Alabama Building Contractor Under Four Stories

Alabama Building Contractor Under Four Stories Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

Passing the Alabama building contractor under four stories exam is the credential that puts you to work on commercial projects up to three stories — offices, retail centers, light industrial buildings, and more. It's a real career milestone, and it's achievable with the right preparation. This guide covers everything: exam structure, topic breakdown, sample questions, approved reference books, and practical study strategies. Whether you're sitting down with your books for the first time or getting ready to schedule your test date, you'll find what you need here.

Exam Overview: What to Expect on Test Day

The Alabama Building Contractor Under Four Stories exam is administered by PSI and consists of 90 scored questions completed in 230 minutes (just under four hours). To pass, you need to answer at least 63 questions correctly — a 70% score.

The exam is open book, which changes the game entirely. You bring your own approved references into the testing center. PSI does not supply books for you, so you must bring everything you need. The format is multiple-choice throughout.

You can register online or by phone through PSI's exam registration page. Before scheduling, you must first receive approval from the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. The exam fee is $96 per registration, whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

For full candidate requirements and scheduling details, review the official exam bulletin.

Topics Covered on the Alabama Building Contractor Exam

The exam spans nine topic areas. Here's how the 90 questions are distributed, from most to least heavily weighted:

• General Code and Construction Knowledge — 20 items (largest section)
• Carpentry — 16 items
• Roofing — 10 items
• Associated Trades — 10 items
• Sitework, Footings and Foundation — 8 items
• Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement — 8 items
• Masonry — 6 items
• OSHA Safety — 7 items
• Metals — 5 items

General Code and Carpentry together make up more than a third of the exam. If you only have limited study time, those two sections deserve the most attention. That said, every topic counts — a handful of questions in Metals or Masonry can be the difference between passing and retaking.

Sample Questions from the Alabama Building Contractor Practice Exam

These questions reflect the style and difficulty you'll encounter. Try them on your own before checking our practice exam — and remember, answers are not revealed here.

Question 1 — General Code and Construction Knowledge (Medium)
You are constructing a new commercial building with heated and cooled vestibules. The heating system for the vestibule must be controlled to shut off the source of heating when the outdoor air temperature exceeds what threshold?
- A) 45°F
- B) 40°F
- C) 55°F
- D) 50°F

Question 2 — General Code and Construction Knowledge (Hard)
Where zone thermostatic controls are used to control both heating and cooling in a commercial building, what is the minimum required temperature deadband within which heating and cooling energy is shut off or reduced?
- A) 4°F
- B) 5°F
- C) 7°F
- D) 3°F

Question 3 — Metals (Medium)
Under OSHA Subpart R, a Controlled Deck Zone (CDZ) may be established during steel deck erection. What flexibility does a CDZ provide?
- A) Allows deck to be installed without any frame attachment
- B) Permits flexibility to the methods of personal fall protection
- C) Permits use of non-qualified welders
- D) Allows exceeding the maximum bundle weight on joists

Question 4 — Metals (Medium)
A contractor is establishing a safe working platform during steel deck erection. What is the minimum recommended width for a working area around deck bundles?
- A) 8 feet
- B) 12 feet
- C) 6 feet
- D) 10 feet

Question 5 — Roofing (Medium)
You are a commercial contractor installing valley flashing for a wood shingle roof. What is the minimum distance the valley flashing must extend from the centerline on each side?
- A) 8 inches
- B) 15 inches
- C) 24 inches
- D) 11 inches

Not sure of your answers? Start with our free practice exam — 10 questions drawn from the real topic areas, no account required.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our full practice bank contains 704 questions across all nine topic areas. Here's what each section tests — and how many practice questions we offer:

• General Code and Construction Knowledge (176 questions): IBC occupancy classifications, building height and area limits, fire-resistance ratings, egress calculations, occupant loads, and sprinkler system requirements. This is the broadest section by far.
• Carpentry (110 questions): Lumber grading and moisture content, wall and floor framing components, span table interpretation, and roof rafter layout — including hip, valley, and jack rafters. Roof truss handling and bracing is also tested here.
• Roofing (80 questions): Roofing terminology (span, run, rise, pitch), rafter length calculations using the Pythagorean theorem and step-off method, valley and hip rafter geometry, sheathing requirements, and installation rules for asphalt shingles, metal roofing, tile, and built-up systems.
• Associated Trades (75 questions): Plumbing supply, drainage, venting, and trap requirements; electrical service sizing, branch circuits, GFCI/AFCI placement; HVAC duct construction and combustion air; fuel gas piping and venting.
• Sitework, Footings and Foundation (65 questions): Soil classification, presumptive bearing values, footing size and frost depth requirements, foundation wall types, and OSHA Subpart P excavation safety — sloping, benching, shoring, and cave-in protection.
• Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement (65 questions): Mix proportions, water-cementitious materials ratios, cement types, admixtures, compressive strength testing per ASTM C31 and C39, ACI 318 durability requirements, and rebar grades, placement tolerances, and cover requirements.
• Masonry (55 questions): ASTM C270 mortar types (M, S, N, O, K), CMU and brick classifications, low-lift and high-lift grouting methods, wall system types (cavity, composite, veneer, reinforced), and masonry footings.
• OSHA Safety (46 questions): Fall protection systems, scaffold types and load capacities, ladder safety, excavation and trenching requirements, and PPE selection.
• Metals (32 questions): Steel joist designation systems (K-, LH-, DLH-, CJ-Series), erection bridging requirements, jobsite storage and unloading procedures, metal decking profiles and installation, and column anchorage during erection.

