Florida Underground Utility Contractor Exam Complete Book Set - Trade Books

Prepare for the Florida Underground Utility Contractor General Trade Knowledge examination with a complete collection of approved trade references covering ductile iron pipe, PVC pressure pipe, excavation, trenching, concrete pipe, box culverts, utility accommodations, underground damage prevention, directional boring, jack-and-bore work, plumbing requirements, estimating, and OSHA construction safety.

The Florida Underground Utility Contractor Exam Complete Book Set brings together the listed references used for the 2026 Trade Knowledge examination. This coordinated library supports preparation for the technical, safety, installation, testing, and job-planning responsibilities associated with underground utility and excavation contracting.

Underground utility construction involves more than placing pipe in a trench. Candidates may need to understand pre-installation planning, site inspections, utility locating, excavation safety, traffic control, pipe bedding, dewatering, backfill, compaction, pressure piping, gravity sewer systems, drainage structures, valves, fittings, pump stations, directional boring, jack-and-bore installation, testing, disinfection, and project closeout.

The books in this package support study across those connected areas. They include manufacturer and industry guidance for ductile iron and PVC pipe, construction estimating information, OSHA safety regulations, concrete pipe installation procedures, excavation practices, Florida utility accommodation requirements, damage-prevention requirements, trenchless installation standards, and the Florida Plumbing Code.

Because the examination is open book, candidates should prepare with the actual references they plan to use. Effective study includes learning which book applies to each topic, locating important tables and procedures, practicing calculations, and completing timed reference-navigation exercises.

This listing is for the complete Trade Knowledge book set. Business and Finance books, online courses, highlighted and tabbed preparation, application services, and licensing services are not included unless specifically stated in another product package.

Exam Details

The Florida Underground Utility Contractors General Trade Knowledge examination is administered through computer-based testing. The examination consists of 80 equally weighted questions and allows five hours for completion.

Questions are multiple choice and may require candidates to read and interpret plans, specifications, codes, technical standards, profiles, cross sections, equipment information, and construction calculations. Candidates should also prepare for basic mathematics involving fractions, decimals, percentages, area, volume, triangle calculations, square roots, powers, and simple algebra.

The published examination outline divides the trade examination into the following content areas:

• Pre-Installation: 20%
• Traffic Control: 5%
• Excavating, Backfill and Compaction: 20%
• Pipe Installation and Repairs: 15%
• Piping, Valves and Fittings: 15%
• Testing, Disinfecting and Job Closeout: 10%
• Drainage Systems: 5%
• Equipment: 10%

Pre-installation preparation may include site and equipment inspections, material quantities, plan review, shop drawings, applicable standards, federal and state requirements, excavation locations, soil and groundwater conditions, burial depth, pipe slope, utility locating, erosion control, material handling, pipe storage, plan scales, profiles, and geotechnical information.

Traffic-control topics may address compliance with traffic laws and contract requirements, placement of signs, cones, barricades, and detours, temporary pavement markings, flagger coordination, emergency access, and the location of stockpiled materials within or near rights-of-way.

Excavation, backfill, and compaction questions may involve trench construction, trench width, shoring, soil classification, OSHA requirements, dewatering, well points, sheet piling, trench boxes, tunneling, jack-and-bore work, non-cohesive soils, bedding, filter fabric, finish grades, invert elevations, surface replacement, compaction, and support of existing utilities.

Pipe installation and repair preparation may include pressure pipe, gravity sewer pipe, pipe slopes, bedding, deflection, fittings, valves, pump piping, manholes, lift stations, catch basins, grout, hydraulic cement, multiple pipes within one excavation, piers, slip lining, directional boring, testing, and trenchless installation procedures.

Piping, valves, and fittings topics may involve material selection, pump stations, fittings, meters, flow regulators, backflow prevention, pumps, motors, cathodic protection, hydrants, thrust restraint, taps, wall penetrations, underwater piping, pipe supports, coatings, mechanical connections, leak detection, and pressure testing.

Testing, disinfecting, and closeout preparation may include as-built drawings, infiltration and exfiltration testing, mandrel testing, low-pressure air testing, television inspection, hydrostatic testing, flushing, chlorination, bacteriological sampling, operating and maintenance manuals, signoffs, and final document submissions.

Drainage-system questions may address storm drainage installation, concrete pipe, box culverts, corrugated metal pipe, retention and detention systems, underdrains, perforated pipe, bedding, connections, cleaning procedures, and protection of installed systems.

Open Book Test

The Florida Underground Utility Contractor Trade Knowledge examination is open book. Candidates may bring only the references approved for the examination and must comply with the current testing-center rules.

