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Free Pest Control Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Pest Control (Pest Control) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free Pest Control practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A technician checks a pesticide container and finds two different numbers: 'EPA Reg. No. 12345-67' and 'EPA Est. No. 12345-TX-1'. The Establishment Number tells you something the Registration Number does NOT. What is it?

  1. That the product is classified as restricted use and may only be purchased by a certified applicator
  2. The specific facility where the product was manufactured or repackaged
  3. The percentage of active ingredient in the formulation as reviewed and approved by the EPA
  4. Which EPA region authorized the product for sale within that particular state
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The specific facility where the product was manufactured or repackaged

Question 2

Pesticide A has an oral LD50 of 40 mg/kg. Pesticide B has an oral LD50 of 4,000 mg/kg. Which statement about these two products is correct?

  1. Pesticide A is more toxic because a lower LD50 means a smaller dose is needed to cause death
  2. Pesticide B is more hazardous because a higher LD50 represents a greater lethal effect per kilogram
  3. Both products carry equal risk since LD50 is a laboratory measure that does not reflect real-world field exposure
  4. Pesticide A is the safer choice because an oral LD50 of 40 mg/kg falls within the CAUTION signal word category
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Pesticide A is more toxic because a lower LD50 means a smaller dose is needed to cause death

Question 3

A homeowner accidentally swallows a small amount of a petroleum-solvent-based insecticide concentrate. The person is conscious and asks whether they should immediately induce vomiting. What is the correct response?

  1. Yes - vomiting quickly removes the toxin before it is absorbed into the bloodstream
  2. Yes - but only after calling Poison Control so the action can be professionally supervised
  3. No - petroleum-based products aspirated into the lungs during vomiting cause additional injury
  4. No - inducing vomiting is never appropriate for any type of pesticide ingestion under any circumstances
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - No - petroleum-based products aspirated into the lungs during vomiting cause additional injury

Question 4

A supervisor instructs a certified applicator to spray an insecticide on a site not listed anywhere on the product label, arguing that the target pest is the same and the rate will stay below the labeled maximum. Under FIFRA, applying this product to the unlisted site is:

  1. Permitted, since the application rate will not exceed the labeled rate for any listed site
  2. Permitted, because the certified applicator's license authorizes professional judgment on site selection
  3. A violation of federal law, regardless of application rate or the supervisor's instructions
  4. Permitted if the applicator files for a Section 3 amendment with the EPA within 30 days of the application
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - A violation of federal law, regardless of application rate or the supervisor's instructions

Question 5

Midway through a job, a technician using a wettable powder (WP) formulation notices the spray pattern becoming uneven and a nozzle partially clogging - despite using the correct nozzle for the application. What is the MOST likely cause?

  1. Agitation stopped or was insufficient, allowing the wettable powder to settle and clog the nozzle
  2. The wettable powder was mixed at too high a concentration for the nozzle orifice, causing particle bridging inside the line
  3. Pump pressure was set too high, causing powder particles to compact and bind together inside the hose
  4. Wettable powder formulations require a dedicated duster applicator and cannot be used in any liquid sprayer
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Agitation stopped or was insufficient, allowing the wettable powder to settle and clog the nozzle

Question 6

After finishing a pesticide application, a technician removes PPE in this sequence: respirator → goggles → coveralls → gloves. What, if anything, is wrong with this removal order?

  1. Nothing - this is a correct and fully acceptable order for removing PPE after completing an application
  2. The goggles should always be removed before the respirator to prevent contaminating the respirator's face seal
  3. The coveralls should be removed last because they cover the greatest body surface area and therefore carry the highest pesticide load
  4. The gloves should be removed last - they are the most contaminated item and protect the hands during removal of other PPE
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - The gloves should be removed last - they are the most contaminated item and protect the hands during removal of other PPE

Question 7

A sprayer nozzle is calibrated by collecting its output for exactly one minute, yielding 32 fluid ounces. The sprayer travels at 3 mph and the nozzle spacing is 20 inches. Using the 5,940 calibration constant, what is the application rate in gallons per acre (GPA)?

  1. 30.94 GPA
  2. 24.75 GPA
  3. 49.50 GPA
  4. 20.17 GPA
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 24.75 GPA

Question 8

A technician is preparing a wettable powder (WP) pesticide in a 15-gallon tank sprayer. Which loading sequence is correct?

  1. Add the wettable powder to the empty tank first, then fill with water to avoid losing concentrate in a spill
  2. Add water and wettable powder simultaneously through two separate tank ports to promote thorough, even mixing throughout the fill
  3. Fill the tank completely with water first, then slowly pour the wettable powder on top and begin agitation
  4. Fill the tank halfway with water, add the wettable powder with agitation running, then fill to final volume
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Fill the tank halfway with water, add the wettable powder with agitation running, then fill to final volume

Question 9

A technician's vehicle is in a minor accident and several gallons of liquid insecticide concentrate spill onto a parking lot next to a storm drain. Which action BEST describes the correct immediate response?

  1. Flush the spill area with water to dilute the pesticide before it concentrates near the drain opening
  2. Leave the immediate area and call the EPA emergency hotline before taking any physical action at the spill scene
  3. Cover only the storm drain opening to protect the waterway, then wait for hazmat professionals
  4. Put on appropriate PPE, then use dry absorbent material to contain and absorb the spill away from the drain
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Put on appropriate PPE, then use dry absorbent material to contain and absorb the spill away from the drain

Question 10

A technician responds to a cockroach complaint in a dry storage room above a restaurant kitchen. Sticky trap monitoring over one week shows captures only in upper cabinets, behind wall décor, and near an electrical outlet - with zero captures under the sink or near any plumbing. Based on habitat preference, which species is MOST likely responsible?

  1. German cockroach - the most prevalent indoor species, found throughout commercial kitchens and food preparation areas
  2. Brownbanded cockroach - prefers dry, warm areas throughout a structure and avoids moisture
  3. American cockroach - the largest domestic species, commonly found near drains in upper-floor storage areas
  4. Oriental cockroach - favors warm, elevated spaces and is frequently found behind appliances and wall décor in dry areas
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Brownbanded cockroach - prefers dry, warm areas throughout a structure and avoids moisture

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