Mississippi Residential Remodeler Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide
You've done the work. Now you need to pass two exams — the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam and the trade-specific Mississippi residential remodeler exam — before the State Board of Contractors issues your license. The trade exam covers everything from rough framing to roofing, masonry to mechanical systems. This guide breaks down exactly what's on it, what to study, and how to prepare efficiently.
Want a quick feel for the format right now? Try our free practice exam — no account required.
Exam Overview
The Mississippi Residential Remodeler exam is administered by PSI at authorized testing centers. Here's what to expect:
- Questions: 50 scored questions
- Time limit: 150 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes)
- Passing score: 70% — you need 35 correct answers
- Format: Open book — you bring your own approved references
- Results: Displayed on screen immediately when you finish
The open-book format changes how you should study. You won't be memorizing every code table cold, but you do need to know your references well enough to find answers quickly. Three minutes per question sounds generous, but it goes fast when you're flipping through the IRC.
Register through the exam registration page after the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board approves your application. Review the official exam bulletin and check the state licensing website for current requirements.
Exam Topics: Where to Focus Your Study Time
The exam has 50 questions spread across eight topic areas. Study time should track with question count — the heavier the topic, the more it moves your score.
| Topic | Exam Items |
|---|---|
| Rough Carpentry | 11 |
| Residential Roofing | 8 |
| Finish Carpentry | 6 |
| Associated Trades | 6 |
| Safety | 5 |
| Concrete | 5 |
| Masonry | 5 |
| Windows and Doors | 4 |
Rough Carpentry (11 items) is the single biggest section. Know wall framing components — plates, studs, headers, trimmers, cripples — plus floor systems, roof framing types, sheathing requirements, and stair code. Rafter layout math shows up here.
Residential Roofing (8 items) tests minimum slope requirements for different covering types, underlayment rules, ice barrier requirements, sheathing span ratings, and flashing installation at valleys, chimneys, and penetrations.
Finish Carpentry (6 items) covers molding installation, trim details, finish flooring, cabinet installation, and wall treatments like tongue-and-groove wainscot.
Associated Trades (6 items) includes basic plumbing, gas piping, HVAC clearances, duct construction, and exhaust systems. You don't need a plumber's knowledge — just enough to coordinate and avoid code violations.
Safety, Concrete, and Masonry (5 items each) cover OSHA fall protection, PPE, scaffolding, concrete mix proportioning and formwork, and masonry wall systems with moisture control.
Windows and Doors (4 items) rounds out the exam with rough opening sizing, door hardware, and exterior installation requirements.
Sample Questions
These come directly from the exam topic areas. See how you do — then check your thinking against our practice exam.
Question 1 — Finish Carpentry
When installing tongue and groove wainscot, what is the recommended amount to cut the stock shorter than the distance between the floor and the level line?
- A) ⅛ inch
- B) ¼ inch
- C) ¾ inch
- D) ½ inch
Question 2 — Finish Carpentry
When cutting the closing board for a strip ceiling to match an irregular gap at the wall, the cut edge should receive a back bevel of what amount so the board swings easily into place?
- A) 8 to 10 degrees
- B) 10 to 12 degrees
- C) 2 to 3 degrees
- D) 5 to 7 degrees
Question 3 — Associated Trades
You are a carpenter insulating a house built on a crawl-space foundation. The crawl space measures 1,200 square feet and has a vapor retarder over the soil. What is the minimum net area of ventilation required for this crawl space?
- A) 12 square feet
- B) 6 square feet
- C) 10 square feet
- D) 8 square feet
Question 4 — Residential Roofing
Using the printed factor, what is the length of a common rafter measured from the wall plate to the ridge (no overhang)? (Figure RS-1)
- A) 16.8 lin ft
- B) 33.7 lin ft
- C) 21.9 lin ft
- D) 14 lin ft
Question 5 — Rough Carpentry
What is the maximum riser height and minimum tread depth permitted by the building code for residential stairways?
