Nova Scotia Pesticide Applicator Core Exam
Question Practice Study Guide with Answers &
Rationales
Q1. Which federal government agency is responsible for registering pesticides and
establishing the conditions for their use in Canada, including the issuance of a Pest
Control Product (PCP) number?
A) Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
B) Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
C) Environment and Climate Change Canada
D) Health Canada - Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau
Correct Answer: B - Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
Rationale: The PMRA is the federal body that administers the Pest Control Products Act
and registers all pesticides for sale and use in Canada. Each registered product receives a
unique PCP number. The PMRA's scientific evaluation ensures that the health and
environmental risks of a product are acceptable before it can be sold.
Q2. According to Nova Scotia's Pesticide Regulations, a pesticide applicator
certificate is valid for how long before it must be renewed?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
Correct Answer: C - 5 years
,Rationale: Pesticide applicator certification in Nova Scotia is valid for a 5-year period. It
can be renewed either by writing an approved examination again or by participating in
approved Continuing Education Point (CEP) courses/events.
Q3. A business that is hired to apply commercial class pesticides to control
mosquitoes in a residential area must be certified as a:
A) Class I Domestic Vendor
B) Business Operator
C) Agriculture Applicator
D) Structural Applicator
Correct Answer: B - Business Operator
Rationale: Any business that sells the service of applying pesticides ("for hire" business)
must be certified as a Business Operator by Nova Scotia Environment. This certification
ensures the business has appropriate liability insurance and a designated certified
supervisor, in addition to having certified individual applicators on staff.
Q4. Under Nova Scotia's Pesticide Regulations, which of the following activities
requires a certified applicator?
A) A homeowner applying a "Domestic" class insect spray in their own vegetable garden
B) An employee of a municipality applying a "Commercial" class herbicide along a
roadside ditch
C) A farmer applying a "Restricted" class pesticide to their own crops on land they own
D) A retail clerk selling "Domestic" class weed killer to a homeowner
Correct Answer: B - An employee of a municipality applying a "Commercial" class
herbicide along a roadside ditch
Rationale: The employee is acting as a commercial applicator (applying a commercial
class product as part of paid duties) and therefore requires certification. The farmer on
their own land may be exempt under the "private applicator" exemption for agricultural
production.
,Q5. Under the Pest Control Products Act, the primary purpose of registering a
pesticide with a PCP number is to:
A) Generate revenue through federal registration fees
B) Indicate that the product has been tested and approved for use in Canada based on
health and environmental risk assessments
C) Prove that the product is safe for use around children and pets
D) Confirm that the product is manufactured in Canada
Correct Answer: B - Indicate that the product has been tested and approved for
use in Canada based on health and environmental risk assessments
Rationale: A PCP number means the product has been federally registered based on
scientific data regarding its chemistry, toxicology, environmental impact, and effectiveness.
Registration means the risks are acceptable when label directions are followed, not that it
is "safe" in absolute terms.
Q6. If a certified pesticide applicator changes employers, what must they do?
A) Surrender their certificate to Nova Scotia Environment and apply for a new one
B) It remains valid as long as it hasn't expired
C) Notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30 days of the employment change
D) Take the certification exam again
Correct Answer: C - Notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30 days of the
employment change
Rationale: Certified applicators are required to notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30
days of any change in employment or contact information. The certificate remains valid
for its full term, but the department needs to maintain current records for compliance and
emergency contact purposes.
, Q7. Which provincial department is responsible for the regulation of pesticides in
Nova Scotia?
A) Agriculture and Fisheries
B) Environment
C) Natural Resources
D) Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Correct Answer: B - Environment
Rationale: Nova Scotia Environment (NS Environment) administers the Pesticides Act and
its regulations, including certification, licensing, and enforcement.
Q8. What piece of information on the label indicates that the pesticide has been
registered with Health Canada?
A) PCP Act registration number
B) Product registration guarantee
C) Purpose statement
D) Warning statement
Correct Answer: A - PCP Act registration number
Rationale: The PCP (Pest Control Products) registration number on a pesticide label is
proof that the product has been reviewed and approved for sale and use in Canada by the
PMRA.
Q9. What is the primary purpose of the "Notice to User" label component?
