Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting Exam Complete Book Package

Prepare for the Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting examination with a complete book package covering the principal technical subjects tested for the Virginia FLR specialty. This package combines flooring trade references, ceramic tile standards, hardwood flooring guidance, estimating resources, and OSHA construction safety material to support organized open-book exam preparation.

Virginia regulates Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors. The specialty abbreviation is FLR. Virginia defines this specialty to include the installation, repair, improvement, or removal of materials commonly used in the flooring industry, including wood and wood-composite flooring, tack strips and other carpet-securing products, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, marble, stone, and other types of tile.

The FLR scope also includes installation or replacement of subflooring, leveling products, and other materials necessary to facilitate installation of the flooring or floor covering. Floor joists and other structural components of the flooring system are outside the specific FLR specialty scope.

This complete book package includes Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017, Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, 2017, Stanley Complete Flooring, 2008, 1st Edition, Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding, and Finishing, Builders Guide to Floors, 1997, and Setting Tile, 1995.

The collection is designed to help candidates study ceramic tile and stone, resilient flooring, hardwood flooring, carpeting, estimating, floor preparation, installation procedures, and construction safety using the references associated with the examination. Because the Virginia FLR exam is open book, candidates should also use these references to practice finding answers efficiently under timed conditions.

Exam Details

The Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting examination is administered through PSI. The technical examination contains 50 questions, provides 120 minutes for completion, and requires a minimum passing score of 70%, or 35 correct answers.

The official examination content outline is divided into six subject areas:

• Ceramic Floor Tile and Stone – 16 questions
• Resilient Flooring – 6 questions
• Wood Flooring – 10 questions
• Carpeting – 8 questions
• Estimating Materials – 5 questions
• Safety – 5 questions

Ceramic Floor Tile and Stone is the largest individual category with 16 questions. Candidates should understand tile substrates, installation methods, setting materials, mortars, adhesives, grout, layout, cutting, movement accommodation, and recognized industry practices.

Wood Flooring accounts for 10 questions. Preparation should include subfloor conditions, moisture-related considerations, layout, fastening, laying methods, sanding, finishing, and practical hardwood-flooring techniques.

Carpeting represents 8 questions and may involve floor preparation, carpet materials, cushion, tack strips, layout, seams, stretching, trimming, and installation procedures. Resilient Flooring contributes 6 questions involving materials such as vinyl and linoleum, surface preparation, adhesives, layout, cutting, and seams.

Estimating Materials and Safety each account for 5 questions. Candidates should be prepared to calculate flooring quantities and understand OSHA construction-safety requirements applicable to flooring operations.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting examination is an open book test. Candidates must bring their own permitted references because books are not provided at the test site.

PSI permits approved reference materials to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. References containing written notes are not permitted. Permanent tabs may be used, while removable tabs such as temporary flags are not allowed.

The 120-minute examination period provides an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. Candidates should therefore practice identifying the subject of a question and selecting the correct book before beginning a detailed lookup.

A question involving technical ceramic tile installation standards may point toward ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017. Questions involving recognized tile installation methods may direct attention toward the Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, 2017, while practical tile-setting techniques may also be supported by Setting Tile.

Hardwood-floor questions may direct candidates toward Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding, and Finishing. General floor construction and flooring installation concepts may be supported by Stanley Complete Flooring and Builders Guide to Floors. OSHA safety questions should direct attention toward 29 CFR Part 1926.

Licensing Steps

Virginia contractor licensing is administered by the Virginia Board for Contractors. Contractor licenses include a license class and one or more classifications or specialty designations. Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting is identified by the specialty abbreviation FLR.

1. Determine the appropriate license class. Virginia issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses.
2. Select the FLR specialty. Request Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting when the business intends to perform work within Virginia's defined flooring scope.
3. Designate a Qualified Individual. Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty requested by the business.
4. Meet the applicable experience requirement. The Qualified Individual must have the experience required for the license class being pursued.
5. Complete applicable pre-license requirements. New Virginia contractor applicants must satisfy the Board's required education and application requirements.
6. Obtain pre-approval for the FLR exam. Virginia identifies Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting as a specialty requiring pre-approval and passage of a technical examination.
7. Prepare for the technical exam. Study ceramic tile, stone, hardwood, resilient flooring, carpet, estimating, and safety using the included references.
8. Practice open-book navigation. Learn which reference applies to each major exam category and practice locating information under timed conditions.
9. Schedule the examination through PSI. Follow the current exam scheduling process after meeting the applicable eligibility requirements.
10. Complete the remaining licensing process. Submit the required materials and satisfy all Virginia Board for Contractors requirements for the selected license class and FLR specialty.

