National Core Manual questions plus Texas law questions. Not every state rule is covered, so also study your state manual's law section.
5 gal × 128 fl oz/gal × 0.02 = 12.8 fl oz product, with water added to reach 5 gal total. Using 2.56 fl oz accounts for only one gallon of the requested mixture.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 11 Pesticide Application Procedures · p. 181
REI means restricted-entry interval. It addresses worker entry rather than residue evaluation, exposure duration, or the time between treatments.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 3 Pesticide Labeling · p. 55
A pressure drop can cause back-siphoning through the submerged hose. This is reverse movement into the water supply, not continued forward dilution or a change in spray pressure.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 131
A longer environmental half-life indicates greater persistence. It does not directly measure acute hazard, adsorption, or solubility.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 121
Adsorption is attachment to soil-particle surfaces. Absorption enters tissues, hydrolysis is breakdown involving water, and volatilization produces vapor.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 121
Survival passed to offspring supports inherited resistance. Missed coverage, replacement by susceptible insects, or an insensitive life stage does not explain that inherited pattern.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 1 Pest Management · p. 29
A lower appropriate release height shortens airborne travel. It does not itself coarsen the spray or change the pesticide's vapor pressure.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 125
Registration review assesses risk for directed uses. It does not make different methods or concentrations equally safe or replace assessment of the actual site.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 2 Federal Pesticide Laws and Regulations · p. 35
Facial hair at the sealing surface can let contaminated air bypass the cartridges. Cartridge life, filter loading, and valve airflow are different concerns from seal leakage.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 6 Personal Protective Equipment · p. 114
Removing competing food makes bait more likely to be accepted. More bait or more visible placements may not correct competition, and repellent treatment can discourage approach.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 75
Light-driven breakdown is photodegradation. Hydrolysis and microbial degradation involve other agents, while adsorption is binding rather than breakdown.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 122
3 qt ÷ 4 qt/gal = 0.75 gal; 0.75 gal × 4 lb/gal = 3 lb of active ingredient. Multiplying 3 by 4 without converting quarts to gallons gives the incorrect 12 lb.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 66
Pesticide moving off site as gas is vapor drift. Spray drift involves droplets, while leaching and runoff involve movement with water.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 7 Pesticides in the Environment · p. 126
A surfactant improves wetting and spreading on the leaf. Foam control, pH adjustment, and rain retention address different spray properties.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 79
The stated range governs storage conditions for this product. Shade, a common setting, or pourability alone does not establish compliance with that range.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 8 Transportation, Storage, and Security · p. 141
Fine dust particles can drift readily in wind. Feed problems and distribution concerns may affect application, but they do not explain the wind-specific movement hazard.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 72
4 gal × 1.5 fl oz/gal = 6 fl oz of product. Adding 4 and 1.5 gives 5.5 but does not scale the mixing ratio.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 11 Pesticide Application Procedures · p. 180
EC means emulsifiable concentrate. The other choices name different formulation types rather than the meaning of EC.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 66
For lowered hands, sleeves over the cuffs help shed liquid outside the gloves. The other arrangements can expose the wrist or channel liquid toward the cuff opening.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 6 Personal Protective Equipment · p. 110
8 lb × 0.25 = 2 lb of active ingredient. Dividing by 0.25 gives 32 lb, which reverses the calculation for the stated product weight.
National Core Manual, 2nd ed., 2014 · Ch. 4 Pesticide Formulations · p. 66
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Expect several questions on what the signal word tells you. It reflects the product’s acute toxicity by its most hazardous route of exposure (swallowed, through the skin or inhaled) or its potential for eye and skin injury. It says nothing about long-term effects.
LD50 is the dose that killed half the test animals, in milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The smaller the number, the less it takes, so the more toxic the product.
Skull and crossbones; “poison” in red. Based on oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity.
No skull and crossbones. Can cause permanent damage to skin, eyes or lungs.
Or moderate eye and skin irritation.
Or slight eye and skin irritation. Class IV products need no signal word, though many still say CAUTION.
