PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM 2025
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
abiotic factors - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Related to nonliving elements, such as air
pollutants, wind, water, and temperature.
absorption - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The movement of a chemical into plants, animals
(including humans), microorganisms, or soil.
acaricide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pesticide used to control mites and ticks. A
miticide is a type of acaricide.
acidic - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH less than 7.
action threshold - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a predetermined level of pest infestation or
damage at which some type of pest management action must be taken.
activated charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A finely ground charcoal that adsorbs
chemicals.
activator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A adjuvant added to a pesticide to increase its
toxicity.
active ingredient - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The chemical or chemicals in a product
responsible for pesticidal activity.
acute effects - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Illnesses or injuries that occur shortly (within 24
hours) after exposure to a pesticide.
acute exposure - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An exposure to a single dose of pesticide.
,acute toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An injury or illness produced from a single
pesticide exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity.
adjuvant (additive) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A substance added to a pesticide to
improve its effectiveness or safety. Examples include penetrants, sticker-spreaders, and wetting
agents.
adsorption - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process whereby chemicals are held or bound
to a surface by physical or chemical attraction. Clay and high-organic soils tend to adsorb
pesticides.
adulterated pesticide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pest control product that does not
conform to the specified standard or quality documented on its label or labeling.
advisory statements - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Manufacturer recommendations or best
management practices for optimal use of a pesticide product. Pesticide handlers are not legally
required to follow advisory statements.
aerosol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical stored in a container under pressure. An
extremely fine mist is produced when the material, dissolved in a liquid, is released into the air.
agitation system - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A device that stirs or mixes a pesticide
product in a sprayer.
air-blast sprayer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A type of pesticide application equipment that
uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from the
nozzles.
air-purifying respirator (APR) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A safety device that used filters
or sorbents to remove hazardous substances, including pesticides, from the air.
,algae - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and
contain chlorophyll.
algaecide (algicide) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae.
alkaline - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH greater than 7 (also called basic).
allergic effects/allergy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A hypersensitivity to a specific
substance, often called the allergen. An allergy may cause dermatitis, blisters, or hives. It could
also cause illness, asthma, or life-threatening shock. Often the entire body is affected. Pesticide
allergy symptoms are similar to other allergy symptoms-reddening and itching of the eyes,
respiratory discomfort, and asthma-like symptoms.
animal systemics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pesticide products that are absorbed by,
enter the tissues of, and move within the treated animal.
annual - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A plant that competes its life cycle in one year.
antagonism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The reduction of pesticide activity when two or
more different pesticides are mixes together.
antibiotic - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Chemical produced by a microorganism that is toxic
to other microorganisms. Examples include streptomycin and penicillin.
anticoagulant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical that prevents normal blood clotting;
the active ingredient in some rodenticides.
antidote - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A practical treatment used to counteract the effects of
pesticide poisoning or some other poison in the body.
, anti-siphoning device - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A hose attachment designed to prevent
backflow of a pesticide mix from the spray tank into a water source.
application rate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The amount of pesticide that is applied to a
known area, such as an acre or 1,000 square feet or linear feet.
aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A geologic formation from which groundwater may be
drawn. An aquifer can be a later of sand, gravel, or other soil materials or a section of bedrock
with fractures through which water can flow.
arachnid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A wingless arthropod with two body regions and four
pairs of jointed legs. Spiders, ticks, and mites are arachnids.
arthropod - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An invertebrate animal characterized by a jointed
body and limbs and usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, mites, and
crayfish are arthropods.
atmosphere-supplying respirator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A safety device that provides
a supply of breathable air from a clean, independent outside source. Examples include SCBA and
supplied-air respirators.
atropine (atropine sulfate) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antidote used to treat
organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.
attractant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A substance or device used to lure insects or other
pests to a trap or poison bait.
avicide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical used to kill or repel birds.
