Alabama Sitework Contractor

Alabama Sitework Contractor Exam: What You Need to Know to Pass in 2026

You've done the work on job sites. Now you need to prove it on paper. The Alabama Sitework Contractor exam is a 40-question, open-book test administered through PSI, and clearing it is your ticket to working as a licensed sitework contractor in the state. This article covers everything — the format, the topics, sample questions, allowed references, and how to study smart. Start by taking our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.

Exam Overview

The Alabama Sitework Contractor exam is 40 scored questions. You get 120 minutes to finish. To pass, you need 28 correct answers — that's 70%.

The Sitework Contractor PSI exam is open book, which matters. You can bring approved references into the test center. That's a real advantage if your books are well-tabbed and you know where to look. But don't mistake open book for easy — this exam moves fast if you're flipping pages on every question.

PSI administers the test at approved testing centers. Check the official exam bulletin for the most current details on locations and scheduling. The exam costs $96 per registration, whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

Topics Covered on the Alabama Sitework Contractor Exam

Here's how the 40 questions break down by topic:

Compaction — 10 items
This and Soil Types together make up half the exam. Compaction covers Proctor test methods (Standard T-99 and Modified T-180), optimum moisture content, nuclear density gauge procedures, and lift thickness for backfill. Know the difference between puddling and weight/vibration compaction methods.

Soil Types — 10 items
OSHA's classification system — Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C — shows up heavily here. You'll need to know unconfined compressive strength thresholds, visual and manual field tests (thumb penetration, plasticity, dry strength), and how cohesive soils differ from granular ones.

Equipment and Technique — 6 items
Backhoe components, hydraulic systems, digging cycle calculations, and track excavator cycle times. Wheeled backhoe positioning gets specific — know your reach geometry.

Specialty Work (Blasting, Shoring) — 6 items
Cave-in protective systems (sloping, benching, shielding), shoring types and components, blaster qualifications, and explosives storage and transportation rules. This section has teeth — don't skim it.

Estimating and Plan Reading — 4 items
Direct costs, overhead calculations, markup for profit and contingency, quantity takeoff, and bid submission procedures.

Safety — 4 items
Excavation cave-in protection, competent person responsibilities, access and egress requirements, and hazardous atmosphere testing.

When deciding where to focus your study time, work the heaviest topics first: Compaction and Soil Types together account for 20 of your 40 questions.

Sample Questions

Here are five questions pulled from the material this exam actually tests. Think through each one — and don't look for the answer here, because we're not giving it away.

Question 1 — Soil Types (Medium)
Which of the following materials is specifically listed as NOT having a presumptive load-bearing capacity unless substantiating data is submitted?
- A) Crystalline bedrock
- B) Sandy gravel
- C) Silty sand
- D) Peat

Question 2 — Specialty Work (Blasting, Shoring) (Easy)
What is the minimum distance that smoking and open flames must be kept from explosives and detonator storage magazines?
- A) 50 feet
- B) 100 feet
- C) 25 feet
- D) 300 feet

Question 3 — Specialty Work (Blasting, Shoring) (Medium)
You are a sitework contractor whose crew has just completed excavating a trench. A competent person discovers that the properties of the soil deposit have changed since the initial classification due to recent heavy rainfall. What is required?
- A) Shut down the project permanently until a geotechnical report is completed
- B) Continue work using the original classification until the project engineer visits the site
- C) The competent person must evaluate the changes and reclassify the deposit as necessary
- D) No action is needed as long as the protective system was designed for the original classification

Question 4 — Safety (Medium)
In areas where 911 emergency dispatch services are not available, what must an employer conspicuously post at the worksite?
- A) The telephone numbers of physicians, hospitals, or ambulances
- B) The employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier contact information
- C) A copy of the site's emergency action plan and evacuation map
- D) The nearest hospital's street address and hours of operation

Question 5 — Equipment and Technique (Medium)
When positioning a wheeled backhoe to tunnel under a 4-foot-wide sidewalk, what should the operator do if the backhoe cannot reach all the way under the obstacle?
- A) Move the machine forward to get closer to the sidewalk
- B) Switch to a narrower bucket to reduce resistance
- C) Increase engine speed to generate more hydraulic power
- D) Move the machine backward a few feet to increase the hoe's effective reach

Know your answers? Take our free practice exam to test yourself against 10 real-format questions.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Here's what our practice question pool looks like by topic — and what each section actually tests:

