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North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Certification exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification exam is administered through the NDSU
Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program. Candidates must first pass a Core exam, then
a category/class exam for at least one specific classification. Certificates are valid for five years.
Commercial applicators must also provide proof of financial responsibility.
Exam Coverage: Certification Classifications
Class Authorized Uses
Agricultural crop land, grasslands, animals, animal facilities, noncrop lands (natural
Agricultural Pest Control
areas, fallow, mines)
Seed Treatment Agricultural crop seeds, other seeds, vegetative seed stocks
Commodity & Structural Fumigants for commodities, processed foods, transport vessels, storage structures,
Fumigation nonfood commodities
Ornamental & Turf Pest Control Ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf maintenance
Greenhouse Pesticides intended for greenhouses
Right-of-Way Parking lots, roads, powerlines, pipelines, railways, and similar rights-of-way
Public Health Pest Control Government employees or contractors for public health purposes
Education or research by county agents, state/federal employees, commercial
Research & Demonstration
researchers
Home, Industrial & Institutional Food-handling establishments, dwellings, warehouses, grain elevators, structures
Wood Preservatives Lumber product preservation
Vertebrate Vertebrate pest control (rodents, predators, bats) not in/around structures
Sewer Root Control Tree/plant root infestations in sewer systems
DOMAIN 1: LAWS, REGULATIONS & BASIC PRINCIPLES
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1. A commercial applicator is preparing to apply a restricted use pesticide (RUP) for the first time. Under
federal law, what is required before this application can proceed?
A) Only a verbal order from the property owner.
B) The applicator must be certified or directly supervised by a certified applicator.
C) The applicator must have a commercial driver's license.
D) The applicator must pass a physical examination.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA defines RUPs as products that may cause unreasonable adverse effects without
additional restrictions; only certified applicators or their supervised employees may use them.
2. An applicator reads a pesticide label that displays the signal word "DANGER" with a skull and
crossbones symbol. What does this indicate about the product's acute toxicity?
A) The product is slightly toxic.
B) The product is moderately toxic.
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C) The product is highly toxic orally, dermally, or by inhalation.
D) The product is non-toxic.
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: "DANGER" signals high acute toxicity (Category I); it may also require "POISON" with
skull/crossbones if oral LD50 is very low.*
3. Under FIFRA, which government entity has the exclusive authority to approve a pesticide's label
language before it can be sold or distributed in the United States?
A) The North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
B) Local county extension offices.
C) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
D) The individual pesticide manufacturer.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: FIFRA gives EPA exclusive authority to register pesticides and approve all label wording; states
may add restrictions but cannot approve labels for sale.
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4. A farmer has just completed a pesticide application and needs to keep records for compliance.
According to the North Dakota Century Code, how long must private applicators keep restricted use
pesticide application records?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: NDCC 4.1-33 requires that restricted use pesticide application records be kept for a period of
three years from the date of the application, sale, or purchase of the pesticide.*
5. An applicator is storing pesticides in a warehouse. Which practice violates North Dakota storage
regulations?
A) Storing pesticides in their original containers with plainly visible labeling.
North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Certification exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification exam is administered through the NDSU
Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program. Candidates must first pass a Core exam, then
a category/class exam for at least one specific classification. Certificates are valid for five years.
Commercial applicators must also provide proof of financial responsibility.
Exam Coverage: Certification Classifications
Class Authorized Uses
Agricultural crop land, grasslands, animals, animal facilities, noncrop lands (natural
Agricultural Pest Control
areas, fallow, mines)
Seed Treatment Agricultural crop seeds, other seeds, vegetative seed stocks
Commodity & Structural Fumigants for commodities, processed foods, transport vessels, storage structures,
Fumigation nonfood commodities
Ornamental & Turf Pest Control Ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf maintenance
Greenhouse Pesticides intended for greenhouses
Right-of-Way Parking lots, roads, powerlines, pipelines, railways, and similar rights-of-way
Public Health Pest Control Government employees or contractors for public health purposes
Education or research by county agents, state/federal employees, commercial
Research & Demonstration
researchers
Home, Industrial & Institutional Food-handling establishments, dwellings, warehouses, grain elevators, structures
Wood Preservatives Lumber product preservation
Vertebrate Vertebrate pest control (rodents, predators, bats) not in/around structures
Sewer Root Control Tree/plant root infestations in sewer systems
DOMAIN 1: LAWS, REGULATIONS & BASIC PRINCIPLES
, Page 2 of 88
1. A commercial applicator is preparing to apply a restricted use pesticide (RUP) for the first time. Under
federal law, what is required before this application can proceed?
A) Only a verbal order from the property owner.
B) The applicator must be certified or directly supervised by a certified applicator.
C) The applicator must have a commercial driver's license.
D) The applicator must pass a physical examination.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FIFRA defines RUPs as products that may cause unreasonable adverse effects without
additional restrictions; only certified applicators or their supervised employees may use them.
2. An applicator reads a pesticide label that displays the signal word "DANGER" with a skull and
crossbones symbol. What does this indicate about the product's acute toxicity?
A) The product is slightly toxic.
B) The product is moderately toxic.
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C) The product is highly toxic orally, dermally, or by inhalation.
D) The product is non-toxic.
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: "DANGER" signals high acute toxicity (Category I); it may also require "POISON" with
skull/crossbones if oral LD50 is very low.*
3. Under FIFRA, which government entity has the exclusive authority to approve a pesticide's label
language before it can be sold or distributed in the United States?
A) The North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
B) Local county extension offices.
C) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
D) The individual pesticide manufacturer.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: FIFRA gives EPA exclusive authority to register pesticides and approve all label wording; states
may add restrictions but cannot approve labels for sale.
, Page 4 of 88
4. A farmer has just completed a pesticide application and needs to keep records for compliance.
According to the North Dakota Century Code, how long must private applicators keep restricted use
pesticide application records?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: NDCC 4.1-33 requires that restricted use pesticide application records be kept for a period of
three years from the date of the application, sale, or purchase of the pesticide.*
5. An applicator is storing pesticides in a warehouse. Which practice violates North Dakota storage
regulations?
A) Storing pesticides in their original containers with plainly visible labeling.
