PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

100+ Free AL Foundations Pilings Practice Questions

Prepare for the Alabama Foundations, Pilings and Cofferdams with Retaining Walls Contractor Examination exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Alabama General Contractors Specialty Classifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Alabama Building Contractor Under Four Stories Examination

Practice Questions

Alabama Carpentry and Framing Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Alabama Commercial Swimming Pool Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Alabama Concrete Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Alabama Concrete Pavement Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Alabama Conveying Contractor Examination

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AL Foundations Pilings Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI AL GC Bulletin

50 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI AL GC Bulletin

2 hr 10 min

Time Allowed

PSI AL GC Bulletin

$96

PSI Exam Fee

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Open book

Exam Format

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Alabama AL Foundations Pilings trade exam via PSI: 50 questions, 70% pass, 2 hr 10 min, fee $96. Open-book specialty classification under the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (bulletin 1/23/26).

Sample AL Foundations Pilings Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AL Foundations Pilings exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under OSHA excavation rules commonly tested for foundation work, a protective system is generally required when an excavation is how deep or greater, unless entirely in stable rock?
A.2 feet
B.3 feet
C.5 feet
D.8 feet
Explanation: OSHA requires a protective system (sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding) for excavations 5 feet or deeper unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. Shallower cuts can still need protection if a competent person finds a cave-in hazard.
2How far must excavated spoil and other materials generally be kept from the edge of an excavation to reduce surcharge loading?
A.At least 6 inches
B.At least 2 feet
C.At least 10 feet
D.No setback is required if the soil is Type A
Explanation: Spoil, equipment, and materials should be kept at least 2 feet from the edge of an excavation so their weight does not load the bank and promote collapse. Greater setbacks may be needed for heavy equipment or unstable ground.
3For simple sloping of Type C soil in excavations 20 feet or less deep, what is the maximum allowable slope (horizontal:vertical)?
A.3/4:1
B.1:1
C.1-1/2:1
D.Vertical (90°) banks
Explanation: OSHA classifies Type C as the least stable common soil group for sloping tables. Maximum allowable simple slope for Type C is 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical (about 34° from horizontal) for excavations 20 feet deep or less.
4Who is responsible for classifying soil and inspecting excavations for cave-in hazards on a construction site?
A.Any laborer who has watched a safety video
B.A competent person designated by the employer
C.Only a licensed professional engineer on every cut under 5 feet
D.The utility locate technician
Explanation: OSHA requires a competent person—someone capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take corrective action—to classify soil, select protective systems, and inspect excavations. Daily inspections and re-checks after rain or other events are expected.
5In a trench 4 feet or deeper, OSHA generally requires a means of egress (such as a ladder) so that workers need not travel more than how far laterally to reach it?
A.10 feet
B.15 feet
C.25 feet
D.50 feet
Explanation: For trenches 4 feet or more in depth, OSHA requires a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress so that no employee has to travel more than 25 feet laterally to exit. Ladders must extend above the landing surface as required.
6Which soil classification is generally the most stable among OSHA Types A, B, and C for sloping purposes?
A.Type A
B.Type B
C.Type C
D.Type D
Explanation: Type A soils are cohesive soils with higher unconfined compressive strength and allow the steepest tabulated simple slopes (3/4:1). Type B is intermediate, and Type C is least stable for sloping tables. There is no Type D in the OSHA soil classification system used for excavations.
7What is the primary purpose of compacting fill under footings and slabs?
A.To increase soil organic content
B.To reduce settlement and increase bearing capacity by densifying the soil
C.To permanently lower the water table below sea level
D.To eliminate the need for any foundation reinforcement
Explanation: Compaction densifies soil particles, increasing strength and stiffness and reducing future settlement under loads. Proper moisture control and lift thickness are essential to reach specified density (often verified by nuclear density or Proctor-related tests).
8A Standard Proctor or Modified Proctor test is used primarily to determine which property of soil?
A.The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content for compaction
B.The exact pH of groundwater only
C.The color of paint for utility marking
D.The tensile strength of reinforcing steel
Explanation: Proctor tests establish the relationship between moisture content and dry density for a soil under a standard compactive effort. Field density is then compared to the laboratory maximum dry density to compute relative compaction percentage.
9When excavating for a footing, what is the usual reason to avoid leaving soft, disturbed, or frozen soil in the bottom of the excavation?
A.It improves form release
B.It can cause excessive settlement or reduced bearing capacity under the foundation
C.It automatically increases concrete compressive strength
D.It is required only for decorative landscaping walls
Explanation: Footings must bear on firm, undisturbed, or properly compacted material at design elevation. Soft, loose, or frozen soil compresses under load, causing settlement, cracking, or structural distress. Specifications often require undercutting and replacement with approved fill.
10Benching is generally NOT an allowed protective method in which OSHA soil type when used alone as the protective system?
A.Type A only when short-term
B.Type B in all cases without exception
C.Type C soil
D.Stable rock only
Explanation: OSHA sloping/benching tables do not allow benching configurations in Type C soil. Type C requires sloping at 1-1/2:1 or use of shoring/shielding. Benching is permitted in Type A and Type B under the tabulated conditions.

About the AL Foundations Pilings Exam

The Alabama Foundations, Pilings and Cofferdams with Retaining Walls Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. The official open-book exam has 50 questions, a 70% (35 of 50 correct) passing standard, and 130 minutes allowed. PSI examination fee is $96 per attempt (bulletin updated 1/23/26). This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid for the trade knowledge on the official content outline; it is not an official PSI form, does not replace the required Business & Law exam for primes, and is not a substitute for board-approved experience or the official open-book examination.

Questions

50 scored questions

Time Limit

130 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$96 (PSI Services LLC (for Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors))

AL Foundations Pilings Exam Content Outline

16%

Excavation and Grading

Excavation and grading

12%

Erosion and Sedimentation Control

Erosion control on foundation sites

12%

Concrete

Foundation concrete

12%

Pre-Cast Pre-Stressed Concrete Erecting

Precast foundation elements

10%

Metals including Concrete Reinforcement

Reinforcement and metals

8%

Piles

Piling systems

8%

Heavy Equipment / Safety

Equipment and safety

8%

Tunneling

Related tunneling work

8%

Concrete Formwork

Foundation formwork

6%

One Call

Alabama 1Call

How to Pass the AL Foundations Pilings Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 50 questions
  • Time limit: 130 minutes
  • Exam fee: $96

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AL Foundations Pilings Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study only the approved references listed for your classification in the current PSI Alabama General Contractors bulletin
2Practice open-book navigation with permanent tabs and indexes before test day
3Drill OSHA 29 CFR 1926 topics that appear across nearly every trade outline
4Work quantity takeoff and plan-reading problems under timed conditions
5Confirm Board eligibility and classification scope on genconbd.alabama.gov before scheduling with PSI

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AL Foundations Pilings exam?

The official PSI trade examination has 50 scored questions (plus possible experimental items). Passing is 70% (35 of 50 correct) within 130 minutes.

How much does the AL Foundations Pilings exam cost?

PSI lists $96 per examination registration for this Alabama general contractor classification exam (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 1/23/26). License application fees to the Board are separate.

Is the Alabama specialty contractor exam open book?

Yes. PSI administers these classification exams as open book. Only the bulletin-listed approved references are allowed; temporary tabs like Post-it notes are prohibited.

Do I still need the Business and Law exam?

Prime contractor applicants must also pass the Alabama Business & Law examination (50 questions, 70%, 120 minutes). Reciprocity may waive a trade exam in some cases but does not waive Business & Law.