100+ Free GA Residential Light Commercial Practice Questions

Prepare for the Residential - Light Commercial Contractor Exam (Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Key Facts: GA Residential Light Commercial Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI Bulletin

Exam Questions

PSI Bulletin

230 min

Exam Time

PSI Bulletin

$72

PSI Exam Fee

PSI Bulletin

Open Book

Reference Policy

PSI Bulletin

Georgia's 90-question, 230-minute open-book Residential - Light Commercial Contractor Exam is the superset of the Basic trade paper: it adds a Metals area and more Roofing and General Code items, and references the 2018 IBC alongside the 2018 IRC, the Georgia Accessibility Code, and steel-joist/steel-deck manuals. The same exam serves both Individual and Qualifying Agent registration. Candidates must also pass the Georgia Business & Law Exam.

Sample GA Residential Light Commercial Practice Questions

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

1Structural fill placed under a light commercial slab must be compacted to 95 percent of its maximum dry density. Which laboratory test establishes that maximum dry density?

A.Standard Proctor compaction test (ASTM D698)

B.Concrete slump test (ASTM C143)

C.Atterberg limits test (ASTM D4318)

D.Sieve analysis for particle size (ASTM D6913)

Explanation: The Proctor compaction test establishes a soil's maximum dry density and the optimum moisture content that achieves it, which is the reference value a field density test is reported against. A specification calling for 95 percent compaction means 95 percent of that laboratory maximum, so the fill has no meaningful acceptance criterion until a Proctor has been run on that specific soil.

2A load-bearing wall carries 3,000 pounds per linear foot on undisturbed clay soil with a presumptive load-bearing value of 1,500 psf. What is the minimum required footing width to safely distribute the load?

A.24 inches

B.12 inches

C.18 inches

D.36 inches

Explanation: Footing width equals wall load divided by soil bearing capacity: 3,000 lb/ft divided by 1,500 psf equals 2.0 ft, which is 24 inches. The IRC presumptive load-bearing value for clay is 1,500 psf, so the footing must be at least 24 inches wide to distribute the wall load without exceeding the soil capacity.

3Georgia's state minimum standard residential code, based on the 2018 IRC with state amendments, establishes what minimum foundation depth since the state has no defined frost line?

A.12 inches

B.6 inches

C.18 inches

D.30 inches

Explanation: Georgia has no statewide frost depth defined. The 2018 IRC with Georgia Amendments, Section R403.1.4, sets a minimum foundation depth of 12 inches below undisturbed ground surface. Local jurisdictions may require greater depths based on local conditions, but 12 inches is the statewide baseline.

4According to the 2018 IRC presumptive load-bearing values, which soil type has the lowest capacity for supporting foundation loads?

A.Clay, sandy clay, silty clay, clayey silt at 1,500 psf

B.Sand, silty sand, clayey sand at 2,000 psf

C.Sandy gravel or gravel at 3,000 psf

D.Sedimentary rock at 4,000 psf

Explanation: IRC Table R401.4.1 assigns the lowest presumptive load-bearing value to clay, sandy clay, silty clay, and clayey silt at 1,500 psf. Gravels rate 3,000 psf, sands 2,000 psf, and sedimentary rock 4,000 psf. Footings on clay must be wider than those on gravel for the same wall load.

5Per the 2018 IRC, what is the minimum thickness for a spread footing?

A.6 inches

B.4 inches

C.8 inches

D.12 inches

Explanation: IRC Section R403.1.1 requires spread footings to have a minimum thickness of 6 inches. This ensures the footing has adequate depth to develop the necessary bending strength and shear resistance to distribute the wall load to the soil without cracking or failing.

6Per the 2018 IRC, a wood sill plate on a concrete foundation must be anchored with 1/2-inch-diameter anchor bolts. What is the minimum embedment into the concrete and the maximum bolt spacing?

A.7 inches embedment, 6 feet on center

B.4 inches embedment, 4 feet on center

C.7 inches embedment, 8 feet on center

D.10 inches embedment, 6 feet on center

Explanation: IRC Section R403.1.6 requires anchor bolts of not less than 1/2 inch diameter, embedded not less than 7 inches into concrete or grouted masonry, at a spacing of not more than 6 feet on center. Each plate section needs at least two bolts, with one located not more than 12 inches and not less than seven bolt diameters from each end of the section, and a nut and washer tightened on every bolt.

7The 2018 IRC permits the bottom of a footing to have a slope not exceeding what maximum ratio?

A.10 percent

B.5 percent

C.2 percent

D.15 percent

Explanation: IRC Section R403.1.5 requires the top surface of a footing to be level and permits the bottom surface to slope not more than one unit vertical in 10 units horizontal, a 10-percent slope. Where the grade falls faster than that, the footing must be stepped rather than run out on a steeper slope, so that each bearing surface stays level.

8What is the primary purpose of a foundation drainage system installed around the perimeter of a basement or crawlspace wall?

A.To collect and redirect subsurface water away from the foundation

B.To provide a pathway for utility conduits

C.To ventilate the crawlspace

D.To prevent frost heave under the footing

Explanation: Foundation drainage systems, typically consisting of perforated pipe and coarse aggregate, collect subsurface water that accumulates around the foundation and redirect it away from the footing. This prevents hydrostatic pressure buildup and water infiltration into basements and crawlspaces, protecting both the structure and interior spaces.

