- The B-1 trade exam has 100 scored questions, a 4-hour limit, and requires 70% to pass.
- PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions you won't be able to identify.
- Concrete (14%) and Metals (13%) are the two heaviest-weighted domains - study them first.
- Approved references are OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 IBC, and the 2018 IRC - bring nothing else.
Exam Snapshot: The Numbers That Matter
If you only have five minutes before test day, this is the section to read. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors oversees B-1 licensing, but the actual trade examination is administered by PSI under the combined B-1/B-2/KB-1/KB-2 trade exam framework. The current PSI candidate bulletin is dated February 18, 2026, and the content outline governing what appears on your exam has been effective since May 9, 2024.
Here's the format in plain numbers:
- 100 scored questions, multiple-choice, open-book
- 4-hour time limit
- 70% passing score
- 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions may be mixed in without notice
- $66 trade-exam fee per attempt
- Computer-delivered, available at a test center or via remote proctoring
For a deeper breakdown of how this format compares to other contractor exams and what "hard" actually means in practice, see How Hard Is the AZ-B1 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. If you want the full walkthrough of what the 70% threshold means in raw question counts, read AZ-B1 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Registration and Fee Facts
The B-1 trade exam is one piece of a larger licensing puzzle administered through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Keep these figures straight - they get confused often:
| Item | Fee / Detail |
|---|---|
| Trade exam fee (PSI) | $66 |
| General Commercial application + initial license fees | $780 total |
| Two-year license renewal fee | $580 |
| Exam result validity window | Must be used for license application within 2 years |
Note that passing the exam does not equal holding a license. You still need to complete the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam, pass a background check, secure a bond, and submit your application before the Registrar issues anything. For the complete money picture across every stage, read AZ-B1 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Don't let your passed exam expire. You have two years from your test date to file your license application - treat that clock as seriously as the 4-hour exam clock.
One more registration detail worth remembering: applicants have the option to submit a NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam result in place of the Arizona-specific trade exam. If you already hold that credential, you may be able to skip the PSI trade exam entirely - check current Registrar guidance before scheduling.
Domain-by-Domain Cheat Sheet
The B-1 content outline breaks the trade exam into 10 domains. Weighting isn't published for every domain, but Concrete (14%) and Metals (13%) are confirmed as the two largest. Below is a fast-reference cheat sheet for what each domain actually tests.
Domain 1: Sitework
Covers grading, excavation, layout, and site preparation concepts a general commercial contractor must supervise correctly.
- Site logistics and sequencing before structural work begins
Domain 2: Concrete (Largest Domain - 14%)
The single heaviest-weighted domain. Expect questions on placement, curing, reinforcement, and formwork practices tied to the 2018 IBC.
- Prioritize this domain first in your study plan since it carries the most questions
Domain 3: Masonry
Focuses on masonry assemblies and construction practices referenced in the approved code books.
- Cross-reference masonry code sections directly in your IBC copy during practice
Domain 4: Metals (Second-Largest Domain - 13%)
Structural steel, connections, and metal framing concepts. Combined with Concrete, these two domains represent roughly a quarter of the scored exam.
- Study Concrete and Metals back-to-back since both are code-heavy and code-cross-referenced
Domain 5: Carpentry
Wood-frame construction, structural carpentry, and related IRC/IBC provisions.
Domain 6: Thermal and Moisture Protection
Waterproofing, insulation, and roofing-related building envelope questions.
Domain 7: Doors and Windows
Installation standards and code compliance for openings in commercial and residential-adjacent structures.
Domain 8: Finishes
Interior and exterior finish work standards referenced against code and safety practices.
Domain 9: Safety
Directly tied to your OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 reference book. This is the domain where knowing how to navigate your reference material quickly pays off most.
Domain 10: General Building Code
Broader IBC/IRC application questions that don't fall neatly into a single trade category.
For the full breakdown of every domain with more granular subtopics and sample question angles, read AZ-B1 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
Approved References and Test-Day Rules
Because this is an open-book exam, knowing exactly what you're allowed to bring - and how to navigate it under time pressure - matters as much as knowing the content itself.
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 - for the Safety domain and general jobsite compliance questions
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC) - for General Building Code and most trade domains
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) - for residential-adjacent construction questions
- Basic calculator - must be silent, nonprinting, and nonprogrammable
Both test-center and remote-proctored delivery options are available through PSI, so factor logistics - noise, internet stability, code book handling rules - into which format you choose. For a calendar-level view of testing windows and deadlines, check AZ-B1 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Eligibility Recap
Before you can even sit for the exam, the qualifying party on the application generally needs four years of practical or management trade experience, with at least two of those years falling within the preceding ten years. Approved technical education can substitute for up to two years of that requirement.
- Four years total trade experience (practical or management)
- At least two of those years within the last ten years
- Up to two years may be substituted with approved technical education
- Completion of the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam
- Background check, bond, and application steps still required after passing the trade exam
These requirements trip up more candidates than the exam content itself. Full eligibility details, documentation tips, and substitution rules are covered in AZ-B1 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
After the Exam: Licensing Path
Passing the trade exam is a milestone, not the finish line. Here's the sequence most candidates follow after their PSI score report:
- Complete the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (separate from the trade exam)
- Submit background check materials
- Secure your contractor's bond
- File your application with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors within two years of your exam pass
- Pay the $780 combined application and initial license fees
Once licensed, you're positioned to work as (or employ) a qualifying party on commercial building projects across Arizona. If you're weighing whether the entire path - experience hours, training course, bond, fees - pays off relative to the opportunities it unlocks, read Is the AZ-B1 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AZ-B1 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis for context on where licensed contractors find work. You can also browse current openings that reference this license type on AZ-B1 Jobs.
Final-Week Review Schedule
This is the one place we'll lean on general study mechanics - but even here, everything maps directly to the AZ-B1 domain weights, not generic advice.
Concrete and Metals
- Drill the two highest-weighted domains (14% and 13%) first while your energy is freshest
- Practice locating relevant IBC sections quickly for both domains
Sitework, Masonry, Carpentry
- Work through mid-weight structural domains
- Cross-reference IRC sections for residential-adjacent carpentry questions
Thermal/Moisture, Doors/Windows, Finishes
- Cover envelope and finish-related domains
- Time yourself answering practice sets under the 4-hour, 100-question pace
Safety, General Building Code, Full Simulation
- Focus heavily on OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 navigation for the Safety domain
- Run at least one full-length timed practice exam using approved-reference conditions
For a structured, week-by-week plan built specifically around passing on your first attempt, see AZ-B1 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And if you want data-driven context on how candidates typically perform, review AZ-B1 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
The scored exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions with a 4-hour time limit. PSI may also insert 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions you won't be able to distinguish from scored ones.
Concrete is the largest domain at 14%, followed by Metals at 13%. Starting with these two gives you the highest return on your study time before moving to the remaining eight domains.
Approved references are OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 International Building Code, and the 2018 International Residential Code. A basic silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is also permitted.
You must use your exam results to complete your license application within two years of testing. After that window, you would need to retest.
Yes. B-1 applicants may submit a NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam result in place of the Arizona trade exam administered by PSI.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference sheet, but don't rely on memorization alone - combine it with full-length timed practice through AZ-B1 Exam Prep so the domain weighting, reference-book navigation, and 4-hour pacing all feel familiar before you sit for the real thing.