Alabama - Carpentry and Framing Contractor

Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

So you're ready to get your carpentry and framing contractor license in Alabama. That's a solid career move — licensed contractors command higher rates, win more bids, and operate without the constant worry of working outside the law. To get there, you'll need to pass two exams: the Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor exam covered in this guide, plus a Business and Law exam that's bundled with it. Start with a free practice exam to see where you stand, then use this guide to build a focused study plan.

Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Exam Overview

The Alabama carpentry and framing contractor exam is administered by PSI through the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Here's what you're working with:

• Questions: 60 scored questions
• Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
• Passing score: 70% — that means 42 correct answers out of 60
• Format: Open book (more on that below)
• Cost: $96 per exam registration

Three hours for 60 questions gives you an average of 3 minutes per question — plenty of time if you're well-prepared and know where to look in your references. The open-book format sounds forgiving, but don't be fooled. If you haven't tabbed your code books and practiced using them under pressure, you'll burn through that time fast. Check the official exam bulletin for the most current exam details, and visit the state licensing website for eligibility requirements.

Topics Covered on the Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Exam

The exam covers six topic areas. Here's how they're weighted, from heaviest to lightest:

Walls — 14 Questions

The single biggest topic on the exam. Expect questions on stud size and spacing, wall bracing methods, header and girder spans for openings, fastening schedules, and the rules for drilling and notching studs. Know the IRC inside and out for this section.

Floors and Stairs — 13 Questions

Floor framing components, joist span tables, subfloor installation (sheathing types, fastening, glue-nailing), special framing conditions like cantilevers and bathroom framing, and stair terminology. Math is common here — be ready to read a span table quickly.

Roofs — 12 Questions

Rafter sizing, span tables, ridge board vs. ridge beam requirements, roof framing members (collar ties, purlins, braces), sheathing installation, and minimum slope requirements for different roof coverings.

Estimating and Plan Reading — 9 Questions

Board foot calculations, span table interpretation, material quantity takeoffs, reading architectural plans (plan views, elevations, sections), and interpreting drawing symbols and abbreviations.

Layout — 7 Questions

Site layout using reference lines and instruments (builder's level, transit, theodolite, laser level, GPS), setting up batter boards, laying out right angles, and leveling a transit over a station mark.

OSHA Safety — 5 Questions

Fall protection systems, employer/employee rights and responsibilities, PPE requirements, hand and power tool safety, and ladder and stairway rules. These 5 questions are worth studying carefully — OSHA 29 CFR 1926 is a reference you can look things up in quickly.

Study time priority: Put your heaviest effort into Walls, Floors and Stairs, and Roofs — those three sections together account for 39 of your 60 questions.

Sample Questions from the Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Exam

Here's a taste of what the real exam feels like. Try each one before you look at the options — see if you can reason through it.

Question 1 (Walls — Medium)
In conventional light-frame construction, cripple walls in Seismic Design Categories A, B, and C that have a stud height exceeding 14 inches are considered to be a story for bracing purposes.

What this tests: Your knowledge of how the IRC classifies cripple walls for seismic bracing purposes — a detail that trips up many test-takers who haven't read the bracing provisions carefully.

Question 2 (Estimating and Plan Reading — Hard)
You are a framing contractor estimating the excavation cost for a new home. The house dimensions are 40 feet long and 26 feet wide, and the excavation requires 2 feet of clearance on each side plus a depth of 7 feet. Using the standard factor of 0.259 cubic yards per square foot for a 7-foot depth, approximately how many cubic yards of material must be removed?
- A) 270 cubic yards
- B) 250 cubic yards
- C) 342 cubic yards
- D) 400 cubic yards

What this tests: Multi-step quantity estimation — you have to account for the clearance before applying the conversion factor.

Question 3 (Walls — Hard)
How close to the edge of a stud may a bored hole be located?
- A) 3/4 inch
- B) 5/8 inch
- C) 1/4 inch
- D) 1/2 inch

What this tests: The specific IRC drilling and notching limitations for studs — a common source of code-lookup questions.

Question 4 (Estimating and Plan Reading — Medium)
You are a framing contractor who has been asked to calculate the board feet for a lumber order. The order includes 24 pieces of 2×10 lumber, each 22 feet long. Using the board foot formula (where one board foot equals a piece measuring 1" × 12" × 12"), approximately how many board feet are in this order?
- A) 880 board feet
- B) 1,056 board feet
- C) 528 board feet
- D) 704 board feet

What this tests: Standard board-foot calculation using nominal lumber dimensions.

Question 5 (OSHA Safety — Medium)
On a construction site, which class of fire extinguisher is appropriate for a fire involving grease, oil, or chemicals?
- A) Class C only
- B) Class B
- C) Class D
- D) Class A only

What this tests: Basic OSHA fire safety knowledge — fire extinguisher classifications are a standard CFR 1926 topic.

