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Washington Pesticide License Practice Test (Free Core Exam Questions)

Preparing for the Washington pesticide applicator exam? In Washington, applicator certification and licensing are handled by the state pesticide regulatory agency, generally the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Like every state, Washington requires applicators to show competency in the core (general standards) areas set out in federal rules: label comprehension, safety, environmental protection, pests, pesticides, equipment, application methods, laws, supervision, and professionalism. Most candidates also take a state laws section and one or more category exams.

Confirm current exam requirements, manuals, fees, and testing locations directly with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. This site is unofficial and not affiliated with any Washington agency.

10 free Washington core exam practice questions

1. Before applying near a pond or stream, the applicator should:

Answer: D. Environmental hazard statements and buffer or setback requirements on the label protect aquatic life and water resources.

2. Monitoring pests means:

Answer: A. Scouting and monitoring give you the information needed to decide if and when control is justified.

3. A herbicide that kills only certain kinds of plants is called:

Answer: C. Selective herbicides control certain plants (for example, broadleaf weeds) with little harm to others. Non-selective herbicides kill most plants they contact.

4. As spray nozzles wear, their output usually:

Answer: C. Worn nozzle orifices enlarge, increasing flow and distorting the pattern. Replace nozzles whose output is off by more than about 10% from a new nozzle's.

5. To reduce drift during an application, you could:

Answer: B. Coarser droplets, lower release height, and appropriate weather all reduce off-target movement.

6. The Worker Protection Standard (40 CFR Part 170) is aimed at protecting:

Answer: C. The WPS covers agricultural workers and handlers, with training, notification, PPE, REIs, and decontamination.

7. Training of noncertified applicators who use RUPs under supervision must be documented and records kept for:

Answer: D. Under 40 CFR 171.201, records of the noncertified applicator's qualifying training must be kept for 2 years (states may require more).

8. Keeping an up-to-date inventory of stored pesticides helps:

Answer: A. Inventories support security and emergency response, and help you use older stock first.

9. In the "1/128 acre" calibration method, the fluid ounces collected from one nozzle while covering 1/128 acre equal:

Answer: A. Because there are 128 fl oz in a gallon, ounces collected on 1/128 acre equal gallons applied per acre.

10. A product labeled "RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE" may be purchased and used only by:

Answer: A. Restricted-use products can be used only by certified applicators or by noncertified applicators working under a certified applicator's direct supervision, as the label and rules allow.
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How to study for the Washington core exam

  1. Get the core manual edition your state uses (many states are moving to the 2025 3rd edition national core manual during 2026) and any Washington law supplement.
  2. Take a timed practice test to find your weak areas.
  3. Re-read those chapters, then retest until you're consistently above passing.
  4. Memorize the high-yield facts: signal words, first aid, PPE rules, drift and inversions, and basic calibration math.

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