Page 1 of 143
Texas Pesticide Applicator Category R – Aerial Application
Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Texas Pesticide Applicator Category R – Aerial Application Exam,
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Category R Exam)
• Regulatory Framework: FIFRA (federal pesticide law), Texas Pesticide Law (Agriculture Code
Chapter 76), TDA enforcement authority
• Licensing & Certification: 3-year license validity, Category 9 (Aerial) requires a second
supporting category, CEU requirements (5 total, 3 specific for aerial)
• Recordkeeping: 3-year retention period for application records, required data elements (date,
time, product, EPA#, rate, site, acreage, wind speed/direction)
• FAA Part 137: Agricultural aircraft operations, dispensing chemicals, aircraft certification, pilot
requirements
• Drift Management: Wind speed limits (10 mph for regulated herbicides), buffer zones,
susceptible crops within 4 miles, temperature inversion effects
• Label Comprehension: Signal words (Danger, Warning, Caution), Restricted Use Pesticides
(RUP), EPA registration number, Section 2(ee) recommendations
• Regulated Herbicides: Spray permits from TDA (valid 180 days or until acreage sprayed),
prohibited when susceptible crops within 4 miles, turbine/blower equipment prohibited
• Flight Patterns: Race-track (long narrow fields), back-and-forth (rectangular fields), continuous
turn (large fields)
• Calibration: Swath width determination, GPA calculation, nozzle selection, flow rate verification
• Environmental Protection: Endangered Species Act (ESA), water body buffer zones, sensitive
area protection
• Safety & Emergency: PPE requirements, first aid, spill response, fire suppression
• Weather Effects: Temperature inversion avoidance, wind direction for flight lines, humidity
effects on droplet evaporation
• Equipment Operation: Spray system components, agitation requirements, drift reduction
technologies (DRT)
, Page 2 of 143
1. Which federal law requires all pesticides sold or distributed in the United States to be registered with
the EPA before they can be legally used?
A) Clean Water Act (CWA)
B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C) Federal Aviation Act (FAA)
D) Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the foundational federal law that mandates EPA registration, labeling, and use
compliance for all pesticides sold or distributed in the US .
2. In Texas, which state agency has primary responsibility for administering the Texas Pesticide Law and
licensing commercial aerial applicators?
A) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
C) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
D) Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Answer: C
, Page 3 of 143
Rationale: TDA is the lead regulatory agency for pesticide use, licensing, and enforcement in Texas. TCEQ
handles water quality; TPWD manages wildlife .
3. How long must a Texas commercial aerial applicator retain pesticide application records?
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 3 years
Answer: D
*Rationale: Texas Administrative Code requires a 3-year retention period for all commercial applicator
records to allow for audits and enforcement actions .*
4. According to Texas regulations, which of the following is NOT a required element on a pesticide
application record?
A) Date and time of application
B) Brand name and EPA registration number of pesticide
C) The pilot's personal cell phone number
, Page 4 of 143
D) Crop or site treated and acreage
Answer: C
Rationale: Date/time, product identification, EPA#, and site/acreage are legally required. The pilot's
personal cell phone number is not a mandatory record element .
5. FAA Part 137 specifically regulates which of the following activities?
A) Pesticide formulation standards
B) Agricultural aircraft operations, including dispensing chemicals
C) Groundwater protection from pesticides
D) Transportation of hazardous materials on highways
Answer: B
Rationale: Part 137 covers certification, equipment, and operating rules for aircraft engaged in
agriculture (spraying, seeding, etc.) .
6. Under Texas law, when is a "Spray Permit" required for aerial application of herbicides, and from
which agency is it obtained?
A) The local county judge issues permits for all herbicide applications
Texas Pesticide Applicator Category R – Aerial Application
Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Texas Pesticide Applicator Category R – Aerial Application Exam,
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Category R Exam)
• Regulatory Framework: FIFRA (federal pesticide law), Texas Pesticide Law (Agriculture Code
Chapter 76), TDA enforcement authority
• Licensing & Certification: 3-year license validity, Category 9 (Aerial) requires a second
supporting category, CEU requirements (5 total, 3 specific for aerial)
• Recordkeeping: 3-year retention period for application records, required data elements (date,
time, product, EPA#, rate, site, acreage, wind speed/direction)
• FAA Part 137: Agricultural aircraft operations, dispensing chemicals, aircraft certification, pilot
requirements
• Drift Management: Wind speed limits (10 mph for regulated herbicides), buffer zones,
susceptible crops within 4 miles, temperature inversion effects
• Label Comprehension: Signal words (Danger, Warning, Caution), Restricted Use Pesticides
(RUP), EPA registration number, Section 2(ee) recommendations
• Regulated Herbicides: Spray permits from TDA (valid 180 days or until acreage sprayed),
prohibited when susceptible crops within 4 miles, turbine/blower equipment prohibited
• Flight Patterns: Race-track (long narrow fields), back-and-forth (rectangular fields), continuous
turn (large fields)
• Calibration: Swath width determination, GPA calculation, nozzle selection, flow rate verification
• Environmental Protection: Endangered Species Act (ESA), water body buffer zones, sensitive
area protection
• Safety & Emergency: PPE requirements, first aid, spill response, fire suppression
• Weather Effects: Temperature inversion avoidance, wind direction for flight lines, humidity
effects on droplet evaporation
• Equipment Operation: Spray system components, agitation requirements, drift reduction
technologies (DRT)
, Page 2 of 143
1. Which federal law requires all pesticides sold or distributed in the United States to be registered with
the EPA before they can be legally used?
A) Clean Water Act (CWA)
B) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
C) Federal Aviation Act (FAA)
D) Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA is the foundational federal law that mandates EPA registration, labeling, and use
compliance for all pesticides sold or distributed in the US .
2. In Texas, which state agency has primary responsibility for administering the Texas Pesticide Law and
licensing commercial aerial applicators?
A) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
C) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
D) Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Answer: C
, Page 3 of 143
Rationale: TDA is the lead regulatory agency for pesticide use, licensing, and enforcement in Texas. TCEQ
handles water quality; TPWD manages wildlife .
3. How long must a Texas commercial aerial applicator retain pesticide application records?
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 3 years
Answer: D
*Rationale: Texas Administrative Code requires a 3-year retention period for all commercial applicator
records to allow for audits and enforcement actions .*
4. According to Texas regulations, which of the following is NOT a required element on a pesticide
application record?
A) Date and time of application
B) Brand name and EPA registration number of pesticide
C) The pilot's personal cell phone number
, Page 4 of 143
D) Crop or site treated and acreage
Answer: C
Rationale: Date/time, product identification, EPA#, and site/acreage are legally required. The pilot's
personal cell phone number is not a mandatory record element .
5. FAA Part 137 specifically regulates which of the following activities?
A) Pesticide formulation standards
B) Agricultural aircraft operations, including dispensing chemicals
C) Groundwater protection from pesticides
D) Transportation of hazardous materials on highways
Answer: B
Rationale: Part 137 covers certification, equipment, and operating rules for aircraft engaged in
agriculture (spraying, seeding, etc.) .
6. Under Texas law, when is a "Spray Permit" required for aerial application of herbicides, and from
which agency is it obtained?
A) The local county judge issues permits for all herbicide applications
