• 70 questions

PA State Core Pesticide License Practice Test

Every answer shows the right choice and the Pennsylvania Code section behind it.

§ 128.41 requires certification for pesticide work at an apartment structure of at least how many units?

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Exam mode: 50 questions, no time limit, 35 right to pass (70%).

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Bank checked October 12, 2026.

Next step Federal rules: pesticide applicator practice testAnother EPA rule bank: EPA 608 practice test

All 70 questions

Who must be certified 15

  • § 128.41 requires certification for pesticide work at an apartment structure of at least how many units? 7 Pa. Code § 128.41(a)(3)(vi), read 2026-10-12
  • A person applies a restricted use pesticide on his employer's own property, not to produce an agricultural product. Is certification required under § 128.41? 7 Pa. Code § 128.41(a)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • How must a business limit its pesticide applications under § 128.32? 7 Pa. Code § 128.32, read 2026-10-12
  • How old must a person be to be eligible for a Pennsylvania private applicator permit? 7 Pa. Code § 128.62(a), read 2026-10-12
  • How old must a person be to be eligible for commercial or public applicator certification in Pennsylvania? 7 Pa. Code § 128.44(a), read 2026-10-12
  • On what date does a commercial applicator's certificate expire under § 128.44? 7 Pa. Code § 128.44(b), read 2026-10-12
  • Under 7 Pa. Code § 128.41, which person must be certified as a commercial or public applicator? 7 Pa. Code § 128.41(a)(1), read 2026-10-12
  • Under § 128.33, a business may let an individual make an application in a category only if the individual is what? 7 Pa. Code § 128.33, read 2026-10-12
  • What does § 128.64 require of a private applicator who wants to buy a restricted use fumigant? 7 Pa. Code § 128.64(a), read 2026-10-12
Show all 70 questions (61 more)

Who must be certified, continued

  • What license is needed to purchase a restricted use pesticide for resale or distribution under § 128.10? 7 Pa. Code § 128.10(a), read 2026-10-12
  • What must an aerial applicator have in addition to commercial certification under § 128.44? 7 Pa. Code § 128.44(a), read 2026-10-12
  • When does a pesticide application business license period end under § 128.31? 7 Pa. Code § 128.31(b), read 2026-10-12
  • Which business category covers applicator categories 06 Ornamental and Shade Trees, 07 Lawn and Turf and 22 Interior Plantscape? 7 Pa. Code § 128.32(3), read 2026-10-12
  • Which pesticide use on school property is excepted from the certification requirement in § 128.41? 7 Pa. Code § 128.41(a)(3)(vii), read 2026-10-12
  • Within what time after becoming eligible must a person file an application for commercial applicator certification? 7 Pa. Code § 128.44(b), read 2026-10-12

Exams, fees and recertification 17

  • A candidate passes only one part of the two-part examination. How long is there to pass the other part? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(d), read 2026-10-12
  • At what interval must a certified commercial or public applicator show current update training to stay certified? 7 Pa. Code § 128.45(a), read 2026-10-12
  • At what rate does § 128.45 approve training for recertification credit? 7 Pa. Code § 128.45(c)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • Delinquent recertification credits are not completed within 1 year of the triennial expiration date. What does § 128.44 require? 7 Pa. Code § 128.44(e), read 2026-10-12
  • How far ahead of the examination date must an application to take it be filed with the Department, under § 128.43? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(e), read 2026-10-12
  • How many core credits does the Department say every applicator needs for recertification? Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Recertification page, read 2026-10-12
  • How many multiple-choice questions does the Department say the Core exam has? Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams page, read 2026-10-12
  • How many of the 50 Core exam questions must be answered correctly to pass, as the Department states it? Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams page, read 2026-10-12
  • How many questions does the Department say the Private Applicator exam has? Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams page, read 2026-10-12
  • How many times may a candidate take a Pennsylvania pesticide certification exam, as the Department states it? Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams page, read 2026-10-12
  • Into how many parts is the certification examination for commercial and public applicators divided under § 128.43? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(b), read 2026-10-12
  • What fee does § 128.3 set for each commercial/public applicator's category examination? 7 Pa. Code § 128.3(f)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • What fee does § 128.3 set for the commercial/public applicator's core examination? 7 Pa. Code § 128.3(f)(1), read 2026-10-12
  • What is the core part of the Pennsylvania examination based on, under § 128.43? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(b)(1), read 2026-10-12
  • Which identification does § 128.43 accept at the examination in place of a photo identification document? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(c), read 2026-10-12
  • Which reference materials may be used during a Pennsylvania certification examination? 7 Pa. Code § 128.43(c), read 2026-10-12
  • Which subject belongs to the core area of recertification training under § 128.45? 7 Pa. Code § 128.45(a), read 2026-10-12

