Alaska Contractor (Residential Endorsement) Exam — All Questions
6 questions
What are the format and passing standard of the Residential Contractor Endorsement exam?
- a.25 questions, 30 minutes, 60% to pass
- b.50 questions, 90 minutes, 75% to pass
- c.200 questions, 300 minutes, 80% to pass
- d.100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% (70 correct) to pass✓
Per the official PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, the exam has 100 questions, allows 240 minutes, and requires 70% (70 correct) to pass. It is an open-reference exam, so navigating the approved books quickly is part of preparing.Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin)
Which best describes the reference policy for the residential endorsement exam?
- a.Open-reference — candidates may bring approved code books and references into the test center✓
- b.Fully closed-book — no materials of any kind
- c.Candidates may use any personal notes and the internet
- d.Only a dictionary is allowed
The exam is open-reference: approved code books and references (such as the IRC, American Wood Council standards, OSHA construction standards, and 'Northern Comfort') may be brought in, but they may not be written in, and unapproved materials are barred. A silent, non-programmable calculator is allowed.Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination (open-reference policy)
Which content area carries heavy weight on the endorsement exam because of Alaska's climate?
- a.Swimming-pool plumbing
- b.Elevator maintenance
- c.Thermal and moisture protection using advanced cold-climate techniques✓
- d.Highway asphalt paving
Thermal and moisture protection — especially advanced cold-climate techniques — is one of the most heavily weighted areas, reflecting the real Alaska risks of heat loss, condensation, and moisture damage in extreme cold. Sitework/foundations and carpentry/framing are also major areas.Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination — content outline (PSI)
Which reference is most directly tied to the exam's cold-climate content?
- a.A homeowner's kitchen-appliance manual
- b.'Northern Comfort: Advanced Cold Climate Home Building Techniques' (Alaska Craftsman Home Program)✓
- c.A national road-construction handbook
- d.A marine-vessel maintenance guide
'Northern Comfort: Advanced Cold Climate Home Building Techniques,' published by the Alaska Craftsman Home Program, is a core reference for the exam's arctic building-science content. Studying it alongside AS 08.18 targets both the cold-climate and licensing portions of the test.Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination — reference list (PSI)
In addition to arctic building science, the endorsement exam also tests:
- a.Only Alaska tax law
- b.Only marketing and sales
- c.Only real estate appraisal
- d.OSHA construction safety (29 CFR 1926) and Alaska residential-endorsement regulations✓
Beyond arctic structural and thermal content, the exam includes general code and life/fire safety, equipment and tools, OSHA construction safety (29 CFR 1926), and the Alaska regulations for the residential endorsement — so candidates must know safety and the licensing rules, not just building technique.Residential Contractor Endorsement Examination — content outline (OSHA)
Can the mandatory 16-hour cold-climate course be waived for a contractor with decades of experience?
- a.No — the 16-hour course requirement cannot be waived based on experience✓
- b.Yes — 10+ years of experience automatically waives it
- c.Yes — any licensed engineer is exempt
- d.Yes — the course is optional in every case
The 16-hour cold-climate course (Alaska Craftsman Home Program or equivalent, or an equivalent postsecondary arctic-engineering course) is a firm prerequisite completed within the two years before applying, and it cannot be waived based on experience. Experience does not substitute for the arctic building-science training.AS 08.18.025 (16-hour course prerequisite)