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ACE Exam Content Outline

The ACE exam is organized into four primary knowledge areas called Domains. Each Domain is
broken down into a number of Skills. Every question on the ACE Exam will correlate to a Skill on the
Content Outline (some may apply to more than one, but each will be categorized in one area. The four
Domains are:

Inspection and Identification (45% of exam content)

Monitoring (12% of exam content)
Selection and Implementation of Control Methods (28% of exam content)
Evaluation (15% of exam content)

An ACE is expected to be knowledgeable on a wide array of pests that are important to structural pest
management around the world. The list of pests you will be tested on is the same for all ACEs,
regardless of where you live. You may thus be tested on some pests that are not found in your part of
the country. The pests on the exam are broken into 8 section and each pest covered is listed below.
The pests on the exam are listed in decreasing order of likelihood that they'll be covered on the exam.

Biting and Stinging

Flies (Order Diptera)
Ants (Family Formicidae)
Cockroaches (Order Dictyoptera; Alt. Blattaria)
Stored Product and Fabric Pests
Wood Destroying Insects
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Occasional Invaders and General Household Pests
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Domain 1: INSPECTION AND IDENTIFICATION (45% of exam content)

Skill: Inspect for evidence of pests

Tools available for inspection and appropriate uses (e.g., flashlight, moisture meter, flushing
agents)
Probable locations of pests
Types of evidence of pest presence (e.g., damage caused, egg types, frass)
Safety precautions (e.g., equipment, personnel)
Skill: Inspect for conditions conducive to pests

Tools available for inspection and appropriate uses (e.g., flashlight, moisture meter, flushing
agents)
Conditions conducive to pests(e.g., site, weather, ambient conditions)
Safety precautions (e.g., equipment, personnel)

Skill: Identify pests

Taxonomy and classification

Morphology
Biology (basic physiology, behavior, habitat, lifecycle, reproduction potential)
Damage caused

Skill: Document and communicate ndings of pest inspection and identi cation

How to explain pest thresholds and respond to customer expectations

Use, limitations and types of pest thresholds
What to document
How to document
Where to document
To whom to communicate findings
Adherence to ACE Code of Ethics

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Domain 2: MONITORING (12% of exam content)

Identify and select appropriate monitoring tools

Monitoring tools available and their uses/limitations and related safety precautions (e.g., flashlight,
light traps, pheromone traps)
Pests that are most commonly monitored (cockroaches, flies, stored product pests, termites, bed
bugs)2
Place monitoring tools properly
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Document and communicate ndings of monitoring and recommendations
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What to document
How to document
Where to document
To whom to communicate findings and recommendations
Application of the ACE Code of Ethics

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Domain 3: SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTROL METHODS (28% of
exam content)
Choose the appropriate control method(s) for pest management

Cultural control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each

(e.g., sanitation, temperature, special lighting, habitat modification)
Biological control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each
(e.g., predators, parasites, pathogens)
Mechanical control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each
(e.g., traps/glueboards, pest proof design, removal, air curtains, lights)
Chemical control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each
(e.g., IGRs, Pheromones/Attractants, Pesticides)
Simple modes of action of commonly used pesticides
Classifications of commonly used pesticides
Pesticide resistance
Pesticide formulations
Pesticide application techniques
Appropriateness (or not) of combinations of products
Following label instructions, including disposal
Relative effectiveness/efficacy versus risk of various control methods and options within each
method
Importance of selecting least hazardous effective method(s)/option(s)
How to locate local/state regulations that may differ from product labels

Select the appropriate tool(s) for use with the pest management method(s) for pest scenarios

Tools available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each and related safety
precautions (e.g., compressed air sprayer, infrared camera, gas detector, duster)
Regulations (if any) pertaining to each tool3
Communicate which pesticides are or are not currently allowed for use by the epa
Knowledge needed to accomplish the skill:
In which cases certain products are used or not (cyclodiences, Chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g.,
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DDT, Chlordane, Lindane), Carbamates (e.g. aldicarb, carbofuran, propoxur), Organophosphates
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Role that EPA plays in federal legislation (e.g., FIFRA)

