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Tennessee Pesticide License Practice Test (Free Core Exam Questions)

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

10 free Tennessee core exam practice questions

1. If the label requires the certified applicator to be physically present during the application, then:

Answer: A. Some labels require the certified applicator's physical presence. Direct supervision by phone doesn't satisfy that requirement.

2. A customer asks for an application that the label doesn't allow. The professional response is:

Answer: C. Off-label use violates the law, and customer requests or waivers don't change that.

3. The label says 1.5 fl oz of product per 1,000 sq ft. How much is needed for 12,000 sq ft?

Answer: B. 12,000 / 1,000 = 12 units x 1.5 fl oz = 18 fl oz.

4. On a label, the restricted-entry interval (REI) tells you:

Answer: D. The REI is the time after application during which entry to the treated area is restricted. It is listed with Worker Protection Standard requirements on agricultural-use labels.

5. Heat stress is a concern for pesticide handlers because:

Answer: C. Chemical-resistant PPE limits cooling. Plan breaks, drink water, and know that dizziness and nausea can come from either heat or poisoning.

6. 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.

7. Monitoring pests means:

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

Answer: B. Coarser droplets, lower release height, and appropriate weather all reduce off-target movement.
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How to study for the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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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