Labels name the formulation by its letters. Know what each one is and what it needs in the tank: agitation, extra care with dust, or nothing at all.
| Code | Formulation | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| EC / E | Emulsifiable concentrate | Oil-based liquid that forms a milky emulsion in water. |
| S | Solution | Dissolves completely; little or no agitation needed. |
| RTU | Ready-to-use | Already diluted; apply as packaged. |
| F / AF | Flowable | Solid particles suspended in liquid; needs agitation. |
| A | Aerosol | Active ingredient in a solvent, usually at a low percentage. |
| D | Dust | Dry, fine particles; high drift and inhalation risk. |
| G | Granules | Applied dry, often with a spreader; low drift. |
| P / PS | Pellets | Like granules, but particles are uniform in weight and shape. |
| WP / W | Wettable powder | Suspends in water; constant agitation; inhalation risk while mixing. |
| WDG / DF | Water-dispersible granules / dry flowable | Like a wettable powder with less dust. |
| SP / WSP | Soluble powder | Dissolves in water to form a true solution. |
| B | Bait | Active ingredient mixed with food or another attractant. |
| M | Microencapsulated | Coated particles or droplets mixed with water and sprayed; can release slowly. |
Most core exams include a few math questions. They rarely need more than multiplication and division, but units trip people up. Write every unit down and cancel it as you go.
The label rate is 2 pints per acre. Your sprayer is calibrated to apply 20 gallons per acre and the tank holds 100 gallons. How much product goes in a full tank?
A lawn measures 150 ft × 100 ft. The label calls for 1.5 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft. How much product do you need?
Texas General Standards covers general pesticide application knowledge for the agricultural applicator licensing route, and TDA lists 70% as the passing score. This is the commercial and noncommercial agricultural route, so use TDA's licensing guidance to identify the categories that match your work. General Standards and category preparation are separate tasks. For landscape maintenance work, check the agricultural category and AgriLife reading list before buying materials or choosing an appointment; similarly named structural pest control examinations follow a different licensing route.
TDA directs agricultural applicator candidates to Metro Institute, which took over testing on May 19, 2025. Follow TDA's scheduling page and convenience-testing flyer for the application and booking sequence. The flyer lists $64 per examination. Commercial applicants also pay a separate $200 annual license application charge before testing. Keep these costs separate when planning your budget, and complete the application steps before assuming you are ready to schedule an exam. Paying the application charge does not itself book an appointment.
Metro's scheduling page describes General Standards as 100 questions in two hours; confirm the format when you book. Ask Metro for the permitted-materials instructions as well, including whether books are allowed. Use the instructions for your actual appointment to plan your pace and what to bring. Older official material also describes 100 questions in 120 minutes, but your booking instructions should guide exam-day preparation. Check those details before using a timed practice session as a rehearsal for the appointment.
AgriLife identifies Texas Pesticide Applicator General, AES-5073, formerly B-5073, and Laws and Regulations, AES-5056, formerly B-5056, as key agricultural references. Use AES-5056 for TDA Agriculture law; AES-6135 is the structural law reference. Check current editions and prices through AgriLife's catalog and designated book list before ordering. The 2025 catalog listing gives $35 for General and $15 for Laws and Regulations, so check the current price rather than treating that older listing as a quote for your purchase.
Our practice questions cover general knowledge from the national core manual; use the designated Texas manuals for the full state syllabus and Texas law. Practice explaining label restrictions, choosing protective measures and completing calculations with the units intact. For each mistake, return to the relevant reading and identify the instruction or step you missed. Set aside a separate review for AES-5056 and your category material. Before exam day, revisit TDA's scheduling guidance and Metro's appointment details, checking the format, time allowance and permitted materials for your session.
Manual Texas Pesticide Applicator General / Commercial–Noncommercial Applicator—General (AES-5073 (formerly B-5073))
Manual Laws and Regulations (TDA Agriculture) (AES-5056 (formerly B-5056))
TDA directs candidates to Metro Institute and lists $64 per exam and a 70% passing score. Metro describes 100 questions in two hours, matching older TDA material; confirm the format and permitted materials with Metro when booking. The commercial license application costs $200 per year, paid before testing, separately from each exam fee. Check the editions of AES-5073 and AES-5056 before ordering. Older 2025 catalog listings show $35 and $15 respectively; ask AgriLife for current prices.
Metro Institute has handled testing since May 19, 2025, according to the current TDA scheduling guidance.
TDA lists 70% as the passing score.
The current TDA flyer lists $64 per exam. The commercial license application costs $200 per year and is paid before testing; it is separate from examination charges.
AgriLife identifies AES-5073 (formerly B-5073) for General and AES-5056 (formerly B-5056) for TDA Agriculture laws and regulations. AES-6135 is the structural law reference. Check editions through the AgriLife catalog before ordering.
Metro's scheduling page describes 100 questions in two hours for General Standards. Confirm the format with Metro when you book, and ask for the permitted-materials instructions.