Current Mississippi Building Construction format: 80 scored questions, 3 hours, and 70% required to pass. That means 56 correct scored answers. General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating is the largest current PSI category with 15 questions.
What Is the Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Exam?
The Mississippi Building Construction examination is a PSI trade exam used in the Mississippi State Board of Contractors licensing process for the state's major Building Construction classification.
The classification can cover commercial, residential and industrial structures and related project work within the scope approved by MSBOC.
State exam answer: 80 scored questions, 3 hours, 70% passing and open-book testing.
Main code answer: the current PSI Building Construction reference list uses the 2021 International Building Code.
Licensing answer: the normal contractor path also requires the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam and MSBOC approval before PSI scheduling.
Mississippi also accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor examination as an alternative trade-exam route, but it is a different test with its own blueprint and reference library.
The authority strategy uses 10 official Mississippi/PSI authority sources and sections, with contextual links across exam, licensing, reciprocity, renewal and contractor topics.
Mississippi Building Construction Exam Domains
Match your Mississippi Building Construction contractor exam prep time to the current PSI blueprint.
| Exam Area | What to Study | Exam Weight |
|---|---|---|
| General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating | 2021 IBC navigation, construction plans, specifications, takeoffs, quantities, estimating and general code application | 15 questions | 18.75% |
| Concrete | Concrete materials, placement, reinforcing, post-tensioning, curing and concrete construction practices | 12 questions | 15.0% |
| Metals | Steel framing, joists, reinforcing steel, erection, structural metals and related construction | 10 questions | 12.5% |
| Safety | OSHA construction safety, fall protection, scaffolds, ladders, excavations, PPE and jobsite safety | 8 questions | 10.0% |
| Carpentry | Framing, wood construction, layout, structural carpentry and installation practices | 7 questions | 8.75% |
| Thermal and Moisture Protection | Roofing, waterproofing, insulation, weather barriers, moisture protection and related systems | 7 questions | 8.75% |
| Site Work | Excavation, grading, site preparation, utilities and earthwork | 6 questions | 7.5% |
| Masonry | Brick, block, stone, mortar, reinforcement, masonry construction and detailing | 6 questions | 7.5% |
| Doors and Windows | Openings, doors, windows, frames, hardware and installation concepts | 3 questions | 3.75% |
| Finishes | Interior and exterior finishes, gypsum, flooring, coatings and finish-system concepts | 3 questions | 3.75% |
| Mississippi One Call | Excavation notification, underground utility protection and Mississippi One Call requirements | 3 questions | 3.75% |
Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Exam Breakdown
Trade ClassificationBuilding Construction
State Exam Questions80 scored questions
State Exam Time3 hours | 180 minutes
Passing Score70% | 56 correct scored answers
Testing ProviderPSI
Licensing AuthorityMississippi State Board of Contractors
Exam FormatComputer-based, open book
Main Building Code2021 International Building Code
Largest TopicGeneral Code, Plan Reading and Estimating | 15 questions
Approved Trade References11 current PSI-listed references
Law and Business Exam50 questions | 2 hours | 70% passing
NASCLA Alternative115 questions | 330 minutes | minimum passing score 81
Exam EligibilityMSBOC approval required before PSI scheduling
Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Licensing Path
Passing the state-specific Building Construction trade exam is one part of the Mississippi contractor licensing process.
Application first: apply with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors before scheduling the trade exam.
Qualifying party: the contractor business designates the owner, officer or responsible managing employee who will satisfy examination requirements.
Trade route: use either the Mississippi state-specific Building Construction exam or the accepted NASCLA alternative when appropriate.
Business and Law: the normal commercial or residential contractor path also requires the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination.
Eligibility window: current PSI guidance provides a six-month examination eligibility period after approval.
What Is on the Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Exam?
Each bar is scaled against General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating, the largest 15-question category.
