1.3 How to Use This Guide & Study Plan

How to Use This Guide

This study guide is organized to mirror the Arizona general contractor exam content outlines and the AZ ROC licensing path. Each chapter focuses on a domain you will encounter on the SRE, the PSI trade exam, or both. Use this guide alongside the official references — not as a replacement for them.

Recommended Study Time: 60–120 Hours

Total preparation time varies with your experience, but most candidates need 60–120 hours of focused study. If you have the full 4 years of trade experience but limited recent code exposure, lean toward the upper end. If you are already fluent in the 2018 IRC or IBC from daily work, the lower end may suffice.

Four-Phase Study Plan

Phase 1 — Foundations (15–25 hours)

Read this guide sequentially. Chapter 1 gives you the exam structure and licensing path. Later chapters cover the trade content outline domains (Sitework, Concrete, Masonry, Carpentry, Safety, etc.) and the Arizona-specific law and rules tested on the SRE.

For the SRE, read A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 10 and AAC Title 4, Chapter 9 directly. The SRE is open-book, but you will run out of time if you have to hunt for every answer. Build a mental map of where key sections live: licensing requirements, qualifying party rules, the $1,000 threshold, disciplinary actions, and the Recovery Fund.

Phase 2 — References (20–40 hours)

Your open-book references are only useful if you can navigate them under time pressure. Most candidates underestimate this step.

Allowed references for the PSI trade exam:

• 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA Safety) — all classifications
• 2018 IRC — residential B (and shared B/B-3/CR-61 exam)
• 2018 IBC — commercial B-1/B-2 (and shared B-1/B-2/KB-1/KB-2 exam)

Reference preparation rules (enforced by PSI):

• Permanent tabs only — adhesive or stamped tabs that stay in the book
• No removable post-its or sticky notes — they are not permanent and will be confiscated
• Highlighting and underlining allowed — use color consistently (e.g., yellow for definitions, pink for numeric thresholds)
• No writing during the exam — any notes must be added before exam day
• Downloaded references must be bound — print and spiral-bind or staple them; loose pages are not allowed

Tab the high-traffic sections first:

• OSHA 1926.501 (Fall protection at 6 feet), scaffolding (1926.451), ladders (1926.1051–1053), excavation (1926.650–652)
• IRC — foundations, wall framing, roof assemblies, egress, habitable room dimensions
• IBC — occupancy classifications, construction types, exit distances, fire-rated assemblies

Phase 3 — Practice (15–35 hours)

Use the practice question bank to diagnose weak domains, not to memorize specific questions. The real exam items will differ in wording; what transfers is the underlying concept and your ability to find it in the references.

A productive practice loop:

1. Take a 20-question set from one content-outline domain (e.g., Sitework or Concrete)
2. Review every missed question and re-read the corresponding reference section
3. Add or refine a tab for that section so you can find it faster next time
4. Re-test on the same domain after 24 hours to confirm retention

Track which domains you miss most often. If Safety (6 items on the B outline) is consistently weak, spend a focused session on 29 CFR 1926 subparts rather than re-reading Carpentry.

Phase 4 — Final Review (10–20 hours)

In the last 1–2 weeks:

• Take at least one timed, full-length practice run (100 questions in 240 minutes) to confirm pacing
• Re-read your weak-domain list from Phase 3
• Verify your reference tabbing — every tab should still be in place and legible
• Confirm exam logistics — SRE completion on GMetrix, PSI appointment confirmation, valid photo ID, and that your references match the allowed list for your classification

Test-Day Strategy

Time Management on the PSI Trade Exam

You have 240 minutes for ~100 scored items — roughly 1.4 minutes per question. That is enough time to look up a reference for most items, but only if your tabs are good.

• First pass: Answer items you know immediately or can find in under 30 seconds. Flag anything that needs a longer lookup.
• Second pass: Return to flagged items with the full remaining time budget. Look up the reference, answer, and move on.
• Pacing check: At the 120-minute mark, you should be past question 50. At 180 minutes, past question 75.
• No blank answers: There is no penalty for guessing. Never leave an item blank — a flagged guess is better than no answer.

SRE Strategy

The SRE is self-paced and open-book, but the 50-item count and 70% passing score still require preparation. Tab A.R.S. Title 32 Ch 10 and AAC Title 4 Ch 9 just as carefully as your trade references. Know where the $1,000 threshold, the 4-year experience rule, the qualifying party definition, the 30-day retake wait, and the Recovery Fund provisions live.

Reference Checklist for Exam Day

• 29 CFR Part 1926 — printed and bound, permanently tabbed
• 2018 IRC (or 2018 IBC for commercial) — permanently tabbed, highlighted
• No removable post-its; no loose pages
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• PSI confirmation email with appointment details