- The AZ-B1 trade exam covers 10 content areas, with Concrete (14%) and Metals (13%) weighted heaviest.
- PSI's B-1 content outline effective May 9, 2024 governs the current 100-question, 4-hour, 70%-passing exam.
- Only OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 IBC, and the 2018 IRC are allowed as open-book references.
- The trade-exam fee is $66, but total General Commercial application and licensing fees reach $780.
Why the Domain Breakdown Matters
The Arizona B-1 General Commercial Contractor Trade Examination is not a generic "construction knowledge" test. It's a structured, PSI-administered exam built from a content outline maintained by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, and that outline breaks the entire trade into 10 distinct domains. If you're only reading generic contractor exam advice, you'll miss the fact that this exam is open-book, computer-delivered, limited to a strict 4-hour window, and scored out of 100 questions with a 70% passing threshold (PSI may slip in 5 to 10 unscored experimental items you won't be able to identify).
Understanding exactly how those 100 questions are distributed across Sitework, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Carpentry, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors and Windows, Finishes, Safety, and General Building Code is the single biggest lever you have for allocating study time wisely. For a broader walkthrough of how to prepare across the whole exam, see the AZ-B1 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
The 10 Content Areas at a Glance
Two domain weights are publicly documented in the current PSI candidate bulletin: Concrete sits at the top at 14%, and Metals follows closely at 13%. Together those two domains account for more than a quarter of the scored questions on your exam, which is why candidates who skim past concrete formwork, reinforcement, and structural steel topics tend to struggle disproportionately.
| Domain | Core Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 1. Sitework | Excavation, grading, utilities, and site preparation |
| 2. Concrete | Largest domain (14%) - formwork, reinforcement, placement, curing |
| 3. Masonry | Block, brick, mortar, and reinforced masonry systems |
| 4. Metals | Second-largest domain (13%) - structural and miscellaneous metals |
| 5. Carpentry | Rough and finish carpentry, framing systems |
| 6. Thermal and Moisture Protection | Insulation, waterproofing, roofing assemblies |
| 7. Doors and Windows | Openings, hardware, glazing, installation |
| 8. Finishes | Drywall, flooring, painting, ceiling systems |
| 9. Safety | Jobsite hazard recognition tied to OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 |
| 10. General Building Code | Applied provisions from the 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC |
For a deeper dive into how domain weighting affects overall exam difficulty, read How Hard Is the AZ-B1 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Domain-by-Domain Walkthrough
Domain 1: Sitework
Sitework questions test your ability to interpret grading plans, sequence excavation safely, and manage underground utility conflicts before vertical construction begins.
- Soil and trenching considerations that intersect with OSHA excavation rules
- Site drainage and grading tolerances
Domain 2: Concrete
As the single largest domain at 14%, Concrete deserves the most dedicated study blocks. Expect questions on formwork design, reinforcement placement, slump and curing requirements, and code-driven structural tolerances.
- Formwork loads and stripping timing
- Rebar placement and cover requirements referenced against the IBC
Domain 3: Masonry
Masonry questions blend material knowledge (block, brick, mortar types) with code-driven reinforcement and lateral support requirements for walls.
- Mortar joint types and bonding patterns
- Reinforced masonry design basics
Domain 4: Metals
Metals is the second-heaviest domain at 13%, covering structural steel connections, miscellaneous metal fabrication, and metal decking as they appear in commercial building assemblies.
- Bolted vs. welded connection basics
- Metal fastening and corrosion protection
Domain 5: Carpentry
Carpentry questions span rough framing sequencing and finish carpentry detailing, testing whether you understand both structural framing logic and finish-level tolerances.
- Load-bearing vs. non-load-bearing wall framing
- Finish carpentry trim and millwork installation
Domain 6: Thermal and Moisture Protection
This domain covers building envelope performance - insulation placement, vapor barriers, waterproofing membranes, and roofing system compatibility.
- Roofing underlayment and flashing details
- Moisture barrier placement in wall assemblies
Domain 7: Doors and Windows
Expect questions on proper rough opening dimensions, hardware selection, and glazing requirements tied to commercial building code provisions.
- Door hardware and fire-rating basics
- Window flashing and installation sequencing
Domain 8: Finishes
Finishes questions test knowledge of interior systems - drywall, flooring, painting, and acoustic ceiling installation - and how those systems interact with fire and moisture code requirements.
