United States · Certification examWhat is it, under federal law, to use a registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling?
20 practice questions in the style of the exam.
Where else can you find a pesticide applicator practice test?
Start with your manual. The National Core Manual ends each chapter with review questions and gives the answers in the back, and several state manuals do the same. Iowa’s pesticide bureau links a core practice exam from its licensing page.
Federal rules let you use only reference materials the proctor hands out, so practice without the manual open. Practice the math too: dilution and calibration are part of the core standard.
What our 20 questions cover
The federal rule lists ten core areas. Ours spread across them like this, with equipment and application methods counted together:
| Core area | Our 20 |
|---|---|
| Label and labeling comprehension | 3 |
| Safety and protective equipment | 3 |
| Pesticides in the environment | 2 |
| Pest identification | 3 |
| Pesticides and formulations, including dilution | 1 |
| Equipment and application methods | 3 |
| Laws and regulations | 3 |
| Supervising noncertified applicators | 2 |
| Professionalism: chemical security, talking with customers and stewardship | 0 |
Your state’s category exam goes further, into the pests, sites and risks of your kind of work. Each state page names the manuals for it.
Sources: eCFR · EPA and 2 more. Checked October 2026.
- eCFR: 40 CFR 171.103, Standards for certification of commercial applicators ↗
- eCFR: 40 CFR 171.105, Standards for certification of private applicators ↗
- eCFR: 40 CFR 171.201, Direct supervision of noncertified applicators ↗
- EPA: Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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