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South Dakota Pesticide License Practice Test (Free Core Exam Questions)

Preparing for the South Dakota pesticide applicator exam? In South Dakota, applicator certification and licensing are handled by the state pesticide regulatory agency, generally the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Like every state, South Dakota 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 South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This site is unofficial and not affiliated with any South Dakota agency.

10 free South Dakota core exam practice questions

1. Which federal law governs pesticide registration, labeling, classification, and applicator certification?

Answer: C. FIFRA is the main federal pesticide law, administered by the EPA.

2. Under the 2017 federal certification rule, noncertified applicators using RUPs under direct supervision must be at least:

Answer: C. The federal rule sets a minimum age of 18 for noncertified applicators using RUPs under direct supervision.

3. If restricted-use pesticides are stolen, you should:

Answer: A. Theft should be reported promptly to law enforcement and the regulatory agency as required.

4. The label rate is 2 pints of product per acre. Your tank covers 15 acres. How much product goes in the tank?

Answer: C. 2 pints x 15 acres = 30 pints. 30 / 8 = 3.75 gallons.

5. "Labeling" includes:

Answer: A. Labeling covers the attached label and all associated written material, such as supplemental labels and referenced bulletins.

6. Clothing worn while applying pesticides should be:

Answer: C. Wash contaminated work clothing separately in hot water with detergent, and discard clothing heavily soaked with concentrated, highly toxic products.

7. Volatilization is:

Answer: B. Volatilization is evaporation of a pesticide into vapor. It generally increases with higher temperatures and low humidity.

8. Traps, screens, barriers, and mowing are examples of:

Answer: B. Mechanical and physical controls directly block, remove, or kill pests, or change their physical environment.

9. A pesticide that controls mites is called a(n):

Answer: C. Acaricides (miticides) target mites and ticks. Nematicides target nematodes, avicides birds, molluscicides slugs and snails.

10. Rinsate from cleaning a sprayer should be:

Answer: A. Rinsate is still pesticide. Apply it to a labeled site at or below the label rate, or manage it as the label and regulations allow.
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How to study for the South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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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