State Requirements

Virginia defines Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting as the installation, repair, improvement, or removal of materials that are common in the flooring industry.

The specialty includes wood and wood-composite flooring, tack strips and other carpet-securing products, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic, marble, stone, and other types of tile.

The FLR scope also includes installation or replacement of subflooring, leveling products, and other materials needed to facilitate the installation of flooring or floor coverings.

Floor joists and other structural components of the flooring system are not included in the FLR specialty. Contractors performing structural work must have the appropriate authority for that work.

Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for the FLR specialty. For designations requiring pre-approval for examination, current Virginia application materials identify minimum experience of one year for Class C, three years for Class B, and five years for Class A.

Passing the technical examination is one part of the Virginia licensing process. The contractor business must also satisfy all applicable requirements for its license class, business structure, Qualified Individual, and application before licensure is issued.

Reference Books

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Included Book: Covers federal construction-industry safety requirements relevant to flooring work, including personal protective equipment, hand and power tools, electrical hazards, ladders, material handling, housekeeping, and other jobsite safety requirements.
• ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017
  Included Book: Provides technical standards and specifications for ceramic tile installation, setting materials, mortars, adhesives, grouts, and related products and methods. This is the edition identified in the PSI FLR examination reference list.
• Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, 2017
  Included Book: Provides recognized installation methods for ceramic, glass, and stone tile assemblies, including substrates, floor applications, setting systems, preparation, movement accommodation, and installation details.
• Stanley Complete Flooring, 2008, 1st Edition
  Included Book: A practical flooring reference covering multiple floor-covering materials and techniques, including preparation, layout, installation, repair, and general flooring methods.
• Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding, and Finishing
  Included Book: A dedicated hardwood-flooring reference covering floor preparation, laying, fastening, sanding, finishing, and practical techniques used in wood-floor installation and refinishing.
• Builders Guide to Floors, 1997
  Included Book: Provides practical information involving floor systems, substrates, materials, construction methods, preparation, and related concepts useful for flooring and estimating preparation.
• Setting Tile, 1995 (USED)
  Included Book: A practical tile-setting reference covering layout, surface preparation, cutting, setting, grouting, tools, materials, and installation techniques. This package includes a used copy of this title.

Test Information and Study Materials

A productive study plan should follow the official examination weighting. Begin with Ceramic Floor Tile and Stone, which accounts for 16 of the 50 questions and represents the largest portion of the FLR exam.

Use ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017 alongside the Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation. The ANSI material supports technical standards and specifications, while the handbook helps candidates understand recognized installation methods and assemblies.

Study tile substrates carefully. A tile installation depends on the condition and suitability of the surface beneath the finished material. Candidates should understand preparation, stability, level and flat conditions, moisture considerations, and compatibility with the selected installation system.

Review mortars, adhesives, grout, joints, layout, cutting, and setting procedures. Candidates should understand the purpose of different materials and be able to recognize when a question is asking about a standard, an installation method, or a practical trade procedure.

Movement accommodation should also be part of tile preparation. Tile assemblies interact with surrounding construction and substrates, making movement considerations an important part of professional installation.

Use Setting Tile to reinforce practical installation concepts. Understanding how tile is measured, laid out, cut, set, and grouted can make technical questions easier to interpret.

Next, devote substantial preparation time to Wood Flooring. The examination contains 10 questions in this category. Review moisture conditions, subfloor preparation, layout, installation direction, fastening, sanding, and finishing.

Wood can change dimension as environmental and moisture conditions change. Candidates should understand why preparation and moisture awareness matter before installation begins.

Study the full hardwood-floor process rather than isolated steps. Preparation, laying, sanding, and finishing are connected, and errors in an earlier stage can affect the final appearance and performance of the floor.

Carpeting accounts for 8 questions. Review carpet measurement, layout, cushion, tack strips, seams, stretching, cutting, fitting, trimming, and substrate preparation.

Carpet questions can also involve estimating. Room dimensions, carpet width, pattern direction, and seam placement can influence material requirements and installation planning.

Resilient Flooring accounts for 6 questions. Study materials such as vinyl and linoleum along with floor preparation, adhesives, layout, seams, cutting, and installation methods.

Surface preparation is especially important for resilient flooring because irregularities beneath the finished material can affect appearance and performance. Review leveling, cleaning, and other preparation techniques discussed in the references.

