NC Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Exam Study
Guide Questions and Answers Graded A+ 2026
Explain the difference between a general-use pesticide and a restricted-use
pesticide. -Correct Answer ✔-Restricted-use has greater chance to harm humans,
environment, or both.
Explain the difference between a private and a commercial pesticide applicator. -
Correct 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 _____ -Correct Answer ✔-Restricted-use pesticides
A ______ is anyone who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide on someone
else's property for compensation. -Correct 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. -Correct Answer ✔-Commercial Certified Applicator
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) -Correct Answer ✔-
regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, and disposal of all pesticides.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct Answer ✔-employers must
keep records of all work-related deaths, illnesses and injuries (except first aid
treatments.)
HPS (Hazard Communication Standard) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct Answer ✔-and the NC
Commissioner of Agriculture are responsible for carrying out provisions of the
NCPL.
Federal Recordkeeping Requirements For Restricted-Use Pesticides -Correct
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. -Correct 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 -Correct 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. -Correct Answer ✔-Carry
out provision of NC Pesticide Law
The Label is ______ -Correct Answer ✔-THE LAW
State restrictions on pesticides cannot be less stringent than those of the _____ -
Correct Answer ✔-FIFRA
Arsenic Trioxide -Correct Answer ✔-The only statewide restricted-use pesticide.
Pesticides should not be applied under conditions that will permit _______ that
result in adverse effect. -Correct Answer ✔-drift of pesticide particles (droplets,
dust, or vapors)
Guide Questions and Answers Graded A+ 2026
Explain the difference between a general-use pesticide and a restricted-use
pesticide. -Correct Answer ✔-Restricted-use has greater chance to harm humans,
environment, or both.
Explain the difference between a private and a commercial pesticide applicator. -
Correct 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 _____ -Correct Answer ✔-Restricted-use pesticides
A ______ is anyone who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide on someone
else's property for compensation. -Correct 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. -Correct Answer ✔-Commercial Certified Applicator
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) -Correct Answer ✔-
regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, and disposal of all pesticides.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct Answer ✔-employers must
keep records of all work-related deaths, illnesses and injuries (except first aid
treatments.)
HPS (Hazard Communication Standard) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct 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) -Correct Answer ✔-and the NC
Commissioner of Agriculture are responsible for carrying out provisions of the
NCPL.
Federal Recordkeeping Requirements For Restricted-Use Pesticides -Correct
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. -Correct 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 -Correct 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. -Correct Answer ✔-Carry
out provision of NC Pesticide Law
The Label is ______ -Correct Answer ✔-THE LAW
State restrictions on pesticides cannot be less stringent than those of the _____ -
Correct Answer ✔-FIFRA
Arsenic Trioxide -Correct Answer ✔-The only statewide restricted-use pesticide.
Pesticides should not be applied under conditions that will permit _______ that
result in adverse effect. -Correct Answer ✔-drift of pesticide particles (droplets,
dust, or vapors)