- Drywall fastening and taping standards
- Flooring transition and moisture testing basics
Domain 9: Safety
Safety questions draw directly from OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, one of your three approved open-book references. Fall protection, scaffolding, and PPE requirements are common themes.
- Fall protection thresholds and requirements
- Scaffold and ladder safety provisions
Domain 10: General Building Code
This domain draws from the 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC broadly, testing whether you can apply code sections across occupancy classifications and construction types rather than memorize isolated facts.
- Occupancy classification basics
- Fire-resistance rating requirements by construction type
Key Takeaway
Because Concrete and Metals combine for 27% of scored content, build your index tabs in the 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC around those two domains first, then extend the same tabbing system to the remaining eight areas.
Approved References and Calculator Rules
Every domain above draws its code-based questions from just three approved references: OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 International Building Code, and the 2018 International Residential Code. No other codebooks, personal notes, or outside materials are permitted at the test center. A basic silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is allowed, which matters most for Concrete and Metals questions involving quantity or load calculations.
Because the exam is delivered as open-book, familiarity with the physical or digital structure of these three references - table of contents, index conventions, chapter numbering - often matters more than raw memorization. If you're unsure exactly what score you need to clear, the passing threshold and scoring mechanics are broken down further in AZ-B1 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility Mechanics
The trade exam itself carries a $66 fee, and PSI offers both test-center and remote-proctored delivery for the combined B-1/B-2/KB-1/KB-2 trade examination. The current PSI candidate bulletin is dated February 18, 2026, and the B-1 content outline these 10 domains come from has been effective since May 9, 2024.
Before you're even eligible to sit for the exam, a qualifying party generally needs four years of practical or management trade experience, including two years within the preceding ten years - though approved technical education can substitute for up to two of those years. Applicants must also complete the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam, along with background-check and bond steps. A full breakdown of these prerequisites lives in AZ-B1 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Once you pass, exam results must be used for your license application within two years - don't let a passing score expire while you sit on the paperwork. General Commercial application and initial license fees total $780, and renewal every two years runs $580. For the complete fee picture across the whole licensing process, see AZ-B1 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Who Actually Uses This Trade Exam
A passing score on this trade exam is one piece of the puzzle for anyone seeking a B-1 General Commercial Contractor license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors - the credential commercial builders, general contracting firms, and qualifying parties on commercial projects rely on to legally bid and manage work across the domains tested here, from sitework and concrete through general building code compliance. If you're weighing whether pursuing this license lines up with your career plans, Is the AZ-B1 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AZ-B1 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis both dig into that decision in more depth. You can also browse practice scenarios by domain on the main practice test site to see how these 10 areas show up in question form.
Mapping Domains to a Study Timeline
Generic study techniques only help if they're anchored to the actual weight of each domain. Since Concrete and Metals together make up 27% of the scored content, they deserve the earliest and longest study blocks, while lighter domains like Doors and Windows can be compressed into shorter review sessions closer to your test date.
Concrete and Metals
- Build IBC/IRC index tabs for formwork, reinforcement, and structural steel sections
- Work practice questions focused on these two heaviest domains
Sitework, Masonry, Carpentry
- Review excavation and grading provisions alongside OSHA trenching rules
- Drill masonry reinforcement and carpentry framing scenarios
Thermal/Moisture, Doors/Windows, Finishes
- Trace envelope assemblies from roof to slab
- Confirm hardware and flashing code cross-references
Safety and General Building Code
- Review OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 fall protection and scaffolding sections
- Run full-length timed practice exams to simulate the 4-hour limit
For more granular pacing advice and a condensed final-review resource, check AZ-B1 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts and run through timed simulations at the practice test platform before scheduling your official session.
FAQ
There are 10 content areas: Sitework, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Carpentry, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors and Windows, Finishes, Safety, and General Building Code.
Concrete is the largest domain at 14%, followed closely by Metals at 13%.
Only OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 International Building Code, and the 2018 International Residential Code are permitted, along with a basic silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator.
Exam results must be used for the license application within two years of passing.
Yes. B-1 applicants may use the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam in place of the Arizona trade exam.