Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category 10a – General Pest
Control Exam Practice 200 Questions and Answers
This practice exam is based on the Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category 10a (General
Pest Control) license requirements. A new exam was released on April 1, 2025, and this guide
reflects the current standards . The exam tests knowledge of pest identification, biology,
detection, monitoring, chemical and non-chemical management approaches, and legal and
safety issues unique to this category . It is designed for applicators applying pesticides in or
around human dwellings, businesses, schools, hospitals, industrial plants, warehouses, and
other structures to control pests such as cockroaches, ants, bed bugs, rodents, and other inside
pests .
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SECTION 1: CORE PRINCIPLES & IPM (Questions 1-30)
---
Question 1: According to Ohio State University Extension materials, what is the first thing you
should do when you detect the presence of a pest that you think you may need to control?
A) Apply a broad-spectrum pesticide immediately
B) Identify the pest to determine if control is necessary
C) Remove all food sources from the area
D) Notify the property owner
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The first step in pest control is proper pest identification. This allows you to
determine whether control is actually needed, understand the pest's biology and habits, and
,select the most effective and least hazardous control method. Misidentification leads to
ineffective treatments and unnecessary pesticide use .
---
Question 2: How can pest identification help you develop a good pest control strategy?
A) It helps you select the correct pesticide and application method for the specific pest
B) It helps you understand the pest's life cycle to target the most vulnerable stage
C) It helps you locate the pest's harborage areas
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Pest identification is critical to developing an effective IPM strategy because it
reveals the pest's life cycle, biology, harborage preferences, and vulnerabilities. This information
guides the selection of appropriate control methods—whether chemical or non-chemical—and
the timing of interventions .
---
Question 3: In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), what is the definition of an "Action
Threshold"?
A) The point at which pest numbers become visible to the naked eye
B) The level of pest infestation at which you must take control action to prevent unacceptable
damage or health risk
C) The maximum amount of pesticide allowed per application
,D) The point when the pest becomes resistant to treatment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Action thresholds are the pest population levels at which you must take pest
control action to prevent unacceptable damage or injury. These thresholds help determine
when control measures are economically or medically justified, preventing unnecessary
pesticide applications .
---
Question 4: In an IPM program, if you find only a few pests, what should you do?
A) Apply pesticide immediately to prevent population growth
B) Monitor the situation to see if the pest population reaches the action threshold
C) Fumigate the entire structure
D) Ignore the pests unless they become a nuisance
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: IPM emphasizes monitoring over routine pesticide applications. By monitoring pest
populations, you can determine whether the pest is present in numbers that exceed the action
threshold. If the population is low, control may not be necessary, saving time, money, and
reducing unnecessary pesticide exposure .
---
, Question 5: Which of the following is a key component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
strategy?
A) Routine calendar-based pesticide applications
B) Use of multiple control tactics including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical
methods
C) Exclusive reliance on chemical controls for all pest problems
D) Applying the maximum labeled pesticide rate at every treatment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: IPM integrates multiple pest control tactics—including cultural (sanitation,
exclusion), mechanical (traps, vacuuming), biological (predators), and chemical (pesticides)—to
achieve effective, economical, and environmentally sound pest management. The goal is to use
the least hazardous methods first .
---
Question 6: Why should you consider action thresholds when developing a pest control
strategy?
A) Thresholds determine the maximum pesticide concentration allowed by law
B) They help you decide whether and when pest control is economically or medically justified
C) They establish the minimum temperature for pesticide application
D) They determine the required personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: B
Control Exam Practice 200 Questions and Answers
This practice exam is based on the Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category 10a (General
Pest Control) license requirements. A new exam was released on April 1, 2025, and this guide
reflects the current standards . The exam tests knowledge of pest identification, biology,
detection, monitoring, chemical and non-chemical management approaches, and legal and
safety issues unique to this category . It is designed for applicators applying pesticides in or
around human dwellings, businesses, schools, hospitals, industrial plants, warehouses, and
other structures to control pests such as cockroaches, ants, bed bugs, rodents, and other inside
pests .
---
SECTION 1: CORE PRINCIPLES & IPM (Questions 1-30)
---
Question 1: According to Ohio State University Extension materials, what is the first thing you
should do when you detect the presence of a pest that you think you may need to control?
A) Apply a broad-spectrum pesticide immediately
B) Identify the pest to determine if control is necessary
C) Remove all food sources from the area
D) Notify the property owner
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The first step in pest control is proper pest identification. This allows you to
determine whether control is actually needed, understand the pest's biology and habits, and
,select the most effective and least hazardous control method. Misidentification leads to
ineffective treatments and unnecessary pesticide use .
---
Question 2: How can pest identification help you develop a good pest control strategy?
A) It helps you select the correct pesticide and application method for the specific pest
B) It helps you understand the pest's life cycle to target the most vulnerable stage
C) It helps you locate the pest's harborage areas
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Pest identification is critical to developing an effective IPM strategy because it
reveals the pest's life cycle, biology, harborage preferences, and vulnerabilities. This information
guides the selection of appropriate control methods—whether chemical or non-chemical—and
the timing of interventions .
---
Question 3: In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), what is the definition of an "Action
Threshold"?
A) The point at which pest numbers become visible to the naked eye
B) The level of pest infestation at which you must take control action to prevent unacceptable
damage or health risk
C) The maximum amount of pesticide allowed per application
,D) The point when the pest becomes resistant to treatment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Action thresholds are the pest population levels at which you must take pest
control action to prevent unacceptable damage or injury. These thresholds help determine
when control measures are economically or medically justified, preventing unnecessary
pesticide applications .
---
Question 4: In an IPM program, if you find only a few pests, what should you do?
A) Apply pesticide immediately to prevent population growth
B) Monitor the situation to see if the pest population reaches the action threshold
C) Fumigate the entire structure
D) Ignore the pests unless they become a nuisance
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: IPM emphasizes monitoring over routine pesticide applications. By monitoring pest
populations, you can determine whether the pest is present in numbers that exceed the action
threshold. If the population is low, control may not be necessary, saving time, money, and
reducing unnecessary pesticide exposure .
---
, Question 5: Which of the following is a key component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
strategy?
A) Routine calendar-based pesticide applications
B) Use of multiple control tactics including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical
methods
C) Exclusive reliance on chemical controls for all pest problems
D) Applying the maximum labeled pesticide rate at every treatment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: IPM integrates multiple pest control tactics—including cultural (sanitation,
exclusion), mechanical (traps, vacuuming), biological (predators), and chemical (pesticides)—to
achieve effective, economical, and environmentally sound pest management. The goal is to use
the least hazardous methods first .
---
Question 6: Why should you consider action thresholds when developing a pest control
strategy?
A) Thresholds determine the maximum pesticide concentration allowed by law
B) They help you decide whether and when pest control is economically or medically justified
C) They establish the minimum temperature for pesticide application
D) They determine the required personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: B
