three years), requiring recertification through continuing education
points or re-examination.
6. A private applicator in Tennessee is best described as someone who:
A. Applies restricted-use pesticides for hire to the general public
B. Applies restricted-use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on land
they own, rent, or lease, or as an employee of such a producer
C. Sells pesticides at a retail store
D. Works only with general-use pesticides
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Private applicators use restricted-use pesticides in the production of an
agricultural commodity on their own or their employer's land, distinguishing them from
commercial applicators who apply for hire.
,7. What must a company do if it operates pesticide application offices in two
different Tennessee cities?
A. Obtain a single charter covering both locations
B. Obtain a separate charter for each location
C. No charter is required if the company already holds a state business license
D. Register only the primary office with TDA
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A charter is issued per location; each physical business location offering
pesticide application services needs its own charter.
8. Failure to maintain required pesticide application records in Tennessee can
result in:
A. No consequence unless a customer complains
B. A civil penalty or fine assessed by TDA
C. Automatic loss of a driver's license
D. Immediate criminal prosecution only, never a fine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TDA can assess civil penalties for recordkeeping violations under TAPA and
its accompanying rules.
9. Which of the following is required on a commercial pesticide application
record?
A. The applicator's certification number and the product used
B. The customer's favorite color
C. The dealer's stock price
D. The manufacturer's annual sales figures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Application records must document who applied the product (certification
number), what was applied, and other details such as date, site, and rate, to
demonstrate legal, label-consistent use.
, 10. A commercial applicator applying a restricted-use pesticide without proper
certification is in violation of:
A. Only company policy
B. State and federal pesticide law
C. No law, as long as a supervisor is on-site
D. Only local zoning ordinances
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Applying restricted-use pesticides without proper state certification violates
both TAPA and FIFRA requirements.
11. Which statement about pesticide 'restricted use' classification is correct?
A. Restricted-use pesticides may only be purchased and applied by, or under the
direct supervision of, a certified applicator
B. Restricted-use pesticides are illegal in all states
C. Restricted-use pesticides never require a label
D. Restricted-use pesticides can be purchased by anyone regardless of
certification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EPA designates certain pesticides as restricted use because of their
potential to cause unreasonable adverse effects; sale and application are limited to
certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.
12. What is the primary purpose of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) as it
may apply to ornamental/nursery operations?
A. To protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from occupational
pesticide exposure
B. To set retail prices for pesticides
C. To regulate advertising claims on pesticide labels
D. To determine which pesticides can be exported
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The WPS establishes protections such as training, notification,
restricted-entry intervals, and PPE requirements for workers and handlers on
agricultural establishments, including many nurseries and greenhouses.
