Arizona General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor (B-5) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

The Arizona General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor (B-5) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package is designed for contractors preparing for the Arizona B-5 swimming pool trade exam with the required references organized for focused study and open-book exam preparation. This package includes the OSHA, building code, residential code, pool operation, concrete, reinforcing steel, shotcrete, and excavation references supplied for this exam package, professionally highlighted and permanently tabbed to help candidates study more efficiently and build stronger reference-navigation habits.

The Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor classification is a residential swimming pool contractor classification. It covers construction and repair of swimming pools and spas, installation of code-required pool barriers around the swimming pool or spa, and installation of utilities from the point of service to the pool equipment. Construction of other structures or appurtenances is excluded from this classification scope.

Swimming pool construction requires a broad mix of trade knowledge. Candidates preparing for the B-5 exam should be ready to review plan reading, estimating, sitework, excavation, forming, reinforcing, concrete placement, shotcrete, pool equipment, safety, and applicable building code requirements. Pool work often combines layout, earthwork, structural shell construction, plumbing coordination, equipment installation, barrier requirements, and safe jobsite practices, so an organized study plan matters.

This highlighted and tabbed book package helps turn a large reference set into a more practical study system. Highlighting draws attention to important material, while permanent tabs help candidates move through the books more efficiently. For an open-book contractor exam, book familiarity can make a major difference. Candidates should know which reference to open, where major topics are located, and how to find information without losing valuable time.

This package is a strong fit for qualifying party candidates, residential pool contractors, pool builders, shotcrete and concrete professionals, excavation contractors working in pool construction, business owners, and experienced tradespeople preparing for Arizona contractor licensing. It supports trade review, code navigation, OSHA safety awareness, and open-book exam preparation for the Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor classification.

What You Get

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed construction safety reference used for OSHA-related exam preparation and allowed in the examination center.
• International Building Code, 2018
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed building code reference used for code navigation and allowed in the examination center.
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed residential code reference used for one- and two-family dwelling code concepts and allowed in the examination center.
• Pool and Spa Operator Handbook
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed pool reference used for study in pool systems, water circulation, filtration, equipment, operation, and maintenance concepts.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed concrete reference covering concrete materials, mixture design, placement, curing, testing, durability, and quality control.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed reinforcing steel reference used for study in reinforcing bar placement, supports, splicing, tying, and construction practices.
• Guide to Shotcrete, 2016 or 2022
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed shotcrete reference covering shotcrete materials, application, equipment, quality control, curing, and construction practices.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Professionally highlighted and tabbed excavation and utility construction reference supporting study in trenching, pipe installation, backfill, soil conditions, and sitework safety.
• Highlighted Study Organization
  Important sections are marked to help guide review and support faster lookup during open-book exam practice.
• Permanent Tabs
  Tabs are prepared to support organized study and exam-room reference navigation where the specific reference is allowed by testing rules.

Please allow up to 15 business days for tabbed and highlighted book package orders

Exam Details

The Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor exam is part of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors trade examination program. The same trade test is used for the KA-5 Dual Swimming Pool Contractor, A-9 Swimming Pools Commercial Contractor, and B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor Residential classifications. Candidates pursuing the B-5 classification should study the swimming pool trade exam content with the residential scope in mind.

The Arizona swimming pool trade exam contains 50 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and candidates are allowed 120 minutes to complete the test. The exam content areas include plan reading and estimating, sitework and excavating, forming and reinforcing, concrete, shotcrete, pool equipment, and safety.

The subject breakdown includes 3 items on plan reading and estimating, 9 items on sitework and excavating, 9 items on forming and reinforcing, 8 items on concrete, 8 items on shotcrete, 8 items on pool equipment, and 5 items on safety. This structure reflects the major work activities involved in swimming pool construction and repair, from layout and excavation through shell construction, equipment, and safe jobsite practices.

Plan reading and estimating questions may involve reviewing drawings, interpreting dimensions, calculating quantities, and understanding job requirements. Sitework and excavating questions may involve soil conditions, trenching, equipment, backfill, pipe work, jobsite preparation, and excavation safety. Forming and reinforcing questions may involve layout, reinforcing steel placement, bar supports, ties, splices, clearances, and preparation for concrete or shotcrete placement.

Concrete and shotcrete questions may involve materials, mixture design, placement, application, curing, finishing, quality control, defects, and construction practices. Pool equipment questions may involve circulation, filtration, pumps, valves, piping, equipment layout, and operating concepts. Safety questions may involve OSHA construction standards, excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, tools, equipment, ladders, and safe work practices.

Open Book Test

The Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor exam is an open-book test for approved references allowed by the testing provider. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own allowed reference materials to the examination center. Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the examination session begins.

During the exam, candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index inside the reference books. Any markings, notes, highlighting, underlining, or indexing must be completed before the exam begins. Candidates should arrive with their allowed books already organized and ready to use.

