1|Page
WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM 2026| TURF &
LANDSCAPE STUDY GUIDE WITH 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which federal law primarily regulates pesticide distribution, sale, and
use in the U.S.?
A. OSHA
B. FIFRA
C. FFDCA
D. WPS
Answer: B. FIFRA
Rationale: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) governs pesticide registration, sale, and application.
2. What does the signal word “DANGER” on a pesticide label indicate?
A. Slight toxicity
B. Moderate toxicity
C. High toxicity
D. Practically non-toxic
Answer: C. High toxicity
Rationale: Signal words indicate acute toxicity. DANGER = highly toxic;
WARNING = moderate; CAUTION = slight.
3. Who is legally responsible for following pesticide label directions?
A. Manufacturer
B. Applicator
C. Distributor
D. State inspector
Answer: B. Applicator
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Rationale: The label is the law; applicators are legally bound to follow all
label instructions.
4. Which section of the label gives detailed PPE requirements?
A. Environmental hazards
B. Precautionary statements
C. Directions for use
D. Storage and disposal
Answer: B. Precautionary statements
Rationale: PPE and health hazard precautions are listed under precautionary
statements.
5. Under Wisconsin law, pesticide applicators must be certified every:
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. 10 years
Answer: C. 5 years
Rationale: Certification for commercial and private applicators is valid for
five years in Wisconsin.
PPE & Safety
6. Which type of gloves are recommended for pesticide mixing/loading?
A. Leather
B. Cotton
C. Unlined chemical-resistant (nitrile, neoprene)
D. Cloth-lined rubber
Answer: C. Unlined chemical-resistant (nitrile, neoprene)
Rationale: Cloth or leather absorb pesticides. Only unlined chemical-
resistant gloves protect properly.
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7. If pesticide gets on your skin, what is the first action?
A. Call poison control
B. Wash immediately with soap and water
C. Remove clothing later
D. Apply alcohol rub
Answer: B. Wash immediately with soap and water
Rationale: Prompt decontamination reduces absorption. Remove
contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
8. Which type of respirator filter is required for organic vapor
protection?
A. N95 dust filter
B. HEPA cartridge
C. OV (organic vapor) cartridge
D. SCBA only
Answer: C. OV (organic vapor) cartridge
Rationale: Organic vapor cartridges protect against pesticide fumes and
vapors.
9. What color band typically indicates the highest toxicity on pesticide
packaging?
A. Blue
B. Green
C. Red
D. Yellow
Answer: C. Red
Rationale: Red = Danger/Poison (highly toxic). Yellow = Warning
(moderate). Blue/Green = Caution (low).
10. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is designed to protect:
A. Retail pesticide distributors
B. Farm workers and pesticide handlers
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C. Golf course superintendents only
D. Veterinarians
Answer: B. Farm workers and pesticide handlers
Rationale: WPS ensures worker safety through PPE, REI (restricted entry
intervals), and training.
Environmental Protection
11. Which soil type poses the greatest risk of groundwater
contamination?
A. Sandy
B. Clay
C. Loamy
D. Silty clay
Answer: A. Sandy
Rationale: Sandy soils have low organic matter and allow rapid leaching.
12. What is drift?
A. Movement of pesticide away from target site by water runoff
B. Movement of pesticide in soil
C. Movement of pesticide through air during or after application
D. Pesticide residue breakdown
Answer: C. Movement of pesticide through air during or after
application
Rationale: Drift reduces effectiveness and contaminates non-target areas.
13. To protect pollinators, the best time to apply insecticides on turf is:
A. Noon
B. Early morning or late evening
C. During peak bloom
D. Any time when windy
Answer: B. Early morning or late evening
WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM 2026| TURF &
LANDSCAPE STUDY GUIDE WITH 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which federal law primarily regulates pesticide distribution, sale, and
use in the U.S.?
A. OSHA
B. FIFRA
C. FFDCA
D. WPS
Answer: B. FIFRA
Rationale: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) governs pesticide registration, sale, and application.
2. What does the signal word “DANGER” on a pesticide label indicate?
A. Slight toxicity
B. Moderate toxicity
C. High toxicity
D. Practically non-toxic
Answer: C. High toxicity
Rationale: Signal words indicate acute toxicity. DANGER = highly toxic;
WARNING = moderate; CAUTION = slight.
3. Who is legally responsible for following pesticide label directions?
A. Manufacturer
B. Applicator
C. Distributor
D. State inspector
Answer: B. Applicator
,2|Page
Rationale: The label is the law; applicators are legally bound to follow all
label instructions.
4. Which section of the label gives detailed PPE requirements?
A. Environmental hazards
B. Precautionary statements
C. Directions for use
D. Storage and disposal
Answer: B. Precautionary statements
Rationale: PPE and health hazard precautions are listed under precautionary
statements.
5. Under Wisconsin law, pesticide applicators must be certified every:
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. 10 years
Answer: C. 5 years
Rationale: Certification for commercial and private applicators is valid for
five years in Wisconsin.
PPE & Safety
6. Which type of gloves are recommended for pesticide mixing/loading?
A. Leather
B. Cotton
C. Unlined chemical-resistant (nitrile, neoprene)
D. Cloth-lined rubber
Answer: C. Unlined chemical-resistant (nitrile, neoprene)
Rationale: Cloth or leather absorb pesticides. Only unlined chemical-
resistant gloves protect properly.
,3|Page
7. If pesticide gets on your skin, what is the first action?
A. Call poison control
B. Wash immediately with soap and water
C. Remove clothing later
D. Apply alcohol rub
Answer: B. Wash immediately with soap and water
Rationale: Prompt decontamination reduces absorption. Remove
contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
8. Which type of respirator filter is required for organic vapor
protection?
A. N95 dust filter
B. HEPA cartridge
C. OV (organic vapor) cartridge
D. SCBA only
Answer: C. OV (organic vapor) cartridge
Rationale: Organic vapor cartridges protect against pesticide fumes and
vapors.
9. What color band typically indicates the highest toxicity on pesticide
packaging?
A. Blue
B. Green
C. Red
D. Yellow
Answer: C. Red
Rationale: Red = Danger/Poison (highly toxic). Yellow = Warning
(moderate). Blue/Green = Caution (low).
10. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is designed to protect:
A. Retail pesticide distributors
B. Farm workers and pesticide handlers
, 4|Page
C. Golf course superintendents only
D. Veterinarians
Answer: B. Farm workers and pesticide handlers
Rationale: WPS ensures worker safety through PPE, REI (restricted entry
intervals), and training.
Environmental Protection
11. Which soil type poses the greatest risk of groundwater
contamination?
A. Sandy
B. Clay
C. Loamy
D. Silty clay
Answer: A. Sandy
Rationale: Sandy soils have low organic matter and allow rapid leaching.
12. What is drift?
A. Movement of pesticide away from target site by water runoff
B. Movement of pesticide in soil
C. Movement of pesticide through air during or after application
D. Pesticide residue breakdown
Answer: C. Movement of pesticide through air during or after
application
Rationale: Drift reduces effectiveness and contaminates non-target areas.
13. To protect pollinators, the best time to apply insecticides on turf is:
A. Noon
B. Early morning or late evening
C. During peak bloom
D. Any time when windy
Answer: B. Early morning or late evening
