FLORIDA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
LICENSING BOARD BUILDING
CONTRACTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Site Layout — Benchmarks and Elevations
A building contractor is preparing to establish the finished-floor
elevation for a new commercial building. The surveyor provides a
benchmark with a known elevation of 104.50 feet. The proposed
finished-floor elevation is 106.25 feet. Which statement best describes
the contractor's responsibility during project layout?
A. The contractor may establish the finished-floor elevation solely by
measuring vertically from the nearest property line.
B. The contractor should use the established benchmark and approved
survey information to transfer and verify the required elevation.
C. The contractor should establish the elevation by averaging the
elevations of adjacent buildings.
D. The contractor should determine the finished-floor elevation from the
architectural floor-plan dimensions only.
Answer: B.
Rationale: A benchmark provides a known elevation reference from
which project elevations can be established and checked. The
contractor should rely on the approved survey and project documents
1
,rather than property lines, neighboring structures, or architectural
dimensions alone. Proper elevation control is particularly important
because errors can affect foundations, drainage, accessibility, finished
grades, and flood-related requirements.
2. Site Setbacks
A building site plan shows a required 20-foot setback from a property
line. During layout, the contractor discovers that the proposed building
foundation would be only 17 feet from the property line. What should
the project manager do FIRST?
A. Continue construction because the foundation location can be
adjusted later.
B. Move the foundation without notifying anyone.
C. Stop the affected layout work and verify the discrepancy against the
approved plans, survey, and applicable requirements.
D. Reduce the building dimensions immediately.
Answer: C.
Rationale: A setback discrepancy should be resolved before physical
construction proceeds. The project manager should compare the
survey, site plan, approved construction documents, and applicable
requirements. Constructing first and attempting to correct the problem
later can result in costly demolition, redesign, delays, or enforcement
problems.
3. Soil Compaction
A soil report requires compacted structural fill to achieve 95% of the
specified maximum dry density. Field testing indicates that the placed
2
,fill has achieved only 88%. What is the most appropriate project-
management response?
A. Place concrete immediately because the difference is insignificant.
B. Add water until the soil appears visually compacted.
C. Require corrective compaction procedures and retesting before
proceeding with work dependent on the fill.
D. Increase the concrete reinforcement to compensate for inadequate soil
compaction.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Compaction requirements are established to provide
adequate bearing capacity and control settlement. A field density result
below the specified requirement indicates that the material does not yet
satisfy the project criteria. Additional moisture conditioning,
recompaction, removal/replacement, or other approved corrective
measures may be necessary, followed by verification testing.
Reinforcing concrete does not correct deficient subgrade conditions.
4. Proctor Testing
What is the primary purpose of a laboratory Proctor compaction test?
A. To determine the compressive strength of concrete.
B. To establish the relationship between moisture content and dry
density for a soil under specified compaction conditions.
C. To determine the allowable wind pressure on a structure.
D. To calculate the water-cement ratio of concrete.
Answer: B.
3
, Rationale: Proctor testing establishes a soil's moisture-density
relationship and is commonly used to determine maximum dry density
and optimum moisture content under a specified compactive effort.
Field density testing can then be compared with the laboratory-
established maximum dry density to determine the degree of
compaction achieved.
5. Excavation and Angle of Repose
A contractor is excavating a deep trench adjacent to an existing
structure. The soil appears unstable and begins sloughing from the
trench wall. Which project-management consideration is MOST
important?
A. Increase the trench depth to expose more stable soil.
B. Ignore the sloughing if workers can enter and exit quickly.
C. Evaluate soil conditions and implement an appropriate protective
system such as sloping, benching, or an engineered protective system.
D. Place excavated soil directly at the edge of the trench.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Excavations can present serious cave-in hazards. The
appropriate protective approach depends on soil classification, depth,
site conditions, nearby loads, water, and other factors. OSHA
excavation requirements must be followed. Excavated material should
not be placed in a manner that creates additional loading or hazards at
the edge.
