Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Georgia Residential Light Commercial Contractor Exam
Georgia · PSI Services Contractor
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
90
Passing score
70%
Exam time
230 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Georgia State Portion 90 questions
Sitework, Footings and Foundation
8 Q · 9%
Footing design requirements (size, depth, and frost protection)Soil classification and presumptive load-bearing valuesFoundation wall types (concrete, masonry block, wood, precast)Site layout, grading, and drainage requirementsSoil compaction methods and testing (Proctor tests, field density)Dampproofing, waterproofing, and subsurface drainage systemsFoundation anchorage and sill plate attachmentExcavation, rock removal, and groundwater control
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
8 Q · 9%
Concrete mixture components and water-cement ratioPortland cement types and supplementary cementitious materialsConcrete admixtures (air-entraining, accelerating, retarding, water-reducing)Steel reinforcement types, grades, and bar identificationConcrete formwork design, materials, and safety requirementsFooting and foundation design requirements (size, depth, frost protection)Concrete placement, consolidation, and finishing techniquesJoints in concrete (contraction, isolation, and construction joints)
Metals
5 Q · 6%
Steel deck types and profiles (composite floor, roof, form, cellular, acoustic)Steel deck fastening methods (arc spot welds, screws, powder-actuated and pneumatic pins, side lap connections)Open web steel joist product series and designations (K-, LH-, DLH-, CJ-Series, joist girders)Joist and steel deck erection bridging requirements and OSHA compliance (29 CFR 1926.757)Cold-formed steel framing members, designations, and construction methods (stick-built, panelized, pre-engineered)Receiving, unloading, and jobsite storage of steel joist products and steel deckSteel deck and joist quality control, inspection, and field welding requirementsIBC 2018 Chapter 22 governing standards for structural steel, cold-formed steel, steel joists, and aluminum (AISC 360, AISI S100, SJI specifications)
Masonry
6 Q · 7%
Masonry materials: brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), and stone types and classificationsMortar types, proportions, mixing, and applicationLaying brick: spreading mortar, forming joints, leads, and mason's lineLaying concrete block: wall types, face shell bedding, and corner leadsMasonry wall systems: solid, cavity, hollow, composite, and anchored veneer wallsMasonry foundation systems: footings, foundation walls, dampproofing, and waterproofingAnchors, metal ties, joint reinforcement, and flashing detailsMasonry fireplaces and chimneys: construction requirements, fireboxes, flues, and seismic reinforcing
Carpentry
16 Q · 18%
Wall framing components and assembly (studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs)Floor framing systems (joists, girders, sill plates, subfloor, bridging)Roof framing types and components (common, hip, valley, and jack rafters; ridge board vs. ridge beam)Wood truss design, installation, temporary restraint, and permanent bracing (BCSI requirements)Engineered wood products (LVL, glulam, I-joists, OSB, plywood grading and applications)Wall bracing methods and sheathing requirements (IRC braced wall panels, wood structural panels)Stairway construction (stringers, treads, risers, handrails, building code requirements)Finish carpentry elements (interior doors, windows, molding and trim, cabinets and countertops)
Roofing
10 Q · 11%
Roof framing terminology and basic roof styles (gable, hip, shed, gambrel, mansard)Common rafter layout and sizing using span tables (IRC R802)Hip, valley, and jack rafter layout and length calculationWood roof sheathing types, grades, and installation requirementsRoof covering materials and minimum slope requirements (asphalt shingles, tile, metal, wood shakes, slate)Underlayment types, application, and ice barrier requirementsFlashing installation (valleys, step flashing, drip edge, crickets/saddles)Roof ventilation, attic access, and Georgia IRC amendments to Chapter 8
General Code and Construction Knowledge
20 Q · 22%
Building permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancyOccupancy classification and use groups (IBC Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U)Types of construction and fire-resistance rating requirementsBuilding height, number of stories, and allowable area limitationsMeans of egress components, occupant load calculation, and exit requirementsFire and smoke protection features including fire walls, fire barriers, and exterior wall openingsAccessibility requirements under IBC Chapter 11 and Georgia Accessibility CodeGeorgia-specific amendments to IRC and IBC including scope, fire sprinkler provisions, and disaster resilient constructionEnergy code compliance (IECC 2015 with Georgia supplements): climate zones, insulation R-values, fenestration U-factors, air leakage and duct testing
Associated Trades
10 Q · 11%
Gypsum board and panel product types, properties, and selectionDrywall installation methods, fastening, and framing requirementsJoint treatment, finishing levels, and trim accessories for drywallInterior plaster and veneer plaster systemsExterior and interior wall covering materials and code requirements (IRC/IBC)Thermal and acoustical insulation types, R-values, and installationMechanical systems overview: plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-inFinish flooring types, installation, and moisture considerations
OSHA Safety