Reference materials may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only. Permanent tabs are tabs that would tear the page if removed. Temporary removable tabs, including Post-it style tabs or other removable markers, are not allowed and must be removed before the exam begins.

Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center. Loose papers and additional attached papers are not allowed with approved references. Downloaded references may be brought into the testing center only when they are properly bound, such as spiral bound or placed in a binder after being hole-punched.

Only certain references are allowed in the examination center. The OSHA reference, International Building Code, and International Residential Code are allowed exam-room references for this trade exam. Other references in this book package support study and exam preparation but are not allowed in the examination room. Candidates should bring only the references allowed by current PSI testing rules.

Licensing Steps

Arizona contractor licensing is handled by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. A candidate pursuing the B-5 General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor classification should begin by reviewing the classification scope, confirming the applicable examination requirements, and preparing for the required trade examination.

The person who satisfies the examination requirement is commonly the qualifying party for the license. The qualifying party is connected to the contractor license application and is responsible for demonstrating knowledge in the classification. Applicants should follow the Arizona Registrar of Contractors process for current application forms, business information, bonding, financial responsibility items, and any other licensing materials required for the application.

A practical preparation path begins with gathering the references, reviewing the B-5 exam information, and building a study schedule around the major subject areas. Because this classification covers residential pool construction and repair, candidates should divide study time across plan reading, estimating, excavation, forming, reinforcing steel, concrete, shotcrete, pool equipment, code requirements, and OSHA safety.

After preparing, candidates schedule and complete the required examination through the testing provider. Passing the trade exam is an important licensing step, but passing the exam does not automatically issue a contractor license. The license application must still be submitted to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and reviewed according to state licensing requirements.

Candidates should keep the full licensing process in mind while preparing. The exam is one part of the broader path to licensure. Business setup, application documents, bonding, compliance responsibilities, and state review may also be part of the process depending on the applicant and business structure.

State Requirements

The Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor classification covers construction and repair of swimming pools and spas. It also includes installation of code-required pool barriers around the swimming pool or spa and installation of utilities from the point of service to the pool equipment.

The B-5 classification is residential. Arizona separates residential, commercial, and dual contractor licenses, so candidates should make sure the B-5 classification matches the work they plan to contract, advertise, supervise, and perform. Contractors preparing for commercial swimming pool work should review the A-9 classification, and contractors preparing for both residential and commercial swimming pool work should review the KA-5 dual classification.

Construction of other structures or appurtenances is excluded from the B-5 classification scope. Candidates should understand this limitation when reviewing the licensing scope and planning business services. The classification is focused on swimming pools, spas, required pool barriers, and utilities from the point of service to pool equipment.

Residential pool construction requires coordination across layout, excavation, reinforcing, concrete or shotcrete shell work, pool equipment, utilities, barriers, and safety. Candidates should prepare for the exam with that full construction sequence in mind. Understanding how each phase connects to the next can make the reference material easier to study and apply.

Reference Books

Please allow up to 15 business days for tabbed and highlighted book package orders.

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This construction safety reference supports preparation for OSHA-related questions involving excavation safety, personal protective equipment, ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, tools, equipment, material handling, and safe jobsite practices.
• International Building Code, 2018
  This building code reference supports code navigation for construction requirements, safety-related provisions, barriers, materials, and general building code concepts that may apply to swimming pool work.
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  This residential code reference supports study in one- and two-family dwelling code provisions, residential construction requirements, safety provisions, and code navigation connected to residential pool projects.
• Pool and Spa Operator Handbook
  This pool reference supports study in pool systems, circulation, filtration, equipment, operating principles, maintenance concepts, water movement, safety, and system performance.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  This concrete reference supports study in cement, aggregates, admixtures, water-cement ratio, mixture proportioning, testing, placing, curing, durability, and concrete quality control.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  This reinforcing steel reference supports study in rebar placement, bar supports, tying, splicing, clearances, construction tolerances, and practices used before concrete or shotcrete placement.
• Guide to Shotcrete, 2016 or 2022
  This shotcrete reference supports study in shotcrete materials, equipment, application techniques, surface preparation, reinforcement encasement, curing, testing, workmanship, and quality control.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This excavation and pipe reference supports study in trenching, excavation methods, pipe installation, backfill, soil conditions, jobsite layout, equipment use, and safety considerations related to underground work.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following references are allowed in the examination center for the Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor trade exam and are included in this highlighted and tabbed package:

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Allowed construction safety reference for OSHA-related exam questions and jobsite safety topics.
• International Building Code, 2018
  Allowed building code reference for code navigation and construction requirements.
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  Allowed residential code reference for one- and two-family dwelling provisions and residential code navigation.

