Nevada (NV) A General Engineering
Practice Exam Questions and Answers |
2026 Update | 100% Correct.
1. A General Engineering contractor in Nevada is primarily permitted to perform which
type of work?
A) Single-family dwellings and their associated site work
B) Any fixed work requiring engineering knowledge, including grading, paving, and
utilities
C) Only electrical and mechanical installations
D) Only landscape irrigation and retaining walls under 4 feet
Answer: B
Explanation: Nevada defines a General Engineering contractor as someone whose
principal contracting business involves fixed works requiring engineering knowledge,
such as highways, bridges, sewers, grading, and utilities. Residential housing falls under
General Building, not General Engineering.
2. Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 624, what is the maximum fine the Nevada
State Contractors Board can impose per violation?
A) $1,000
B) $5,000
C) $10,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Explanation: NRS 624.300 allows the Board to impose an administrative fine not to
exceed $10,000 for each violation of the chapter or any regulation or order of the Board.
,3. A General Engineering contractor bids on a $150,000 road patch project. What is the
minimum contractor’s bond requirement in Nevada for this license classification?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) $10,000
D) $50,000
**Answer:** D
**Explanation:** Nevada requires a contractor’s bond of $10,000 for licenses that
perform work under $50,000; for licenses performing work over $50,000, the bond is
$50,000. Since $150,000 exceeds $50,000, the $50,000 bond applies.
4. Which soil classification is most likely to cause settlement issues under a highway
embankment due to high compressibility?
A) Well-graded gravel (GW)
B) Lean clay (CL)
C) High-plasticity clay (CH)
D) Silty sand (SM)
Answer: C
Explanation: High-plasticity clay (CH) exhibits high compressibility and volume change
with moisture variation, leading to significant settlement. GW and SM are generally
stable, and CL has moderate compressibility but less than CH.
5. On a Nevada DOT project, the compaction requirement for a select granular borrow is
typically specified as what percentage of maximum dry density (Standard Proctor)?
A) 85%
B) 90%
C) 95%
D) 100%
Answer: C
Explanation: NDOT Standard Specifications commonly require 95% of Standard Proctor
,maximum dry density for select granular borrow in non-structural fills; structural fills
may require 95-100% Modified Proctor.
6. A contractor pours a concrete slab when the ambient temperature is 28°F. What
immediate action is required to prevent freezing damage?
A) Add extra water to reduce heat of hydration
B) Use calcium chloride as an accelerator only
C) Provide insulating blankets or heated enclosures
D) No action if air-entrained concrete is used
Answer: C
Explanation: ACI 306 specifies that concrete must be protected from freezing until
reaching a minimum compressive strength of 500 psi. Insulating blankets or heated
enclosures maintain temperature above freezing.
7. Which type of asphalt distress is characterized by interconnected cracks resembling
alligator skin and indicates structural failure?
A) Thermal cracking
B) Block cracking
C) Alligator (fatigue) cracking
D) Longitudinal cracking
Answer: C
Explanation: Alligator cracking is a load-related fatigue failure starting at the bottom of
asphalt layers, often due to inadequate thickness or poor subgrade support. Thermal
cracking is transverse; block cracking is from shrinkage.
8. In Nevada, a General Engineering contractor’s license also allows the contractor to
perform:
A) Any work of a General Building contractor if incidental to engineering work
B) Swimming pools for single-family homes
C) Roofing for any structure
D) New home construction without limitation
Answer: A
, Explanation: NRS 624.215 allows a General Engineering contractor to perform work of a
General Building contractor only if that work is incidental and directly related to the
engineering project. It does not authorize standalone building construction.
9. When performing a static load test on a deep foundation, the acceptable settlement
under twice the design load is typically less than:
A) 0.5 inches
B) 1 inch
C) 10% of pile diameter
D) 15% of pile diameter
Answer: C
Explanation: Industry standards (e.g., FHWA) suggest that settlement under twice the
design load should be less than 10% of the pile diameter for driven piles. For cast-in-
place, limits vary but 10% is a common guideline.
10. A contractor fails to complete a project on time due to unusually heavy rainfall. The
contract contains a no-damages-for-delay clause. What is the best course of action?
A) Claim force majeure and stop work
B) Document delays and request a time extension only
C) Bill the owner for all standby costs
D) Subcontract all remaining work at owner’s expense
Answer: B
Explanation: A no-damages-for-delay clause prevents monetary recovery but does not
bar a request for a time extension (excusable delay) if the contract allows. Heavy rainfall
is typically an excusable, non-compensable delay.
11. Which survey instrument is most appropriate for establishing primary control on a
long highway alignment with high accuracy?
