Texas Pesticide Applicator General Study Guide
Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+
If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with restricted pesticides, but not to work with
state-limited pesticides? T/F - Answer False
T/F. To legally perform structure pest control, you must have a license regardless of the kinds of
pesticides you use. - Answer True
Which is not an agency that shares responsibility for pesticide applicator training, certification and
licensing? Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS), or Texas
A&M Agrilife Research? - Answer Texas A&M Agrilife Research
Which license must be obtained by a person who wants to perform pest control as an employee of a
privately owned apartment building or hospital? - Answer A noncommercial license from the SPCS.
To work for hire, using restricted or state limited pesticides on another person's land, you have: -
Answer A commercial license from the TDA
T/F. All licensed commercial and noncommercial applicators must be certified in each application
category in which they practice? - Answer True
Which of the following is not among the TDA application categories? Right-of-way, Predatory animal,
Wood preservation, Fumigation. - Answer Wood preservation
Which of the following is not among the SPCS application categories? Termite, Seed treatment, Wood
Preservation, Commodity fumigation. - Answer Seed treatment
Which of the following state agencies is not involved in pesticide regulation? TDA, Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. - Answer Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service
,T/F. Under the Texas Pesticide Law, pesticides used in this state must be registered with the TDA, even if
they are already registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. - Answer True
-------is your responsibility to inform nearby residents or adjacent landowners before you apply
pesticides. - Answer Prior Notification
T/F. In addition to state government, even county commissioners courts may set rules on the use of
certain pesticides. - Answer True
T/F. Even with a commercial applicator license, you must still obtain a spray permit before using
regulated herbicides. - Answer True
T/F. Special fertilizer in containers with capacities of 50 pounds or less that are labeled for ornamental
and turf use are exempt from classification as state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides. -
Answer True
The Texas Structural Pest Control Agency requires you to give public notice at least --- hours before
commencing indoor pesticide treatments. - Answer 48
Which agency enforces the Texas Solid Waste Disposal act? TDA, Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Texas Commission of Aging, Texas Hazardous Waste Commission. - Answer Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality
What is the full name and acronym of the federal agency that regulates pesticides: U.S. department of
Agriculture, Office of Pesticide Programs, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Agency(FIFRA),
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) - Answer Environmental Protection Agency
Which of the things below is not something the EPA must do before a pesticide may be marketed in the
U.S.? Approve each use, Assign a product registration number, Consult the Office of Pesticide Programs.
- Answer Consult the Office of Pesticide Programs.
Which two answers are penalties defined by FIFRA for applicators who violate the law? Civil penalties
when the violation is unintentional, Criminal penalties when the violation is unintentional, Criminal
penalties when the law is knowingly violated, Civil penalties when the law is knowingly violated? -
,Answer Civil penalties when the violation is unintentional and criminal penalties when the law is
knowingly violated.
Does FIFRA allow prison terms for criminal(Intentional) violators? - Answer yes, up to 30 days for private
applicators and up to 1 year for commercial applicators.
What are regulations? - Answer Interpretations of the law that have the force of law
What is meant by the term "reentry interval"? - Answer The time right after pesticide application when
unprotected workers may not enter the treated area.
Of the following statements about EPA rules on warnings to workers which is not true? Warnings of
pesticide application must be timely and appropriate, warnings of pesticide application must be in the
language understood by the workers, warnings of pesticide application must be given in writing,
warnings of pesticide application may be given verbally or in writing. - Answer Warnings of pesticide
application must be given in writing.
What is EPA's pesticide registration decision based on? - Answer EPA evaluation of test data provided by
the manufacturer.
If the EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to workers, what can the EPA do? - Answer Set reentry
intervals to restrict workers from entering a treated, set restrictions on formulation or application rates,
require verbal or written warnings to workers.
If the EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to consumers, what can the EPA do? - Answer Require
longer pre-harvest intervals so pesticide residues will break down, set restrictions on the frequency of
application and rates, cancel or suspend use of the pesticide.
Which federal agency sets food tolerances for pesticides? - Answer EPA
Which federal agency enforces food tolerances for pesticides? - Answer FDA
, What is the purpose of the tolerance program? - Answer To ensure that U.S. consumers are not exposed
to unsafe pesticide residue levels in food.
Which act is administered by EPA to manage all solid hazardous waste? - Answer Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act
How can triple-rinsed, used pesticide containers be disposed of? - Answer In an EPA-approved sanitary
landfill
What kind of pesticide standards does FIFRA allow states to establish? - Answer Stricter than federal
standards.
Which agency administers the Hazard Communication Standard? - Answer Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
Pesticide applicators generate waste during normal work operations. Which of the items below is not
"regulated waste" under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA)? Triple-rinsed used
containers, excess pesticide and pesticide dilutions, rinse water that contains a listed chemical and
cannot be used properly. - Answer Triple-rinsed used containers.
Regulations interpreting the Transportation Safety Act are contained in 49 CFR. What do these
regulations cover? - Answer All safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials.
What is the act SARA Title III designed to do? - Answer Inform communities of hazardous chemicals in
the area and provide for community emergency response plans in the event of an accident.
What is an endangered species? - Answer A plant or animal that is in danger of extinction throughout all
of much of its range.
Which federal agency determines what species are endangered? - Answer Fish and WildLife Service
(FWS) of the department of the Interior.
Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+
If unsupervised, you must have a license to legally work with restricted pesticides, but not to work with
state-limited pesticides? T/F - Answer False
T/F. To legally perform structure pest control, you must have a license regardless of the kinds of
pesticides you use. - Answer True
Which is not an agency that shares responsibility for pesticide applicator training, certification and
licensing? Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS), or Texas
A&M Agrilife Research? - Answer Texas A&M Agrilife Research
Which license must be obtained by a person who wants to perform pest control as an employee of a
privately owned apartment building or hospital? - Answer A noncommercial license from the SPCS.
To work for hire, using restricted or state limited pesticides on another person's land, you have: -
Answer A commercial license from the TDA
T/F. All licensed commercial and noncommercial applicators must be certified in each application
category in which they practice? - Answer True
Which of the following is not among the TDA application categories? Right-of-way, Predatory animal,
Wood preservation, Fumigation. - Answer Wood preservation
Which of the following is not among the SPCS application categories? Termite, Seed treatment, Wood
Preservation, Commodity fumigation. - Answer Seed treatment
Which of the following state agencies is not involved in pesticide regulation? TDA, Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. - Answer Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service
,T/F. Under the Texas Pesticide Law, pesticides used in this state must be registered with the TDA, even if
they are already registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. - Answer True
-------is your responsibility to inform nearby residents or adjacent landowners before you apply
pesticides. - Answer Prior Notification
T/F. In addition to state government, even county commissioners courts may set rules on the use of
certain pesticides. - Answer True
T/F. Even with a commercial applicator license, you must still obtain a spray permit before using
regulated herbicides. - Answer True
T/F. Special fertilizer in containers with capacities of 50 pounds or less that are labeled for ornamental
and turf use are exempt from classification as state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides. -
Answer True
The Texas Structural Pest Control Agency requires you to give public notice at least --- hours before
commencing indoor pesticide treatments. - Answer 48
Which agency enforces the Texas Solid Waste Disposal act? TDA, Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Texas Commission of Aging, Texas Hazardous Waste Commission. - Answer Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality
What is the full name and acronym of the federal agency that regulates pesticides: U.S. department of
Agriculture, Office of Pesticide Programs, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Agency(FIFRA),
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) - Answer Environmental Protection Agency
Which of the things below is not something the EPA must do before a pesticide may be marketed in the
U.S.? Approve each use, Assign a product registration number, Consult the Office of Pesticide Programs.
- Answer Consult the Office of Pesticide Programs.
Which two answers are penalties defined by FIFRA for applicators who violate the law? Civil penalties
when the violation is unintentional, Criminal penalties when the violation is unintentional, Criminal
penalties when the law is knowingly violated, Civil penalties when the law is knowingly violated? -
,Answer Civil penalties when the violation is unintentional and criminal penalties when the law is
knowingly violated.
Does FIFRA allow prison terms for criminal(Intentional) violators? - Answer yes, up to 30 days for private
applicators and up to 1 year for commercial applicators.
What are regulations? - Answer Interpretations of the law that have the force of law
What is meant by the term "reentry interval"? - Answer The time right after pesticide application when
unprotected workers may not enter the treated area.
Of the following statements about EPA rules on warnings to workers which is not true? Warnings of
pesticide application must be timely and appropriate, warnings of pesticide application must be in the
language understood by the workers, warnings of pesticide application must be given in writing,
warnings of pesticide application may be given verbally or in writing. - Answer Warnings of pesticide
application must be given in writing.
What is EPA's pesticide registration decision based on? - Answer EPA evaluation of test data provided by
the manufacturer.
If the EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to workers, what can the EPA do? - Answer Set reentry
intervals to restrict workers from entering a treated, set restrictions on formulation or application rates,
require verbal or written warnings to workers.
If the EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to consumers, what can the EPA do? - Answer Require
longer pre-harvest intervals so pesticide residues will break down, set restrictions on the frequency of
application and rates, cancel or suspend use of the pesticide.
Which federal agency sets food tolerances for pesticides? - Answer EPA
Which federal agency enforces food tolerances for pesticides? - Answer FDA
, What is the purpose of the tolerance program? - Answer To ensure that U.S. consumers are not exposed
to unsafe pesticide residue levels in food.
Which act is administered by EPA to manage all solid hazardous waste? - Answer Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act
How can triple-rinsed, used pesticide containers be disposed of? - Answer In an EPA-approved sanitary
landfill
What kind of pesticide standards does FIFRA allow states to establish? - Answer Stricter than federal
standards.
Which agency administers the Hazard Communication Standard? - Answer Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
Pesticide applicators generate waste during normal work operations. Which of the items below is not
"regulated waste" under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA)? Triple-rinsed used
containers, excess pesticide and pesticide dilutions, rinse water that contains a listed chemical and
cannot be used properly. - Answer Triple-rinsed used containers.
Regulations interpreting the Transportation Safety Act are contained in 49 CFR. What do these
regulations cover? - Answer All safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials.
What is the act SARA Title III designed to do? - Answer Inform communities of hazardous chemicals in
the area and provide for community emergency response plans in the event of an accident.
What is an endangered species? - Answer A plant or animal that is in danger of extinction throughout all
of much of its range.
Which federal agency determines what species are endangered? - Answer Fish and WildLife Service
(FWS) of the department of the Interior.
