Commercial Exams

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                  Links to Manuals

900 (Commercial) – CORE Exam

This exam covers the safety aspects of pesticide applications. It is required by all commercial applicators purchasing, using, or supervising the use of pesticides.

Required before all categories

901 A – Agricultural Pest – Weed Control

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide for weed control in production of agriculture commodities as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands.

Weeds in crops & rangeland

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

901 B – Agricultural Pest – Insect Control Exam

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide for insect control in production of agricultural commodities as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands.

Bugs in crops & rangeland

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

901 C – Agricultural Pest – Disease Control

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide for disease control in production of agricultural commodities as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands.

Fungus, mildew, mold in crops & rangeland

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

901 D – Agricultural Pest – Livestock Pest Control

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide on animals and to places on or in which animals are confined. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine engaged in the business of applying pesticides for hire, publicly holding themselves out as pesticide applicators, or engaged in large scale use of pesticides are included in this subcategory.

Barns, feedlots, etc.

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

901 E – Agricultural Pest – Rodent Control

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides to control rodents in production of agricultural commodities as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands.

For prairie dogs, gophers, moles in crops & rangeland Not Fumigants see 909

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

901 F – Agricultural Pest – Chemigation

This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide through an irrigation system. Certification in this subcategory requires concurrent certification in the applicable subcategories outlined in subsection (a)(i)-(v) of this section.

application through irrigation systems in crops & rangeland

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

902 – Forest Pest Control

This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide in forests, forest nurseries, or forest seed producing areas.

Mostly Forest Service employees, bark beetles, etc. (not common)

MP-27.pdf

MP-181.pdf

903 A – Ornamental & Turf – Weed Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides to control weeds in the maintenance and production of ornamental plantings, including turf.

Weeds in lawns, greenhouses, and trees

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

903 B – Ornamental & Turf – Insect Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides to control insects in the maintenance and production of ornamental planting, including turf.

Bugs in lawns, greenhouses, and trees

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

903 C – Ornamental & Turf – Disease Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides to control plant disease in the maintenance and production of ornamental plantings, including turf.

Fungus, mildew, mold in lawns, greenhouses, and trees Crops & Rangeland

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

903 E – Ornamental & Turf – Rodent Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide to control rodents in the maintenance and production of ornamental plantings, including turf.

Moles, voles, etc. in lawns, greenhouses, near trees

Study the introductory sections and appropriate category section for exam.

904 – Seed Treatment

This category applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any restricted-use pesticide on seed.

Pesticides coated on treated seeds

905 – Aquatic Pest Control

This category applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide purposefully applied to water. This category DOES NOT include Mosquito control (see category 908 K).

Weeds, algae, bugs in ponds, lakes, and streams (not fish see 915)

906 – Right-Of-Way Pest Control

This category applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide in the maintenance of public roads, electric power lines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way, or other similar areas.

Bare ground, roadsides, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.

907 G – Industrial Institutional and Structural Pest Control – General

This category applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide in, on, or around food handling establishments; food processing facilities; packing houses; human dwellings; institutions such as schools and hospitals; prisons; manufacturing facilities; industrial establishments or sites, including warehouses and grain elevators; and any other structures or adjacent areas whether public or private. This category also includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide for the protection of stored, processed, or manufactured products.

All pests like cockroaches, mice, ants, spiders, in and around structures such as homes, schools, hospitals, etc.

Fumigation of Farm-Stored Grain and Structures

• Household Insects of the Rocky Mountain States – Bul. 557A – Only available in hard copy. Order from UW campus here.
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• MP-22 Stored Grain Insects of Wyoming, An Introduction
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• MP-22Fumigation of Farm Stored Grain and Structures – only the sections on fumigation of farm-stored grains need to be studied

907 H – Industrial, Institutional, Structural Pest Control – Bird Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides to control pest birds.

Bird control in and around structures (not common)

907 I – Industrial Institutional and Structural Pest Control – Cooling Towers (Manual from Cornell)

This category applies to applicators using biocides to disinfect HVAC systems, including cooling towers and evaporative condensers.

Cooling towers (HVAC systems)

Must purchase from Cornell University.

907 J – Industrial Institutional and Structural Pest Control – Wood Destroying Pests and Decay Organisms (Manual from Penn State)

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides (insecticides, termiticides, fungicides, etc.) in or around structures to control or prevent wood destroying pests, including wood boring beetles, carpenter ants, and wood decay fungi.

Termites, carpenter ants in wood structures

Only available as printed version, order from UW campus.

908 G – Health Related Pest Control – General

This category applies to applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticides in public health programs for the management and control of pests for medical reasons to protect public health.

Disease vectors to public like mice, lice, ticks

• MP-21 Insects Affecting Man
• MP-76 Insect Biology and Management Resources Manual
• Small Animal Damage Control Manual
• Small Animal Damage Control Study Guide
• Mosquito Control
• For additional resources visit the following webpage: http://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu

908 K – Health Related Pest Control – Mosquito Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide to control mosquitoes.

Mosquito control

909 – Fumigation – Soil and Non-Soil.

This category applies to commercial applicators making soil and non-soil fumigation applications.

Prairie dogs, grain bins, and cropland fumigations

910 – Demonstration and Research Pest Control

This category applies to the following:

A) Commercial applicators who demonstrate to the public the proper use and techniques for applying pesticides or supervise such demonstrations. This group includes persons such as university employees and commercial representatives demonstrating pesticide products or making crop or pest control recommendations, and individuals who demonstrate methods of use in programs for the public.

B) Commercial applicators who conduct field research with pesticides and use or supervise the use of pesticides. This group includes state, federal, commercial, and other persons who conduct research on and use any pesticide.

Must also hold the category they plan to do demonstrations & Research in

912 – Aerial Application

Required by private and commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide applied by fixed or rotary wing aircraft. This includes the use of unmanned aircraft (drones).

NOTE: Commercial applicators licensed in the aerial category must also be licensed in each category they are making applications (e.g., 901A if they are applying herbicides to control weeds in an agricultural crop or 903B if making insecticide applications in an Ornamental and Turf setting, etc.,).

Applications by plane, helicopter, and drones.

Must purchase from Illinois Extension.

913 – Regulatory Pest Control

Required by commercial applicators who are state, federal, or other governmental employees who use or supervise the use of any pesticide in the control of regulated pests.

Government Contracted work for specific pests.

915 – Fish Control – Piscicide Applicator

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators who use piscicides to control undesirable fish populations.

Fish Control (uncommon)

916 – Wood Preservatives and Wood Treatment

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of any pesticide at treating plants or sawmills for preservative treatment of wood by pressure, dipping, soaking, or diffusion processes to produce a commodity for sale, installation, or both. This subcategory also includes the handling and topical application and injection of wood preservatives for operations such as pole treatment, waterproofing, millwork cutoffs, or supplemental field treatment.

Telephone poles, pressure treated lumber, etc.

917 – Sewer Line Root Control

This subcategory applies to commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of any pesticide for sewer line root control. This subcategory covers applications of pesticides to control or prevent growth of roots in sewer lines or pipes.

Pesticides in sewer lines for root control