Technicians and supervision 12

  • A person who is neither certified nor registered applies a pesticide for a business. What supervision does § 128.2 require? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • A registered technician works "under the direct supervision of" a commercial certified applicator when the applicator is what? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • How long is the training period before a business may apply to register a technician under § 128.52? 7 Pa. Code § 128.52(a), read 2026-10-12
  • How often must a certified applicator be at the application site of the people he supervises, under § 128.105? 7 Pa. Code § 128.105(b), read 2026-10-12
  • How often must a registered technician undergo training under § 128.51? 7 Pa. Code § 128.51(d), read 2026-10-12
  • May a technician's registration be transferred from one business to another? 7 Pa. Code § 128.52(f), read 2026-10-12
  • On what date does a technician registration expire each year under § 128.52? 7 Pa. Code § 128.52(c), read 2026-10-12
  • Under § 128.2, "available if and when needed" means the certified applicator can be at the application site within what time? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • Under § 128.31(e), a business that meets the act's definition of a commercial applicator may apply with no certified applicator physically present only when what is true? 7 Pa. Code § 128.31(e), read 2026-10-12
  • What may a technician not do under § 128.51? 7 Pa. Code § 128.51(c), read 2026-10-12
  • When must a certified applicator be physically present at the application site under § 128.105? 7 Pa. Code § 128.105(c), read 2026-10-12
  • Who is responsible for administering a technician's training program under § 128.51? 7 Pa. Code § 128.51(e), read 2026-10-12

Business duties, records and insurance 12

  • A restricted use pesticide is used to produce an agricultural commodity. What must the application business give the customer? 7 Pa. Code § 128.35(b), read 2026-10-12
  • How long must a pesticide application business keep its application records under § 128.35? 7 Pa. Code § 128.35(e), read 2026-10-12
  • How must a service container be marked under § 128.103? 7 Pa. Code § 128.103(i), read 2026-10-12
  • How must the business license number be displayed on a vehicle used in pesticide application, under § 128.31? 7 Pa. Code § 128.31(c), read 2026-10-12
  • How soon must a licensed business notify the Department in writing of a change in its license application information? 7 Pa. Code § 128.31(d), read 2026-10-12
  • How soon must a pesticide application record be completed in written or printable form? 7 Pa. Code § 128.35(d), read 2026-10-12
  • To whom must pesticide product and application information be made immediately available in an emergency, under § 128.35? 7 Pa. Code § 128.35(c), read 2026-10-12
  • What does § 128.103 require before a business applies pesticides directly to the property of another? 7 Pa. Code § 128.103(f), read 2026-10-12
  • What is the largest deductible § 128.34 allows on the combined policy limits? 7 Pa. Code § 128.34(a)(4), read 2026-10-12
  • What is the minimum comprehensive general liability insurance under § 128.34? 7 Pa. Code § 128.34(a)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • What minimum security must an approved self-insurer furnish to the Department under § 128.34? 7 Pa. Code § 128.34(b)(3), read 2026-10-12
  • What must a pesticide dealer be shown before distributing a restricted use pesticide, under § 128.10? 7 Pa. Code § 128.10(c), read 2026-10-12