The following references are included for study and exam preparation but are not allowed in the examination center: Pool and Spa Operator Handbook, Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition, Placing Reinforcing Bars, Guide to Shotcrete, 2016 or 2022, and Pipe and Excavation Contracting. These references support the trade knowledge used for preparation, but candidates should bring only allowed references into the testing room.

Test Information and Study Materials

The Arizona B-5 exam requires a focused study plan because swimming pool construction combines several technical areas. Candidates should start with the content outline, then connect each subject area to the references most likely to support that topic. This helps create a more efficient study routine than reading every book without direction.

Plan reading and estimating preparation should include dimensions, quantities, material planning, layout, and project requirements. Pool contractors should be comfortable reading drawings, understanding scope, and connecting plan information to site conditions and construction sequencing.

Sitework and excavation preparation should include layout, trenching, soil conditions, backfill, pipe installation, equipment use, and excavation safety. Pool construction depends heavily on proper excavation and preparation because the shell, utilities, and equipment layout all rely on accurate sitework.

Forming and reinforcing preparation should include layout, reinforcing steel placement, supports, ties, splices, clearances, and coordination before concrete or shotcrete placement. Reinforcing steel must be understood as part of the pool shell system, and candidates should be comfortable with the role reinforcing plays in pool construction.

Concrete and shotcrete preparation should include materials, mixture properties, placement, application, curing, surface conditions, quality control, and defect prevention. Shotcrete is a major part of many pool shells, so candidates should study application practices, equipment, workmanship, and curing requirements carefully.

Pool equipment preparation should include circulation, pumps, filters, valves, piping, system layout, equipment access, operating concepts, and basic performance considerations. Safety preparation should include OSHA construction requirements, especially excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, ladders, tools, equipment, and material handling.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps contractor candidates prepare with organized study tools built around real exam needs. For the Arizona General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor (B-5) exam, this highlighted and tabbed book package gives you the supplied references in a format designed for practical study and open-book navigation.

The highlighting helps draw attention to important sections inside the books. The permanent tabs help candidates move through the references more quickly. Together, they create a study structure that supports review, repetition, and faster lookup during timed practice.

1 Exam Prep’s approach supports trade-focused review, code navigation, safety awareness, reference familiarity, practice-oriented preparation, and confidence-building study habits. The goal is to help candidates build a clear routine: review the classification scope, study the references, learn the tab system, practice timed lookup, and enter the exam with a stronger command of the materials.

This package does not replace preparation, but it can make preparation more efficient. Instead of beginning with plain books and creating a system from scratch, candidates receive references that are already highlighted and tabbed. That structure gives each study session a clear starting point and helps reduce the confusion that can come with open-book exams.

For residential swimming pool contractors, time matters. Organized references can help reduce setup work, support focused study, and make exam practice less stressful. When you understand pool construction topics and know where to look in the allowed books, the open-book format becomes more manageable.

Who is this book package for?

This package is for candidates preparing for the Arizona General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor (B-5) trade exam. It is designed for qualifying party candidates, residential pool builders, swimming pool contractors, excavation professionals, concrete and shotcrete professionals, and business owners preparing for Arizona contractor licensing.

What work is covered by the B-5 classification?

The B-5 classification covers construction and repair of swimming pools and spas, installation of code-required pool barriers around the swimming pool or spa, and installation of utilities from the point of service to the pool equipment. Construction of other structures or appurtenances is excluded.

Is the Arizona B-5 swimming pool exam open book?

Yes. The Arizona B-5 swimming pool exam is open book for approved references allowed by the testing provider. Candidates may bring allowed references into the testing center when the books comply with PSI rules for highlighting, annotations, indexing, tabs, and loose materials.

How many questions are on the B-5 exam?

The Arizona swimming pool trade exam used for B-5 candidates has 50 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and candidates are allowed 120 minutes to complete the test.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The included books are professionally highlighted and permanently tabbed to support study, reference lookup, and open-book exam preparation.

Can I use temporary tabs in the exam room?

No. Temporary removable tabs, including Post-it style tabs, are not allowed. References may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only.

Which books are allowed in the exam room?

The allowed exam-room references for this trade exam include Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Building Code, 2018, and International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018. Other books in this package are included for study and preparation but are not allowed in the exam room.

What topics are covered on the B-5 exam?

The exam content areas include plan reading and estimating, sitework and excavating, forming and reinforcing, concrete, shotcrete, pool equipment, and safety.

Is this package for residential or commercial swimming pool work?

This package is for the Arizona B-5 General Swimming Pool Residential Contractor classification. Contractors preparing for commercial swimming pool work should review the A-9 classification, and contractors preparing for both residential and commercial swimming pool work should review the KA-5 dual classification.

Does this package guarantee that I will pass?

No. This package is a study and reference-navigation tool. Exam results depend on preparation, trade knowledge, study time, test-taking habits, and the candidate’s ability to use the references effectively.