IOWA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR ACTUAL
(UPDATED 2026) QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Intro: Types of pesticide applicators in Iowa -CORRECTANSWER Commercial
Applicators (another person for compensation); Public Applicators (as employee govt
agencies); Noncommercial Applicators (property owned, rented, or leased by the
applicator or the applicator's employer); Private Applicators (agricultural); Certified
Handlers (preparing, mixing, or loading pesticides)
Intro: Describe certification & recertification requirements -CORRECTANSWER
Certification: Employed by a certified, licensed company; fee paid to IDALS; 21-day
grace period (direct supervision); closed-book exam. Recertification: 3-year qualification
cycle; renewable by either testing every third year or attending approved continuing
instruction courses (CIC); core & categories; fee & you get a form.
C1: What agency regulates pesticide use in US -CORRECTANSWER U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C1: Summarize pesticide registration & re-registration -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(1947) regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, & disposal of all pesticides
C1: FFDCA -CORRECTANSWER Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act sets
allowable residue levels to ensure the safety of the food supply
C1: FQPA -CORRECTANSWER Food Quality Protection Act amended both FIFRA &
FFDCA & set a tougher standard for pesticides on food.
C1: Residues & Tolerances -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) helps protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, & greenhouses from
occupational exposure.
C2: List the requirements of pesticide applicator records -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER It is an online registry
to identify locations of pesticide-sensitive crops & apiaries (bee yards): vineyards,
(UPDATED 2026) QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Intro: Types of pesticide applicators in Iowa -CORRECTANSWER Commercial
Applicators (another person for compensation); Public Applicators (as employee govt
agencies); Noncommercial Applicators (property owned, rented, or leased by the
applicator or the applicator's employer); Private Applicators (agricultural); Certified
Handlers (preparing, mixing, or loading pesticides)
Intro: Describe certification & recertification requirements -CORRECTANSWER
Certification: Employed by a certified, licensed company; fee paid to IDALS; 21-day
grace period (direct supervision); closed-book exam. Recertification: 3-year qualification
cycle; renewable by either testing every third year or attending approved continuing
instruction courses (CIC); core & categories; fee & you get a form.
C1: What agency regulates pesticide use in US -CORRECTANSWER U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C1: Summarize pesticide registration & re-registration -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(1947) regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, & disposal of all pesticides
C1: FFDCA -CORRECTANSWER Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act sets
allowable residue levels to ensure the safety of the food supply
C1: FQPA -CORRECTANSWER Food Quality Protection Act amended both FIFRA &
FFDCA & set a tougher standard for pesticides on food.
C1: Residues & Tolerances -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER Worker Protection Standard
(WPS) helps protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, & greenhouses from
occupational exposure.
C2: List the requirements of pesticide applicator records -CORRECTANSWER 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 -CORRECTANSWER It is an online registry
to identify locations of pesticide-sensitive crops & apiaries (bee yards): vineyards,
