Mississippi Municipal Contractor Exam Prep - Live Virtual + Self Study Training

Prepare for the Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination with live virtual training and structured self-study focused on municipal utility construction, water and sewer systems, excavation, grading, concrete, reinforcing steel, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, underground utility protection, and OSHA construction safety.

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors identifies Municipal and Public Works as a major commercial contractor classification. The classification covers water and sewer pipelines and plants, automated meter-reading equipment for water meters, and associated excavation, grading, and paving. The scope also includes cesspools, storm drains, other sewage-disposal and drainage structures, and TV or camera inspection of sewer lines.

This exam-prep program combines live virtual instruction with self-study training. Candidates can use the live sessions to work through major examination topics and technical references while continuing their preparation independently through book review, practice-oriented study, calculations, and open-book reference-navigation exercises.

The Mississippi Municipal examination is administered through PSI as part of the contractor licensing process overseen by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Applicants must complete the applicable licensing process and receive examination eligibility before scheduling the trade examination.

The current Mississippi Municipal examination contains 60 questions. Candidates receive 2 hours to complete the test and must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%.

The examination is open book. Candidates may use permitted technical references when the books comply with the current PSI testing rules. Because municipal construction draws from concrete, excavation, safety, steel, reinforcing, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, and Mississippi-specific utility requirements, knowing how to select and navigate the right reference is an important part of preparation.

The training is organized around the listed technical references, including The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Placing Reinforcing Bars, 29 CFR Part 1926, the DIPRA Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe, Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, post-tensioning material, steel joist guidance, and Mississippi excavation regulations. The NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Mississippi, 6th Edition supports preparation for the separate Law and Business Management examination requirement.

Live Class Schedule

The live training schedule is organized around the books and technical references used on the exam. Click Here to View the Current Live Class Schedule

Exam Details

The Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination contains 60 questions. Candidates receive 120 minutes, or 2 hours, to complete the examination and must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%.

The current examination content outline includes:

• Excavation, Compaction, and Grading: 13%
• Safety: 12%
• Steel: 17%
• Concrete: 25%
• General Knowledge: 5%
• Underground Utilities - Concrete Pipe Installation: 12%
• Underground Utilities - Ductile Pipe Installation: 12%
• Mississippi One-Call: 5%

Concrete is the largest examination category at 25%. Candidates should devote substantial preparation time to concrete materials, formwork, reinforcing steel, placement, curing, quality practices, foundations, and other concrete work associated with municipal construction.

Steel represents 17% of the examination. Excavation, Compaction, and Grading accounts for 13%, while Safety, Concrete Pipe Installation, and Ductile Pipe Installation each represent 12%.

General Knowledge and Mississippi One-Call each represent 5%. Because the test contains only 60 questions, preparation should cover the complete outline rather than focusing on a single construction specialty.

Open Book Test

The Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing permitted reference materials and following the current PSI rules governing those books.

Open-book testing requires strong reference familiarity. The municipal reference library contains information involving concrete, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning, excavation, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, steel erection, OSHA safety, and Mississippi excavation requirements.

Candidates should practice identifying the subject of a question before searching. A ductile iron pipe question should direct the candidate toward the DIPRA Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe. A concrete pipe question should suggest Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation.

Questions involving excavation methods, soil, trenching, grading, or production may lead to Pipe and Excavation Contracting, while excavation safety and protective-system questions may require 29 CFR Part 1926.

Concrete questions may require The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, or Placing Reinforcing Bars, depending on the topic.

Timed reference-navigation practice can help candidates develop a repeatable strategy: identify the technical subject, choose the likely reference, use its index or table of contents, locate the supporting information, and verify the answer before moving on.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Municipal and Public Works classification. Confirm that the major classification matches the municipal construction work the company intends to perform.
2. Complete the applicable Mississippi contractor application. Submit the required information to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
3. Identify the qualifying party. The qualifying party is the individual responsible for satisfying the required examination requirement for the applicant.
4. Submit the required supporting records. Provide the business, qualifying-party, financial, insurance, tax, and other documentation required for the application.
5. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the application and notifies PSI when the qualifying party is eligible to test.
6. Schedule the Municipal examination. Follow PSI registration instructions after examination eligibility is issued.
7. Prepare with live virtual and self-study training. Review concrete, steel, underground utilities, excavation, safety, grading, and Mississippi One-Call requirements.
8. Complete the Municipal trade examination. The test contains 60 questions, allows 2 hours, and requires a 70% passing score.
9. Complete the applicable Law and Business Management examination. Mississippi contractor applicants must satisfy the applicable business-law examination requirement.
10. Complete final Board review. Passing the examination does not automatically issue the license. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors must also approve the application and applicable supporting requirements.

State Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors identifies Municipal and Public Works as a major test-required classification.

The classification involves water and sewer pipelines and plants, installation of automated meter-reading equipment for water meters, and associated excavation, grading, and paving.

The scope also includes cesspools, storm drains, and other sewage-disposal and drain structures, along with TV or camera inspection of sewer lines.

Holding the major Municipal and Public Works classification allows the license holder to perform specialty classifications assigned by MSBOC under that major classification, subject to the Board's classification rules and any separate requirements that apply to particular work.

The Mississippi classification structure distinguishes sanitary sewer systems from general excavation and drainage work. Sanitary sewer work is included under Municipal and Public Works rather than the general Excavation, Grading and Drainage specialty classification.

Applicants must complete the MSBOC application process before scheduling required examinations. The qualifying party must hold the relationship to the applicant required by the Board.

Passing the Municipal trade examination alone does not automatically issue a contractor license. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors must also approve the applicable application and supporting documentation.

Reference Books

• NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Mississippi 6th Edition
  Supports preparation for Mississippi Law and Business Management, including contractor licensing, contracts, estimating, financial management, project administration, risk management, labor responsibilities, and business operations.
• The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction - 4th Edition
  Supports preparation involving concrete materials, planning, formwork, reinforcement, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, quality control, and concrete construction practices.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Supports study involving reinforcing-bar placement, supports, splices, ties, cover, detailing, handling, tolerances, and field construction procedures.
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with Latest Available Amendment
  Supports preparation involving excavation and trench safety, personal protective equipment, cranes, lifting, steel erection, fall protection, tools, equipment, and municipal construction hazards.
• DIPRA Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe, 2024
  Supports preparation involving ductile iron pipe handling, unloading, trench preparation, bedding, joints, fittings, alignment, laying, backfill, and field installation practices.
• Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, 2019
  Supports study involving concrete pipe handling, trench preparation, bedding, alignment, joints, installation, backfill, compaction, and culvert construction.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Dave Roberts, 2011
  Supports preparation involving excavation, grading, trenching, soils, equipment, underground utilities, pipe installation, bedding, backfill, estimating, and field-production methods.
• SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 2014, 8th Edition
  Supports preparation involving concrete formwork materials, loads, shores, supports, bracing, construction methods, and formwork safety.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 2003
  Supports preparation involving post-tensioning components, installation, stressing procedures, field practices, safety, and inspection fundamentals.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition
  Supports preparation involving steel joist handling, unloading, storage, placement, erection, bridging, and stability during construction.
• State of Mississippi Regulation of Excavation, Chapter 13 – Regulation of Excavations Near Underground Utility Facilities
  Supports preparation involving Mississippi excavation notification, utility-location responsibilities, underground facility protection, and damage-prevention requirements.

Test Information and Study Materials

A practical Mississippi Municipal study plan should begin with Concrete, which represents 25% of the examination.

Use The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction to review concrete materials, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, joints, weather-related considerations, and quality practices.

Concrete preparation should also include formwork and reinforcing steel. Use SP-4 to strengthen knowledge of forms, supports, loads, bracing, and construction procedures, and use Placing Reinforcing Bars for steel placement, supports, laps, ties, and cover.

Review the relationship between reinforcement, formwork, and concrete placement. Municipal concrete work may include structures, foundations, slabs, utility-related components, and other reinforced construction where the three systems must work together.

Steel represents 17% of the examination. Study handling, placement, erection, stability, and associated construction practices. Technical Digest No. 9 supports preparation involving steel joists and joist girders.

Underground Utilities - Ductile Pipe Installation accounts for 12%. Review unloading, storage, trench conditions, bedding, pipe placement, joints, fittings, alignment, backfill, and protection of completed work.

Use the DIPRA Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe to become familiar with the sequence of a properly installed ductile iron pipeline.

Underground Utilities - Concrete Pipe Installation also represents 12%. Study concrete pipe handling, bedding, joints, trench preparation, alignment, backfill, and the relationship between buried pipe and surrounding soil.

Concrete pipe can be heavy and requires careful lifting and placement. Candidates should understand the importance of protecting pipe ends, joint surfaces, and bedding conditions during installation.

Excavation, Compaction, and Grading represents 13%. Use Pipe and Excavation Contracting to review earthwork calculations, trench dimensions, soils, equipment, dewatering, backfill, grades, slopes, and compaction.

Municipal utility projects depend on accurate grade control. Water and sewer pipelines must be installed to the required line and elevation, making field calculations and plan interpretation useful preparation topics.

Practice excavation quantity calculations involving length, width, depth, cubic feet, and cubic yards. Candidates should also understand the differences among bank, loose, and compacted soil quantities.

Safety represents 12%. Excavation and trench work should receive significant attention because cave-ins, groundwater, equipment, spoil piles, access, utilities, and suspended loads can create serious hazards.

Review OSHA concepts involving protective systems, competent-person responsibilities, access and egress, water accumulation, underground installations, equipment near excavations, and personal protective equipment.

Concrete, reinforcing steel, lifting, steel erection, and construction equipment also introduce safety topics that can appear on the examination.

Mississippi One-Call represents 5%. Use the Mississippi excavation regulation to review contractor responsibilities before and during excavation near underground utilities.

Municipal contractors frequently work around existing water, sewer, gas, electrical, communication, and other buried systems. Utility location and damage prevention are therefore important parts of safe project planning.

General Knowledge represents another 5%. This section can draw from practical municipal construction methods and the interaction among excavation, concrete, pipe, steel, equipment, and field operations.

Use practice questions as reference-navigation exercises. Instead of immediately searching every book, first determine whether the problem is primarily about concrete, reinforcement, excavation, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, steel, safety, or Mississippi One-Call.

This classification relies heavily on specialized technical references. Developing a mental map of the book set can reduce unnecessary searching during an open-book examination.

Live virtual instruction provides an organized environment for working through the major subjects, while self-study gives candidates additional opportunities to repeat reference searches, calculations, and trade-focused review.

As examination day approaches, use mixed-topic preparation that moves from concrete to excavation, steel, pipe installation, safety, and Mississippi utility requirements. This helps prepare candidates for the rapid subject changes of the actual examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Mississippi Municipal Contractor candidates through organized live virtual instruction, structured self-study, trade-focused review, reference navigation, practice-oriented preparation, and confidence-building study structure.

The training focuses on the major technical areas associated with the Mississippi Municipal examination, including concrete, reinforcing steel, underground utilities, excavation, grading, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, safety, and Mississippi One-Call requirements.

Because the examination is open book, candidates can practice working with the same types of technical references used to locate answers during testing. Familiarity with indexes, tables of contents, specifications, diagrams, and technical guidance can help improve navigation efficiency.

Live virtual training gives candidates a structured environment for reviewing major examination topics, while self-study allows additional time to revisit difficult subjects, practice calculations, and strengthen book-navigation skills.

The goal is to help candidates approach the Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination with stronger utility-construction knowledge, better reference-navigation skills, improved calculation ability, greater safety awareness, and a more organized study process without guaranteeing a passing score or contractor license.

How many questions are on the Mississippi Municipal Contractor exam?

The Mississippi Municipal trade examination contains 60 questions.

How much time is allowed for the Municipal exam?

Candidates receive 2 hours to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass the Mississippi Municipal exam?

The minimum passing score is 70%.

Is the Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, subject to the current PSI rules governing permitted references and testing-room materials.

What is the largest subject on the Municipal exam?

Concrete is the largest category, representing 25% of the examination.

Does the Municipal exam cover ductile iron pipe?

Yes. Underground Utilities - Ductile Pipe Installation represents 12% of the examination.

Does the examination cover concrete pipe installation?

Yes. Underground Utilities - Concrete Pipe Installation represents 12% of the examination.

Does the exam include excavation and grading?

Yes. Excavation, Compaction, and Grading represents 13% of the examination.

Does the Mississippi Municipal exam include OSHA safety?

Yes. Safety represents 12% of the examination.

Does the exam cover Mississippi One-Call requirements?

Yes. Mississippi One-Call represents 5% of the examination.

Does this training include live virtual instruction?

Yes. This product combines live virtual training with structured self-study preparation.

Where can I view the Live Class Schedule?

Click Here to View the Current Live Class Schedule.

What work does the Mississippi Municipal and Public Works classification cover?

The classification covers water and sewer pipelines and plants, automated water-meter reading equipment, associated excavation, grading and paving, cesspools, storm drains, sewage-disposal and drainage structures, and sewer-line camera inspection within the classification scope.

Who administers the Mississippi Municipal examination?

The examination is administered through PSI as part of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors licensing process.

Do applicants also need Mississippi Law and Business Management?

Applicants must satisfy the applicable Mississippi Law and Business Management examination requirement as part of the contractor licensing process.

Does passing the Municipal exam automatically issue a Mississippi contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors must also approve the application and applicable supporting requirements.

Does this training guarantee that I will pass the Mississippi Municipal Contractor examination?

No. This exam prep is designed to support organized preparation. Examination performance depends on each candidate's study, municipal construction experience, technical knowledge, reference-navigation skills, calculation ability, and performance on test day.