Mississippi Concrete Contractor Exam Book Package

Prepare for the Mississippi Concrete Contractor examination with a complete collection of technical references covering concrete materials, mixture design, formwork, reinforcing, earthwork, construction safety, concrete cutting, control joints, and applicable building-code requirements. This package brings the listed books and technical publications together for contractors, qualifying parties, concrete professionals, supervisors, and experienced tradespeople preparing for the Mississippi Concrete specialty examination.

Concrete construction requires more than knowledge of placing and finishing. Candidates must understand how concrete ingredients affect performance, how forms are designed and assembled, how reinforcing is positioned, how earthwork supports concrete construction, and how joints are located and cut. They must also recognize safety requirements and understand the building-code provisions that apply to concrete work.

The Mississippi Concrete examination includes questions on concrete construction, reinforcement, formwork, safety, earthwork, and cutting. Each reference in this package supports one or more of those areas. The OSHA publication covers construction safety. SP-4 Formwork for Concrete addresses form design and construction. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures explains concrete materials, proportioning, properties, production, and quality control.

The concrete-cutting publications focus on joint planning, saw selection, cutting methods, timing, equipment, and practical flatwork procedures. The 2021 International Building Code provides the specified code framework for structural and general building requirements that may affect concrete construction.

This is a standard physical book package. The books are not highlighted or tabbed, and the package does not include an online course, application service, book rental, business formation, licensing approval, or the Mississippi Law and Business Management reference.

The package includes the 17th edition of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures. The current PSI examination bulletin identifies the 16th edition as the listed reference. PSI states that candidates may use later editions of non-code references at their own risk because differences between editions are not grounds for an examination appeal. The 2021 International Building Code is a code reference, so the specified code edition should be used for code questions and exam-room compliance.

Exam Details

The Mississippi Concrete Contractor examination is administered through PSI as part of the contractor licensing process overseen by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Concrete is a test-required specialty classification within the Building Construction category.

The examination has a stated scope of unlimited concrete work. It contains 50 questions, allows 2 hours for completion, and requires a minimum score of 70 percent to pass.

The official content outline divides the examination into the following areas:

• Safety: 6 questions
• Concrete Earthwork: 3 questions
• Concrete: 15 questions
• Concrete Reinforcement: 10 questions
• Concrete Formwork: 12 questions
• Concrete Cutting: 4 questions

General concrete knowledge represents the largest individual content area. Candidates should review concrete ingredients, cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, air entrainment, water-cementitious material relationships, workability, slump, strength, durability, curing, temperature control, batching, mixing, transportation, placement, consolidation, finishing, testing, and quality control.

Formwork is another major examination area. Preparation should include form materials, form pressure, loads, supports, shores, reshores, ties, walers, studs, bracing, foundations, walls, columns, beams, slabs, elevated work, stripping, tolerances, inspection, and safe erection or removal procedures.

Concrete reinforcement questions may address reinforcing bars, welded wire reinforcement, placement, spacing, cover, supports, chairs, ties, splices, development, embedment, coordination with forms, and protection during concrete placement. Candidates should understand why reinforcement must remain properly positioned while concrete is deposited and consolidated.

The earthwork portion may involve excavation, trenching, subgrades, compaction, backfilling, drainage, preparation for foundations, and safe access around concrete operations. Safety questions may cover excavation hazards, fall protection, personal protective equipment, formwork, reinforcing steel, tools, equipment, material handling, silica exposure, and other construction activities governed by OSHA.

The cutting section addresses sawcutting joints and concrete flatwork. Candidates should review joint location, joint depth, timing, blade selection, cutting methods, equipment operation, dust or slurry control, surface protection, and procedures intended to manage cracking.

Mississippi contractor applicants must also complete the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination unless an applicable waiver or licensing exception applies. That examination is separate from the Concrete trade test, and its reference book is not included in this package.

Open Book Test

The Mississippi Concrete Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references into the PSI testing center and ensuring the materials comply with current examination rules.

Reference materials may be highlighted, underlined, or indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs may be used to identify chapters, tables, code sections, and major subjects. Temporary tabs, Post-it-style markers, loose papers, and papers attached to the references are not allowed. Candidates may not write in the books during the examination session.

This standard package is not highlighted or tabbed. Candidates who prepare the references themselves should use only permanent indexing methods permitted by PSI. Organize the books before test day and avoid inserting handwritten sheets, photocopied notes, or other unapproved materials.

An open-book format does not remove the need for technical preparation. The examination allows an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. Candidates who do not know which reference addresses a subject may lose valuable time moving between books.

Effective preparation includes learning the role of every publication. OSHA is the primary source for federal jobsite safety questions. SP-4 Formwork for Concrete supports questions involving forms, shores, bracing, pressure, construction, stripping, and related practices. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures supports questions involving materials, proportions, fresh concrete, hardened concrete, durability, production, and testing.

