100+ Free CSLB HAZ Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CSLB HAZ Exam

37%

Hazardous Substance Mgmt

CSLB Study Guide

21%

Storage Tanks & Safety

CSLB Study Guide

$125

Cert. Application Fee

CSLB

811

Underground Service Alert

Dig Alert

3.5

Hours allowed

PSI Exams

The CSLB HAZ Hazardous Substance Removal examination is a closed-book, multiple-choice test administered by PSI. The certification application fee is $125. The exam covers planning and estimating, hazardous substance management, storage tanks, and safety.

Sample CSLB HAZ Practice Questions

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

1An excavation will yield 540 cubic yards of contaminated soil. The soil weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, and the permitted disposal facility charges $88 per ton. What is the estimated tipping cost?

A.$64,152

B.$47,520

C.$35,200

D.$72,900

Explanation: Disposal facilities bill by weight, not by volume, so the estimator converts first: 540 cu yd × 1.35 tons/cu yd = 729 tons. Tipping cost = 729 × $88 = $64,152. Getting the conversion wrong is the single most common way a hazardous-soil bid goes underwater, because tipping fees are usually the largest line item on the job.

2Under federal HAZWOPER, which standard covers general industry hazardous waste operations and emergency response?

A.29 CFR 1910.120

B.29 CFR 1926.65

C.29 CFR 1910.132

D.29 CFR 1926.50

Explanation: 29 CFR 1910.120 is the HAZWOPER standard for general industry. 1926.65 is the parallel HAZWOPER standard for construction, while 1910.132 covers general PPE requirements and 1926.50 covers medical services and first aid in construction.

3Which existing CSLB license classification makes a contractor eligible to apply for the Hazardous Substance Removal certification?

A.C-57 Well Drilling (Water)

B.C-53 Swimming Pool

C.C-33 Painting and Decorating

D.C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile

Explanation: The certification is an overlay on a limited set of classifications: A General Engineering, B General Building, C-12 Earthwork and Paving, C-21 Building Moving and Demolition, C-36 Plumbing, C-57 Well Drilling (Water), and existing holders of C-61/D-40 Service Station Equipment and Maintenance. A contractor outside that list cannot add the certification.

4Before excavating near underground utilities in California, which number must you call for Underground Service Alert?

A.811

B.911

C.511

D.311

Explanation: Call 811 (Dig Alert / Underground Service Alert) at least two working days before excavating, as required by California Government Code 4216 and Business and Professions Code 7110. This protects workers from striking buried utilities.

5An excavation measures 30 ft long, 20 ft wide, and 5 ft deep. How many cubic yards of soil will be removed?

A.111.1 cubic yards

B.3,000 cubic yards

C.100.0 cubic yards

D.222.2 cubic yards

Explanation: Volume = 30 x 20 x 5 = 3,000 cubic feet. Convert to cubic yards by dividing by 27: 3,000 / 27 = 111.1 cubic yards. The distractor 3,000 omits the conversion, and 222.2 incorrectly divides by 13.5.

6In California, which agency regulates underground storage tanks (USTs) under Title 23 CCR Chapter 16?

A.State Water Resources Control Board

B.Cal/OSHA

C.U.S. EPA only

D.California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Explanation: The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) administers the UST program in California under Title 23 CCR Chapter 16. EPA sets the federal floor, but California implementation runs through SWRCB and local agencies.

7Which reference manual provides guidance for cleanup of leaking underground fuel tanks in California?

A.LUFT Guidance Manual

B.RCRA Orientation Manual

C.HAZWOPER Standard

D.Title 8 CCR

Explanation: The LUFT (Leaking Underground Fuel Tank) Guidance Manual, published by the State Water Resources Control Board, guides cleanup of leaking underground fuel tanks. The RCRA Orientation Manual is an EPA publication for hazardous waste management under RCRA.

8To read and interpret laboratory analysis reports for hazardous substance sites, a contractor needs which of the following?