• Estimating and Plan Reading — 35 practice questions: Cost breakdowns for labor, equipment, and materials; overhead vs. markup calculations; quantity takeoffs; bid preparation procedures.
• Equipment and Technique — 39 practice questions: Backhoe hydraulics, digging cycle and production rate math, track excavator cycle times, and wheeled backhoe positioning geometry.
• Compaction — 49 practice questions: Proctor test methods and their applications, moisture-density relationships, nuclear gauge procedures, lift thickness rules, and puddling vs. mechanical compaction.
• Soil Types — 66 practice questions: OSHA soil classification definitions and UCS thresholds, field identification tests (thumb penetration, plasticity, dry strength, drying test), cohesive vs. granular soil behavior.
• Specialty Work (Blasting, Shoring) — 39 practice questions: Sloping and benching geometry, shoring system components, trench shield use, blaster licensing requirements, explosives storage and transport rules.
• Safety — 34 practice questions: Cave-in protection selection, competent person duties and daily inspection requirements, access/egress specs, and atmospheric hazard testing in excavations.

Total practice questions available: 262.

Study Materials

The exam is open book, and PSI specifies exactly which references are allowed. You need all three:

OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry
This is your primary source for soil classification, excavation safety, cave-in protection systems, and blasting regulations. Tab it heavily: soil types, shoring, sloping/benching tables, and hazardous atmosphere rules. The Safety and Specialty Work sections on the exam pull directly from this book.

Pipe and Excavation Contracting (Revised)
This covers the equipment and compaction material in depth — backhoe operation, production rates, Proctor testing, and moisture-density relationships. The Equipment and Technique and Compaction sections are largely based on this reference.

International Building Code 2021
Required for the exam and relevant to load-bearing capacity, soil bearing values, and foundation-related content that shows up in Soil Types questions.

You may highlight, underline, and tab your books with permanent tabs. You cannot write notes in the margins or insert loose papers. Get your tabs in before exam day — you'll want to find answers fast.

For a PSI study guide approach to the Alabama Sitework Contractor exam, your best method is to work through practice questions by topic, then locate each answer in your references. That combination — practice questions plus reference drilling — is how you get fast with your books.

Study Tips

Skim the answer choices first. Before you read the question carefully, look at the options. You're scanning for the key term that signals the right concept. After enough practice, the correct vocabulary jumps out quickly.

Eliminate, then guess. If you're stuck, don't sit there. Eliminate any choices that are clearly wrong — even cutting one or two options significantly improves your odds. Make your best call and move on.

Don't rush. You have 120 minutes for 40 questions — that's 3 minutes per question. Other test-takers finishing early means nothing. Work your pace, check your work, and use the time you're given.

Know where things live in your books. The open-book format only helps you if you can find answers quickly. Build a solid tab system before test day. Mark the soil classification tables, compaction test procedures, and blasting safety distances specifically.

Weight your prep. Compaction and Soil Types are 20 of your 40 questions. Master those two topics first.

FAQs

How many questions are on the Alabama Sitework Contractor exam and how long do I have?
The exam has 40 questions and you have 120 minutes to complete it.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer 70% correctly — that's 28 out of 40 questions.

How much does it cost?
The exam fee is $96 per registration, for first attempts and retakes alike.

How do I register?
You can register online at the exam registration page — available 24/7 — or call PSI at (855) 257-1619. Phone hours are Monday–Friday 6:30 am to 9:00 pm and Saturday–Sunday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Central Time. Pay the fee before scheduling your appointment.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You can bring approved references into the test center. Tabs, highlights, and underlining are allowed. No handwritten notes, no loose papers.

What references are allowed?
Three books: OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, and the International Building Code 2021. All must be your own copies, properly tabbed, with no added loose pages.

What topics are covered?
Estimating and Plan Reading (4 items), Equipment and Technique (6 items), Compaction (10 items), Soil Types (10 items), Specialty Work — Blasting and Shoring (6 items), and Safety (4 items).

How many times can I retake the exam?
Unlimited attempts within your 1-year eligibility period. Each attempt costs $96.

How long is my eligibility valid?
One year from the date the state receives your application. If you don't pass within that window, you'll need to reapply through the state licensing website.

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

Ready to Start?

The Alabama Sitework Contractor exam is 40 questions and three hours. If you put in focused study time on Compaction, Soil Types, and Specialty Work — the heavy hitters — and get your reference books well-tabbed, you're in a strong position. Take our free practice exam to get a read on where you are right now, then step up to the full practice exam when you're ready for timed, scored prep that mirrors the real thing.