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100+ Free MS Lath and Plaster Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Lath and Plaster Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

45 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

2 hours

Time Allowed

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

$120

PSI Exam Fee

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

Open book

Exam Format

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

MS Lath and Plaster PSI trade exam: 45 questions, 70% pass, 2 hours, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Lath and Plaster Practice Questions

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

1Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451, when must employees working on a scaffold be protected from falling to a lower level?
A.When the platform is more than 10 feet above a lower level
B.When the platform is more than 4 feet above a lower level
C.When the platform is more than 6 feet above a lower level
D.Only when the scaffold is used for exterior plastering
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(g)(1) requires fall protection for each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level. That 10-foot trigger is specific to Subpart L scaffolds and is different from the 6-foot construction walking-working-surface rule in Subpart M. Plastering and lathing crews commonly work on supported scaffolds, so the 10-foot scaffold rule is the one that governs those platforms.
2A plastering crew is working from a supported scaffold. What is the maximum allowed distance from the front edge of the platform to the face of the wall for plastering and lathing operations?
A.18 inches
B.14 inches
C.3 inches
D.24 inches
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(b)(3) generally limits the gap between a scaffold platform and the work face to 14 inches unless front-edge fall protection is provided. Paragraph (b)(3)(ii) creates a specific exception for plastering and lathing: the maximum distance from the face is 18 inches so the plasterer can work the wall with a hawk and trowel. Outrigger scaffolds are limited to 3 inches, which is a different exception.
3What is the minimum load capacity OSHA requires for a supported scaffold and its components used by a plastering crew?
A.Its own weight plus 2 times the maximum intended load
B.Its own weight plus 3 times the maximum intended load
C.Its own weight plus at least 4 times the maximum intended load
D.The weight of workers only, with no material factor
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(a)(1) requires each scaffold and scaffold component to support, without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it. Plaster tubs, bags of cement, sand, and lath add substantial intended load, so the 4-to-1 capacity must include workers and materials. Overloading a light-duty frame with stacked plaster materials is a common jobsite failure.
4Who must inspect a plastering scaffold for visible defects, and when?
A.A competent person, before each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity
B.Any journeyman plasterer, once a week
C.The project owner, only after the scaffold is fully loaded with plaster materials
D.A registered professional engineer, after every rain event only
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(f)(3) requires a competent person to inspect scaffolds and components for visible defects before each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity. A competent person is able to recognize hazards and has authority to correct them. Weekly checks or owner-only inspections do not meet the standard.
5Except for listed specialty scaffolds, what is the minimum width of a scaffold platform or walkway used for plastering?
A.12 inches
B.14 inches
C.16 inches
D.18 inches
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(b)(2) requires each scaffold platform and walkway to be at least 18 inches wide, except for certain specialty scaffolds such as ladder-jack, pump-jack, and roof-bracket scaffolds. A plasterer’s platform also has to be fully planked, with gaps between units generally not more than 1 inch. Narrow, partially planked runs are a frequent citation on finish-trade jobs.
6For a supported scaffold manufactured or placed in service after January 1, 2000, what is the required toprail height above the platform?
A.Between 38 inches and 45 inches
B.Between 36 inches and 42 inches
C.Exactly 42 inches with no tolerance
D.Between 30 inches and 36 inches
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(g)(4)(ii) requires the top edge of toprails on supported scaffolds manufactured or placed in service after January 1, 2000 to be between 38 inches and 45 inches above the platform. Older supported scaffolds and some suspended scaffolds may use 36 to 45 inches. Midrails are installed approximately midway between the toprail and the platform.
7A frame scaffold used for exterior stucco is 20 feet tall and 4 feet wide at the base, with no outriggers. What does OSHA require?
A.No ties are required because the scaffold is less than 30 feet tall
B.Guys, ties, braces, or equivalent restraint because the height-to-base ratio exceeds 4:1
C.Only a midrail is required; ties are never used on frame scaffolds
D.The scaffold must be limited to light-duty plaster loads only
Explanation: OSHA 1926.451(c)(1) requires supported scaffolds with a height-to-base-width ratio greater than 4:1 to be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, bracing, or equivalent means. A 20-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide tower is 5:1, so ties are required. Ties are installed at the 4:1 height and repeated vertically at the intervals in 1926.451(c)(1)(ii).
8A crew is dry-mixing portland cement plaster and sand on a residential stucco job. What is the primary OSHA health control for this task?
A.No special control is required if the mixer is outdoors
B.Hearing protection only, because silica is not present in plaster sand
C.Wet methods and the respiratory protection specified by 29 CFR 1926.1153 Table 1, unless a documented exposure assessment shows otherwise
D.A paper dust mask worn only while dumping the first bag
Explanation: Portland cement and many plaster sands contain respirable crystalline silica. OSHA 1926.1153 requires employers either to follow Table 1 specified controls for the task or to assess and limit exposure under paragraph (d). For mixing, that typically means wet methods plus the respirator Table 1 assigns for the duration of the task. Working outdoors does not by itself satisfy the silica standard.
9A plastering platform is 4 feet above the ground. Which access method is acceptable under OSHA 1926.451?
A.Climbing the scaffold crossbraces
B.Stepping from a nearby stack of plaster bags
C.A portable ladder, hook-on ladder, stair tower, or other listed access device
D.Jumping from a pickup tailgate onto the platform
Explanation: When a scaffold platform is more than 2 feet above or below the point of access, OSHA 1926.451(e)(1) requires a portable ladder, hook-on or attachable ladder, stair tower, ramp, walkway, integral prefabricated access, or direct access from another safe surface. The same paragraph expressly prohibits using crossbraces as a means of access. A 4-foot platform therefore needs a listed access method.
10A plasterer proposes a three-tier horse scaffold 12 feet high for an interior gypsum-plaster ceiling. What is the OSHA limit for horse scaffolds?
A.Horse scaffolds may be any height if each horse is nailed down
B.Horse scaffolds are limited to 6 feet and a single tier only
C.Horse scaffolds may be three tiers if used only for plastering
D.Horse scaffolds shall not be constructed or arranged more than two tiers or 10 feet in height, whichever is less
Explanation: OSHA 1926.452(f)(1) limits horse scaffolds to two tiers or 10 feet in height, whichever is less. A 12-foot, three-tier arrangement exceeds both limits. If horses are stacked, each horse must sit directly over the one below, legs must be secured, and each tier must be crossbraced. Taller interior plaster work requires a different scaffold type designed for that height.