Follow the label instructions and precautions

Common precautions
Active ingredients
Types of formulations
Proper storage and disposal
Concentration and mixing procedures
 Restricted use pesticides
Legal and illegal uses
Trade names, common names and chemical names
Toxic dosages
FIFRA

Educate the customer on their role in pest management

Critical messages to convey

Appropriate methods for message conveyance
Behavioral customer modifications

Perform selected pest control method(s)

Appropriate application techniques for each of the pest control methods

Regulations and restrictions pertaining to application techniques and products
Application of the ACE Code of Ethics

Document and communicate the pest control method(s) applied and tool(s) used for application

What to document
How to document
Where to document
To whom to communicate
Application of the ACE Code of Ethics

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Domain 4: EVALUATION (15% of exam content)

Look for reduction in pests

Monitoring
Identification
Communication with customer
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Analyze pre- and post-treatment e ects
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Pest resistance
How to analyze
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Managing customer expectations
Interpreting results

Determine next steps

IPM process
Methods/options available
Use of results to affirm/modify pest management methods/options

Document and communicate evaluation ndings

 What to document
How to document (forms to use)
Where to document
With whom to communicate
Regulatory requirements
Third party audits
Application of the ACE Code of Ethics

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Pests on the Exam

(listed in descending order of relative importance below each header; thus likeliness of appearing on
the exam decreases by order of the list. NOTE: Each section is equally likely to be found on the exam,
only the order of the animals beneath the header indicates liklihood of presentation.)

BITING AND STINGING pests potentially encountered by pest management professionals (PMP).
Bed and bat bugs (Cimex spp.)
Yellowjacket wasps (Vespula, Paravespula and Dolichovespula maculata (The bald faced hornet)
Paper wasps (Polistes spp.)
Mosquitoes (family Culicidae)
Honey bee, (Apis mellifera)
Black widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.)
Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.)
Hornet (Vespa crabro)
Cat flea (order Siphonaptera)
Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Scorpions (class Arachnida: order Scorpiones)
Wolf spiders (family Lycosidae)
Bumble bees (Bombus spp.)
Black legged tick (Ixodes spp.)
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Solitary bees (Members uses cookies
of the families Apidae, Andrenidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae and Colletidae)
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Flesh flies (familyaccept
Sarcophagidae)
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Mites (rodent andinformation
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Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans)
Black & yellow mud dauber
Necessary (Sceliphron
Preferences spp.)
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Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Sac spiders (family Miturgidae; previously Clubionidae) including Cheiracanthium
Hobo spider and other funnel weaver spiders (family Agelenidae)
Soft ticks (Argasidae)
Cicada killer, (Sphecius speciosus)
Ground spiders (family Gnaphosidae)
Jumping spiders (family Salticidae)
Organpipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon spp.)
Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis)
Dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp.)
Body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus)
Crab louse (Pthirus pubis)
Chigger mites(family Trombiculidae)

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FLIES (ORDER DIPTERA) potentially encountered by pest management professionals (PMP).

Small fruit (vinegar, pomace) flies (Drosophila spp.)
House fly (Musca domestica) and lesser house fly (Fannia canicularis)
Moth (drain, filter, sewer) flies (family Psychodidae)
Phorid (humpbacked, scuttle, mausoleum) flies (family Phoridae)
Fungus gnats (families Mycetophilidae (formerly Fungivoridae) and Sciaridae)
Blow flies (family Calliphoridae)
Cluster flies (Pollenia rudis)
Flesh flies (family Sarcophagidae)
Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans)
Horse and deer flies (family Tabanidae)
Small dung flies (family Sphaeroceridae)
Crane flies (family Tipulidae)
Soldier flies (family Stratiomyidae)

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ANTS (FAMILY FORMICIDAE) potentially encountered by pest management professionals (PMP).

Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
Pavement ant (Tetramorium caespitum)
Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
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Little Black Ant (Monomorium cookies to deliver safer, faster, and more customized site experiences. You can
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Acrobat Ants (Crematogaster
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Crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis)
Ghost Ant (Tapinoma
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White Footed Ant (Technomyrmex albipes)
Big Headed Ants (Pheidole spp.)
Field Ants (Formica spp.)
Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.)

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COCKROACHES (ORDER DICTYOPTERA; ALT. BLATTARIA) potentially encountered by pest

management professionals (PMP).
German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai)
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Brownbanded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Smokybrown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)
Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
Australian cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
Woods cockroach (Parcoblatta spp.)
Surinam cockroach (Pycnoscelus surinamensis)

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STORED PRODUCT AND FABRIC PESTS potentially encountered by pest management professionals
(PMP).
Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella)
Cigarette and drugstore beetle (Lasioderma serricorne and Stegobium paniceum)
Carpet/domestic beetles (Anthrenus and Attagenus spp.)
Clothes moths (family Tineidae)
Flour beetles (Tribolium spp.)
Sawtoothed and merchant grain beetles (Oryzaephilus spp.)
Warehouse & Cabinet Beetles (Trogoderma spp.)
Psocids (Order Psocoptera)
Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and Corn Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais)
Hide and larder beetles (Dermestes species)
Angoumois Grain Moth (Sitotroga cerealella)
Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella)
Foreign Grain Beetle (Ahasverus advena)
Plaster Beetles (family Lathridiidae)
Spider beetles (family Ptinidae)
Mealworm Beetles (Tenebrio spp.)
Dust mites (Dermatophagoides farina)
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Bean Weevil (Acanthocelides uses cookies
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Flat Grain Beetle accept
(Cryptolestes pusillus)
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Cowpea Weevil (Callosobruchus of cookies we use, please review the details below or the ESA Cookie
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Red Legged Ham Beetle (Necrobia rufipes)
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WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS potentially encountered by pest management professionals (PMP).

Subterranean termites, (Reticulitermes and Coptotermes spp.)
Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.)
Formosan termite, (Coptotermes formosanus)
Carpenter bee (family Xylocopidae)
Drywood termites (Kalotermes approximatus, Incisitermes and Cryptotermes spp.)
Lyctine powderpost beetles (formerly lyctids in the family Lyctidae) (family Bostrichidae, subfamily
Lyctinae)
Old house borer, (Hylotrupes bajulus)
Anobiine beetles (formerly anobiids in the family Anobiidae) (family Ptinidae, subfamily Anobiinae)
Bostrichid (false powderpost) beetles
Long horned beetles (Cerambycidae)
Dampwood termites (Zootermopsis and Neotermes spp.)
Metallic wood boring beetles (family Buprestidae)

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OCCASIONAL INVADERS and GENERAL HOUSEHOLD PESTS potentially encountered by pest

management professionals (PMP).
Silverfish (order Thysanura)
Springtails (order Collembola)
Earwigs (order Dermaptera)
Brown marmorated stink bug (Halymorpha halys)
Millipedes (class Diplopoda)
Centipedes (class Chilopoda)
Boxelder bug, (Boisea trivittata)
Sowbugs and pillbugs (order Isopoda)
House cricket, (Acheta domesticus)
Cellar spiders (family Pholcidae)
Multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Ground Beetles (family Carabidae)
Field cricket, (Gryllus spp.)
Clover mite (Bryobia praetiosa)
Firebrat (order Thysanura)
Comb footed (cobweb) spiders (family Theridiidae)
Camel (cave) cricket (Ceuthophilus spp.)
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Thrips (order Thysanoptera)
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Elm Leaf Beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola)
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COMMON COMMENSAL PESTS (NON-ARTHROPOD) potentially encountered by pest management

professionals (PMP).
House mouse
Norway rat
Roof rat
Pigeon (rock dove)
Deer mouse
English sparrow
European starling
Commensal bats (Chiroptera)

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Last Updated: July 30, 2015

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