Estimating Materials represents 5 questions. Practice calculating square footage, flooring quantities, tile quantities, and other material requirements. Keep measurements in consistent units and read each question carefully for dimensions and conditions that affect the calculation.

Use Stanley Complete Flooring and Builders Guide to Floors to reinforce broad flooring knowledge, preparation methods, floor systems, installation concepts, and material considerations.

For Safety, study 29 CFR Part 1926. Flooring contractors may work with portable power tools, grinders, saws, adhesives, electrical equipment, ladders, heavy materials, and other construction hazards.

Review personal protective equipment, hand and power tool safety, electrical hazards, material handling, housekeeping, and other OSHA subjects applicable to construction work.

A useful open-book strategy is to connect each exam category to the most likely reference. Ceramic tile standards should point toward ANSI. Tile installation methods may point toward the handbook or Setting Tile. Hardwood questions should direct attention toward the hardwood reference. General flooring questions can point toward Stanley Complete Flooring or Builders Guide to Floors. Safety should point toward OSHA.

Practice using the books under timed conditions. With 120 minutes for 50 questions, candidates average about two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. Straightforward questions should be handled efficiently so more time remains for detailed technical lookups and calculations.

When a practice question is missed, identify the reason. The error may come from misunderstanding a flooring material, selecting the wrong tile method, making an estimating mistake, choosing the wrong reference, or taking too long to find the applicable information.

A strong Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting preparation routine combines technical reading, practical trade knowledge, estimating practice, safety review, and repeated reference navigation.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting candidates by bringing together the technical references associated with the FLR examination in one complete package.

The books support trade-focused preparation for ceramic tile and stone, hardwood flooring, resilient flooring, carpeting, floor preparation, estimating, materials, and OSHA construction safety.

Because the FLR examination is open book, reference navigation should be part of the study process. Candidates can work with the books regularly to become familiar with indexes, tables of contents, terminology, standards, diagrams, and installation methods.

1 Exam Prep encourages organized study based on the official exam categories. Candidates can place additional emphasis on Ceramic Floor Tile and Stone and Wood Flooring while maintaining balanced preparation in carpeting, resilient flooring, estimating, and safety.

The goal is to support stronger flooring trade knowledge, more efficient reference use, and confidence-building exam preparation. The package does not guarantee a passing examination score, license issuance, or approval by the Virginia Board for Contractors.

What is the Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting specialty?

The Virginia FLR specialty covers installation, repair, improvement, or removal of flooring materials including wood, wood composites, carpet securing products, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, marble, stone, and other types of tile.

How many questions are on the Virginia FLR exam?

The examination contains 50 questions.

How much time is allowed for the exam?

Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The minimum passing score is 70%, or 35 correct answers out of 50 questions.

Is the Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering exam open book?

Yes. The FLR examination is an open book test. Candidates must bring their permitted references and follow current PSI reference rules.

Which ANSI edition is included?

This package includes ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017, the edition identified in the PSI examination reference list.

What is the largest section of the FLR exam?

Ceramic Floor Tile and Stone is the largest section with 16 questions.

Does the exam cover hardwood flooring?

Yes. Wood Flooring accounts for 10 questions and includes topics involving preparation, installation, sanding, finishing, and related hardwood-floor methods.

Does the exam cover carpet and resilient flooring?

Yes. Carpeting accounts for 8 questions and Resilient Flooring accounts for 6 questions.

Does the exam include estimating?

Yes. Estimating Materials accounts for 5 questions.

Does the package include OSHA?

Yes. The package includes Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) for construction-safety preparation.

Is Setting Tile included as a used book?

Yes. Setting Tile, 1995 is included in this package as a used copy.

Does FLR include subflooring work?

Yes. The Virginia FLR scope includes installation or replacement of subflooring, leveling products, and other materials necessary to facilitate flooring installation. Structural floor joists are outside the FLR scope.

Who administers the Virginia FLR examination?

The Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting examination is administered through PSI.

Does passing the FLR exam automatically issue a Virginia contractor license?

No. Passing the technical examination is one part of the licensing process. Applicants must also satisfy the applicable requirements established by the Virginia Board for Contractors.

Why purchase the Virginia Flooring and Floor Covering Contracting Exam Complete Book Package?

The package brings together the ceramic tile, hardwood, flooring, estimating, and OSHA references used to organize preparation around the major technical subjects covered by the Virginia FLR examination.