The official reference list allows one copy of each authorized reference. Original editions are required except for specific documents identified as available in printable PDF form. Printed PDF references must be properly bound and remain bound during the examination.

References containing underlining or highlighting may be used. Handwritten and typewritten notes are not permitted. Moveable tabs, removable page flags, writing tablets, and electronic tablets are not allowed. Permanently attached tabs containing ordinary chapter or page headings may be accepted under the general construction-examination rules.

Open-book testing still requires extensive preparation. Candidates should know whether a question is most likely answered by the ductile iron guide, AWWA C900 standard, PVC handbook, excavation reference, concrete pipe manual, FDOT utility documents, OSHA regulations, damage-prevention guide, estimating book, or Florida Plumbing Code.

Practice should include timed searches for pipe dimensions, bedding procedures, joint assembly, allowable deflection, trench safety, utility-location requirements, bore procedures, testing methods, backfill calculations, and code provisions. The goal is to locate and apply information efficiently rather than reading entire chapters during the exam.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the license classification. Confirm that the Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor classification matches the work you intend to perform.
2. Review the qualification requirements. Evaluate the applicable experience, education, financial, insurance, background-screening, and business requirements.
3. Apply for the required examinations. Complete the examination application process for General Trade Knowledge and Business and Finance.
4. Prepare with the approved references. Study the official content areas and practice locating information within the listed books.
5. Schedule the examinations. After receiving authorization, schedule the computer-based testing appointments through the designated examination provider.
6. Pass the required examination parts. Complete both examination areas required for the Division II contractor classification unless an applicable exemption applies.
7. Submit the licensing application. File the appropriate Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor application.
8. Provide supporting documentation. Submit required experience records, education information, fingerprints, credit information, insurance documentation, and business qualification materials.
9. Complete final licensing requirements. Address workers’ compensation coverage or exemption and any additional items requested during application review.

State Requirements

Individuals seeking licensure as Florida Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractors must generally take and pass the state certification examinations before obtaining an active license.

Applicants are required to document four years of qualifying experience or an acceptable combination of college education and experience. Complete experience and education requirements are provided in the applicable licensing application.

A fingerprint-based background check is required as part of the licensing process. Applicants must submit fingerprints through a registered Livescan provider after submitting the license application.

Applicants must demonstrate financial stability and responsibility by providing a personal credit report containing a FICO-derived credit score and the required local, state, and federal public-record searches.

Applicants must attest that they have obtained public-liability and property-damage insurance in the amounts required by board rule. Workers’ compensation insurance or an applicable exemption must also be obtained within the period established for the license.

The required application depends on whether the applicant seeks an individual license, intends to qualify a business, plans to qualify an additional business, or is using another authorized licensing pathway.

Reference Books

• Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe, 2024
  A technical installation guide addressing ductile iron pipe handling, trench preparation, bedding, joint assembly, cutting, fittings, thrust restraint, backfill, testing, and installation practices.
• AWWA Standard for Polyvinyl Chloride Pressure Pipe and Fabricated Fittings, 4 Inches Through 60 Inches, for Water Transmission and Distribution, C900, 2022
  An industry standard covering PVC pressure pipe and fabricated fittings used in water transmission and distribution, including materials, dimensions, testing, quality requirements, and product specifications.
• Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book, 33rd Edition
  A construction-estimating reference containing labor, material, equipment, measurement, quantity, and cost information useful for excavation, piping, concrete, and site-work calculations.
• Code of Federal Regulations, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
  The federal construction-safety regulations covering excavation, trench protection, competent-person responsibilities, confined spaces, equipment, ladders, personal protective equipment, material handling, and workplace hazards.
• Concrete Pipe & Box Culvert Installation, 2007–2019
  An installation reference covering concrete pipe and box culvert unloading, storage, excavation, bedding, placement, joining, backfill, compaction, inspection, and construction practices.
• Pipe & Excavation Contracting, Dave Roberts, 2011
  A practical reference addressing excavation equipment, trench construction, soil conditions, shoring, dewatering, grading, pipe installation, backfill, compaction, estimating, and underground construction methods.
• Utility Accommodation Manual, 2017
  A Florida Department of Transportation reference covering utility installations, adjustments, permits, coordination, placement, clearances, roadway considerations, and utility work within transportation rights-of-way.
• The Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction, 5th Edition, 2012
  A detailed PVC pipe reference covering material properties, design, hydraulics, pressure applications, gravity systems, joints, fittings, installation, deflection, testing, and long-term performance.
• Damage Prevention Guide, October 2020
  A Florida damage-prevention reference that includes Chapter 556, Florida Statutes, and addresses underground facility notification, locating, excavation responsibilities, markings, tolerance zones, and prevention of utility damage.
• 555-Directional Bore, 2025–2026
  A Florida construction specification addressing directional-bore work, including materials, equipment, installation, drilling procedures, monitoring, quality requirements, and completion of trenchless utility crossings.
• 556-Jack & Bore, 2025–2026
  A Florida construction specification covering jack-and-bore installations, including casing, excavation, equipment, alignment, construction procedures, grouting, tolerances, and acceptance requirements.
• Florida Building Code – Plumbing, 2023
  The plumbing volume of the 8th Edition Florida Building Code, containing requirements related to water service, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, materials, pipe sizing, backflow protection, testing, and plumbing installations.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with pre-installation and excavation because each represents 20% of the published examination outline. Review plan reading, profiles, elevations, utility locating, site conditions, equipment selection, soil properties, trench protection, dewatering, bedding, backfill, compaction, and finish restoration.