The short publications on concrete cutting should be studied as a group. They address practical cutting procedures, joint installation, flatwork, saw operation, and methods for improving efficiency and results. The International Building Code should be used for code-based requirements involving concrete construction and related building provisions.

Practice by reading a question, identifying its main subject, selecting the most likely reference, and locating the supporting information. Repeat searches that take too long. The goal is to build a consistent navigation method rather than depending on random page turning.

Licensing Steps

The Mississippi contractor licensing process begins with an application to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Candidates cannot independently schedule the required trade examination before the Board reviews the application and sends eligibility information to PSI.

1. Select the Concrete classification. Confirm that the specialty classification matches the concrete work the company intends to perform.
2. Choose the applicable contractor application. Complete the current application that corresponds with the applicant’s intended commercial or residential activities.
3. Identify the qualifying party. Name the individual who will satisfy the required examination on behalf of the applying business.
4. Complete the application. Supply the requested information regarding the company, ownership, qualifying party, experience, finances, insurance, taxes, and professional references.
5. Collect supporting records. Assemble the documents required for the applicant’s entity type, classification, and licensing circumstances.
6. Submit the application to MSBOC. The Board reviews the application and communicates any missing or incomplete requirements.
7. Receive testing eligibility. Once the qualifying party is authorized, MSBOC sends the eligibility information to PSI.
8. Schedule the required examinations. Follow the instructions provided by PSI after receiving confirmation that the candidate is eligible to test.
9. Prepare with the concrete references. Study the examination outline and practice technical research with the books in this package.
10. Complete final licensing review. Passing the examinations does not automatically issue a license. The full application and supporting requirements must also be approved.

This product is a reference-book package and does not include application service. Applicants remain responsible for completing the official forms, supplying accurate documentation, preparing for Law and Business Management, and satisfying all requirements of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

State Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors identifies Concrete as a test-required specialty classification. The scope includes concrete forming and placing and the assembly of forms, molds, slipforms, and pans.

The classification covers the construction, erection, maintenance, and repair of foundations for buildings, equipment, and machinery. It also includes centering, trenching, excavation, backfilling, and grading performed in connection with concrete construction.

The scope encompasses flat and vertical concrete construction, including concrete floors, foundations, piers, chimneys, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, and curbs. It also includes the placement of steel mesh, reinforcing bars, and reinforcing rods. Construction of streets, roads, and highways is not included within this Concrete specialty classification.

The classification also includes traffic control, signs, striping, and nonelectrical guardrails. Contractors should perform only work authorized by the classification shown on the issued license and any other credentials required for a specific project.

The applicant must identify a qualifying party who meets the examination requirement for the business. The qualifying party’s relationship with the company must satisfy the Board’s requirements and be supported by the requested records.

Applicants must provide the business and licensing documents required for their application type. These may include entity-registration information, financial statements, insurance documents, tax identification, professional references, experience information, and qualifying-party records.

The legal company name should be consistent across the contractor application, entity-registration documents, insurance certificate, financial records, tax information, bids, permits, and contracts. Incomplete or inconsistent information can delay testing authorization and final licensing review.

Reference Books

The Mississippi Concrete Contractor Exam Book Package includes the following eight physical references:

• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Contains federal construction-safety requirements involving excavations, fall protection, reinforcing steel, concrete and masonry construction, formwork, personal protective equipment, tools, equipment, material handling, silica, and other jobsite hazards.
• SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 2014, 8th Edition
  Provides detailed information about concrete formwork materials, design considerations, loads, pressure, ties, shores, bracing, wall forms, column forms, slab forms, tolerances, construction, stripping, and safety.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  Covers cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, mixture proportioning, batching, mixing, workability, placement, curing, strength, durability, testing, quality control, and the behavior of concrete in different conditions.
• Sawcutting Joints in Concrete, Bruce A. Suprenant, 1995
  Discusses the purpose, planning, location, timing, and cutting of joints used to manage concrete cracking and accommodate movement in slabs and other concrete work.
• Sawcutting Concrete Flatwork, Rosalie Johnston, 1994
  Addresses practical methods for sawcutting slabs and flatwork, including equipment considerations, timing, joint installation, cutting procedures, and factors that affect completed work.
• Taking the Tedium Out of Cutting, 1981
  Provides practical information about concrete-cutting operations, equipment use, work planning, and methods intended to make repetitive cutting tasks more efficient.
• Tips for Cutting Concrete, 1987
  Reviews useful techniques and considerations for concrete cutting, including preparation, equipment, blades, operating practices, jobsite conditions, and common cutting challenges.
• International Building Code, 2021
  Provides building-code requirements involving structural concrete, construction safeguards, materials, occupancy, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, special inspections, and general building construction.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following publications correspond with the references identified for the Mississippi Concrete examination:

• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with Latest Available Amendments
  The listed federal construction-safety reference for the examination.
• SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 2014, 8th Edition
  The listed reference for concrete formwork, shoring, loads, bracing, construction, and removal.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures
  PSI currently lists the 16th edition. This package contains the 17th edition, which is a later non-code edition and may contain differences from the listed examination reference.
• Sawcutting Joints in Concrete, Bruce A. Suprenant, 1995
  The listed publication for concrete joints and sawcutting practices.
• Sawcutting Concrete Flatwork, Rosalie Johnston, 1994
  The listed publication for cutting concrete slabs and flatwork.
• Taking the Tedium Out of Cutting, 1981
  The listed technical publication addressing concrete-cutting operations.
• Tips for Cutting Concrete, 1987
  The listed publication covering practical concrete-cutting methods and considerations.
• International Building Code, 2021
  The specified code edition allowed for code-based questions on the examination.

Test Information and Study Materials

A practical study plan should follow the official content outline. Concrete, formwork, and reinforcement account for 37 of the 50 scored questions, so these subjects should receive most of the preparation time.

Begin with concrete materials and mixture fundamentals. Review cement types, supplementary cementitious materials, aggregate properties, water quality, admixtures, air content, slump, water-cementitious material ratio, strength, durability, curing, temperature, testing, and quality control. Focus on how changes in materials and proportions affect fresh and hardened concrete.

For formwork, study pressure, loads, ties, bracing, shores, reshores, supports, form materials, placement rates, alignment, stability, stripping, and inspection. Candidates should understand both the construction function of forms and the hazards created by inadequate support or premature removal.

Reinforcement study should include bar placement, cover, supports, spacing, ties, splices, development, welded wire reinforcement, coordination with embedded items, and maintaining position during placement. Connect reinforcing concepts with applicable code requirements and practical field procedures.

Concrete-cutting preparation should focus on why joints are used, when cutting begins, how deep joints are cut, how layouts are planned, and which equipment or blade is appropriate. Study all four cutting publications because the exam outline assigns four questions to this specialized area.

Use timed research exercises. Read a practice question, identify the topic, select the reference, and find supporting information. With 50 questions in two hours, candidates need a deliberate approach to time management and book navigation.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Mississippi Concrete candidates begin with a coordinated collection of references aligned with the major subjects on the trade examination. Instead of locating OSHA, formwork, mixture-design, cutting, and code publications separately, customers receive the listed materials in one package.

The books support trade-focused review of concrete materials, mixture proportioning, formwork, reinforcing, earthwork, construction safety, control joints, sawcutting, and building-code requirements. Candidates can organize their preparation around the official content areas and devote additional attention to the heavily tested subjects.

Practice-oriented preparation involves using the books as working references. Candidates can review terminology, locate tables, interpret technical information, compare procedures, and complete timed searches that resemble the research required during an open-book examination.

The package also supports a structured study routine. Candidates can begin with general concrete principles, move into formwork and reinforcement, review safety and earthwork, and finish with concrete-cutting publications and mixed reference-navigation exercises.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing score, application approval, license issuance, or examination outcome. The package provides technical references that support organized study, practical review, and greater familiarity with the materials associated with the Mississippi Concrete Contractor exam.

How many books and publications are included?

The package includes eight physical references covering OSHA safety, concrete formwork, concrete mixtures, sawcutting, control joints, flatwork cutting, and the 2021 International Building Code.

Is the Mississippi Concrete exam open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, subject to PSI’s current rules for approved references, permanent indexing, markings, calculators, and testing-room materials.

How many questions are on the exam?

The Mississippi Concrete examination contains 50 questions. Candidates are allowed two hours and must earn a minimum score of 70 percent to pass.

Is the 17th edition of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures listed by PSI?

The current PSI bulletin lists the 16th edition. This package includes the newer 17th edition. PSI permits later editions of non-code references at the candidate’s risk because differences between editions are not grounds for an appeal.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

No. This is the standard Mississippi Concrete Contractor Exam Book Package. Highlighting and permanent tabbing are not included.

Does the package include an online course?

No. This product includes the listed physical books and publications only. Online course access is not included.

Does the package include Mississippi Law and Business preparation?

No. The Mississippi Law and Business Management examination is separate, and its reference book and preparation materials are not included.

Does this package include application service?

No. Applicants remain responsible for completing the Mississippi contractor application and submitting all required supporting documentation.

What concrete topics should receive the most study time?

Concrete fundamentals, reinforcement, and formwork should receive the most attention because those three categories represent 37 of the 50 examination questions.

Does passing the examination automatically issue a license?

No. Passing the required examinations is one part of the licensing process. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors must also receive and approve the completed application and supporting documentation.