COLORADO QS/CO PESTICIDE TEST
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
PASS 2026/2027
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) - ANS Laws that provide federal
control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use.
EPA carries out enforcement.
Users must take exams for certification as applicators.
EPA must register new pesticides and re-register all existing pesticides.
Applies to people who manufacture, market, distribute, use, or dispose of pesticide products.
What are the two main pesticide classifications? - ANS General use and restricted use
General Use Pesticide - ANS Generally have a lower toxicity and have less potential to harm
humans or the environment
Can be bought and used by the public without special permits or restrictions
Restricted Use Pesticide (RUPs) - ANS Might result in an unreasonable adverse effect on
human health and/or the environment
Application by trained persons is required to use these products
This classification will be stated on the label
Pesticide Registration - ANS Since 1988, the EPA has been in charge of this.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,A pesticide must have a substantially complete database and must not cause unreasonable risks
to human health or the environment when used in accordance with its approved label
directions and precautions.
4 types of pesticide registration - ANS Section 3 - full federal label
Section 18 - emergency exemptions
Section 24c - special local needs label
Section 25b - minimum risk pesticides
Pesticide Registration: Section 3 - Full Federal Label - ANS Outlines pesticide registration
requirements that manufacturers must follow.
Most pesticides are registered this way
Pesticide Registration: Section 18 - Emergency Exemptions - ANS Allows state and federal
agencies to permit an additional use during a short term pest management crisis in a specific
locality.
Manufacturer is not allowed to advertise or promote the use of the product under this, even
though the use is legal.
This is used when there is a crisis and there are no federally registered pesticides available to
control the problem.
Pesticide Registration: Section 24c - Special Local Needs Label - ANS Colorado can register
additional uses of a federally listed pesticide.
These uses are for additional distribution and use in a specific area.
These are valid only in the state of issue.
Pesticide Registration: Section 25b - Minimum Risk Pesticides - ANS Can register pesticides
that have a very limited set of active and inert ingredients specified by the EPA, and are not
required to have an EPA registration number.
These pesticides are required to be registered with CDA in order to be sold and used in
Colorado.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,Certified Operator - ANS Individual who has been recognized by the state, tribe, territory, or
agency responsible for regulating pesticides (in CO this is the CDA) as being competent to use or
supervise the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs).
Must know how to read a pesticide label and be bale to follow directions to use them properly
and safely
2 categories of certified operators - ANS Private Applicators
Commercial Applicators
Private certified operator - ANS Individual who uses or supervises the use of RUPs in the
production of agricultural commodities on land owned or rented by him/her or his/her
employer
Commercial certified operator - ANS Individual who engages in the business of applying
pesticides or operating a device for hire.
Limited commercial operator - ANS Any person who in the course of conducting a business
only in or on property owned or leased by the person or the person's employer is engaged in
applying RUPs
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) - ANS FIFRA was amended in 1996 to include this.
Requires all pesticides meet new health and safety standards - including determining if pesticide
is an endocrine disruptor.
EPA must conclude with reasonable certainty that no harm will come to infants, children, or
other sensitive individuals exposed to pesticides - cumulative effects must be considered.
Requires EPA to review every registered pesticide on a 15 year cycle.
Public operator - ANS Any agency of the state, county, city, municipality, local government, or
political subdivision which applies RUPs
Pesticide Residues - ANS Particles that remain in small amounts in or on fruits, vegetables,
grains, other foods, and animal feeds.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Pesticide Residue Tolerance - ANS Maximum limit, set by the EPA, allowed to remain in or on
each treated food commodity.
Aggregate Pesticide Exposure - ANS All possible sources of exposure to the same pesticide
Cumulative Pesticide Exposure - ANS Combined effect from multiple exposures to the same
pesticide
Rinsate - ANS A mixture of pesticides diluted by water, solvents, oils, commercial rinsing
agents, or any other substances.
It is produced from cleaning pesticide application equipment or pesticide containers.
Penalties for breaking pesticide laws - ANS Both civil and criminal charges can be assessed for
FIFRA violations.
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) - ANS Passed before FIFRA to set maximum
residue levels for unavoidable poisonous substances in food marketed in the US.
Administered by the FDA but the EPA has a role
EPAs role: sets tolerances for pesticide residues on food commodities in the US
FDAs role: Monitors food crops for pesticide residues and enforces the levels set by the EPA.
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) - ANS Federal regulation passed in 1974 to provide
protection to workers who perform hand labor tasks in fields after a pesticide application.
Recently updated in 2015 to increase protection to workers.
It applies when a pesticide that contains this labeling is used in the production of agricultural
commodities
This labeling can be found in the "Directions for Use" in the "Agricultural Use Requirements"
section of the label
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
PASS 2026/2027
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) - ANS Laws that provide federal
control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use.