About the MS Lath and Plaster Exam

Mississippi Lathing, Plastering and Stucco Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The official open-book exam has 45 questions, a 70% passing standard, and 2 hours allowed. PSI examination fee is $120 per portion (bulletin updated 4/23/2026). This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid for the official content outline; it is not an official PSI form, does not replace the required Law and Business Management exam, and is not a substitute for MSBOC application review or the official open-book examination.

Questions

45 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$120 (PSI Services LLC (for Mississippi State Board of Contractors))

MS Lath and Plaster Exam Content Outline

11%

Safety

Plastering and scaffolding safety

22%

Surface Preparation and Setup

Substrate preparation

11%

Drywall

Drywall associated with plaster work

11%

Stucco

Stucco and EIFS

18%

Application and Installation

Plaster application

16%

Base and Finish Coats

Base and finish coats

11%

Plaster and Lathe

Lath and plaster systems

How to Pass the MS Lath and Plaster Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 45 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam fee: $120

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

MS Lath and Plaster Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study only the approved references listed for this classification in the current PSI Mississippi Contractor bulletin (updated 4/23/2026)
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
4Confirm MSBOC classification scope and eligibility at msboc.us before scheduling with PSI
5All applicants must also pass Law and Business Management unless it is waived

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the MS Lath and Plaster exam?

The official PSI examination has 45 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 2 hours.

How much does the MS Lath and Plaster exam cost?

PSI lists $120 per examination portion (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 4/23/2026). MSBOC application fees are separate: $400 commercial or $50 residential. Additional classifications are $100 each.

Is the Mississippi contractor exam open book?

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

Do I still need the Law and Business Management exam?

Yes. MSBOC requires the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam (50 questions, 70%, 2 hours) of all applicants. Reciprocity may waive a trade exam in some cases but does not waive Law and Business.