Divide pipe study by material and application. Use the ductile iron guide for ductile iron handling and installation, AWWA C900 and the PVC handbook for PVC pressure systems, the concrete pipe manual for drainage structures, and the Florida Plumbing Code for applicable plumbing-system requirements.

Trenchless construction deserves focused review. Study directional boring, jack-and-bore procedures, casing requirements, drilling equipment, alignment, slurry, soil conditions, utility clearances, monitoring, safety, and restoration.

OSHA preparation should emphasize excavation and trenching requirements, soil classification, protective systems, access and egress, competent-person duties, spoil placement, equipment hazards, confined spaces, and personal protective equipment.

Practice calculating trench volume, bedding quantities, backfill, pipe slope, grade, elevations, concrete volume, surface replacement, material quantities, pressure, flow, and estimating costs. Always track units carefully and identify whether a question requires feet, inches, cubic yards, gallons, or percentages.

Complete timed reference drills using the actual books. Choose a topic, identify the correct reference, locate the applicable information, and confirm the answer. Repeated practice helps reduce unnecessary searching during the five-hour examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps contractor candidates organize a large technical reference library into a focused study plan. Trade-oriented review connects excavation, pipe materials, trench safety, utility locating, directional boring, drainage, testing, estimating, and Florida requirements.

Organized study guidance helps candidates work through the examination outline by content area rather than reading every book without direction. This approach makes it easier to identify high-priority topics and schedule repeated review.

Practice-oriented preparation strengthens both construction knowledge and problem-solving skills. Candidates can work through calculations, installation scenarios, safety questions, testing procedures, and reference lookups while identifying subjects that require additional attention.

Reference-navigation practice helps candidates learn which book applies to each type of question and where important tables, specifications, definitions, diagrams, and procedures are located. This skill is especially valuable during an open-book examination with a large reference set.

No book package can guarantee a passing score or licensing approval. Consistent study, field knowledge, accurate calculations, efficient reference use, time management, and completion of all state requirements remain essential.

FAQ Section

Is this book set for the Florida Underground Utility Contractor trade exam?

Yes. This package contains the listed references for the Florida Underground Utility Contractors General Trade Knowledge examination.

How many questions are on the trade examination?

The examination contains 80 equally weighted questions and allows five hours for completion.

Is the examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may use approved references that comply with the current examination-room rules.

What subjects are covered?

The published areas include pre-installation, traffic control, excavation, backfill, compaction, pipe installation, repairs, valves, fittings, testing, disinfection, drainage systems, equipment, and job closeout.

Are Business and Finance books included?

No. This listing is for the Trade Knowledge book set. Business and Finance references are separate unless another package specifically states that they are included.

Can approved PDF references be used during the exam?

Specific references identified by the state as available in PDF form may be printed and used when properly bound according to the examination rules.

Can I highlight the books?

Approved references may contain underlining or highlighting. Handwritten and typewritten notes are not permitted.

Why are directional-bore and jack-and-bore specifications included?

Trenchless utility installation is part of the trade knowledge associated with underground construction. The specifications support preparation for equipment, procedures, casing, alignment, materials, and quality requirements.

Does purchasing the book set guarantee that I will pass?

No. Exam performance depends on preparation, trade knowledge, calculation skills, reference familiarity, time management, and performance on test day.

Does passing the exam automatically issue a Florida contractor license?

No. Applicants must also complete the licensing application and satisfy the applicable experience, education, financial, insurance, background, and business requirements.