A.Basic knowledge of chemistry and the measurements used

B.A graduate degree in chemistry

C.A certified chemist permanently on staff

D.A Cal/OSHA chemistry certification

Explanation: Reading a site characterization report means recognizing analytes, understanding units such as mg/kg and ug/L, and comparing results to screening levels, which takes basic chemistry literacy rather than a formal credential. A contractor who cannot follow the units will misjudge which soil is a waste and which is clean.

9The RCRA Orientation Manual is published by which organization?

A.U.S. EPA

B.OSHA

C.CSLB

D.U.S. Department of Energy

Explanation: The RCRA Orientation Manual is an EPA publication that orients readers to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste program. OSHA, CSLB, and DOE are not the publishers of this manual.

10In planning a hazardous substance project, which document primarily identifies the hazardous substances present at a site?

A.Site characterization / site assessment report

B.Bid proposal

C.Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest

D.Project schedule

Explanation: The site characterization or site assessment report identifies hazardous substances present, their concentrations, and their distribution. A manifest tracks waste shipments, not site contents, and a bid proposal and schedule are planning rather than characterization documents.

About the CSLB HAZ Exam

The HAZ Hazardous Substance Removal exam assesses the knowledge required to plan, manage, remove, contain, and dispose of hazardous substances, including underground storage tank work, as a California hazardous-substance-certified contractor.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

3.5 hours

Passing Score

Disclosed at test site

Exam Fee

$125 certification application fee (California Contractors State License Board (CSLB))

CSLB HAZ Exam Content Outline

21%

Planning and Estimating

Planning hazardous substance projects, estimating hazardous substance projects, and regulatory agencies and their requirements.

37%

Hazardous Substance Management

Identifying hazardous substances; securing and controlling site access; selecting tools and equipment; removing hazardous substances; containing migration; installing and operating remediation systems; and determining, preparing, and disposing of waste.

21%

Storage Tanks

Installing and upgrading storage tanks, excavating for underground storage tanks, removing and disposing of storage tanks, and closing/abandoning storage tanks.

21%

Safety

Job site safety, personnel safety, excavation and trenching, permissible exposure limits, and selecting and using PPE per Cal/OSHA Title 8 and HAZWOPER.

How to Pass the CSLB HAZ Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Disclosed at test site
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: 3.5 hours
Exam fee: $125 certification application fee

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

CSLB HAZ Study Tips from Top Performers

1Review 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65 (HAZWOPER) and RCRA waste-handling orientation material.

2Study Title 23 California Code of Regulations Chapter 16 and the LUFT Guidance Manual for underground storage tank work.

3Practice volume calculations for cylindrical holes/tanks (pi x radius squared x depth) used in material and disposal estimates.

4Know rigging principles for lifting tanks: keep lifting lines as vertical as possible to minimize horizontal force on lifting eyes.

5Familiarize yourself with Underground Service Alert (811 / Dig Alert) requirements and Cal/OSHA excavation and trenching safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these practice questions the real CSLB HAZ exam questions?

No. These are independently written study questions built from the topic areas and weights in CSLB's official Hazardous Substance Removal study guide. They are a study aid for the knowledge the exam covers and do not reproduce CSLB's item bank, replace the eligible license classification the certification requires, or substitute for the official examination.

What is the format of the HAZ exam?

The exam is a closed-book, multiple-choice test administered by PSI, taking up to 3.5 hours. A calculator is provided and some questions require computation.

How much is the certification application fee?

The CSLB Hazardous Substance Removal Certification application fee is $125, with exam scheduling fees paid separately to PSI.

Are code books allowed in the exam?

No, it is a closed-book examination. No outside reference materials or code books are permitted.

Is the exam offered in Spanish?

CSLB publishes a Spanish-language study guide for this classification, but the examination itself is administered in English only. Spanish exam versions are available for only 10 commonly taken classifications; for other exams CSLB may approve a translator to read the exam to you.

100+ Free CSLB HAZ Practice Questions

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