Exam
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE
APPLICATOR LATEST EXAM 2024-
2025
Define IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓1. a pest population management system that anticipates
and prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
Components of IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓1. Pest identification
2. Monitoring
3. Use of natural enemies (biological control)
4. Pest-resistant plants
5. Cultural and structural changes
6. Judicious use of least toxic pesticides
Intent of IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓To use tactics that include pesticide alternatives that
reduce the total amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity
for pests to develop resistance.
Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Texas
Department of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
,What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓
✓The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
What is a state-limited-use pesticide? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A pesticide or pesticide use on
which additional restrictions are placed by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
As defined by law, what is a private pesticide applicator? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A person
who uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use or state-limited use pesticide or a
regulated herbicide for the purpose producing an agricultural commodity.
When supervising pesticide use, must the private applicator be physically present? Is
the applicator responsible for actions of the supervised workers? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The
applicator need not be physically present, unless required by the label or other
conditions of use, but must be available if and when needed. The licensed applicator
and the supervised person may keep in touch by phone, radio, etc. The applicator is
responsible for actions of individuals being supervised.
Who is responsible for assuring that any person working under the licensee's direct
supervision is knowledgeable of the label requirements and rules and regulations
governing the use of the particular pesticide being used by the individual? - ANSWER
✓✓✓The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have? - ANSWER ✓✓
✓The applicator should know how to: recognize common pests and pest damage; read
and understand the label; apply pesticides according to the label instructions and
warnings; recognize environmental conditions and avoid contamination; and recognize
poisoning symptoms and perform first-aid.
What is the significance of pesticide label directions with regard to the law? - ANSWER
✓✓✓The label has the force of law and includes a statement stating that the use of
any chemical inconsistent with the label directions is a violation of the law.
How is a pesticide defined by law? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Any substance or mixture of
substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, and any
substance intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent with
the label directions? Examples: is it ever legal to use more than the labeled rate? Is it
ever legal to allow the pesticide to DRIFT off the target site? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Both
federal and state law prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is
NEVER legal to use more than the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow
the pesticide to drift off the target site.
, What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Sale and
use of certain herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be
obtained to use such products during certain times of the year.
What is a spray permit? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A spray permit is a document issued by the
TDA that must be issued before application that authorizes a person to apply regulated
herbicides in a regulated county.
When does a spray permit expire? - ANSWER ✓✓✓All permits expire when the
acreage for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance,
whichever occurs first.
List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that would not
require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having a spray permit. -
ANSWER ✓✓✓Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a
permit. Applications of regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal
treatment, or injection methods are exempt from obtaining a permit. The use of any
turbine or blower-type ground application equipment to apply regulated herbicides is
prohibited.
What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private applicator's
license? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Private applicators are required to recertify every five years
by obtaining fifteen continuing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in
laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest management.
What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not renew the
license by February 28th? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The renewal fee is $100 due by february
28. After Feb 28 to May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator
must wait one year before they can train and retest. TDA will NOT issue a new license
until one full year elapses.
What items are necessary at the decontamination site(s) and who is responsible for
providing these items? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The handler employer must provide enough
water for routine washing, for emergency eye flushing, and for washing the entire body,
soap and single-use towels in quantities sufficient to meet handlers' needs, and one
clean change of clothing, such as coveralls in case of an emergency.
If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can happen to
the license? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Failure to provide such information may be grounds for
denial, suspension or revocation of the license.
When can a person request prior notification? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Prior notification can
be requested when pesticides are being applied with air-blast, mist blowing or aerial
equipment by people on adjoining property living within 1/4 mile or by persons in charge
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE
APPLICATOR LATEST EXAM 2024-
2025
Define IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓1. a pest population management system that anticipates
and prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
Components of IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓1. Pest identification
2. Monitoring
3. Use of natural enemies (biological control)
4. Pest-resistant plants
5. Cultural and structural changes
6. Judicious use of least toxic pesticides
Intent of IPM - ANSWER ✓✓✓To use tactics that include pesticide alternatives that
reduce the total amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity
for pests to develop resistance.
Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Texas
Department of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
,What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓
✓The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
What is a state-limited-use pesticide? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A pesticide or pesticide use on
which additional restrictions are placed by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
As defined by law, what is a private pesticide applicator? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A person
who uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use or state-limited use pesticide or a
regulated herbicide for the purpose producing an agricultural commodity.
When supervising pesticide use, must the private applicator be physically present? Is
the applicator responsible for actions of the supervised workers? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The
applicator need not be physically present, unless required by the label or other
conditions of use, but must be available if and when needed. The licensed applicator
and the supervised person may keep in touch by phone, radio, etc. The applicator is
responsible for actions of individuals being supervised.
Who is responsible for assuring that any person working under the licensee's direct
supervision is knowledgeable of the label requirements and rules and regulations
governing the use of the particular pesticide being used by the individual? - ANSWER
✓✓✓The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have? - ANSWER ✓✓
✓The applicator should know how to: recognize common pests and pest damage; read
and understand the label; apply pesticides according to the label instructions and
warnings; recognize environmental conditions and avoid contamination; and recognize
poisoning symptoms and perform first-aid.
What is the significance of pesticide label directions with regard to the law? - ANSWER
✓✓✓The label has the force of law and includes a statement stating that the use of
any chemical inconsistent with the label directions is a violation of the law.
How is a pesticide defined by law? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Any substance or mixture of
substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, and any
substance intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent with
the label directions? Examples: is it ever legal to use more than the labeled rate? Is it
ever legal to allow the pesticide to DRIFT off the target site? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Both
federal and state law prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is
NEVER legal to use more than the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow
the pesticide to drift off the target site.
, What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Sale and
use of certain herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be
obtained to use such products during certain times of the year.
What is a spray permit? - ANSWER ✓✓✓A spray permit is a document issued by the
TDA that must be issued before application that authorizes a person to apply regulated
herbicides in a regulated county.
When does a spray permit expire? - ANSWER ✓✓✓All permits expire when the
acreage for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance,
whichever occurs first.
List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that would not
require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having a spray permit. -
ANSWER ✓✓✓Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a
permit. Applications of regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal
treatment, or injection methods are exempt from obtaining a permit. The use of any
turbine or blower-type ground application equipment to apply regulated herbicides is
prohibited.
What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private applicator's
license? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Private applicators are required to recertify every five years
by obtaining fifteen continuing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in
laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest management.
What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not renew the
license by February 28th? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The renewal fee is $100 due by february
28. After Feb 28 to May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator
must wait one year before they can train and retest. TDA will NOT issue a new license
until one full year elapses.
What items are necessary at the decontamination site(s) and who is responsible for
providing these items? - ANSWER ✓✓✓The handler employer must provide enough
water for routine washing, for emergency eye flushing, and for washing the entire body,
soap and single-use towels in quantities sufficient to meet handlers' needs, and one
clean change of clothing, such as coveralls in case of an emergency.
If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can happen to
the license? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Failure to provide such information may be grounds for
denial, suspension or revocation of the license.
When can a person request prior notification? - ANSWER ✓✓✓Prior notification can
be requested when pesticides are being applied with air-blast, mist blowing or aerial
equipment by people on adjoining property living within 1/4 mile or by persons in charge
