NBIS Bridge Inspector Qualification Assessment:
Multiple-Choice Practice Exam with Verified
Questions and Answers | Instant PDF Study
Guide,
1. What is the primary purpose of the National Bridge
Inspection Standards (NBIS)?
A. To establish uniform bridge construction specifications
B. To determine federal funding allocations for highway projects
C. To locate and evaluate existing bridge deficiencies to help
ensure the safety of the traveling public
D. To establish minimum design loads for new bridges
Correct Answer: C. To locate and evaluate existing bridge
deficiencies to help ensure the safety of the traveling public
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of the NBIS is bridge safety
through systematic inspection and evaluation of existing
deficiencies. The standards establish requirements for inspection
organization, personnel qualifications, procedures, intervals,
inventory, and reporting. They are not primarily design or
construction standards.
2. The current major revision of the NBIS became effective on
which date?
,A. January 1, 2020
B. June 6, 2022
C. January 1, 2023
D. June 6, 2024
Correct Answer: B. June 6, 2022
Rationale: FHWA states that the 2022 NBIS final rule became
effective June 6, 2022, thirty days after publication in the
Federal Register. Some provisions had later compliance dates,
including several personnel-qualification and inspection-interval
provisions that required compliance by June 6, 2024.
3. Which federal regulation contains the NBIS requirements?
A. 23 CFR Part 630, Subpart A
B. 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C
C. 49 CFR Part 18, Subpart B
D. 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart R
Correct Answer: B. 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C
Rationale: The National Bridge Inspection Standards are
codified in Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 650,
Subpart C. A qualified bridge inspector should be familiar with
this regulatory framework because it establishes the federal
minimum requirements governing the National Bridge
Inspection Program.
,4. Which legislation originally required the Secretary of
Transportation to establish national bridge inspection
standards?
A. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
B. Highway Safety Act of 1966
C. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
D. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
Correct Answer: C. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
Rationale: FHWA identifies the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
as the legislation that directed the Secretary of Transportation
to establish national bridge inspection standards. The federal
bridge inspection program has subsequently evolved through
additional legislation and regulatory revisions.
5. Which federal legislation played a major role in requiring
modernization of the NBIS and contributed to the 2022
revisions?
A. MAP-21
B. TEA-21 only
C. The National Environmental Policy Act
D. The Clean Water Act
Correct Answer: A. MAP-21
, Rationale: The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act (MAP-21) required the Secretary of Transportation to
update the NBIS. The resulting revisions addressed inspection
methodology, personnel training and qualifications, inspection
intervals, inspector certification, critical findings, compliance
reviews, and inventory data.
6. Which type of structure generally falls outside the NBIS
when it does not carry highway traffic?
A. A highway bridge carrying vehicles
B. A bridge carrying a public highway over a river
C. A railroad bridge that does not carry a highway
D. A highway bridge over another highway
Correct Answer: C. A railroad bridge that does not carry a
highway
Rationale: The NBIS applies to bridges carrying highways. FHWA
specifically explains that railroad and pedestrian structures that
do not carry highways are not covered by the NBIS, although
owners are encouraged to inspect such structures in the interest
of public safety.
Multiple-Choice Practice Exam with Verified
Questions and Answers | Instant PDF Study
Guide,
1. What is the primary purpose of the National Bridge
Inspection Standards (NBIS)?
A. To establish uniform bridge construction specifications
B. To determine federal funding allocations for highway projects
C. To locate and evaluate existing bridge deficiencies to help
ensure the safety of the traveling public
D. To establish minimum design loads for new bridges
Correct Answer: C. To locate and evaluate existing bridge
deficiencies to help ensure the safety of the traveling public
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of the NBIS is bridge safety
through systematic inspection and evaluation of existing
deficiencies. The standards establish requirements for inspection
organization, personnel qualifications, procedures, intervals,
inventory, and reporting. They are not primarily design or
construction standards.
2. The current major revision of the NBIS became effective on
which date?
,A. January 1, 2020
B. June 6, 2022
C. January 1, 2023
D. June 6, 2024
Correct Answer: B. June 6, 2022
Rationale: FHWA states that the 2022 NBIS final rule became
effective June 6, 2022, thirty days after publication in the
Federal Register. Some provisions had later compliance dates,
including several personnel-qualification and inspection-interval
provisions that required compliance by June 6, 2024.
3. Which federal regulation contains the NBIS requirements?
A. 23 CFR Part 630, Subpart A
B. 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C
C. 49 CFR Part 18, Subpart B
D. 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart R
Correct Answer: B. 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C
Rationale: The National Bridge Inspection Standards are
codified in Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 650,
Subpart C. A qualified bridge inspector should be familiar with
this regulatory framework because it establishes the federal
minimum requirements governing the National Bridge
Inspection Program.
,4. Which legislation originally required the Secretary of
Transportation to establish national bridge inspection
standards?
A. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
B. Highway Safety Act of 1966
C. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
D. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
Correct Answer: C. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
Rationale: FHWA identifies the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
as the legislation that directed the Secretary of Transportation
to establish national bridge inspection standards. The federal
bridge inspection program has subsequently evolved through
additional legislation and regulatory revisions.
5. Which federal legislation played a major role in requiring
modernization of the NBIS and contributed to the 2022
revisions?
A. MAP-21
B. TEA-21 only
C. The National Environmental Policy Act
D. The Clean Water Act
Correct Answer: A. MAP-21
, Rationale: The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act (MAP-21) required the Secretary of Transportation to
update the NBIS. The resulting revisions addressed inspection
methodology, personnel training and qualifications, inspection
intervals, inspector certification, critical findings, compliance
reviews, and inventory data.
6. Which type of structure generally falls outside the NBIS
when it does not carry highway traffic?
A. A highway bridge carrying vehicles
B. A bridge carrying a public highway over a river
C. A railroad bridge that does not carry a highway
D. A highway bridge over another highway
Correct Answer: C. A railroad bridge that does not carry a
highway
Rationale: The NBIS applies to bridges carrying highways. FHWA
specifically explains that railroad and pedestrian structures that
do not carry highways are not covered by the NBIS, although
owners are encouraged to inspect such structures in the interest
of public safety.
