2025 Edition

General Contractor Practice Test

Try this free general contractor practice exam to get an idea of what type of questions are on an actual contractor's licensing exam. 

Many states require building contractors to be licensed.  To get licensed, you may need to take a business and law exam, as well as a trade exam. The business and law portion will cover such subjects as contracts, estimates, bidding, bonding, accounting, business forms, environmental regulations, safey and quality control. The trade portion of the exam will cover subjects such as plan reading and estimating, site engineering, sitework and excavation, footings and foundations, concrete, masonry, carpentry, metals and safety.

For specific practice of the contractor business and law exam or other trades, try the following:

General Contractor Business and Law Practice Exam
HVAC Practice Exam
Journeyman Electrician Practice Exam
Master Electrician Practice Exam
Journeyman Plumber Practice Exam
Master Plumber Practice Exam
Welding Practice Exam

Or, for complete practice, our Contractor License Exam Practice has 5,000 trade questions from 15 exams in the areas of electrical, plumbing, HVACR, welding and carpentry.  Answers are fully explained and scoring is instant. All exams are written by leaders in their respective fields. 
 
 

General Contractor Business and Law

1. Which of the following should be on a written quote sheet?
2. Contract types strongly impact how estimates are prepared. What type of contract typically has a well-defined scope of work and set of plans?
3. How many parties typically are there in a bid bond?
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4. If a subcontractor on a construction project is not paid, what type of lien can be used to enforce payment?
5. How is retainage used in construction billings and payments?
6. If a construction contract provides for the building of a $4,000,000 facility, what will be the penal sum under a performance bond?
7. How long must an employer keep pay records that are used to compute an employee's pay, like time cards and work and time schedules under the FLSA?
8. The critical path method calculates the _________ amount time that all planned activities will take over the course of a project to be completed.
9. To form a contract, there must be an offer, an acceptance and an intention to be legally bound between the parties. What else is required to form a contract?
10. What is the main disadvantage of running a business as a sole proprietorship?
11. Having your employees use the necessary safety equipment is part of a:
12. Unused latex paint in solidified form is __________ .
13. What OSHA standard requires employers to make information available to workers about toxic substances and chemicals in the work place?
14. Would the International Building Code (IBC) or the International Residential Code (IRC) apply to a detached residential 3-family dwelling construction project?
15. You are bidding a job that requires a 6% insurance bond based on the total cost of the project. You have calculated the cost of the job in materials and labor to be $93,500.00. How much will your bid be increased due to the bond?
16. What is the purpose of a prevailing wage law on public contracts?
17. What type of plan does a general contractor typically implement to ensure that the craftsmanship of construction meets standards established in the contract?

Carpentry

18. What is a conceptual estimate?
19. In a set of blueprints, where would you find the required window sizes?
20. How is the 3-4-5 method applied in layout situations?
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21. What types of trees does hardwood lumber come from?
22. What is the margin of safety when operating a table saw?
23. Which of the following practices is important to prevent injury while using a chisel?
24. What is the type of square used for layout of rafters using the step method?
25. What is the actual size of a piece of 1" x 8" #2 pine?
26. What is another name for saber saw?
27. The air pressure for an air powered nail gun should not exceed what PSI?

Plumbing

28. For the issuance of a plumbing permit, which of the following is normally required?
29. What is the maximum distance allowed between pipe supports for plastic DWV piping that is installed horizontally?
30. Which of the following types of faucet handles are not allowed for use with faucets that will be installed on accessible fixtures?
31. What is the rodding clearance for a 3" drain?
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32. Why are plumbing traps required to be vented?
33. A horizontal drain pipe with a diameter of four inches is required to have __________.
34. The maximum allowable water pressure in residential water distribution systems is __________.
35. Which of the following types of joints can be used to join dissimilar piping materials?
36. Copper with a green stamp is used in a Med Gas system. What grade of copper does the color denote?
37. What type of water valve should be installed on a water heater?

Electrical

38. A premises wiring system supplied by a grounded ac electrical service, shall have a grounding electrode conductor connected to _____ .
39. A conductor with THHN marked on the insulation has a temperature rating of ______.
40. At the electrical service provided for a residence, the service-drop conductors shall have a MINIMUM clearance from final grade of _____.
41. Which one of the following listed circuit breakers is NOT a standard ampere rating as per the NEC?
42. In Class II, Division 1 locations, an approved method of connection of conduit to boxes or cabinets is _____ .
43. Where used outdoors, aluminum grounding electrode conductors shall not be terminated within _____ of the earth.
44. Where the motor controller also serves as a disconnecting means, it shall open all _____ conductors to the motor.
45. What is the MAXIMUM standard size overcurrent protective device that may be used to protect a storage-type water heater with a rating of 4,500 watts, 240-volts, single-phase?
46. Edison base fuses are prohibited _____.
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47. According to the NEC, recessed lay-in type luminaires installed in suspended ceilings shall:

HVAC

48. Which of the following would be considered an inductive load?
49. Heat can travel by:
50. What does a temperature differential across a filter-drier indicate?
51. An increase in water flow, when using a water cooled condenser, would _____.

Welding

52. What type of electrodes must be used with a process the produces no flux residue (slag) that covers the entire weld?
53. The endurance limit of a material must be considered when concerned about which property?
54. If the weld does not combine with another weld or the base metal it is referred to as:
55. Arc time is:

Quality starts with who wrote the material.
Our practice exam writer
s
:
Ray Holder
is a Certified Electrical Trade Instructor & Electrician License Exam Expert. Ray Holder has worked in the electrical industry for over 45 years as an apprentice, journeyman, master, field engineer, estimator, business manager, contractor, inspector, consultant and instructor.


Dodge Woodson
was a master plumber and gas fitter for over 30 years. In addition to being a field plumber and contractor, Woodson served as adjunct plumbing licensing faculty at Central Maine Technical College. As R. Dodge Woodson, he is a best-selling author and is the most prolific plumbing author in print with McGraw-Hill. He is often referred to as America’s Plumber.


Charles Redecker
is a master plumber instructor and education director with the National Center for Construction Education and Research.  Charles has taught plumbing with the NCCER for over 10 years.


Terry Lunt
is a plumbing and master craft instructor with Associated Builders and Contractors in Southern California. He has also been a core curriculum instructor and subject matter expert in plumbing with the National Center for Construction Education and Research.


HVAC Professionals
at HVAC Excellence, The Leading HVAC Authority. The questions are based on industry standards and offer a comprehensive coverage of the fundamental subject matter found on most HVACR certification exams.


Edward Bohnart
is an AWS certified master welder and welding educator who has over thirty five years of experience in the welding industry. He has served as a Board member of the American Welding Society for over a decade and was its National President from 1995 – 1996.Ray Holder is a Certified Electrical Trade Instructor & Electrician License Exam Expert. Ray Holder has worked in the electrical industry for over 45 years as an apprentice, journeyman, master, field engineer, estimator, business manager, contractor, inspector, consultant and instructor.


John Howley, Jr.
is a certified carpentry instructor from Homosassa, Florida. John was head of the carpentry department and taught carpentry at a technical high school for over twenty years. He taught rough carpentry, finish carpentry, millwork and cabinet making.