7 Q · 8%
Fall protection systems and guardrail requirements (Subpart M)Scaffold safety requirements and capacity (Subpart L)Ladder and stairway safety (Subpart X)Personal protective equipment selection and use (Subpart E)Excavation and trenching hazards and protective systems (Subpart P)Fire protection and flammable liquid storage (Subpart F)Electrical safety and ground-fault protection on construction sites (Subpart K)Hazardous substances and toxic materials exposure limits (Subparts D and Z)
Key Distinctions
SlopevsPitch
Slope is the ratio of rise to run (and is the term best suited to roof framing), while pitch is the ratio of rise to span.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 470Type-S drywall screwsvsType-W drywall screws
Type-S screws have narrow threads for steel framing; Type-W screws have wide threads that grip wood aggressively for wood framing, and neither requires a pilot hole.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Drywall Fasteners sectionType-X fire-code drywallvsType-C fire-code drywall
Type-X is 5/8″ thick and contains glass fibers that keep it from crumbling in extreme heat, while Type-C is even more fire resistant and contains vermiculite.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Fire-Code Drywall sectionSetting-type joint compoundvsTopping compound
Setting-type compound comes only as a powder, cures by chemical process and is stronger (preferred for embedding tape), while topping compound shrinks very little and finishes smoothly for the final coats over embedded tape.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Setting-Type Compounds sectionDirect construction costsvsDirect (job) overhead costs
Direct construction costs are labor, material and equipment tied to a trade or phase (pipe materials, backhoe rental, bedding aggregate), while direct (job) overhead results from taking the job but is not tied to a specific trade or phase (traffic control, barricades, flaggers, pipe/soil density testing).
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 20-213/8″ gypsum panelsvs1/2″ and 5/8″ gypsum panels
3/8″ panels are designed for framing centers up to 16″ o.c., while 1/2″ and 5/8″ panels are designed for framing centers up to 24″ o.c.
Gypsum Construction Handbook (7th ed.), Page 3 (Gypsum Panel Limitations item 3)Thickened slab under an interior bearing wallvsStandard footing
Both support bearing loads, but the thickened slab area is formed by a trench dug into the subgrade (and strengthened with rebar) rather than by formwork.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 11.1, Page 295Type III portland cementvsType I (general-purpose) portland cement
Type III is high-early-strength, reaching in about 7 days the strength Type I reaches in 28 days, with little difference in long-term strength beyond 2 to 3 months.
Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Pages 14-15Ridge boardvsCollar tie
The ridge board is the horizontal member connecting the upper ends of the rafters for the full length of the house, while a collar tie is a horizontal member connecting opposite rafter pairs to keep them from spreading or bowing inward.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 468Building height (IBC)vsHigh-rise building measurement (IBC)
Building height is measured from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface, while the high-rise threshold (occupied floor more than 75 feet) is measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
IBC 2018 Section 202Holes in the web of steel studs/joists/trackvsHoles in the flange
Web holes/punchouts are permitted for utility routing (though holes reduce stud strength), but a hole must never be punched in the flange because it compromises structural strength.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 29.3, Builder's Tip - PunchoutsHorizontal drywall applicationvsVertical drywall application
Horizontal application is generally preferred because it reduces lineal joint footage by up to 25 percent, bridges misaligned studs, runs the panel's strongest dimension across the studs, and puts joints at a convenient finishing height.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Horizontal Application sectionKey Terms
Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227
The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms, done with a vibrator, tamping, spearing with a spade, or tapping the forms with a hammer.
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, often created by a specified sheathing nail spacing, and required to be properly fastened to framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below.
Escalation allowance Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 27
An allowance covering the increase in labor, material and equipment costs between bid submission and the time the work is done and paid for; recommended especially during high inflation.
Plyform Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 19, Page 402
An exterior-type plywood specially designed for concrete forming, made from special wood species and veneer grades, available in Class I and Class II grades.
Jointer (jointing tool) Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 24, Page 688
A shaped metal bar run over mortar joints to pack the mortar into them and give the joint a particular shape.
Unit weight (density) test Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 149
A field test of fresh concrete that, combined with batch weights and measured air content, gives a good indication of water content, since water is the lightest component and quickly affects unit weight.
