NC Pesticide Applicator Certification
Core Exam Study Guide 2026 Verified
Questions & Answers
Explain the difference between a general-use pesticide and a restricted-
use pesticide. - ............ANSWER..........Restricted-use has greater chance
to harm humans, environment, or both.
Explain the difference between a private and a commercial pesticide
applicator. - ............ANSWER..........Commercial: applies pesticides for
compensation.
Private: applies pesticides on personal property.
You must be a certified applicator, or supervised by someone who is
certified, in order to apply _____ - ............ANSWER..........Restricted-use
pesticides
A ______ is anyone who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide on
someone else's property for compensation.
- ............ANSWER..........Commercial Pesticide Applicator
To perform structural pest control work for hire, the applicator must be
licensed or employed by a licensee. A ______ is a certified applicator
who works for a licensed pest control company and conducts this work
,
under the supervision of a license holder.
- ............ANSWER..........Commercial Certified Applicator
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)
- ............ANSWER..........regulates the production, transportation, sale,
use, and disposal of all pesticides.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) - ............ANSWER..........is
responsible for registering or authorizing pesticide products for use in the
United States. Also has the authority to stop the sale or use of any
pesticide.
FFDCA (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act)
- ............ANSWER..........governs the establishment of pesticide
tolerances for food and feed products.
(A tolerance is the maximum level of pesticide residues allowed in or on
human food and animal feed.)
FQPA (Food Quality Protection Act) - ............ANSWER..........Requires
that EPA establish a tolerance based on "a reasonable certainty" that no
harm results from all combined sources of exposure to pesticides and that
the EPA review all old pesticides to make sure that the residues allowed
on food meet the new safety standard.
WPS (Worker Protection Standard) - ............ANSWER..........is a
regulation aimed at protecting employees on agricultural establishments
(farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses) from occupational exposure
to pesticides.
,
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act)
- ............ANSWER..........employers must keep records of all work-
related deaths, illnesses and injuries (except first aid treatments.)
HPS (Hazard Communication Standard)
- ............ANSWER..........Administered by the NC DOL. Is requires
employers to:
- Make a list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Get Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for all hazardous materials on the list
Ensure that all containers of hazardous materials are properly labeled at
all times
- Train all workers about the hazardous materials in the work place
- Keep a file on the hazardous materials and make it available
ESA (Endangered Species Act) - ............ANSWER..........is a federal law
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The law makes it
illegal to kill, harm, or collect endangered or threatened wildlife or fish or
to remove endangered or threatened plants from areas under federal
jurisdiction.
NCPL (North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971)
- ............ANSWER..........establishes pesticide management programs that
are designed to regulate the registration, handling, storage and disposal of
pesticides as well as the certification and licensing of pesticide
applicators, consultants, and dealers.
,
NCPB (North Carolina Pesticide Board) - ............ANSWER..........and the
NC Commissioner of Agriculture are responsible for carrying out
provisions of the NCPL.
Federal Recordkeeping Requirements For Restricted-Use Pesticides
- ............ANSWER..........Both private and commercial applicators must
be aware of the recordkeeping requirements for their industry. Table 2.3
Explain the importance of maintaining records of pesticide applications
(pests, dates, locations, and registration numbers) and training records of
persons handling pesticides. - ............ANSWER..........Maintaining
records is invaluable in the case of complaint or lawsuit. Records also
help determine if a treatment worked and may be helpful in deciding how
much pesticide to purchase for future applications.
Maintaining Training Records - ............ANSWER..........Owners and
operators of pesticide application businesses should consider keeping
documentation on employee training in the use of pesticides.
Explain the role of the North Carolina Pesticide Board.
- ............ANSWER..........Carry out provision of NC Pesticide Law
The Label is ______ - ............ANSWER..........THE LAW
State restrictions on pesticides cannot be less stringent than those of the
_____ - ............ANSWER..........FIFRA
Core Exam Study Guide 2026 Verified
Questions & Answers
Explain the difference between a general-use pesticide and a restricted-
use pesticide. - ............ANSWER..........Restricted-use has greater chance
to harm humans, environment, or both.
Explain the difference between a private and a commercial pesticide
applicator. - ............ANSWER..........Commercial: applies pesticides for
compensation.
Private: applies pesticides on personal property.
You must be a certified applicator, or supervised by someone who is
certified, in order to apply _____ - ............ANSWER..........Restricted-use
pesticides
A ______ is anyone who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide on
someone else's property for compensation.
- ............ANSWER..........Commercial Pesticide Applicator
To perform structural pest control work for hire, the applicator must be
licensed or employed by a licensee. A ______ is a certified applicator
who works for a licensed pest control company and conducts this work
,
under the supervision of a license holder.
- ............ANSWER..........Commercial Certified Applicator
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)
- ............ANSWER..........regulates the production, transportation, sale,
use, and disposal of all pesticides.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) - ............ANSWER..........is
responsible for registering or authorizing pesticide products for use in the
United States. Also has the authority to stop the sale or use of any
pesticide.
FFDCA (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act)
- ............ANSWER..........governs the establishment of pesticide
tolerances for food and feed products.
(A tolerance is the maximum level of pesticide residues allowed in or on
human food and animal feed.)
FQPA (Food Quality Protection Act) - ............ANSWER..........Requires
that EPA establish a tolerance based on "a reasonable certainty" that no
harm results from all combined sources of exposure to pesticides and that
the EPA review all old pesticides to make sure that the residues allowed
on food meet the new safety standard.
WPS (Worker Protection Standard) - ............ANSWER..........is a
regulation aimed at protecting employees on agricultural establishments
(farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses) from occupational exposure
to pesticides.
,
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act)
- ............ANSWER..........employers must keep records of all work-
related deaths, illnesses and injuries (except first aid treatments.)
HPS (Hazard Communication Standard)
- ............ANSWER..........Administered by the NC DOL. Is requires
employers to:
- Make a list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Get Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for all hazardous materials on the list
Ensure that all containers of hazardous materials are properly labeled at
all times
- Train all workers about the hazardous materials in the work place
- Keep a file on the hazardous materials and make it available
ESA (Endangered Species Act) - ............ANSWER..........is a federal law
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The law makes it
illegal to kill, harm, or collect endangered or threatened wildlife or fish or
to remove endangered or threatened plants from areas under federal
jurisdiction.
NCPL (North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971)
- ............ANSWER..........establishes pesticide management programs that
are designed to regulate the registration, handling, storage and disposal of
pesticides as well as the certification and licensing of pesticide
applicators, consultants, and dealers.
,
NCPB (North Carolina Pesticide Board) - ............ANSWER..........and the
NC Commissioner of Agriculture are responsible for carrying out
provisions of the NCPL.
Federal Recordkeeping Requirements For Restricted-Use Pesticides
- ............ANSWER..........Both private and commercial applicators must
be aware of the recordkeeping requirements for their industry. Table 2.3
Explain the importance of maintaining records of pesticide applications
(pests, dates, locations, and registration numbers) and training records of
persons handling pesticides. - ............ANSWER..........Maintaining
records is invaluable in the case of complaint or lawsuit. Records also
help determine if a treatment worked and may be helpful in deciding how
much pesticide to purchase for future applications.
Maintaining Training Records - ............ANSWER..........Owners and
operators of pesticide application businesses should consider keeping
documentation on employee training in the use of pesticides.
Explain the role of the North Carolina Pesticide Board.
- ............ANSWER..........Carry out provision of NC Pesticide Law
The Label is ______ - ............ANSWER..........THE LAW
State restrictions on pesticides cannot be less stringent than those of the
_____ - ............ANSWER..........FIFRA
