The General Standards exam is the first hurdle for every commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicator in Texas. You cannot get a license without passing it.

It is a broad exam. It tests the basics that apply to any kind of spraying: reading a label, protecting yourself and others, understanding pests and products, and knowing the law. Category exams then cover your specific kind of work.

This guide explains the format, the topics, how to prepare and what to expect at the test center. This site is an independent exam trainer. The license is issued by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), and the exams are given by Metro Institute. We are not affiliated with either.

In short

  • The General Standards exam has 100 questions and a 2 hour limit.1
  • You need 70 percent or higher to pass.2
  • It is closed book. Metro provides a simple calculator and scratch paper.1
  • Each attempt costs $64, with a 24 hour wait before a retest. The score stays valid for 12 months.23
  • The exam includes laws and regulations, and you also need at least one category exam.3
Contents
  1. Exam format
  2. What the exam covers
  3. How to prepare
  4. Calibration and math
  5. Test day at Metro Institute
  6. After the exam
  7. Common questions
  8. Sources

Exam format

Metro Institute lists the Agricultural General Standards exam at 100 questions in two hours. Most category exams have 50 questions and one hour. All exams are closed book.1

The passing score is 70 percent or higher.2 Your result appears right after you finish, and Metro sends the score to TDA daily.2

An older exam sheet from the previous test provider also says that 5 to 10 unscored pretest questions may be added. They do not count against your time.4 Metro's page does not mention this, so treat it as possible but unconfirmed.

ItemGeneral Standards
Questions100
Time2 hours
Passing score70 percent
Fee$64 per attempt
Wait before a retest24 hours
Score valid for12 months

What the exam covers

TDA does not publish a topic list with weights for this exam. Its former test provider pointed candidates to the AgriLife Extension study manuals for content.4 The rules say only that exams must cover what an applicant needs to use and supervise restricted-use products safely and effectively.3

The federal certification standards for commercial applicators set out core competencies that states build their exams around.5 We group our practice questions into these areas, plus Texas law:

Label and labeling

Signal words, use directions, restricted-entry and pre-harvest intervals, and the rule that the label is the law.

Safety and protective equipment

Routes of exposure, symptoms of poisoning, personal protective equipment (PPE) and first aid.

Environmental concerns

Drift, runoff, leaching, groundwater and effects on pollinators and wildlife.

Pests and pest management

Identifying pests, pest life cycles and integrated pest management (IPM).

Pesticides and formulations

Product types, formulations, mixing, compatibility and resistance.

Application equipment and methods

Sprayers, nozzles, granular and aerial equipment, and choosing the right method for the job.

Federal law, supervision and professionalism

FIFRA and restricted-use products, supervising noncertified applicators, recordkeeping and stewardship.

Texas laws and rules

License types, CEUs, direct supervision and records under the Texas Pesticide Law and TDA rules. For supervision, TDA requires that anyone working under your supervision knows the label and the rules, with documentation.6

How to prepare

  1. Get the AgriLife Extension manuals. TDA names Texas A&M AgriLife Extension as the source for study manuals.2
  2. Read real pesticide labels. Label skills mean finding an interval, a rate or a restriction quickly.
  3. Learn the numbers: intervals, record retention periods and CEU counts. Many wrong answers are close to the right one.
  4. Practice in exam conditions with a timer. 100 questions in 120 minutes leave about 72 seconds each.
  5. Review every wrong answer until you can explain it.

You can start with a free practice test to find weak spots. Our questions are our own and are not copied from TDA or Metro exams.

Calibration and math

Most people find the math the hardest part. Expect problems on area, mixing amounts and sprayer output, and practice them by hand before test day. Our free practice test includes calculation questions. Metro gives you a simple four-function calculator, and personal calculators are not allowed.1

Test day at Metro Institute

  • You need your TDA account number from the eligibility letter to register at metrosignup.com.2
  • Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The name must match your TDA application, or you cannot test.71
  • Arrive early. Metro warns that late arrival may mean you cannot test that day.1
  • Do not bring study materials. The exam is closed book. Scratch paper or a dry-erase board is provided and collected at the end.1
  • For questions about scheduling, call Metro at (877) 533-2900.2

After the exam

If you pass, you still need at least one category exam to be issued a commercial or noncommercial license.3 Both scores must fall within 12 months.3 If you fail, wait 24 hours and pay $64 again.2

Common questions

How many questions are on the Texas General Standards exam?

100 questions in 2 hours, according to Metro Institute.1

Is the exam open book?

No. All agricultural pesticide exams are closed book.1

Can I use my own calculator?

No. Metro provides a simple four-function calculator.1

Does General Standards include Texas law?

Yes. The rule describes it as the General Standards exam including laws and regulations.3

How long is a passing score valid?

12 months.3

Sources

Format details come from Metro Institute and TDA. The topic list is our own grouping, based on the federal competency standards, because TDA publishes no official blueprint.

  1. Metro Institute: Texas Department of Agriculture exams (metroinstitute.com)
  2. Texas Department of Agriculture: Convenience Testing for Commercial/Noncommercial Pesticide Applicators (flyer 10.9.26) (texasagriculture.gov)
  3. 4 Texas Administrative Code 7.22 (licensing of applicators) (law.cornell.edu)
  4. PSI: TDA Agricultural Pesticide Applicator candidate instructions (previous provider) (proctor2.psionline.com)
  5. eCFR: 40 CFR Part 171, Certification of Pesticide Applicators (ecfr.gov)
  6. Texas Department of Agriculture: Direct Supervision for Agricultural Pesticide Applicators (texasagriculture.gov)
  7. Texas Department of Agriculture: How to Schedule Agricultural Pesticide Licensing Exams (texasagriculture.gov)