EPA carries out enforcement.
Users must take exams for certification as applicators.
EPA must register new pesticides and re-register all existing pesticides.
Applies to people who manufacture, market, distribute, use, or dispose of pesticide products.
What are the two main pesticide classifications? - ANS General use and restricted use
General Use Pesticide - ANS Generally have a lower toxicity and have less potential to harm
humans or the environment
Can be bought and used by the public without special permits or restrictions
Restricted Use Pesticide (RUPs) - ANS Might result in an unreasonable adverse effect on
human health and/or the environment
Application by trained persons is required to use these products
This classification will be stated on the label
Pesticide Registration - ANS Since 1988, the EPA has been in charge of this.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,A pesticide must have a substantially complete database and must not cause unreasonable risks
to human health or the environment when used in accordance with its approved label
directions and precautions.
4 types of pesticide registration - ANS Section 3 - full federal label
Section 18 - emergency exemptions
Section 24c - special local needs label
Section 25b - minimum risk pesticides
Pesticide Registration: Section 3 - Full Federal Label - ANS Outlines pesticide registration
requirements that manufacturers must follow.
Most pesticides are registered this way
Pesticide Registration: Section 18 - Emergency Exemptions - ANS Allows state and federal
agencies to permit an additional use during a short term pest management crisis in a specific
locality.
Manufacturer is not allowed to advertise or promote the use of the product under this, even
though the use is legal.
This is used when there is a crisis and there are no federally registered pesticides available to
control the problem.
Pesticide Registration: Section 24c - Special Local Needs Label - ANS Colorado can register
additional uses of a federally listed pesticide.
These uses are for additional distribution and use in a specific area.
These are valid only in the state of issue.
Pesticide Registration: Section 25b - Minimum Risk Pesticides - ANS Can register pesticides
that have a very limited set of active and inert ingredients specified by the EPA, and are not
required to have an EPA registration number.
These pesticides are required to be registered with CDA in order to be sold and used in
Colorado.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,Certified Operator - ANS Individual who has been recognized by the state, tribe, territory, or
agency responsible for regulating pesticides (in CO this is the CDA) as being competent to use or
supervise the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs).
Must know how to read a pesticide label and be bale to follow directions to use them properly
and safely
2 categories of certified operators - ANS Private Applicators
Commercial Applicators
Private certified operator - ANS Individual who uses or supervises the use of RUPs in the
production of agricultural commodities on land owned or rented by him/her or his/her
employer
Commercial certified operator - ANS Individual who engages in the business of applying
pesticides or operating a device for hire.
Limited commercial operator - ANS Any person who in the course of conducting a business
only in or on property owned or leased by the person or the person's employer is engaged in
applying RUPs
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) - ANS FIFRA was amended in 1996 to include this.
Requires all pesticides meet new health and safety standards - including determining if pesticide
is an endocrine disruptor.
EPA must conclude with reasonable certainty that no harm will come to infants, children, or
other sensitive individuals exposed to pesticides - cumulative effects must be considered.
Requires EPA to review every registered pesticide on a 15 year cycle.
Public operator - ANS Any agency of the state, county, city, municipality, local government, or
political subdivision which applies RUPs
Pesticide Residues - ANS Particles that remain in small amounts in or on fruits, vegetables,
grains, other foods, and animal feeds.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Pesticide Residue Tolerance - ANS Maximum limit, set by the EPA, allowed to remain in or on
each treated food commodity.
Aggregate Pesticide Exposure - ANS All possible sources of exposure to the same pesticide
Cumulative Pesticide Exposure - ANS Combined effect from multiple exposures to the same
pesticide
Rinsate - ANS A mixture of pesticides diluted by water, solvents, oils, commercial rinsing
agents, or any other substances.
It is produced from cleaning pesticide application equipment or pesticide containers.
Penalties for breaking pesticide laws - ANS Both civil and criminal charges can be assessed for
FIFRA violations.
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) - ANS Passed before FIFRA to set maximum
residue levels for unavoidable poisonous substances in food marketed in the US.
Administered by the FDA but the EPA has a role
EPAs role: sets tolerances for pesticide residues on food commodities in the US
FDAs role: Monitors food crops for pesticide residues and enforces the levels set by the EPA.
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) - ANS Federal regulation passed in 1974 to provide
protection to workers who perform hand labor tasks in fields after a pesticide application.
Recently updated in 2015 to increase protection to workers.
It applies when a pesticide that contains this labeling is used in the production of agricultural
commodities
This labeling can be found in the "Directions for Use" in the "Agricultural Use Requirements"
section of the label
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