General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating15 questions
Concrete12 questions
Metals10 questions
Safety8 questions
Carpentry7 questions
Thermal and Moisture Protection7 questions
Site Work6 questions
Masonry6 questions
Doors and Windows3 questions
Finishes3 questions
Mississippi One Call3 questions
Current Mississippi Building Construction Exam References
The current PSI bulletin lists 11 approved references for the state-specific Building Construction exam.
| Reference | Primary Use | Current PSI Listing |
|---|---|---|
| International Building Code | General code, plan reading, occupancy, construction type and code application | 2021 Edition |
| 29 CFR Part 1926 OSHA | Construction safety | Latest amendments or PSI selections |
| Technical Digest No. 9: Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders | Steel joists and joist-girder handling and erection | 4th Edition | 2025 |
| Carpentry and Building Construction | Carpentry, framing and general building construction | 2010 or 2016 Student Edition |
| Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures | Concrete materials, proportioning and concrete construction | 15th or 16th Edition |
| Pipe and Excavation Contracting | Site work, excavation, utilities and earthwork | 2011 |
| Roofing Construction & Estimating | Roofing and thermal/moisture protection topics | 1995 |
| Mississippi Regulation of Excavation, Chapter 13 | Mississippi One Call and excavation-notification requirements | Current state reference |
| Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning, Level 1 | Post-tensioned concrete | 3rd Edition | 2003 |
| Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone | Masonry construction | 8th Edition | 2015 |
| Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices | Reinforcing steel placement | 9th Edition | 2011 or later printing |
Your Mississippi Building Contractor Licensing Roadmap
Apply with MSBOC, designate the qualifying party, receive PSI eligibility, prepare the approved references, pass Building Construction and Business and Law, and complete the contractor licensing process.
1
Apply with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Submit the contractor application, project history and required business information before testing.
2
Designate the qualifying party
Identify the owner, officer or responsible managing employee who will satisfy required examinations for the business.
3
Receive PSI eligibility
MSBOC sends approved examination eligibility to PSI before the candidate schedules.
4
Choose the state exam or NASCLA route
Use the state-specific 80-question Building Construction exam or the accepted NASCLA alternative when it fits your licensing plan.
5
Prepare the 11 approved state-exam references
Use the exact PSI-listed reference editions and prepare them within current open-book rules.
6
Pass Building Construction and Business and Law
Complete the required examinations during the six-month eligibility period.
7
Complete Mississippi contractor licensing
Finish current MSBOC financial, insurance, experience, business and renewal requirements that apply to your license type.
Six-Week Mississippi Building Construction Exam Prep Plan
Week 1
PSI Blueprint and 2021 IBC
- Review all 11 trade domains
- Learn the 2021 IBC structure
- Set up approved references
- Take a diagnostic exam
Week 2
Plan Reading and Estimating
- Read construction plans
- Interpret specifications
- Quantity takeoffs
- Estimating calculations
Week 3
Concrete and Metals
- Concrete mixtures
- Reinforcing bars
- Post-tensioning
- Steel joists and erection
Week 4
Safety and Carpentry
- OSHA construction safety
- Framing and carpentry
- Doors and windows
- Jobsite calculations
Week 5
Site, Masonry and Moisture
- Site work and excavation
- Masonry
- Roofing and moisture protection
- Mississippi One Call
Week 6
Timed PSI Simulation
- 80-question practice exams
- Three-hour pacing
- Reference lookup drills
- Final weak-area review
Mississippi Building Contractor Open-Book Exam Prep Strategy
Do this during exam prep
- Practice with the exact PSI-listed editions
- Use permitted permanent tabs
- Highlight and underline before test day
- Learn each book's index and table of contents
- Practice plan reading and estimating under time pressure
- Complete full 180-minute simulations
Avoid these mistakes
- Using the 2012 IBC instead of the current 2021 IBC
- Using stale Metals and Safety question counts
- Mixing the state exam with NASCLA rules
- Using temporary removable tabs
- Bringing loose papers or unauthorized notes
- Assuming open book means easy
Open-book strategy: 80 scored questions in 180 minutes averages about 2.25 minutes per question. Identify the topic, choose the correct reference, find the rule, table or formula, confirm the answer, and move on.
Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Exam Prep Options
Live Virtual and Self-Study Training
Instructor-Guided Mississippi Exam Prep
- Live virtual instruction
- Recorded class access
- Open-book reference navigation
- Plan reading and estimating
- Simulated exam preparation
Mississippi Building Construction Course
Trade-Focused Building Exam Prep
- 2021 IBC review
- Concrete and metals
- Safety and carpentry
- Site work and masonry
- Plan reading and estimating
Open-Book Reference Strategy
PSI Reference Navigation Prep
- Reference-by-reference study
- Permanent tab strategy
- Book-specific quizzes
- Timed lookup practice
- 2.25-minute question pacing
State Exam, NASCLA, Business and Law, and Contractor Licensing Are Separate Steps
The Mississippi state-specific Building Construction exam tests the state's Building Construction classification. NASCLA is an accepted alternative trade-exam route, while Mississippi Business and Law and MSBOC application requirements remain separate licensing steps.
· State exam: 80 scored questions
· Three-hour state-exam limit
· 70% minimum passing score
· Current main code: 2021 IBC
· Separate 50-question Business and Law exam
· MSBOC approval required before PSI scheduling
Mississippi Building Construction Contractor Exam Prep FAQ
Mississippi Building Construction Exam Basics
The current PSI bulletin lists 80 scored questions for the Mississippi Building Construction examination.
Candidates receive 3 hours, or 180 minutes, to complete the state-specific Building Construction examination.
The current passing score is 70 percent, which means 56 correct scored answers out of 80.
Yes. The current PSI Building Construction examination is open book, but candidates must follow PSI rules for approved references, tabs, markings, and loose materials.
PSI administers the examination after the Mississippi State Board of Contractors approves the applicant and sends examination eligibility.
General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating is the largest current PSI category with 15 scored questions.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 12 scored questions to Concrete.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 10 scored questions to Metals.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 8 scored questions to Safety.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 7 scored questions to Carpentry.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 7 scored questions to Thermal and Moisture Protection.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 6 scored questions to Site Work.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 6 scored questions to Masonry.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 3 scored questions to Doors and Windows.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 3 scored questions to Finishes.
The current PSI blueprint assigns 3 scored questions to Mississippi One Call.
References and Open-Book Rules
The current PSI reference list uses the 2021 International Building Code for the state-specific Building Construction examination.
The current PSI bulletin lists 11 approved references for the state-specific Building Construction examination.
Yes. PSI permits approved references to be highlighted, underlined, and permanently indexed before testing. Temporary removable tabs are not allowed.
No. PSI prohibits loose papers and unauthorized attached materials in exam references.
NASCLA, Business and Law, Approval and Licensing
No. Mississippi accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam as an alternative trade-exam route, but it is a separate exam with a different question count, time limit, blueprint, and reference library.
The current PSI Mississippi bulletin lists the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam at 115 questions with 330 minutes and a minimum passing score of 81.
For the normal Mississippi commercial or residential contractor licensing path, the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination is mandatory unless a valid exception applies.
The current PSI bulletin lists 50 questions, 2 hours, and a 70 percent passing requirement for the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination.
Yes. Applicants first apply with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. After approval, the Board sends examination eligibility to PSI.
The qualifying party is the owner, officer, or responsible managing employee designated to satisfy the examination requirements for the contractor business.
The current PSI bulletin provides a six-month examination eligibility period for a new applicant to complete required examinations.
Candidates may retest during the six-month eligibility period under the current PSI process. If the required exams are not passed before eligibility expires, the applicant must reapply with MSBOC.
No. Current MSBOC reciprocity guidance treats reciprocity as a possible trade-exam waiver only. It does not eliminate the contractor application process or the Mississippi Business and Law examination.
Current MSBOC guidance treats commercial and residential contractor licenses as annual licenses.
Do not assume a blanket continuing-education rule for every Building Construction contractor. MSBOC's statewide two-hour annual continuing-education rule specifically applies to qualifying parties for certain residential licenses.
Start with General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating, then Concrete, Metals, Safety, Carpentry, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Site Work, Masonry, Doors and Windows, Finishes, and Mississippi One Call.
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