Don't scroll looking for the answers — they're not here. Take our free practice exam to check your work and see your results by topic.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Here's a breakdown by topic of the kinds of problems you'll face, plus how many practice questions we've built for each area:

Estimating and Plan Reading (51 practice questions): Expect board-foot calculations, material quantity takeoffs, span table lookups, and questions that require you to read and interpret architectural drawings — plan views, elevations, sections, and standard drawing symbols.

Layout (28 practice questions): Questions focus on site layout methods, how to set up and level surveying instruments (builder's levels, transits, laser levels), establishing right angles, and setting batter boards correctly.

Walls (57 practice questions): The largest topic area on both the real exam and our practice pool. Expect code-specific questions on stud sizing and spacing, braced wall panel construction, header spans, fastening schedules, and the exact limits for drilling and notching structural members.

Floors and Stairs (50 practice questions): You'll see span table questions requiring you to find allowable joist spans by species, grade, and spacing. Also expect questions on subfloor installation details, special framing conditions (openings, cantilevers, bearing walls), and stair component terminology.

Roofs (49 practice questions): Rafter sizing from span tables, ridge board and ridge beam distinctions, the role of collar ties and purlins, roof sheathing installation, and minimum slope requirements for different roofing materials.

OSHA Safety (44 practice questions): Fall protection system requirements (guardrail height, safety net specs, personal fall arrest), ladder safety rules, PPE obligations, and tool safety provisions — all drawn from 29 CFR Part 1926.

In total, we offer 279 practice questions across all six topics.

Required Study Materials

This is an open-book exam, which means these aren't just study materials — they're the references you'll bring into the test room.

International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (2021) — The IRC is the backbone of this exam. The Walls, Floors and Stairs, and Roofs sections all pull heavily from it. Get familiar with the chapter organization so you can flip to span tables and framing provisions quickly.

OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry — 29 CFR Part 1926 — Required for the OSHA Safety section. It's also a fast reference to tab and use on test day since the regulations are well-organized.

The approved reference list also includes the International Building Code (2021) and Carpentry and Building Construction (2010 or 2016 Student Edition) by Feirer and Feirer. Check the official exam bulletin for the complete approved list and any formatting rules before your exam date.

Important note on reference formatting: References must be clean — no handwritten notes, no loose papers inserted, and only permanent tabs. Post-It notes and other temporary tabs are not allowed.

Study Tips for PSI Alabama Contractor Prep

Tab your references strategically. For the IRC, permanent tabs at the framing chapters for walls, floors, roofs, and the span tables will save you minutes per question. Practice looking things up during your study sessions — not just reading.

Work through calculations by hand. Board feet, excavation volumes, stair rise-run ratios — these show up on the exam and require practiced mental math or careful use of a calculator. You may bring a silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator (no alphabetic keyboard, no paper tape).

Don't read into answer patterns. There's no hidden sequence in the answer key. If you've picked "A" four times in a row, the fifth answer can still be "A." Evaluate each question on its own merits and ignore the letter sequence.

Manage exam anxiety like a pro. A little nervousness is normal — acknowledge it rather than fight it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a tough question, pause, take a few slow breaths, and move on. The clock keeps running during any breaks, so use your time intentionally.

Practice in exam conditions. Our full practice exam mirrors the real PSI test — 60 questions, 180 minutes, same topic breakdown. Drilling in that exact format means no surprises when you sit for the real thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor exam?
The exam has 60 scored questions.

What is the passing score?
You need 70%, which means 42 correct answers out of 60.

How long do I have to complete the exam?
180 minutes — 3 hours.

How much does it cost?
$96 per registration, whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You can bring approved reference materials into the test center. See the approved list above and confirm details in the official exam bulletin.

What references are allowed?
The International Building Code (2021), the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (2021), Carpentry and Building Construction by Feirer and Feirer (2010 or 2016 Student Edition), and OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926. References must be otherwise unmarked, have no loose or attached papers, and use only permanent tabs.

Can I bring a calculator?
Yes — a silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator is allowed. It cannot have paper tape printing capabilities or an alphabetic keyboard.

How do I register?
First, apply for eligibility through the state licensing website. Once approved, you can register at the exam registration page — available online 24 hours a day — or by calling PSI at (855) 257-1619 (Monday–Friday 6:30 am–9:00 pm, Saturday–Sunday 8:00 am–4:30 pm Central Time).

How many times can I retake the exam?
Unlimited retakes within your 1-year eligibility period. If you don't pass within that window, you'll need to reapply with the state.

What ID do I need?
One valid, government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport) bearing both your signature and photograph. The name on your ID must match the name you used when scheduling.

Start Preparing for Your Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Exam Today

Passing this exam is a real, achievable goal — thousands of contractors have done it, and with the right preparation, you will too. Get your IRC and OSHA references tabbed, work through practice questions regularly, and build your confidence before test day.

Begin with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account required, and a solid way to get a feel for the question style. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam gives you 60 questions timed to 180 minutes, with a detailed score breakdown by topic so you know exactly where to focus. Your carpentry license is within reach — start today.