Georgia Master Plumber Class II (Unrestricted) Exam Practice Exam

The exam covers 12 topic areas. Here's what each one actually demands.

Comply with General Laws — 5 items. Know how the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (GCILB) works: complaint procedures, license renewal, and what the board is authorized to do. You'll also need to know Georgia 811 underground utility location law — specifically when you must call, how far in advance, and what happens if you don't. ADA and ANSI accessibility questions test specific measurements, not general concepts. State water conservation law and ADA employment rules (reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, essential functions) round this out.

Comply with Regulations — 15 items. This is code-heavy. Know the Georgia State Plumbing Code and the Georgia State Amendments to the 2024 IPC and IFGC. Expect questions on OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — particularly confined space, trenching, and fall protection regulations. Understand Georgia's State Boiler Code requirements and when permits and inspections are required. The State Trenching Law gets its own subtopic, so treat it separately from OSHA trenching rules.

Work Planning/Organizing — 7 items. You must be able to read a drawing and compile a bill of materials — know what a quantity take-off is and how it works. Interpret nameplate data on pumps, water heaters, backflow preventers, and lift stations. Read and draw isometric diagrams for waste and water systems. Understand bar charts and critical path method (CPM) scheduling. Know the hierarchy of codes, manufacturer instructions, and regulations when they conflict.

Perform Pipe Cutting and Joining Activities — 10 items. Know the right tool for each pipe type: snap-type chain cutter and hydraulic cutters for cast iron, tubing cutters for copper, scissor cutters for plastic, hand or power pipe cutters for steel. Know joining methods — lead and oakum, rubber-type seals, and no-hub connectors for cast-iron soil pipe. Expect questions on rubber gasket specs (ASTM C564) and solvent cement specs (ASTM F656, ASTM B813).

Perform Plumbing Systems Installation Activities — 21 items. This is the largest section. Sizing and installing water supply and drainage systems will require you to read tables, apply grade requirements, and size pipe correctly. Gas pipe sizing from IFGC Table 402.4(2) using the longest-length and branch-length methods appears here. Know how to locate and mark penetrations in walls, ceilings, and floors. Fixture and fitting assembly questions test your ability to read and apply manufacturer instructions.

Perform System Testing Activities — 7 items. Know the correct test for each system: air, water, hydrostatic for water distribution; water, smoke, air, and peppermint for sanitary systems; air for gas lines. Know pressure requirements and gauge increments. Backflow preventer certification and potable water sterilization procedures are also tested — including how to obtain certification after sterilization.

Perform Maintenance and Repair Activities — 15 items. Gas leak detection using soapy water or a gas detector. Servicing gas appliances — burner adjustment, valve checks, venting. Electric water heater element replacement and controls. Locating and removing drain obstructions. Cleaning backwater valves. Repairing leaking faucets and valves. These questions are hands-on and procedural — know the steps.

Safety-Related Issues — 15 items. Relief valve sizing, pressure ratings, routing, and termination for water heaters and pressure vessels. Gas piping testing and support requirements. Backflow prevention identification. OSHA personal protective equipment rules, fall protection systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest), and hazard control for poisonous gases and trenching. Know 29 CFR 1926 sections on fall protection (§1926.502) cold.

Calculations — 5 items. You'll calculate pipe offsets using 45° constants, volume of cylinders and rectangular solids, water pressure and head (psi-to-feet conversion), grade and drop for drainage piping, and pipe capacity in gallons per foot. Bring a calculator and know your formulas — these are not estimation questions.

Comply with Business Laws — 15 items. Workers' compensation requirements, unemployment insurance, FUTA tax from Circular E (Pub. 15), sales and use tax, business licensing, and I-9 completion. Know the Circular E rules on who counts as an employee vs. a statutory employee or nonemployee.

Comply with Administrative Requirements — 15 items. Bonding types, liquidated damages clauses, insurance (liability, property damage, auto), cash flow and financing, bookkeeping, job cost estimating, bidding procedures, and contracts and purchase orders. These questions test business knowledge, not plumbing knowledge.

Plumbing System Design — 10 items. Select appropriately sized water heaters and boilers. Choose sump reservoirs. Identify specialty fixtures for hospitals, restaurants, prisons, and medical facilities. Select industrial and specialty piping — medical gas, compressed air, vacuum systems.