- Active ingredient
- The chemical component in a pesticide product that actually controls the target pest, listed by name and percentage on the label. Label rates and mix-rate math are calculated against the active ingredient, not the total product volume.
- Calibration
- Measuring and adjusting application equipment so it delivers the exact amount of product the label rate calls for, no more and no less. Calibration is typically checked with a timed or measured-area catch test before a spray job, not assumed from the manufacturer's settings.
- Category
- A specific type of pesticide application, such as agricultural plant pest control, right-of-way, structural pest control, or aquatic, each requiring its own exam beyond the Core exam. Commercial applicators certify in one or more categories that match the work they actually do.
- Certified applicator
- A person who has passed the required exams and holds a current, active applicator certification from a state agency. Certification is what legally allows someone to purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides, or to supervise a noncertified applicator who does.
- CEU (continuing education unit)
- The training credit, sometimes called a contact hour, that applicators accumulate to renew certification without retaking an exam. The number of hours required and the renewal cycle length are set individually by each state.
- Commercial applicator
- A person certified to apply pesticides for hire, for a business, or on property they do not own, such as lawn care, structural pest control, aerial application, or right-of-way clearing. Commercial applicators certify in one or more categories that match their work.
- Core exam
- The general laws, safety, and label-comprehension exam every applicator passes before adding a category exam, sometimes called the general standards or laws and regulations exam. It is administered by the state, not a single national test, so content and passing scores vary by state.
- Dilution ratio
- The proportion of concentrated pesticide product to water (or another carrier) in a tank mix, expressed as a ratio, percentage, or parts per million. Getting the dilution ratio wrong is one of the most common calibration mistakes applicators make in the field and on the exam.
- General-use pesticide
- A pesticide the EPA has determined is safe enough for the public to buy and apply without certification, when the label directions are followed. It is the counterpart classification to a restricted-use pesticide (RUP).
- Label rate
- The amount of product or active ingredient the pesticide label specifies per acre, per gallon of water, or per unit of area, depending on the product. The label rate is a legal requirement, not a suggestion; applying more than the label allows is a violation.
- Private applicator
- A person who applies restricted-use pesticides on land they, a family member, or their employer owns, rents, or otherwise controls for agricultural production. Private applicators do not apply pesticides for hire on other people's property.
- Reciprocity
- A state's policy on recognizing an applicator certification earned in another state, sometimes granting recognition by endorsement and sometimes requiring a new exam. It matters most to applicators who relocate or take on work across a state line.
- REI (restricted-entry interval)
- The minimum time that must pass after a pesticide application before workers can legally re-enter the treated area without protective equipment, set on the product label. Entering earlier without required protective equipment is a Worker Protection Standard violation.
- RUP (restricted-use pesticide)
- A pesticide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies as too risky for the general public to buy or apply, because of its toxicity to people or the environment. It can only be purchased or applied by, or under the direct supervision of, a certified applicator.
- Signal word
- The required label term, Danger, Warning, or Caution, showing a pesticide's acute toxicity, from most to least hazardous. It sets the minimum personal protective equipment and handling precautions for that product.
- WPS (Worker Protection Standard)
- The EPA regulation protecting agricultural workers and pesticide handlers, covering training, notification of treated areas, restricted-entry intervals, and personal protective equipment. Both private and commercial applicators are tested on its core requirements.