Alabama Masonry Contractor

Alabama Masonry Contractor Exam: What You Need to Know to Pass

You've put in the field work. Now you need the license to back it up. The Alabama masonry contractor exam is a 60-question, open-book test administered by PSI — and passing it means you can operate legally as a licensed masonry contractor in the state. This article covers the exam format, every topic you'll be tested on, sample questions, allowed references, and registration steps. No fluff — just what you need.

Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand before you hit the books.

Alabama Masonry Contractor Exam Overview

Here are the numbers, straight up:

• Questions: 60 scored questions
• Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
• Passing score: 70%, which is 42 out of 60 correct
• Format: Multiple-choice, open book
• Administered by: PSI Exams

This is an open-book exam, so you can bring your approved references into the testing room. That said, don't let that give you a false sense of security — if you haven't already worked through these materials, you won't have time to look everything up from scratch. Three hours sounds like a lot; it isn't, if you're flipping pages constantly.

You register through PSI after getting state approval. Check the official exam bulletin for full details.

Topics Covered on the Alabama Masonry Contractor License Test

The exam draws from eight topic areas. Here's how they break down by item count — heavier topics deserve more of your study time.

Unit Masonry — 19 items

The biggest section. Expect questions on brick, CMU, and clay tile classifications; mortar joint types and bond patterns; wall systems (solid, hollow, cavity, composite, veneer); and reinforced vs. unreinforced masonry design. Know the difference between allowable stress, strength, and empirical design methods.

Mortar and Grout — 16 items

The second-largest section. Covers mortar types M, S, N, O, and K; material ingredients and ASTM standards (C270 for mortar, C476 for grout); proportion specs by volume vs. property; and both plastic and hardened mortar properties like workability, water retentivity, and bond strength.

Accessories — 7 items

Wall tie types (rectangular, Z-tie, corrugated), anchors and anchor bolts, joint reinforcement (ladder, truss, tab), corrosion protection requirements, and movement joints — both contraction and expansion.

Stone — 2 items

Smaller section, but still on the exam. Stone formation types, common building stones and their characteristics, Indiana limestone grades, surface finishes, and wall patterns.

Estimating and Plan Reading — 4 items

Reading construction drawings, interpreting scales, recognizing masonry symbols, estimating brick quantities from area and volume, and the basic math behind it.

Tools — 4 items

Trowel types (Philadelphia, London, Wide London), special-purpose trowels, jointers, joint rakers, measuring tools, and levels including rotary laser levels.

Restoration and Cleaning — 4 items

Cleaning new masonry, acid and non-acid methods, abrasive blasting, and how cleaning failures happen and how to prevent them.

Safety — 4 items

OSHA Subparts L, M, X, and Z — covering scaffolding, fall protection, ladders, PPE, and silica exposure controls.

Sample Questions from the Alabama Masonry Contractor PSI Exam

These are representative of the question style you'll see. Work through them before checking our practice exam.

Question 1 (Tools — Easy)

A joint raker is specifically designed to perform which task on a masonry wall?
- A) Apply mortar into empty joints
- B) Smooth and compress mortar joints
- C) Remove mortar from joints before hardening
- D) Shape concave profiles in joints

Question 2 (Stone — Easy)

You are a masonry contractor planning a project that includes large squared stones set at the corners of a building to achieve a specific architectural style. What is the correct term for these corner stones?
- A) Water tables
- B) Copings
- C) Sills
- D) Quoins

Question 3 (Mortar and Grout — Hard)

You are a masonry contractor grouting a reinforced wall. The grout pour is 18 inches high. What consolidation method is required?
- A) No consolidation needed
- B) Tamping with a flat bar
- C) Rodding only
- D) Vibration with reconsolidation

Question 4 (Mortar and Grout — Medium)

You are a masonry contractor building a cavity wall in an area where wind velocities may exceed 80 mph. Which mortar type is required for this application?
- A) Type N
- B) Type O
- C) Type M
- D) Type S

Question 5 (Stone — Hard)

The Indiana Limestone Institute of America classifies Indiana limestone into how many grades, and which grade permits an unselected mixture of other grades in both buff and gray colors?
- A) Four grades; Variegated
- B) Four grades; Standard
- C) Three grades; Variegated
- D) Three grades; Rustic

Not sure about your answers? Take our free practice exam and find out.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Here's what our practice question bank covers for each topic, along with the number of questions available:

• Estimating and Plan Reading (60 practice questions): Reading floor plans and elevations, converting scaled dimensions, identifying masonry drawing symbols, calculating brick quantities from area and volume, and applying fractions and percentages to estimating problems.
• Unit Masonry (95 practice questions): Identifying CMU, brick, and clay tile types; mortar joint construction; wall system comparisons; reinforcement design methods; bond patterns; and laying procedures.
• Mortar and Grout (91 practice questions): Mortar type selection for specific applications, ASTM C270 proportion and property requirements, grout proportions per ASTM C476, and questions on workability, retentivity, compressive strength, and bond.
• Accessories (35 practice questions): Wall tie selection and placement, joint reinforcement sizing (ladder vs. truss vs. tab), anchor bolt specifications, corrosion protection coatings, and movement joint design.
• Stone (12 practice questions): Stone classification by formation, building stone characteristics, Indiana limestone grades and colors, surface finish terminology, and wall pattern types.
• Tools (22 practice questions): Trowel identification by name and use, special-purpose trowel applications, jointer and raker functions, measuring tool use, and level types.
• Restoration and Cleaning (20 practice questions): Cleaning procedures for new masonry, acid vs. non-acid method selection, abrasive blasting applications, and failure analysis.
• Safety (28 practice questions): Scaffold load requirements, fall protection systems, PPE selection, ladder safety under OSHA Subpart X, and silica exposure controls under Subpart Z.

Total across all topics: 363 practice questions.

Required Reference Books for the Alabama Masonry Contractor Exam

The exam is open book, and these are the approved references. You bring them — they won't be provided at the test center.

• International Building Code 2021 (IBC) — The primary building code reference for structural and construction requirements.
• International Residential Code 2021 (IRC) — Covers one- and two-family dwellings. Know where this differs from the IBC.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — The construction industry safety standard. The safety questions on this exam come directly from this book.
• Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone (9th Edition) — The core masonry reference. This is where the bulk of your mortar, unit masonry, tools, and restoration content comes from.

You may also use ACI 530/530.1-11 or ACI 530/530.1-13. All references can be highlighted, underlined, and tabbed with permanent tabs. No loose papers. No Post-It notes. No written margin notes. Remove temporary tabs before you walk in.

Study Tips for the Alabama Masonry Contractor Exam

Tab your books before test day. Find the key sections — mortar type tables, OSHA scaffold requirements, grout proportions — and put permanent tabs on them. You'll waste time hunting otherwise.

Prioritize by item count. Unit Masonry (19 items) and Mortar and Grout (16 items) together make up 58% of the exam. Those two sections alone are worth more than half your score. Know your mortar types cold. Know your wall systems.

Use timed practice. Our full practice exam matches the real exam exactly — 60 questions, 180-minute limit, same topic breakdown. Every attempt pulls from a large question pool, so you won't see the same exam twice. Untimed PDF study guides have their place, but they don't prepare you for the clock. Start with our free practice exam to get a baseline.

Watch the qualifying language. Words like may, generally, usually, and sometimes are in answer choices for a reason — they allow for exceptions, which often makes them correct. Answer choices with always or exactly are frequently wrong for the same reason. Read carefully.

Every test attempt is different. PSI randomizes both the questions and their order. You won't memorize your way through this — you need to actually understand the material.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Alabama Masonry Contractor exam and how long do I have?
The exam has 60 scored questions. You get 180 minutes — that's 3 hours — to complete it.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer at least 70% correctly. That means 42 out of 60 questions.

How much does it cost to take the exam?
The exam fee is $96 per registration attempt, whether it's your first time or a retake.

Is the Alabama masonry contractor PSI exam open book?
Yes. You can bring your approved reference books into the exam center. The books must be your own copies — they will not be provided.

What references are allowed?
The allowed materials are: IBC 2021, IRC 2021, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Modern Masonry by Clois E. Kicklighter (8th edition, 2015), and ACI 530/530.1-11 or ACI 530/530.1-13.

Can I write in my books?
Highlighting and underlining are allowed. Permanent tabs are fine. Written notes in the margins are not. No Post-It notes, no loose papers, no attachments.

How do I register?
First, apply for a license through the state licensing website and get state approval. Once approved, register through the exam registration page — available online 24 hours a day, or by phone at (855) 257-1619.

How many times can I retake the exam?
As many times as needed within your 1-year eligibility window. Each attempt costs $96. If you don't pass within the year, you'll need to reapply with the state.

How long is my eligibility valid?
One year from the date your application is received by the state.

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

Ready to Get Started?

You know the material from years on the job. The exam tests whether you know it by the book — literally. Tab your references, focus on Unit Masonry and Mortar and Grout first, and take practice tests under real time pressure.

Start with our free practice exam — no account required, no payment. Ten questions, instant feedback, and a clear picture of where you stand. When you're ready to prep seriously, the full practice exam gives you 60 questions per attempt drawn from 363 total, with a topic-by-topic score breakdown so you know exactly where to improve.

Get your license. Get to work.