Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Exam Prep Checklist
Everything for the Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone exam in one place: the bulletin's key facts, the topics and how many questions each carries, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a prep checklist. PSI gives the exam.
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Exam Facts
From the official bulletin:
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | 42 correct answers out of 60 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
On exam day
- Except for Code books, candidates may rely on later editions of the listed references, but Code questions are based only on the edition of the Code book listed.
- References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated and indexed beforehand, and may carry permanent tabs only, with temporary tabs such as Post-It notes prohibited.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2018)
- 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
- Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter (8th edition (2015))
- Indiana Limestone Handbook (22nd edition, 2007)
- Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings, Robert C. Mack, and John P. Speweik, October 1998, Preservation Brief #2
Source: MASONRY, BRICK AND STONE EXAMINATION. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Exam Topics
The official content outline has 9 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating and Plan Reading | 5 | 8% |
| Unit Masonry | 12 | 20% |
| Mortar and Grout | 11 | 18% |
| Accessories and Specialties | 10 | 17% |
| Stone | 3 | 5% |
| Tools | 4 | 7% |
| Restoration and Cleaning | 4 | 7% |
| Reinforced Masonry | 6 | 10% |
| Safety | 5 | 8% |
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Exam Prep Checklist
- Get the reference books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names.
- Learn each book's table of contents and index first.
- Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
- Start with the biggest topics: Unit Masonry and Mortar and Grout (38% of the exam).
- Take our timed practice exams until you pass several in a row.
- After each attempt, look up every question you missed in your book.
- Practice at the real exam's pace: about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Exam Reference Books
The bulletin lists the International Building Code (2018), 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) or the PSI Selections version, Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone (8th ed.), the Indiana Limestone Handbook (22nd ed.) and Preservation Brief #2 on repointing mortar joints as references allowed in the test room.
Where to get them:
Test Day Checklist
- First pass: answer every question you know. Bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions.
- Second pass: work through your bookmarks.
- Pace: 150 minutes for 60 questions, which is about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
- Last step: answer anything still blank. 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.
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.
Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone Sample Questions
From our practice question bank, with answers and references:
Sample 1 — Reinforced Masonry
Question: You are a residential builder framing a new home and need to anchor the sill plates to the masonry foundation walls. What is the maximum spacing allowed for the 1/2-inch anchor bolts?
- A. 6 feet apart
- B. 8 feet apart
- C. 4 feet apart
- D. 10 feet apart
Correct Answer: B
According to Modern Masonry, Chapter 15, Section 15.3.3, sill plates of wood joist floor systems are generally anchored to masonry walls with 1/2-inch bolts spaced not more than 8 feet apart, with one bolt not more than 12 inches from each end of the sill plate.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 15, Section 15.3.3 Foundation Anchorage
Sample 2 — Estimating and Plan Reading
Question: You finance a new mixer costing $2,500 at 8% interest per year. If you pay the balance off at the end of six months, how much interest is owed?
- A. $400.00
- B. $100.00
- C. $150.00
- D. $200.00
Correct Answer: B
Per Modern Masonry, Chapter 6 (Interest), interest equals principal x rate: $2,500 x .08 = $200 for 12 months. Six months is one-half of a year, so $200 ÷ 2 = $100.00.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 98
Sample 3 — Safety
Question: What is the minimum force that a guardrail system's top rail must be capable of withstanding without failure, applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction?
- A. 250 pounds
- B. 150 pounds
- C. 200 pounds
- D. 100 pounds
Correct Answer: C
Per 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(3), guardrail systems shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge. The 150-pound requirement applies to midrails and intermediate structural members under §1926.502(b)(5).
Reference: 29 CFR 1926, §1926.502(b)(3)
Sample 4 — Tools
Question: As a general rule of thumb, the largest piece of coarse aggregate used in concrete should never be greater than what fraction of the thickness of a finished wall section?
- A. One-half
- B. One-quarter
- C. One-fifth
- D. One-third
Correct Answer: C
As a rule of thumb, the largest piece of coarse aggregate should never be greater than one-fifth the thickness of a finished wall section, one-third the thickness of a slab, or three-fourths the width of the narrowest space through which the concrete will pass during placing.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 384
Online Practice vs. a PDF
- Timed: you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them.
- Bookmarks: flag questions and come back, the way you will on test day.
- New sets: each attempt draws new questions from our bank.
- Scored by topic: your results show which outline topics need more study.
Next Step
- Take the free Louisiana Masonry, Brick and Stone practice exam.
- Study the topics where you scored lowest.
- Read the exam bulletin for the official rules, and see the licensing board's website.