Agricultural building (IBC 202) IBC 2018 Section 202
A structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products, which is not a place of human habitation, not a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, and not a place used by the public.
Area, Building (IBC 202) IBC 2018 Section 202
The area included within surrounding exterior walls, or exterior walls and fire walls, exclusive of vent shafts and courts.
Type III construction (IBC 602.3) IBC 2018 Section 602.3
Construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material permitted by the code.
Glass-mat gypsum board Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Moisture-Resistant Drywall section
Paperless drywall whose front and back surfaces are covered with a thin fiberglass material instead of paper, approved for use as backing in shower stalls and tub/shower surrounds where green board is no longer permitted (except on ceilings).
Racking Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 29.3, Page 852
A structural failure in which a wall shifts and studs are forced out of plumb; prevented by sheathing installed full wall height (long dimension parallel to studs) and fastened tightly with #8 self-piercing screws.
Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57
A plan schedule identifying the materials and finishes for floors, walls and ceilings of each room and hallway (for example strip-oak flooring, pine trim, painted drywall, wood paneling).
Floor framing plan Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3 Reading Architectural Plans, Page 51-52
A plan that specifies the sizes and spacing of joists, girders and columns supporting the floor and shows doubled framing around openings and beneath bathroom fixtures.
Corner bead (including bullnose and segmented) Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Trim Accessories section
A shaped vinyl or metal length that reinforces and protects an outside drywall corner and gives a smooth edge for finishing; bullnose creates rounded 90° corners, and segmented bead finishes arches and curved surfaces.
Formulas to Know
Gable roof geometry: run, rise, ridge elevation, rafter length, slope angle
Run = span ÷ 2; Rise = run × (pitch rise ÷ 12); Ridge elevation = top-of-wall elevation + rise; Rafter (sloped) length = √(run² + rise²); Slope (x-in-12) = (rise ÷ run) × 12; Slope angle = arctan(rise ÷ run)Sloped roof surface area and rafter length from slope factors
Sloped area = plan-view footprint × slope factor (1.118 for 6:12, 1.031 for 3:12); single-plane rafter length = run × slope factor (e.g., 8 ft × 1.031 = 8.25 ft; 10 ft × 1.054 = 10.54 ft)Shingle bundles for a whole roof
Total sloped sf ÷ 100 = squares; Bundles = squares × 3 bundles/square × 1.10 waste, rounded up (e.g., 25.33 sq × 3 × 1.10 = 83.6 → 84 bundles)Drywall sheet count, 'figured solid' (no deductions for openings)
Wall sf = perimeter × ceiling height; + ceiling sf (L × W); Sheets = total sf ÷ 32 sf per 4′×8′ sheet (e.g., 704 ÷ 32 = 22 sheets)Joint tape quantity
370 lineal feet of joint tape per 1,000 sq ft of drywall: tape = (total sf ÷ 1,000) × 370 (e.g., 2,000 sf → 740 lin ft)Crawl-space ventilation net area
Net vent area = crawl-space area ÷ 150 (1 sq ft of venting per 150 sq ft of crawl space); e.g., 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 sq ftExcavation volume for a foundation
Volume = (length + clearance each side) × (width + clearance each side) × depth ÷ 27 cu ft per cu yd (e.g., 44 × 30 × 7 = 9,240 cf ÷ 27 ≈ 342 cy)Continuous footing concrete volume and formwork contact area
Concrete cy = length × width × depth ÷ 27, rounded up to order (200 × 2 × 1 = 400 cf ÷ 27 = 14.8 → 15 cy); Formwork contact area = length × form height × number of faces (200 × 1.0 × 2 = 400 sf)Lot average elevation, elevation difference, and fill volume
Average elevation = sum of corner elevations ÷ 4; Max difference = highest corner − lowest corner; Fill = lot area × (target elevation − average existing elevation) ÷ 27 (6,000 sf × 1.00 ft = 6,000 cf ÷ 27 = 222.2 cy)Gutter slope drop (minimum) and gutter cross-section sizing rule of thumb
Minimum drop = run × 1 in per 16 ft (1/16 in per ft), i.e. gutters slope AT LEAST 1 in every 16 ft toward downspouts; e.g., 32 ft × 1/16 = 2 in [cite: Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 22.4 — Installation]. Rule of thumb cross-section = (roof sf ÷ 100) × rainfall in/hr; e.g., 5,000 ÷ 100 × 6 = 300 sq in [no cited section in source]