- A) Maximum riser height of 7¾ inches; minimum tread depth of 10 inches
- B) Maximum riser height of 7½ inches; minimum tread depth of 10½ inches
- C) Maximum riser height of 7 inches; minimum tread depth of 11 inches
- D) Maximum riser height of 8 inches; minimum tread depth of 9 inches
Know which answers are right? Our free practice exam will tell you — with full explanations.
What Types of Questions to Expect
Our full question bank has 372 practice questions covering all eight topics. Here's what each area tests:
- Safety: Fall protection system selection, guardrail and personal fall arrest requirements, ladder classifications, scaffold load capacity, fire extinguisher types, and PPE selection.
- Windows and Doors: Rough opening calculations, door construction types, hinge and lockset selection, window operational styles, and exterior door installation — shimming, clearances, and weatherstripping.
- Rough Carpentry: Wall framing assembly and component identification, floor system design, roof framing geometry (common, hip, valley, and jack rafters), sheathing fastening, and stair construction code requirements.
- Finish Carpentry: Molding and trim installation sequences, casing details, hardwood and engineered-floor installation, cabinet and countertop leveling, and wainscot and paneling installation.
- Associated Trades: Plumbing supply and DWV materials, gas piping sizing and pressure testing, HVAC appliance clearances, duct sealing and insulation, and exhaust system requirements for dryers and cooking equipment.
- Concrete: Mix design and water-cement ratios, formwork types and materials, footing sizing and frost depth, rebar placement and cover, and consolidation methods.
- Masonry: Mortar type selection and proportions, CMU and brick classifications, wall system types (cavity, veneer, composite, reinforced), coursing and leads, and flashing and weep hole placement.
- Residential Roofing: Sheathing span ratings, rafter sizing from span tables, minimum slopes by product type, underlayment and ice barrier rules, and flashing at valleys, chimneys, sidewalls, and penetrations.
Required Study Materials
This is an open-book exam, so your references are your tools on test day — not just study aids. Get familiar with all of them.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — The federal OSHA construction standard. Used for fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, and PPE questions.
- Carpentry and Building Construction — The primary carpentry reference for rough and finish work, framing, and general construction.
- IRC 2021 — The International Residential Code. Covers stair dimensions, crawl space ventilation, roofing minimums, and much more.
- Finish Carpenter's Manual — Detailed guidance on trim, molding, and interior finish work.
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction — Cabinet layout, installation, and countertop work.
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction — Mix design, formwork, reinforcement, and placement methods.
- Modern Masonry — Brick, block, and stone construction including mortar, wall systems, and moisture control.
Tab your books before test day. Permanent tabs only — no Post-It notes. You can highlight and underline in advance, but you cannot write in references during the exam.
Study Tips
1. Prioritize by exam weight.
Rough Carpentry (11 items) and Residential Roofing (8 items) together make up nearly 40% of your score. Nail those two sections first, then fill in the rest.
2. Know your references, not just the answers.
This is open book, but time is limited. Practice finding answers in your actual books — know which tab to flip to for stair code, which chapter covers rafter tables, where the mortar type chart lives.
3. Read every explanation.
Whether you got a practice question right or wrong, read why. Understanding the underlying rule lets you handle reworded questions you've never seen before, instead of relying on answer recognition.
4. Don't rush.
You have 150 minutes for 50 questions — three minutes each. Other people finishing early means nothing. Work steadily, flag anything you're unsure about, and review before you submit.
5. Study Mississippi-specific rules separately.
The Law and Business Management exam covers Mississippi statutes, deadlines, and agency rules. Don't rely only on national references for that portion — the state material is different and specific.
Start Preparing Today
The Mississippi remodeler license test is achievable with the right preparation. You know the topics, you know the weights, and you have all the reference books you need. Start by downloading your references and tabbing them. Then take our free practice exam to see where you stand — no account required. When you're ready to go deep, upgrade to the full practice exam for 372 questions with timed attempts and a topic-by-topic score breakdown. Good luck.