back-siphoning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The movement of a liquid pesticide mixture
from a spray tank through the filling hose into the water source.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
abiotic factors - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Related to nonliving elements, such as air
pollutants, wind, water, and temperature.
absorption - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The movement of a chemical into plants, animals
(including humans), microorganisms, or soil.
acaricide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pesticide used to control mites and ticks. A
miticide is a type of acaricide.
acidic - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH less than 7.
action threshold - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a predetermined level of pest infestation or
damage at which some type of pest management action must be taken.
activated charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A finely ground charcoal that adsorbs
chemicals.
activator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A adjuvant added to a pesticide to increase its
toxicity.
active ingredient - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The chemical or chemicals in a product
responsible for pesticidal activity.
acute effects - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Illnesses or injuries that occur shortly (within 24
hours) after exposure to a pesticide.
acute exposure - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An exposure to a single dose of pesticide.
,acute toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An injury or illness produced from a single
pesticide exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity.
adjuvant (additive) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A substance added to a pesticide to
improve its effectiveness or safety. Examples include penetrants, sticker-spreaders, and wetting
agents.
adsorption - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process whereby chemicals are held or bound
to a surface by physical or chemical attraction. Clay and high-organic soils tend to adsorb
pesticides.
adulterated pesticide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pest control product that does not
conform to the specified standard or quality documented on its label or labeling.
advisory statements - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Manufacturer recommendations or best
management practices for optimal use of a pesticide product. Pesticide handlers are not legally
required to follow advisory statements.
aerosol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical stored in a container under pressure. An
extremely fine mist is produced when the material, dissolved in a liquid, is released into the air.
agitation system - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A device that stirs or mixes a pesticide
product in a sprayer.
air-blast sprayer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A type of pesticide application equipment that
uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from the
nozzles.
air-purifying respirator (APR) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A safety device that used filters
or sorbents to remove hazardous substances, including pesticides, from the air.
,algae - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and
contain chlorophyll.
algaecide (algicide) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae.
alkaline - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH greater than 7 (also called basic).
allergic effects/allergy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A hypersensitivity to a specific
substance, often called the allergen. An allergy may cause dermatitis, blisters, or hives. It could
also cause illness, asthma, or life-threatening shock. Often the entire body is affected. Pesticide
allergy symptoms are similar to other allergy symptoms-reddening and itching of the eyes,
respiratory discomfort, and asthma-like symptoms.
animal systemics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pesticide products that are absorbed by,
enter the tissues of, and move within the treated animal.
annual - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A plant that competes its life cycle in one year.
antagonism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The reduction of pesticide activity when two or
more different pesticides are mixes together.
antibiotic - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Chemical produced by a microorganism that is toxic
to other microorganisms. Examples include streptomycin and penicillin.
anticoagulant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical that prevents normal blood clotting;
the active ingredient in some rodenticides.
antidote - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A practical treatment used to counteract the effects of
pesticide poisoning or some other poison in the body.
, anti-siphoning device - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A hose attachment designed to prevent
backflow of a pesticide mix from the spray tank into a water source.
application rate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The amount of pesticide that is applied to a
known area, such as an acre or 1,000 square feet or linear feet.
aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A geologic formation from which groundwater may be
drawn. An aquifer can be a later of sand, gravel, or other soil materials or a section of bedrock
with fractures through which water can flow.
arachnid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A wingless arthropod with two body regions and four
pairs of jointed legs. Spiders, ticks, and mites are arachnids.
arthropod - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An invertebrate animal characterized by a jointed
body and limbs and usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, mites, and
crayfish are arthropods.
atmosphere-supplying respirator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A safety device that provides
a supply of breathable air from a clean, independent outside source. Examples include SCBA and
supplied-air respirators.
atropine (atropine sulfate) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antidote used to treat
organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.
attractant - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A substance or device used to lure insects or other
pests to a trap or poison bait.
avicide - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A chemical used to kill or repel birds.
back-siphoning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The movement of a liquid pesticide mixture
from a spray tank through the filling hose into the water source.
