Pesticide Applicator Practice Test (Core Exam)
Practice for the general standards (core) exam that commercial and private applicators take before category exams. Questions follow the federal core competency standards in 40 CFR 171.103: label reading, signal words and LD50, PPE, REI vs PHI, drift, groundwater, spill response, storage and disposal, IPM, and FIFRA. Exam length and passing score vary by state.
Practice engine (existing bank)
OpenExamHub is independent and is not affiliated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or any state pesticide regulatory agency. Certification exams are written and administered by each state, tribal or territorial certifying authority. Always follow the product label and your state's rules.
Timed mock FAQ
Who has to pass a pesticide applicator exam?
Federal law requires anyone who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) to be certified. States, territories and tribes certify applicators under EPA-approved plans, and many states require certification for all commercial applicators, not only RUP users (EPA, checked October 2026).
What does the core exam cover?
EPA's federal standards (40 CFR 171.103) require the commercial core exam to cover label comprehension, safety, environmental protection, pests, pesticides, equipment, application methods, laws and regulations, supervising noncertified applicators, and professionalism. Category exams (such as agricultural, turf or structural) are taken in addition to the core.
How many questions are on the exam and what is the passing score?
It depends on your state. The number of questions, time limit, open- or closed-book rules and passing score are set by your state lead agency, so check its candidate information. We do not quote a national pass rate because none is published.
Is this an official exam?
No. These are unofficial practice questions written by OpenExamHub from the federal core competency standards. OpenExamHub is independent and is not affiliated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or any state pesticide regulatory agency. Certification exams are written and administered by each state, tribal or territorial certifying authority.
Last reviewed 2026-10-20. Independent study aid — not affiliated with the exam sponsor or testing vendor. Confirm question count, time limit and passing score with the exam sponsor before you test.