9A contractor discovers that the existing soil at a building site has been filled within the last two years. According to the 2018 IRC, what must be done before placing footings on this soil?

A.The fill must be tested, compacted, and certified by a registered design professional

B.Nothing special is required if the fill has been in place more than one year

C.The fill must be removed and replaced with concrete

D.Footings must extend to a depth of 48 inches regardless of frost line

Explanation: IRC Section R401.4 requires that where existing soil conditions do not meet presumptive load-bearing values, or where fill has been placed, the soil must be tested, compacted, and certified by a registered design professional before footings are placed. Recent fill is not considered undisturbed soil and may not provide adequate bearing capacity without proper compaction and verification.

10When concrete is placed directly against earth without formwork, what minimum concrete cover must be provided over reinforcing bars according to ACI 318?

A.3 inches

B.1.5 inches

C.2 inches

D.1 inch

Explanation: ACI 318 requires a minimum of 3 inches of concrete cover for reinforcement in concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth. This increased cover accounts for the irregular surface of earth-formed concrete and provides greater protection against corrosion and groundwater exposure.

About the GA Residential Light Commercial Exam

The Georgia Residential - Light Commercial Contractor Exam is the trade examination required for licensure as a Residential - Light Commercial Contractor (Individual or Qualifying Agent). It is a 90-question, 230-minute, open-book, four-option multiple-choice exam administered by PSI. The same exam and fee apply to both the Individual and the Qualifying Agent registration. The licence scope is everything a Residential - Basic Contractor may do plus multifamily and multiuse light commercial buildings and their accessory buildings. Content covers sitework and foundations, concrete and reinforcement, metals, masonry, carpentry, roofing, general code and construction knowledge, associated trades, and OSHA safety.

Questions

90 scored questions

Time Limit

230 minutes

Passing Score

70% (63 correct)

Exam Fee

$72 (PSI Services LLC for the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors)

GA Residential Light Commercial Exam Content Outline

Sitework, Footings and Foundation

Site layout, excavation, and footing/foundation construction for residential and light commercial buildings

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement

Concrete placement, reinforcement, formwork, and quality concrete construction

Metals

Steel joists, steel deck, and light-gauge metal framing erection and handling

Masonry

Brick, block, and stone masonry for residential and light commercial construction

18%

Carpentry

Floor, wall, and roof framing; wood trusses (BCSI); stairs; finish carpentry

11%

Roofing

Roof framing, sheathing, coverings, flashing, and ventilation for light commercial scope

21%

General Code and Construction Knowledge

IBC 2018 and IRC 2018, IECC 2015, Georgia Accessibility Code, and Georgia State Amendments

11%

Associated Trades

Pipe and excavation, gypsum, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC coordination

OSHA Safety

29 CFR 1926 jobsite safety, fall protection, PPE, and hazard communication

How to Pass the GA Residential Light Commercial Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% (63 correct)
Exam length: 90 questions
Time limit: 230 minutes
Exam fee: $72

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

GA Residential Light Commercial Study Tips from Top Performers

1Tab the 2018 IBC by occupancy, construction type, and height/area tables; the IBC is unique to this exam versus the Basic paper.

2Use the Georgia Accessibility Code for distinguishing items — it is a reference only on this blueprint.

3Learn steel joist and steel deck basics from the SJI Technical Digest No. 9 and the SDI Manual for the Metals area.

4Practice concrete yardage, steel joist spacing, gypsum board takeoff, and roof square calculations with your approved calculator.

5Remember the edition pins: IBC 2018 and IRC 2018, IECC 2015, plus Georgia Accessibility Code and Georgia State Amendments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Georgia Residential - Light Commercial Contractor Exam?

The exam has 90 questions, and you must score at least 70% (63 correct) to pass. You have 230 minutes, and the PSI exam fee is $72.

How does the Light Commercial exam differ from the Residential - Basic exam?

The Light Commercial exam is longer (90 vs 80 questions, 230 vs 200 minutes) and uses a different content distribution: it adds a Metals area, has more Masonry, Roofing, and General Code items, and references the 2018 IBC and the Georgia Accessibility Code in addition to the 2018 IRC.

Which code editions does the Light Commercial exam use?

Code questions are based only on the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code, the 2015 IECC, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the Georgia Accessibility Code, and the Georgia State Amendments. Do not study the IBC/IRC 2021/2024 or IECC 2018/2021 for this exam.

What is the licence scope for a Residential - Light Commercial Contractor?

It covers everything a Residential - Basic Contractor may do, plus multifamily and multiuse light commercial buildings and their accessory buildings. Under O.C.G.A. 43-41-2(11) these are generally less than four stories and less than 25,000 square feet of aggregate interior floor space, or preengineered steel buildings not exceeding 50,000 square feet.

Do Individual and Qualifying Agent candidates take different exams?

No. The same $72 Residential - Light Commercial Contractor Exam applies to both the Individual and the Qualifying Agent registration — one exam identity.