Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor Exam Complete Books & Application Accelerator – Highlighted Edition

Prepare for the Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor examination and licensing process with a complete highlighted reference package plus Application Accelerator support. This package combines the four trade references associated with the Mississippi Excavation, Grading and Drainage examination with guided support for the contractor license application process.

Excavation and grading work requires contractors to understand site preparation, trenching, earthmoving, grading, soil conditions, compaction, drainage, underground utility protection, equipment use, and construction safety. The Mississippi trade examination reflects that broad scope, making both technical knowledge and efficient reference navigation important parts of preparation.

This package includes Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), State of Mississippi Regulation of Excavation, Chapter 13 Regulation of Excavations Near Underground Utility Facilities, and Mississippi Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2004.

The books are provided as a Highlighted Edition for exam preparation. Candidates can use the prepared references while reviewing excavation methods, grading practices, OSHA requirements, Mississippi underground utility regulations, and state construction specifications.

The Application Accelerator adds guided support with the Mississippi contractor license application process. This allows candidates to organize application-related steps while preparing for the trade examination instead of treating exam study and licensing paperwork as completely separate projects.

What You Get

• Complete Four-Book Trade Reference Package: All four listed references supporting the Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor examination.
• Highlighted Edition: The included books are highlighted for exam preparation.
• Excavation and Grading Reference: Pipe and Excavation Contracting for earthwork, excavation, grading, trenching, equipment, soils, compaction, and field operations.
• OSHA Safety Reference: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 covering construction safety requirements.
• Mississippi Underground Utility Reference: Chapter 13 Regulation of Excavations Near Underground Utility Facilities for excavation notification and utility-protection requirements.
• Mississippi Construction Specifications: Mississippi Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2004.
• Application Accelerator: Guided support with the Mississippi contractor license application process.

The combination of prepared books and application support creates a practical starting point for candidates pursuing the Mississippi Excavation, Grading and Drainage classification. The reference library supports exam preparation, while the Application Accelerator helps candidates stay organized with the licensing process.

Exam Details

The Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor examination is administered through PSI as part of the contractor licensing process overseen by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Excavation, Grading and Drainage is identified as a test-required specialty classification.

The examination contains 40 questions. Candidates receive 2 hours to complete the test and must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%, or 28 correct answers.

The examination content is divided into three principal subject areas:

• General Regulations and One Call: 15 questions
• Excavating and Grading: 20 questions
• Safety – Code of Federal Regulations: 5 questions

Excavating and Grading is the largest section of the examination, accounting for half of all questions. Candidates should prepare for excavation planning, equipment selection, trenching, grading, elevations, cut-and-fill operations, soil handling, compaction, backfilling, drainage, dewatering, quantities, and practical earthwork procedures.

General Regulations and One Call represents another 15 questions. Candidates should understand responsibilities related to underground facilities, excavation notification, utility locating and marking, safe digging practices, protection of exposed facilities, and response procedures when underground infrastructure is affected.

Safety accounts for five questions. OSHA preparation should focus heavily on excavation and trenching hazards, protective systems, access and egress, competent-person responsibilities, spoil placement, equipment hazards, personal protective equipment, and other construction safety requirements.

With 120 minutes for 40 questions, candidates have an average of approximately three minutes per question. Strong trade knowledge can help answer many questions directly, while effective book navigation can support code, regulation, specification, and technical lookups.

Open Book Test

The Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates may use the approved trade references during the examination when the materials comply with the applicable testing rules.

Open-book testing still requires preparation. Candidates should know which book is most likely to contain the answer before they begin searching. Moving randomly between several references can consume valuable time during a two-hour examination.

The highlighted books in this package support a more organized preparation process. Candidates can use the highlighted material during study sessions while learning each book's table of contents, index, chapter structure, regulation sections, specification numbering, and technical terminology.

A question involving excavation production, equipment, grading, soil movement, or earthwork methods may direct candidates toward Pipe and Excavation Contracting. A trench-safety question may require 29 CFR Part 1926. A Mississippi underground utility notification question may require the state excavation regulation, while a state road or bridge construction specification may require the Mississippi Standard Specifications.

Practice should include timed searches. Read a question, identify the main subject, choose the appropriate reference, and locate the applicable information. When a search takes too long, determine whether the problem was choosing the wrong book, using the wrong terminology, or not knowing the reference structure well enough.

