TDA Private Applicator License Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
What is IPM? - ✔✔IPM is a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
What type of approach is IPM to pest control - ✔✔It is an ECOLOGICAL approach to
pest control
What are the components of IPM? - ✔✔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 - ✔✔To use tactics that are pesticide alternatives that reduce the total
amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity for pests to
develop resistance.
How is a pesticide defined by law? (L&R §76.001 definitions) - ✔✔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.
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,Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? (L&R §76.001 definitions) -
✔✔Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? (L&R §76.001
definitions) - ✔✔The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
What is a state-limited-use pesticide? (L&R §76.003) - ✔✔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? (L&R §76.112) - ✔✔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? (L&R §7.31) - ✔✔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?
(L&R §7.31) - ✔✔The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or
noncommercial).
What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have? (Video) - ✔✔The
applicator should know how to: recognize common pests and pest damage; read and
understand the label; apply pesticides according to label instructions and warnings;
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, 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? (L&R §7.71)
- ✔✔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.
What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent with
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 of the target site? (L&R §7.71) - ✔✔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 of the target site.
What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔Sale and
use of certain herbicides are regulated in some counties where a permit must be
obtained to use such products during certain times of the year.
What is a spray permit? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔A spray permit is a document issued by 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? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔All permits expire when the
acreage for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, or 180 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.
(L&R §7.50) - ✔✔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
100% Pass Guarantee Emily Charlene All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
What is IPM? - ✔✔IPM is a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
What type of approach is IPM to pest control - ✔✔It is an ECOLOGICAL approach to
pest control
What are the components of IPM? - ✔✔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 - ✔✔To use tactics that are pesticide alternatives that reduce the total
amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity for pests to
develop resistance.
How is a pesticide defined by law? (L&R §76.001 definitions) - ✔✔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.
100% Pass Guarantee Emily Charlene All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? (L&R §76.001 definitions) -
✔✔Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? (L&R §76.001
definitions) - ✔✔The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
What is a state-limited-use pesticide? (L&R §76.003) - ✔✔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? (L&R §76.112) - ✔✔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? (L&R §7.31) - ✔✔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?
(L&R §7.31) - ✔✔The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or
noncommercial).
What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have? (Video) - ✔✔The
applicator should know how to: recognize common pests and pest damage; read and
understand the label; apply pesticides according to label instructions and warnings;
100% Pass Guarantee Emily Charlene All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
, 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? (L&R §7.71)
- ✔✔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.
What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent with
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 of the target site? (L&R §7.71) - ✔✔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 of the target site.
What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔Sale and
use of certain herbicides are regulated in some counties where a permit must be
obtained to use such products during certain times of the year.
What is a spray permit? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔A spray permit is a document issued by 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? (L&R §7.50) - ✔✔All permits expire when the
acreage for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, or 180 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.
(L&R §7.50) - ✔✔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
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