HAWAII GENERAL ENGINEERING
CONTRACTOR (CLASS A) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 4 Hours
Total Questions: 100 Questions
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Minimum Competency: 70% Required to Pass
Core Focus: Construction Law, Safety, Estimating, Project Management, HI Stand
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam validates competency for unlimited general
engineering contracting per Hawaii DCCA/PVL. Covers heavy construction, highways, utilities,
grading, excavation, structures, and business law.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• Construction Law & Business (30%) — HRS Chapter 444, lien law, contracts, insurance, bonds,
labor law
• Safety & OSHA (25%) — OSHA 1926, excavation safety, confined space, fall protection, hazard
communication
• Estimating & Project Management (25%) — Blueprint reading, quantity takeoff, scheduling, cost
control, bidding
• Engineering Practices (20%) — Soils, concrete, asphalt, utilities, surveying, erosion control, HI
standards
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options. Correct answers are highlighted in green with checkmark (✓).
Every question includes detailed rationale with HI statute and code references. Requires 70% to
pass.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444 (Contractors). Know lien law HRS 507. Understand
OSHA 1926 Subpart P for excavations. Study blueprint reading and CSI divisions. Know soils
classification and compaction. Review concrete and asphalt specifications. Understand HI-DOT
standards. Practice estimating and scheduling.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect current standards: Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444, HAR Title 16 Chapter 77,
OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Hawaii DOT Standard Specifications, IBC, and construction industry best
practices.
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 2
, SECTION I: Construction Law & Business
1. Hawaii contractor license Class A scope:
A. Residential only under $1000
✓ B. Unlimited general engineering construction
C. Plumbing only
D. Electrical only
Rationale: Hawaii Class A: General Engineering Contractor. Scope: Unlimited. Includes fixed works:
highways, roads, bridges, dams, utilities, excavating, grading, paving, pipelines. Can perform all work or
subcontract. Requires 4 years experience, exam, financial statement, bond $5,000-$500,000 based on limit.
HRS 444-7. Class B: General Building. Class C: Specialty.
2. Hawaii mechanics lien filing deadline:
A. 1 year
✓ B. 45 days after completion or 45 days after notice of completion
C. 10 years
D. No deadline
Rationale: HRS 507-42: Mechanics lien must be filed within 45 days after completion of work or 45 days
after filing notice of completion, whichever is earlier. Notice to owner required within 45 days of first work.
Foreclosure action within 6 months. Protects contractors, subs, suppliers. HI requires strict compliance with
notice and timing.
3. Hawaii contractor bond requirement:
A. No bond required
✓ B. $5,000 to $500,000 based on license limit
C. $1,000,000 minimum
D. $100 only
Rationale: HRS 444-11: Contractor bond required. Amount: $5,000 to $500,000 depending on license
monetary limit. Protects consumers and laborers. Also requires liability insurance $100,000/$300,000 bodily
injury, $50,000 property damage. Workers comp required. Bond must be maintained or license suspended.
HI DCCA enforces.
4. Hawaii prevailing wage law applies to:
A. All private projects
✓ B. Public works projects over $2,000
C. Residential only
D. No projects
Rationale: HRS Chapter 104: Prevailing wages required on public works >$2,000. Rates set by DLIR.
Certified payrolls submitted weekly. Apprenticeship ratios enforced. Penalties for violations. Applies to state,
county, municipal projects. Private work exempt unless government funded. HI contractors must comply or
face debarment.
5. Hawaii GET (General Excise Tax) rate for contracting:
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 3
CONTRACTOR (CLASS A) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 4 Hours
Total Questions: 100 Questions
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Minimum Competency: 70% Required to Pass
Core Focus: Construction Law, Safety, Estimating, Project Management, HI Stand
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam validates competency for unlimited general
engineering contracting per Hawaii DCCA/PVL. Covers heavy construction, highways, utilities,
grading, excavation, structures, and business law.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• Construction Law & Business (30%) — HRS Chapter 444, lien law, contracts, insurance, bonds,
labor law
• Safety & OSHA (25%) — OSHA 1926, excavation safety, confined space, fall protection, hazard
communication
• Estimating & Project Management (25%) — Blueprint reading, quantity takeoff, scheduling, cost
control, bidding
• Engineering Practices (20%) — Soils, concrete, asphalt, utilities, surveying, erosion control, HI
standards
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options. Correct answers are highlighted in green with checkmark (✓).
Every question includes detailed rationale with HI statute and code references. Requires 70% to
pass.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444 (Contractors). Know lien law HRS 507. Understand
OSHA 1926 Subpart P for excavations. Study blueprint reading and CSI divisions. Know soils
classification and compaction. Review concrete and asphalt specifications. Understand HI-DOT
standards. Practice estimating and scheduling.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect current standards: Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444, HAR Title 16 Chapter 77,
OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Hawaii DOT Standard Specifications, IBC, and construction industry best
practices.
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 2
, SECTION I: Construction Law & Business
1. Hawaii contractor license Class A scope:
A. Residential only under $1000
✓ B. Unlimited general engineering construction
C. Plumbing only
D. Electrical only
Rationale: Hawaii Class A: General Engineering Contractor. Scope: Unlimited. Includes fixed works:
highways, roads, bridges, dams, utilities, excavating, grading, paving, pipelines. Can perform all work or
subcontract. Requires 4 years experience, exam, financial statement, bond $5,000-$500,000 based on limit.
HRS 444-7. Class B: General Building. Class C: Specialty.
2. Hawaii mechanics lien filing deadline:
A. 1 year
✓ B. 45 days after completion or 45 days after notice of completion
C. 10 years
D. No deadline
Rationale: HRS 507-42: Mechanics lien must be filed within 45 days after completion of work or 45 days
after filing notice of completion, whichever is earlier. Notice to owner required within 45 days of first work.
Foreclosure action within 6 months. Protects contractors, subs, suppliers. HI requires strict compliance with
notice and timing.
3. Hawaii contractor bond requirement:
A. No bond required
✓ B. $5,000 to $500,000 based on license limit
C. $1,000,000 minimum
D. $100 only
Rationale: HRS 444-11: Contractor bond required. Amount: $5,000 to $500,000 depending on license
monetary limit. Protects consumers and laborers. Also requires liability insurance $100,000/$300,000 bodily
injury, $50,000 property damage. Workers comp required. Bond must be maintained or license suspended.
HI DCCA enforces.
4. Hawaii prevailing wage law applies to:
A. All private projects
✓ B. Public works projects over $2,000
C. Residential only
D. No projects
Rationale: HRS Chapter 104: Prevailing wages required on public works >$2,000. Rates set by DLIR.
Certified payrolls submitted weekly. Apprenticeship ratios enforced. Penalties for violations. Applies to state,
county, municipal projects. Private work exempt unless government funded. HI contractors must comply or
face debarment.
5. Hawaii GET (General Excise Tax) rate for contracting:
Hawaii General Engineering Contractor (Class A) Exam Page 3
