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Minnesota Residential Contractor Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable Minnesota Residential Contractor exam cheat sheet: the 40 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 11 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- The real Minnesota Residential Contractor exam: 110 questions · 330 minutes · 70% to pass.
- Prints from your browser (Ctrl-P, or Cmd-P on a Mac) — the navigation, buttons and links drop out of the printed copy.
- 422 free Minnesota Residential Contractor practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: August 2026.
Business Organization & Licensing
10% of the exam- Sole Proprietorship and Partnership
- Corporation and LLC — Limited Liability
- Licensing and Operating Principles
Estimating & Bidding
14% of the exam- Building an Estimate: Direct and Indirect Costs
- Markup vs. Margin — Don't Confuse Them
- Quantity Math and Unit Conversions
- Types of Bids and Contracts
Contracts & Contract Law
14% of the exam- Elements of a Valid Contract
- Key Clauses: Scope, Price, Schedule, and Damages
- Changes: Change Orders
- Breach, Remedies, and Payment Security
Project Management & Scheduling
12% of the exam- The Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Float, Slack, and Resource Leveling
- Gantt Charts and Progress Tracking
- Coordination Documents: Submittals and RFIs
Financial Management & Accounting
12% of the exam- Financial Statements and Key Ratios
- Cash Flow and Retainage
- Cash vs. Accrual and Revenue Recognition
- Job Costing and Overhead Recovery
Safety & OSHA
14% of the exam- The Employer's Duty and OSHA Basics
- The Hierarchy of Controls
- Fall Protection — the 6-Foot Rule
- Excavations, PPE, and Hazard Communication
Employment & Labor Law
12% of the exam- Employee vs. Independent Contractor
- Wage and Hour Law (FLSA)
- Workers' Compensation
- Hiring Paperwork and Anti-Discrimination
Building Codes & Permits
12% of the exam- Purpose and Source of Building Codes
- Permits and the Inspection Process
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Codes vs. Zoning
Minnesota Residential Contractor Licensing & the $15,000 Exemption
40% of the exam- The DLI and Minn. Stat. Chapter 326B
- Who needs a license — and the exemptions
- Classifications and the DLI-administered open-book exam
Minnesota Contracting Law, the Contractor Recovery Fund & Consumer Protection
35% of the exam- The Contractor Recovery Fund replaces bonding (Minn. Stat. 326B.89)
- Statutory home warranties (Minn. Stat. 327A)
- Prohibited practices and discipline
Minnesota Requirements: Continuing Education, Renewal & the Residential Code
25% of the exam- Two-year renewal and 14 hours of continuing education
- Insurance and workers' compensation
- Open-book exam with a Residential Code emphasis
Now prove you know them
Reading an outline is not the same as recalling it under exam pressure. Drill the free Minnesota Residential Contractor questions to find the areas you keep missing, then sit a full timed mock.
Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).