Required Study Materials

Because this is an open-book exam, your reference books are part of your test strategy, not just background reading. The following are approved references — bring the correct editions to the testing center.

• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — The baseline for all OSHA Safety questions and excavation requirements.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses — Required for truss handling and bracing questions in Carpentry.
• Carpentry and Building Construction — Your primary reference for the 16-question Carpentry section.
• The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction — Covers mix design, testing, and durability for the Concrete section.
• Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone — Required for mortar types, grouting methods, and masonry wall systems.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting — Supports sitework, excavation safety, and associated plumbing trade questions.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook — Covers interior finish systems and related construction details.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders — The specific reference for the Metals section.
• SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck — Required for metal decking installation and CDZ questions.
• International Building Code 2021 — The foundation for General Code questions on occupancy, egress, and fire ratings.
• International Residential Code 2021 — Required reference covering residential framing, mechanical, and energy provisions.

Study Tips That Actually Work

Tab and highlight before test day. On an open-book exam, the advantage goes to the candidate who finds answers fastest, not the one who memorized the most. Buy your books early, highlight key tables, and install permanent tabs on every major section. Learn the index well enough to land on any topic in seconds. That navigation speed can be the margin between a pass and a retake.

Use a two-pass strategy during the exam. Work through all 90 questions once: answer confidently where you can, and flag anything uncertain. Then go back. Don't spend five minutes on one question while the clock runs down. Steady, forward momentum across all nine topic areas is how you reach 63 correct.

Give yourself three to six weeks minimum. Use the Candidate Information Bulletin as your roadmap. Prioritize General Code and Carpentry first — they account for 36 of the 90 questions — then work through the remaining sections. Practice finding information, not just reading it.

Simulate real exam conditions. Take timed practice tests so the pressure of the clock doesn't catch you off guard on test day. Our full practice exam matches the real exam's 90-question format and 230-minute limit. Aim for 80% or higher on practice runs before you schedule your seat — building in that margin above the 70% cut score gives you real confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Alabama Building Contractor Under Four Stories exam?
The exam has 90 scored questions.

What is the passing score?
You need a minimum score of 70%, which means answering at least 63 of 90 questions correctly.

How much time do I have?
You are allowed 230 minutes — just under four hours.

How much does the exam cost?
The fee is $96 per registration, whether you're taking it for the first time or retaking it.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may bring approved references into the testing center, but they will not be provided for you. You must bring your own copies.

What references are allowed?
Approved references include OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the BCSI Guide for Wood Trusses (2018), Carpentry and Building Construction, The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Modern Masonry, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, the Gypsum Construction Handbook, Technical Digest No. 9 for Steel Joists, the SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, the International Energy Conservation Code (2018), the International Building Code (2021), the International Residential Code (2021), and ACI 318 and ACI 530/530.1. Check the official exam bulletin for exact editions.

Can I write in my books?
You may highlight, underline, and add permanent tabs, but no writing in the margins and no loose or attached papers. Temporary tabs like Post-It notes must be removed before the exam begins.

How do I register?
First, get approval from the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Then register through PSI's exam registration page — online 24/7 or by phone at (855) 257-1619.

How many times can I retake the exam?
Unlimited attempts within your 1-year eligibility period. If you don't pass within that window, you must reapply with the state.

What ID do I need?
One valid, government-issued photo ID with your signature — driver's license, state ID, or passport. The name on your ID must match the name used when you registered.

Start Preparing Today

The Alabama building contractor exam is achievable. It rewards candidates who are organized, well-tabbed, and practiced — not just those with the most experience. Start your prep by taking our free practice exam and see how you perform across the real topic areas. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam mirrors the actual test: 90 questions, 230 minutes, full topic breakdown, and a detailed score report so you know exactly where to focus. Get your books, get your tabs in, and get started.