40 CFR §171.303 — what it says, and how the exam tests it

§ 171.303 Requirements for State certification plans. (a) Conformance with Federal standards for certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides. A State may certify applicators of restricted use pesticides only in accordance with a State certification plan approved by the Agency. The State certification plan must meet all of the following requirements: (1) The State certification plan must include a full description of the proposed process the State will use to assess applicator competency to use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides in the State. (2) The State certification plan must specify which of the certification categories listed in § 171.101 will be included in the plan. (i) A State certification plan may omit any unneeded certification categories. (ii) A State certification plan may designate subcategories within the categories described in §§ 171.101 and 171.105(b) through (f) as it deems necessary. (iii) A State certification plan may include additional certification categories not covered by the existing Federal categories described in §§ 171.101 and 171.105(b)-(f). (iv) A State certification plan may combine the categories described in § 171.101(m) through (n) into a single general fumigation category for commercial applicators. (v) A State certification plan may combine the categories described in § 171.105(d) through (e) into a single general fumigation category for private applicators. (3) For each of the categories adopted pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the State certification plan must include standards for the certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides that meet or exceed those standards prescribed by the Agency under §§ 171.101 through 171.105, except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section. (4) A State may adopt a limited use category for commercial applicators. A limited use category covers a small number of commercial applicators engaged in a use that does not clearly fit within any of the commercial applicator categories specified pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and allows only the use of a limited set of restricted use pesticides by specific application methods. A State adopting a limited use category must include all of the following in its certification plan: (i) A definition of the limited use category, specifying the restricted use pesticide(s), use…