Notification, schools and the registry 14

  • A pesticide may not be applied in a school's common access area when students are expected there within how many hours after the application? 7 Pa. Code § 128.106(a), read 2026-10-12
  • A registry-listed hypersensitive individual must be notified when the property line of a listed location is within what distance of the application site? 7 Pa. Code § 128.112(a)(1), read 2026-10-12
  • A resident of contiguous land asks for additional information at least 7 days ahead. By when must the business give the date, time and product names? 7 Pa. Code § 128.81(c)(1), read 2026-10-12
  • After a written request, how soon must the business provide a copy of the label for each restricted use pesticide used or to be used? 7 Pa. Code § 128.81(c)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • By which dates does the Department distribute the current hypersensitivity registry to licensed businesses? 7 Pa. Code § 128.111(e), read 2026-10-12
  • Land "contiguous to a restricted use pesticide application site" does not include premises more than how far from the site? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • To whom must a significant pesticide accident or incident be reported under § 128.101, and when? 7 Pa. Code § 128.101(b), read 2026-10-12
  • Under § 128.2, "prior notification" must be given within what window before the date of application? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • Under § 128.83a, placards used in place of a newspaper notice for an agricultural application must be posted how long before the application? 7 Pa. Code § 128.83a(c)(2), read 2026-10-12
  • What does "constructive notification" mean under § 128.2? 7 Pa. Code § 128.2, read 2026-10-12
  • What prior notification does § 128.81 require before a commercial applicator applies a restricted use pesticide to a right-of-way? 7 Pa. Code § 128.81(a), read 2026-10-12
  • When does a request for notification made under Subchapter C of chapter 128 expire? 7 Pa. Code § 128.89, read 2026-10-12
  • When must notification of a hypersensitive individual be made under § 128.112? 7 Pa. Code § 128.112(a)(3), read 2026-10-12
  • Which application is exempt from the school rule in § 128.106? 7 Pa. Code § 128.106(b), read 2026-10-12

How this list was compiled: Our own questions on 7 Pa. Code chapter 128, Pesticides (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/007/chapter128/chap128toc.html&d=reduce), read 2026-10-12. Exam format facts are from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: its Pesticide Applicators, Registered Technicians, and Certification Exams page (https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/pesticide-programs/pesticide-applicators-registered-technicians-and-certification-exams) and its Recertification page (https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/pesticide-programs/recertification), read 2026-10-12. Each question names the section or page its answer was read from and links to it. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. The regulations they describe are public law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

How it works

This unofficial PA state core pesticide license practice test asks 70 questions of our own on 7 Pa. Code chapter 128: certification, exams, technicians, records and notification. It is not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Read the full guide

What the core exam asks

Section 128.43 splits certification into a core exam and a category exam. Together they cover pests, control measures, hazards, equipment, storage, labels, safety and the pesticide laws. This page practices the Pennsylvania rules. The federal label and worker protection rules are on the pesticide applicator practice test.

Certificate, permit or license

Pennsylvania certifies commercial and public applicators, permits private applicators and licenses the business. A Pennsylvania pesticide applicator practice test and a PA pesticide applicator license practice test point at the same chapter, so one bank covers all three.

Exam mode

Exam mode draws 50 questions and marks a pass at 70 percent, the Department's figures for the core exam. It is a practice test for PA pesticide core exam conditions on the rules only.

  • Three dates differ: certificates expire September 30, business licenses December 31, technician registrations February 28.
  • Application records are finished within 24 hours and kept at least 3 years.

Questions and answers

Is this the real PA core pesticide exam?

No. It is unofficial practice written for this site from 7 Pa. Code chapter 128. The real exams are given by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and none of their questions are here.

How many questions are on the PA core pesticide exam?

Fifty. The Department says the Core and Category exams have 50 multiple-choice questions each, and passing takes 35 of 50, or 70 percent. The Private Applicator exam has 75 questions, and passing takes 53.

Is there a study guide for the PA pesticide applicator test?

Yes, but not here. The Department says its exams are based on the approved study materials from Penn State, bought through Penn State Extension. Use this page to check what you remember of the state rules after reading them.

How much does the PA pesticide core exam cost?

Section 128.3 sets $50 for the core examination and $10 for each category examination, nonrefundable. The private applicator's examination has no charge. A contracted agency or vendor may add its own costs.

Can you retake the PA pesticide exam?

Yes. The Department sets no limit on how often you sit the certification exams. If you pass only one part of the two-part examination, section 128.43 gives 1 year to pass the other.

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