IOWA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ NEWLY
UPDATED 2025
Intro: Types of Pesticide Applicators in Iowa
✔ Commercial Applicators – Apply pesticides on property of others for
compensation
✔ Public Applicators – Government employees applying pesticides as part of
their official duties
✔ Noncommercial Applicators – Apply pesticides on property owned, rented,
or leased by the applicator or their employer
✔ Private Applicators – Use restricted-use pesticides for agricultural
production on their own or employer’s land
✔ Certified Handlers – Responsible for preparing, mixing, or loading
pesticides under supervision of a certified applicator
Intro: Certification & Recertification Requirements
✔ Certification Requirements:
Must be employed by a certified and licensed company
Pay fee to IDALS
21-day grace period to work under direct supervision
Must pass a closed-book exam
✔ Recertification Requirements:
3-year qualification cycle
Renew by:
o Testing every 3rd year, or
, o Attending approved Continuing Instruction Courses (CIC)
Must complete CIC in core and category areas
Pay renewal fee and submit renewal form
C1: What agency regulates pesticide use in the U.S.?
✔ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Explanation: The EPA sets national standards for pesticide registration, use, and
residue limits.
C1: Summarize pesticide registration & re-registration - ANSWER✔✔FIFRA
requires the EPA to regulate the sale & use & they do this through registration &
labeling of pesticide products; human health & the environment. Re-registration
FIFRA requires EPA to conduct comprehensive reviews of older pesticides human
health & environmental effects
C1: Understand the penalties for violations of FIFRA - ANSWER✔✔Violations of
the legal provisions established in FIFRA civil penalties as much as $6,500 for
each offense; violation of the law also may subject you to criminal penalties up to
$25,000 or one year in prison, or both.
C1: FIFRA - ANSWER✔✔Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(1947) regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, & disposal of all
pesticides
C1: FFDCA - ANSWER✔✔Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act sets allowable
residue levels to ensure the safety of the food supply
C1: FQPA - ANSWER✔✔Food Quality Protection Act amended both FIFRA &
FFDCA & set a tougher standard for pesticides on food.
, C1: Residues & Tolerances - ANSWER✔✔Residues: Small amounts of pesticides
on fruits, vegetables, grains, other foods, & animal feeds. Tolerances: the EPA sets
allowable residue levels under FFDCA regs, safe tolerances "a reasonable certainty
of no harm".
C1: How does the ESA relate to pesticides - ANSWER✔✔The Endangered
Species Act (ESA): Pesticides use may directly or indirectly, through drift and
runoff, affect endangered or threatened species & their habitat.
C1: Summarize RCRA - ANSWER✔✔Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-
grave", rinsates & hazardous waste; become solid wastes when you want to
discard.
C1: Who is protected by the WPS - ANSWER✔✔Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) helps protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, & greenhouses from
occupational exposure.
C2: List the requirements of pesticide applicator records - ANSWER✔✔1) Name
& certification number of licensee; 2) Name & address of landowner or customer;
3) Address of the place of application of pesticide; 4) Date of application; 5) Trade
name of pesticide;
6) Quantity of pesticide used & the concentration or rate of application; 7)
Temperature and direction & velocity of wind; 8) the use of "restricted use"
pesticides; 9) Time pesticide application begins & ends.
C2: Describe the Sensitive Crops Directory - ANSWER✔✔It is an online registry
to identify locations of pesticide-sensitive crops & apiaries (bee yards): vineyards,
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ NEWLY
UPDATED 2025
Intro: Types of Pesticide Applicators in Iowa
✔ Commercial Applicators – Apply pesticides on property of others for
compensation
✔ Public Applicators – Government employees applying pesticides as part of
their official duties
✔ Noncommercial Applicators – Apply pesticides on property owned, rented,
or leased by the applicator or their employer
✔ Private Applicators – Use restricted-use pesticides for agricultural
production on their own or employer’s land
✔ Certified Handlers – Responsible for preparing, mixing, or loading
pesticides under supervision of a certified applicator
Intro: Certification & Recertification Requirements
✔ Certification Requirements:
Must be employed by a certified and licensed company
Pay fee to IDALS
21-day grace period to work under direct supervision
Must pass a closed-book exam
✔ Recertification Requirements:
3-year qualification cycle
Renew by:
o Testing every 3rd year, or
, o Attending approved Continuing Instruction Courses (CIC)
Must complete CIC in core and category areas
Pay renewal fee and submit renewal form
C1: What agency regulates pesticide use in the U.S.?
✔ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Explanation: The EPA sets national standards for pesticide registration, use, and
residue limits.
C1: Summarize pesticide registration & re-registration - ANSWER✔✔FIFRA
requires the EPA to regulate the sale & use & they do this through registration &
labeling of pesticide products; human health & the environment. Re-registration
FIFRA requires EPA to conduct comprehensive reviews of older pesticides human
health & environmental effects
C1: Understand the penalties for violations of FIFRA - ANSWER✔✔Violations of
the legal provisions established in FIFRA civil penalties as much as $6,500 for
each offense; violation of the law also may subject you to criminal penalties up to
$25,000 or one year in prison, or both.
C1: FIFRA - ANSWER✔✔Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(1947) regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, & disposal of all
pesticides
C1: FFDCA - ANSWER✔✔Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act sets allowable
residue levels to ensure the safety of the food supply
C1: FQPA - ANSWER✔✔Food Quality Protection Act amended both FIFRA &
FFDCA & set a tougher standard for pesticides on food.
, C1: Residues & Tolerances - ANSWER✔✔Residues: Small amounts of pesticides
on fruits, vegetables, grains, other foods, & animal feeds. Tolerances: the EPA sets
allowable residue levels under FFDCA regs, safe tolerances "a reasonable certainty
of no harm".
C1: How does the ESA relate to pesticides - ANSWER✔✔The Endangered
Species Act (ESA): Pesticides use may directly or indirectly, through drift and
runoff, affect endangered or threatened species & their habitat.
C1: Summarize RCRA - ANSWER✔✔Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-
grave", rinsates & hazardous waste; become solid wastes when you want to
discard.
C1: Who is protected by the WPS - ANSWER✔✔Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) helps protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, & greenhouses from
occupational exposure.
C2: List the requirements of pesticide applicator records - ANSWER✔✔1) Name
& certification number of licensee; 2) Name & address of landowner or customer;
3) Address of the place of application of pesticide; 4) Date of application; 5) Trade
name of pesticide;
6) Quantity of pesticide used & the concentration or rate of application; 7)
Temperature and direction & velocity of wind; 8) the use of "restricted use"
pesticides; 9) Time pesticide application begins & ends.
C2: Describe the Sensitive Crops Directory - ANSWER✔✔It is an online registry
to identify locations of pesticide-sensitive crops & apiaries (bee yards): vineyards,
