Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
30
Passing score
70%
Exam time
90 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Alabama State Portion
30 questions
Fabrication6 Q · 20%
Wood milling and dimensioning (jointing, planing, ripping, crosscutting)Material selection for fabrication (solid wood, plywood, MDF, particleboard)Cabinet and case construction (joinery options, assembly, internal architecture)Door fabrication (frame-and-panel, flat panel, board-and-batten, arch-top)Drawer construction and fitting (joinery types, overlay styles, drawer bottoms)Shelf fabrication and support systems (fixed, adjustable, sag prevention, edging)Molding fabrication and installation (cutting miters, coping, attaching to solid wood)Power and hand tool selection and safe operation for fabrication tasks
Installation5 Q · 17%
Installing interior and exterior doors (prehung, pocket, bifold, French)Window trim installation (extension jambs, stool and apron, surround frames)Door and window casing styles and fitting techniquesBase molding installation (joints, curved walls, scribing, sequencing)Cornice and crown molding installation (coped joints, sequencing, backing)Stair trim-out (skirt boards, treads, risers, balustrade assembly)Wall treatments installation (tongue-and-groove wainscot, frame-and-panel, sheet paneling)Cabinet installation (base and wall units, leveling, reference lines)
Materials5 Q · 17%
Wood species and panel products (plywood, MDF, particleboard, lumbercore)Wood moisture content, drying, and acclimationFasteners: nails, screws, pneumatic fasteners, and knockdown hardwareAdhesives and glue selection for finish carpentry applicationsMolding materials and attachment methods accounting for wood movementSolid-wood top construction and edge treatmentsFrame-and-panel construction materials and back panel optionsDoor and drawer hardware materials (pulls, catches, locks, slides)
Finishing4 Q · 13%
Wood floor finishing products and application (penetrating oils, shellac, polyurethane, waterborne urethanes)Floor sanding techniques and sequence (drum sander, disc sander, random orbit sander)Applying paste filler to nail holes and gaps between flooring stripsCorrecting door installation defects (hinge sag, warped doors, misaligned latches)Repairing damaged molding (hammer dents, blow-outs, dutchman inlay)Closing and repairing open joints in trim (miter joints, butt joints, coped joints)Fitting new trim to existing or out-of-level/plumb conditions
Hand Tools3 Q · 10%
Hand tool identification and selection for finish carpentry tasksMeasuring and layout tools (tape measures, squares, levels, plumb bobs, chalk lines)Cutting tools: saws, chisels, and planes for finish carpentryTool belt organization and belt-worn tool setupSharpening hand edge tools using waterstones and honing guidesSafe use and condition requirements for hand tools (OSHA 1926.301)Personal protective equipment when using hand and power toolsHolding, clamping, and fastening tools for finish carpentry
Safety3 Q · 10%
Fall protection requirements and systems (guardrail, personal fall arrest, safety nets)Ladder safety requirements and proper usePower and hand tool safety guards and switchesPersonal protective equipment selection and requirementsScaffold safety requirements and fall protection on scaffoldsStairway safety and stairrail system requirementsFire protection, prevention, and flammable liquid storageGeneral safety responsibilities, housekeeping, and emergency action plans
Machines2 Q · 7%
Stationary power tools for finish carpentry (table saw, miter saw, jointer/planer)Hand power cutting tools (circular saw, jig saw, reciprocating saw, chop saw)Pneumatic and fastening tools (finish nailers, brad tackers, screw-shooting drills)Routing tools and router bit selection (plunge router, trim router, bit profiles)Sanding and grinding machines (random orbit sander, belt sander, sheet sander, disc grinder)Drilling tools and drill selection (corded, cordless, hammer drill)Power tool safety practices and precautionsBlade and bit selection for specific cutting tasks
Plans and Estimating2 Q · 7%
Bid price calculation using direct cost, overhead, and profit marginMaterial takeoff and estimating running and standing moldingsLabor cost estimation and manhour-based schedulingChange orders and contract documentationBill of materials preparation and waste allowance factorsSite inspection considerations affecting bid adjustmentsBusiness overhead expense categories for subcontractorsCost-plus and time-and-materials contracting methods
Key Distinctions
Standard Chop SawvsBlade-Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The standard chop saw has a faster cutting action for quick, repetitive cuts in small molding stock, while the blade-sliding compound miter saw can cut accurate compound angles across boards up to 12 inches wide but is slower.
Finish Carpenter's Manual, Chapter 3 - The Power Tools
Mitered Door Casing FramevsButted Head Door Casing Frame
A mitered frame joins casing at 45-degree angles at the corners, while a butted head frame has the head casing overlapping the side casings with a typical 3/16-inch overhang to hide seasonal movement.
Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 8-1 (Door Trim, Door Case Styles section)
The picture frame method involves pre-assembling the mitered frame on a flat surface, while the surround method fits each piece individually in place and is required when the jamb is more than 1/16 inch out of square.
Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 9-8
Fixed ShelfvsAdjustable Shelf
A fixed shelf is permanently attached to the case sides so the joint itself helps stiffen the shelf and strengthen the cabinet, while an adjustable shelf provides no structural stiffening.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 7 - Shelves
MDF has an exceptionally smooth surface ideal for veneering or high-end paint work, while MCP is coated with a hard plastic making it ideal for cabinet interiors that need a durable finished surface without additional finishing.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Triple-Chip (TC) BladevsFlat-Top (FT) Rip Blade
A TC blade (60-tooth, negative hook) is used for clean, chip-free cuts in delicate faced panels like hardwood plywood and melamine, while a flat-top rip blade (~24 teeth) is used for heavy ripping in thick hardwoods.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Tapered Sliding Dovetail Shelf JointvsSliding Dovetail in Plywood
The tapered sliding dovetail is the strongest fixed-shelf connection in solid-wood casework providing mechanical locking and sag resistance, but a sliding dovetail cut in plywood lacks sufficient strength and is not recommended.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 7 - Shelves
Face-Jointing Depth of CutvsEdge-Jointing Depth of Cut
When face-jointing a board, the recommended cut depth is about 1/32 inch for a light, controlled pass, while edge jointing of narrow edges calls for a slightly heavier cut of about 1/16 inch.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Hinge-Side Door Stop PlacementvsStriker-Side Door Stop Placement
The hinge-side stop is positioned a dime's width away from the closed door along its entire length to prevent binding, while the striker-side stop is held tight to the door at the top and bottom.
Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 7-9
Running MoldingvsStanding Molding (Door Casing)
Running molding refers to any item ordered by the linear foot in random lengths (e.g., base, crown), while standing moldings such as door casings are installed before running moldings in the top-down trim installation sequence.
Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 5 — Estimating Running and Standing Moldings section
Direct CostsvsOverhead Costs
Direct costs include rental equipment, labor, and job-specific supplies such as fasteners, glue, and sandpaper, while overhead costs include bookkeeping charges and legal expenses.
Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 20 — Bids and Contracts section
Web FramevsDust Panel
A web frame stiffens a case and creates a strong, lightweight platform for housing drawers while allowing solid-wood side movement, while a dust panel seals the cabinet from airborne dust and prevents clothes from tangling in drawers above.
The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
Key Terms
Running Molding Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 5 — Estimating Running and Standing Moldings section
Any molding item that can be ordered by the linear foot in random lengths, such as base, crown, and chair-rail moldings.
A technique where the profile of one piece of molding is cut to fit against the face of the adjoining piece, creating a tight joint at inside corners, performed with a coping saw.
Added jamb material installed to bring window units flush to the interior wall surface when windows designed for a narrower stud wall are installed in a thicker wall.
Plate Biscuit Joiner Finish Carpenter's Manual, Chapter 3 - The Power Tools
A power tool that cuts slots for biscuit splines to align and strengthen butt joints, replacing older dowel joinery in modern finish carpentry.
A marking system used on the inside faces of extension jamb components—base at bottom, cap at top, sides left and right—to ensure correct reinstallation position and orientation.
Hinge Mortise Top-Hinge Depth Rule Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 7-4
The top hinge mortise should be cut approximately 1/32 inch deeper than the other mortises to counteract the tendency of a door to sag away from the top hinge.
Saw Kerfs in Jamb Stock Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 7-3
Three or four saw kerfs cut 1/2 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep into the back surface of site-made jamb stock to relieve warping stress in the wood.
Standard Door Knob Height Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 7-4
The standard height for door knob placement is 36 inches from the floor, though buildings for handicapped use may require lower hardware heights.
Undercutting Bevel (Miter Correction) Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 8-4 (Door Trim, Cutting and Fitting a Mitered Frame section)
A technique of planing a slight undercut on the back face of a miter angle so the visible face closes tightly when jambs protrude from the wall near upper corners.
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
An inexpensive man-made panel with an exceptionally smooth, stable surface, making it the best choice for veneering or high-end paint applications.
Lumbercore Plywood The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
A plywood panel with a core of laminated solid wood that rates excellent for both screw holding and rigidity, making it exceptionally stiff compared to other panel types.
Drawer Kickers The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
Internal components installed above drawer sides to prevent drawer boxes from tipping downward as they are pulled out of the case.
Wood Moisture Content for Furniture The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Recommended moisture content for furniture fabrication is 6–8 percent, keeping wood in equilibrium with indoor surroundings; wood should be stored at ~40% relative humidity for a couple weeks before use.
French Door Gap Tolerance Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 7-12 (Installing Doors, French Doors section)
The ideal gap between two closed French doors is approximately the thickness of a nickel, ensuring proper clearance without excessive gaps.
Top-Down Trim Installation Sequence Finish Carpenter's Manual, Page 8-1 (Door Trim, Preparation for Trimwork section)
The correct order for installing room trim is: cornice/ceiling treatments first, then door casings (standing moldings), then base molding (running molding), to prevent ladder damage to lower trim.
Beveled Strip Wall-Hanging System The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
A removable cabinet-hanging method using a mating pair of beveled strips—one secured level to the wall and one on the back of the case—allowing the cabinet to be lowered onto and lifted off the wall strip.