Repeated book-navigation practice can help make the reference library a working exam tool rather than a collection of unfamiliar publications.

Licensing Steps

The Mississippi contractor licensing process begins with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Applicants must complete the applicable licensing application process before proceeding with required testing.

1. Select the Excavation, Grading and Drainage classification. Confirm that the classification matches the work the business intends to perform.
2. Complete the Mississippi contractor application. Provide the requested information concerning the business, ownership, qualifying party, experience, financial information, insurance, taxes, and supporting records.
3. Identify the qualifying party. The application must designate the individual responsible for satisfying the required examination on behalf of the business.
4. Document relevant experience. Provide the experience information required for the requested classification.
5. Submit the application for review. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors evaluates the application and supporting documentation.
6. Receive testing eligibility. After eligibility is established, the qualifying party can proceed with the applicable PSI examination registration process.
7. Prepare for the Excavation and Grading examination. Study the trade topics and practice navigating all four references.
8. Schedule and complete required examinations. Follow the applicable testing instructions and examination-center requirements.
9. Complete Mississippi Law and Business requirements when applicable. The trade examination is separate from applicable business and law testing requirements.
10. Complete final licensing review. Passing the required examination does not automatically issue a contractor license. The application and all remaining requirements must also be approved.

The Application Accelerator provides guided support with the contractor application process, helping candidates keep licensing tasks organized while working through their exam preparation.

State Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors identifies Excavation, Grading and Drainage as a test-required specialty classification. The classification includes clearing, grading, excavating, digging, moving, cutting, filling, backfilling, trenching, and placing material that changes or forms the surface of the earth.

The work may be performed using hand tools, power tools, or heavy equipment. Typical activities can include site clearing, mass excavation, trench excavation, rough grading, finish grading, embankment construction, backfilling, compaction, and preparation for other construction work.

The classification also includes hydrovac excavation, dewatering, and soil-retention systems. These activities can require knowledge involving groundwater control, trench conditions, excavation stability, safe access, and protection of surrounding property and utilities.

The scope also includes installation, maintenance, or construction of storm sewers, drains, channels, conduits, and systems used to carry away excess water. It includes qualifying box culvert work within the classification's defined limits.

Underground utility protection is particularly important for excavation contractors. Mississippi regulations establish responsibilities related to notification, locating, marking, safe excavation, and protection of underground facilities. These topics make up a substantial portion of the trade examination.

The classification and issued license determine the work the contractor is authorized to perform. Contractors should operate within the classifications and authorities granted through the Mississippi licensing process.

Reference Books

The Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor Exam Complete Books & Application Accelerator – Highlighted Edition includes the following references:

• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  A practical construction reference covering excavation planning, estimating, equipment selection, trenching, grading, soils, pipe installation, dewatering, backfilling, compaction, productivity, and earthwork procedures. This book supports preparation for the largest examination category.
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  A federal construction-safety reference addressing excavations, trenches, protective systems, access and egress, equipment, personal protective equipment, ladders, materials handling, traffic exposure, and other construction hazards.
• State of Mississippi Regulation of Excavation, Chapter 13 Regulation of Excavations Near Underground Utility Facilities
  A Mississippi regulatory reference addressing excavation near underground facilities, including notification, locating, marking, planning, damage prevention, protection, and responsibilities associated with underground utility work.
• Mississippi Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2004
  A state construction specification reference covering excavation, grading, embankments, subgrades, compaction, drainage, materials, construction procedures, measurement, and related road and bridge construction requirements.

Each book supports a specific part of the examination. Candidates should learn which reference applies to earthwork methods, OSHA safety, Mississippi One Call and underground utility requirements, and state specifications before examination day.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following four references are used for the Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor open-book examination:

• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Supports excavation, grading, soils, earthwork, equipment, trenching, compaction, dewatering, and related construction topics.
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Supports excavation safety, trench protection, equipment, personal protective equipment, access, and other construction-safety requirements.
• State of Mississippi Regulation of Excavation, Chapter 13 Regulation of Excavations Near Underground Utility Facilities
  Supports Mississippi underground utility notification, locating, marking, protection, and damage-prevention topics.
• Mississippi Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2004
  Supports Mississippi specifications involving earthwork, grading, embankments, subgrades, compaction, drainage, construction procedures, and related requirements.

The highlighted preparation included with this package can help candidates identify important material during study. Candidates should still practice using all four references repeatedly so they understand how the information is organized and where major topics are located.

Test Information and Study Materials

A productive study plan should follow the examination outline and give the most time to Excavating and Grading, which accounts for 20 of the 40 exam questions.

Excavating and Grading preparation should include clearing, excavation planning, trenching, grading, cuts, fills, embankments, backfilling, subgrades, compaction, equipment selection, drainage, dewatering, quantities, and soil behavior.

Candidates should understand basic earthwork terminology such as cut, fill, borrow, waste, swell, shrinkage, slope, elevation, trench, embankment, subgrade, moisture, and compaction. These concepts are important when interpreting both technical questions and construction specifications.

Equipment knowledge should include the general uses of excavators, backhoes, loaders, bulldozers, graders, compactors, trenchers, pumps, trucks, and other earthmoving equipment. Questions may require candidates to connect a particular operation with an appropriate piece of equipment or construction method.

General Regulations and One Call represents 15 questions. Review Mississippi underground utility notification requirements, utility markings, excavation responsibilities, damage prevention, safe digging procedures, and actions required when facilities are exposed or damaged.

Safety represents five questions. OSHA preparation should focus heavily on excavation hazards, competent-person inspections, protective systems, water accumulation, spoil placement, access and egress, hazardous atmospheres, underground installations, and equipment operating near excavations.

Practice calculations involving length, width, depth, area, volume, slopes, grades, and earthwork quantities. Candidates should read every calculation question carefully and confirm the units required before selecting an answer.

Use the Mississippi Standard Specifications to practice finding sections involving excavation, embankments, compaction, subgrade preparation, drainage, materials, and construction requirements. Becoming familiar with specification numbering can improve lookup speed.

Timed reference drills are particularly useful for an open-book test. Select a question, identify the subject, choose the correct reference, and locate the supporting information. Repeat difficult searches until the process becomes more familiar.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and guided application support.

The highlighted reference package provides an organized foundation for studying excavation, grading, safety, underground utility requirements, and Mississippi construction specifications. Candidates can use the prepared books while reviewing trade concepts and practicing exam-style lookups.

Reference navigation is especially important because the examination is open book. Candidates should learn whether a question is best answered from Pipe and Excavation Contracting, OSHA, the Mississippi excavation regulation, or the Mississippi Standard Specifications before beginning a detailed search.

Practice-oriented preparation helps candidates identify weaker areas. Someone struggling with earthwork quantities can spend additional time on calculations. Candidates who have difficulty with underground utility questions can focus on the Mississippi excavation regulation. OSHA and specification topics can be reviewed in the same targeted way.

The Application Accelerator adds licensing support to the book package. Candidates can work through the contractor application process while continuing to prepare for the trade examination, helping create a more organized path toward their licensing goal.

No book package or application service guarantees a passing examination score or contractor license. Examination performance depends on the candidate's preparation, knowledge, experience, reference-navigation skills, and performance on test day. Licensing requires completion and approval of all applicable Mississippi requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor Complete Books & Application Accelerator package?

The package includes four highlighted trade references covering excavation and grading, OSHA construction safety, Mississippi underground utility regulations, and Mississippi road and bridge construction specifications, plus Application Accelerator support.

Are the books highlighted?

Yes. This product is the Highlighted Edition, and the included books are highlighted for exam preparation.

Is the Mississippi Excavation and Grading exam open book?

Yes. The Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor examination is an open-book test.

How many questions are on the examination?

The examination contains 40 questions.

How much time is allowed?

Candidates receive two hours to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The minimum passing score is 70%, which equals 28 correct answers.

What is the largest examination subject?

Excavating and Grading is the largest category with 20 questions, representing half of the trade examination.

Does the exam include Mississippi One Call requirements?

Yes. General Regulations and One Call account for 15 questions, making underground utility notification and protection an important preparation area.

What is the Application Accelerator?

The Application Accelerator provides guided support with the Mississippi contractor license application process while the candidate prepares for the trade examination.

Does this package include Mississippi Law and Business preparation?

The four listed books support the Excavation and Grading trade examination. Mississippi Law and Business requirements are separate from this trade reference package.

Does passing the exam automatically issue a Mississippi contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The contractor application and remaining Mississippi requirements must also be completed and approved.

Does this package guarantee a passing score or license approval?

No. The package provides highlighted examination references and guided application support, but examination performance and licensing approval depend on completion of the applicable requirements.