A) To provide pesticide application information
B) To inform user of his/her liability limits
C) To guide user in mixing pesticide when needed
D) To direct user to read the product label
Correct Answer: D - To direct user to read the product label
Question Practice Study Guide with Answers &
Rationales
Q1. Which federal government agency is responsible for registering pesticides and
establishing the conditions for their use in Canada, including the issuance of a Pest
Control Product (PCP) number?
A) Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
B) Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
C) Environment and Climate Change Canada
D) Health Canada - Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau
Correct Answer: B - Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
Rationale: The PMRA is the federal body that administers the Pest Control Products Act
and registers all pesticides for sale and use in Canada. Each registered product receives a
unique PCP number. The PMRA's scientific evaluation ensures that the health and
environmental risks of a product are acceptable before it can be sold.
Q2. According to Nova Scotia's Pesticide Regulations, a pesticide applicator
certificate is valid for how long before it must be renewed?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
Correct Answer: C - 5 years
,Rationale: Pesticide applicator certification in Nova Scotia is valid for a 5-year period. It
can be renewed either by writing an approved examination again or by participating in
approved Continuing Education Point (CEP) courses/events.
Q3. A business that is hired to apply commercial class pesticides to control
mosquitoes in a residential area must be certified as a:
A) Class I Domestic Vendor
B) Business Operator
C) Agriculture Applicator
D) Structural Applicator
Correct Answer: B - Business Operator
Rationale: Any business that sells the service of applying pesticides ("for hire" business)
must be certified as a Business Operator by Nova Scotia Environment. This certification
ensures the business has appropriate liability insurance and a designated certified
supervisor, in addition to having certified individual applicators on staff.
Q4. Under Nova Scotia's Pesticide Regulations, which of the following activities
requires a certified applicator?
A) A homeowner applying a "Domestic" class insect spray in their own vegetable garden
B) An employee of a municipality applying a "Commercial" class herbicide along a
roadside ditch
C) A farmer applying a "Restricted" class pesticide to their own crops on land they own
D) A retail clerk selling "Domestic" class weed killer to a homeowner
Correct Answer: B - An employee of a municipality applying a "Commercial" class
herbicide along a roadside ditch
Rationale: The employee is acting as a commercial applicator (applying a commercial
class product as part of paid duties) and therefore requires certification. The farmer on
their own land may be exempt under the "private applicator" exemption for agricultural
production.
,Q5. Under the Pest Control Products Act, the primary purpose of registering a
pesticide with a PCP number is to:
A) Generate revenue through federal registration fees
B) Indicate that the product has been tested and approved for use in Canada based on
health and environmental risk assessments
C) Prove that the product is safe for use around children and pets
D) Confirm that the product is manufactured in Canada
Correct Answer: B - Indicate that the product has been tested and approved for
use in Canada based on health and environmental risk assessments
Rationale: A PCP number means the product has been federally registered based on
scientific data regarding its chemistry, toxicology, environmental impact, and effectiveness.
Registration means the risks are acceptable when label directions are followed, not that it
is "safe" in absolute terms.
Q6. If a certified pesticide applicator changes employers, what must they do?
A) Surrender their certificate to Nova Scotia Environment and apply for a new one
B) It remains valid as long as it hasn't expired
C) Notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30 days of the employment change
D) Take the certification exam again
Correct Answer: C - Notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30 days of the
employment change
Rationale: Certified applicators are required to notify Nova Scotia Environment within 30
days of any change in employment or contact information. The certificate remains valid
for its full term, but the department needs to maintain current records for compliance and
emergency contact purposes.
, Q7. Which provincial department is responsible for the regulation of pesticides in
Nova Scotia?
A) Agriculture and Fisheries
B) Environment
C) Natural Resources
D) Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Correct Answer: B - Environment
Rationale: Nova Scotia Environment (NS Environment) administers the Pesticides Act and
its regulations, including certification, licensing, and enforcement.
Q8. What piece of information on the label indicates that the pesticide has been
registered with Health Canada?
A) PCP Act registration number
B) Product registration guarantee
C) Purpose statement
D) Warning statement
Correct Answer: A - PCP Act registration number
Rationale: The PCP (Pest Control Products) registration number on a pesticide label is
proof that the product has been reviewed and approved for sale and use in Canada by the
PMRA.
Q9. What is the primary purpose of the "Notice to User" label component?
A) To provide pesticide application information
B) To inform user of his/her liability limits
C) To guide user in mixing pesticide when needed
D) To direct user to read the product label
Correct Answer: D - To direct user to read the product label