6. Dewatering
4
LICENSING BOARD BUILDING
CONTRACTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Site Layout — Benchmarks and Elevations
A building contractor is preparing to establish the finished-floor
elevation for a new commercial building. The surveyor provides a
benchmark with a known elevation of 104.50 feet. The proposed
finished-floor elevation is 106.25 feet. Which statement best describes
the contractor's responsibility during project layout?
A. The contractor may establish the finished-floor elevation solely by
measuring vertically from the nearest property line.
B. The contractor should use the established benchmark and approved
survey information to transfer and verify the required elevation.
C. The contractor should establish the elevation by averaging the
elevations of adjacent buildings.
D. The contractor should determine the finished-floor elevation from the
architectural floor-plan dimensions only.
Answer: B.
Rationale: A benchmark provides a known elevation reference from
which project elevations can be established and checked. The
contractor should rely on the approved survey and project documents
1
,rather than property lines, neighboring structures, or architectural
dimensions alone. Proper elevation control is particularly important
because errors can affect foundations, drainage, accessibility, finished
grades, and flood-related requirements.
2. Site Setbacks
A building site plan shows a required 20-foot setback from a property
line. During layout, the contractor discovers that the proposed building
foundation would be only 17 feet from the property line. What should
the project manager do FIRST?
A. Continue construction because the foundation location can be
adjusted later.
B. Move the foundation without notifying anyone.
C. Stop the affected layout work and verify the discrepancy against the
approved plans, survey, and applicable requirements.
D. Reduce the building dimensions immediately.
Answer: C.
Rationale: A setback discrepancy should be resolved before physical
construction proceeds. The project manager should compare the
survey, site plan, approved construction documents, and applicable
requirements. Constructing first and attempting to correct the problem
later can result in costly demolition, redesign, delays, or enforcement
problems.
3. Soil Compaction
A soil report requires compacted structural fill to achieve 95% of the
specified maximum dry density. Field testing indicates that the placed
2
,fill has achieved only 88%. What is the most appropriate project-
management response?
A. Place concrete immediately because the difference is insignificant.
B. Add water until the soil appears visually compacted.
C. Require corrective compaction procedures and retesting before
proceeding with work dependent on the fill.
D. Increase the concrete reinforcement to compensate for inadequate soil
compaction.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Compaction requirements are established to provide
adequate bearing capacity and control settlement. A field density result
below the specified requirement indicates that the material does not yet
satisfy the project criteria. Additional moisture conditioning,
recompaction, removal/replacement, or other approved corrective
measures may be necessary, followed by verification testing.
Reinforcing concrete does not correct deficient subgrade conditions.
4. Proctor Testing
What is the primary purpose of a laboratory Proctor compaction test?
A. To determine the compressive strength of concrete.
B. To establish the relationship between moisture content and dry
density for a soil under specified compaction conditions.
C. To determine the allowable wind pressure on a structure.
D. To calculate the water-cement ratio of concrete.
Answer: B.
3
, Rationale: Proctor testing establishes a soil's moisture-density
relationship and is commonly used to determine maximum dry density
and optimum moisture content under a specified compactive effort.
Field density testing can then be compared with the laboratory-
established maximum dry density to determine the degree of
compaction achieved.
5. Excavation and Angle of Repose
A contractor is excavating a deep trench adjacent to an existing
structure. The soil appears unstable and begins sloughing from the
trench wall. Which project-management consideration is MOST
important?
A. Increase the trench depth to expose more stable soil.
B. Ignore the sloughing if workers can enter and exit quickly.
C. Evaluate soil conditions and implement an appropriate protective
system such as sloping, benching, or an engineered protective system.
D. Place excavated soil directly at the edge of the trench.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Excavations can present serious cave-in hazards. The
appropriate protective approach depends on soil classification, depth,
site conditions, nearby loads, water, and other factors. OSHA
excavation requirements must be followed. Excavated material should
not be placed in a manner that creates additional loading or hazards at
the edge.
6. Dewatering
4