A) Hand-held GPS
B) Total station
C) Automatic level
D) GPS with real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections
Practice Exam Questions and Answers |
2026 Update | 100% Correct.
1. A General Engineering contractor in Nevada is primarily permitted to perform which
type of work?
A) Single-family dwellings and their associated site work
B) Any fixed work requiring engineering knowledge, including grading, paving, and
utilities
C) Only electrical and mechanical installations
D) Only landscape irrigation and retaining walls under 4 feet
Answer: B
Explanation: Nevada defines a General Engineering contractor as someone whose
principal contracting business involves fixed works requiring engineering knowledge,
such as highways, bridges, sewers, grading, and utilities. Residential housing falls under
General Building, not General Engineering.
2. Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 624, what is the maximum fine the Nevada
State Contractors Board can impose per violation?
A) $1,000
B) $5,000
C) $10,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Explanation: NRS 624.300 allows the Board to impose an administrative fine not to
exceed $10,000 for each violation of the chapter or any regulation or order of the Board.
,3. A General Engineering contractor bids on a $150,000 road patch project. What is the
minimum contractor’s bond requirement in Nevada for this license classification?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) $10,000
D) $50,000
**Answer:** D
**Explanation:** Nevada requires a contractor’s bond of $10,000 for licenses that
perform work under $50,000; for licenses performing work over $50,000, the bond is
$50,000. Since $150,000 exceeds $50,000, the $50,000 bond applies.
4. Which soil classification is most likely to cause settlement issues under a highway
embankment due to high compressibility?
A) Well-graded gravel (GW)
B) Lean clay (CL)
C) High-plasticity clay (CH)
D) Silty sand (SM)
Answer: C
Explanation: High-plasticity clay (CH) exhibits high compressibility and volume change
with moisture variation, leading to significant settlement. GW and SM are generally
stable, and CL has moderate compressibility but less than CH.
5. On a Nevada DOT project, the compaction requirement for a select granular borrow is
typically specified as what percentage of maximum dry density (Standard Proctor)?
A) 85%
B) 90%
C) 95%
D) 100%
Answer: C
Explanation: NDOT Standard Specifications commonly require 95% of Standard Proctor
,maximum dry density for select granular borrow in non-structural fills; structural fills
may require 95-100% Modified Proctor.
6. A contractor pours a concrete slab when the ambient temperature is 28°F. What
immediate action is required to prevent freezing damage?
A) Add extra water to reduce heat of hydration
B) Use calcium chloride as an accelerator only
C) Provide insulating blankets or heated enclosures
D) No action if air-entrained concrete is used
Answer: C
Explanation: ACI 306 specifies that concrete must be protected from freezing until
reaching a minimum compressive strength of 500 psi. Insulating blankets or heated
enclosures maintain temperature above freezing.
7. Which type of asphalt distress is characterized by interconnected cracks resembling
alligator skin and indicates structural failure?
A) Thermal cracking
B) Block cracking
C) Alligator (fatigue) cracking
D) Longitudinal cracking
Answer: C
Explanation: Alligator cracking is a load-related fatigue failure starting at the bottom of
asphalt layers, often due to inadequate thickness or poor subgrade support. Thermal
cracking is transverse; block cracking is from shrinkage.
8. In Nevada, a General Engineering contractor’s license also allows the contractor to
perform:
A) Any work of a General Building contractor if incidental to engineering work
B) Swimming pools for single-family homes
C) Roofing for any structure
D) New home construction without limitation
Answer: A
, Explanation: NRS 624.215 allows a General Engineering contractor to perform work of a
General Building contractor only if that work is incidental and directly related to the
engineering project. It does not authorize standalone building construction.
9. When performing a static load test on a deep foundation, the acceptable settlement
under twice the design load is typically less than:
A) 0.5 inches
B) 1 inch
C) 10% of pile diameter
D) 15% of pile diameter
Answer: C
Explanation: Industry standards (e.g., FHWA) suggest that settlement under twice the
design load should be less than 10% of the pile diameter for driven piles. For cast-in-
place, limits vary but 10% is a common guideline.
10. A contractor fails to complete a project on time due to unusually heavy rainfall. The
contract contains a no-damages-for-delay clause. What is the best course of action?
A) Claim force majeure and stop work
B) Document delays and request a time extension only
C) Bill the owner for all standby costs
D) Subcontract all remaining work at owner’s expense
Answer: B
Explanation: A no-damages-for-delay clause prevents monetary recovery but does not
bar a request for a time extension (excusable delay) if the contract allows. Heavy rainfall
is typically an excusable, non-compensable delay.
11. Which survey instrument is most appropriate for establishing primary control on a
long highway alignment with high accuracy?
A) Hand-held GPS
B) Total station
C) Automatic level
D) GPS with real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections
