Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. PSI gives the exam.
Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 30 questions |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing score | 21 correct answers out of 30 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
On exam day
- Candidates must bring their own references, may not bring any additional papers with them, and may bring an Internet-downloaded reference only if it is bound (spiral bound or placed in a binder).
- References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated and indexed prior to the exam but not written in during the session, and may be tabbed with permanent tabs only.
- An online calculator is provided and candidates may not bring their own calculator.
- Candidates use an on-screen online calculator and may not bring their own calculator or any additional loose or attached papers with their approved references.
References you may bring
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) (with latest available amendments)
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 Selections by PSI (with latest available amendments)
- International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (2015)
- Contractors Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (3rd Edition, 2014)
- International Building Code (2015)
Source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board - Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial, 10/17/2220. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Exam Covers
The official content outline has 10 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Sitework | 3 | 10% |
| Concrete | 3 | 10% |
| Masonry | 3 | 10% |
| Metals | 3 | 10% |
| Carpentry | 3 | 10% |
| Thermal and Moisture | 3 | 10% |
| Doors and Windows | 3 | 10% |
| Drywall and Finishes | 3 | 10% |
| OSHA Safety | 3 | 10% |
| General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating | 3 | 10% |
How to Prepare for the Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Exam
The bulletin lists the OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 regulations (or PSI's Selections version), the 2015 International Residential Code, the Contractors Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (3rd Edition, 2014), and the 2015 International Building Code as reference material allowed in the examination center.
Where to get them:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 75 minutes for 30 questions, which is about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.
Sample Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Metals
Question: A contractor is reviewing structural steel requirements for a renovation project. What standard governs the design, fabrication, and erection of structural steel elements in buildings?
- A. SJI 100
- B. AISC 360
- C. ASCE 19
- D. AISI S100
Correct Answer: B
Per IBC Section 2205.1, the design, fabrication and erection of structural steel elements in buildings, structures and portions thereof shall be in accordance with AISC 360.
Reference: IBC 2015 Section 2205.1
Sample 2 — Carpentry
Question: A plumbing contractor is boring wall studs for supply piping. What is the minimum distance that must be maintained from the edge of the bored hole to the edge of the stud?
- A. 1 inch
- B. 5/8 inch
- C. 1/2 inch
- D. 3/4 inch
Correct Answer: B
IRC 2015 Section R602.6, Item 2 and Figures R602.6(1) and R602.6(2) require not less than 5/8 inch from the edge of a bored hole to the edge of the stud, and the hole may not occur in the same section as a cut or notch.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R602.6
Sample 3 — Thermal and Moisture
Question: Vinyl siding is being installed in the vertical orientation and the manufacturer's instructions do not specify fastener spacing. What is the maximum spacing permitted between fasteners, both horizontally and vertically?
- A. 10 inches
- B. 12 inches
- C. 16 inches
- D. 8 inches
Correct Answer: B
IRC Section R703.11.1.3 sets the maximum fastener spacing at 16 inches for horizontal vinyl siding and 12 inches both horizontally and vertically for vertical vinyl siding, unless the manufacturer's instructions specify otherwise and are supported by a test report.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R703.11.1.3
Sample 4 — Doors and Windows
Question: A skylight installed at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the horizontal must be mounted at least how far above the plane of the roof on a curb?
- A. 6 inches
- B. 3 inches
- C. 4 inches
- D. 2 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per IBC Section 2405.4, skylights set at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the horizontal plane shall be mounted not less than 4 inches above the plane of the roof on a curb constructed as required for the frame.
Reference: IBC 2015 Section 2405.4
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Commercial practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.