- The AL-GC trade exam covers 12 domains across 115 questions in 5 hours 30 minutes.
- Procurement and Contracting Requirements is the single largest content area on the exam.
- A raw score of 81 is required to pass, and the exam is open book with PSI.
- Domains span site work, structural trades, building systems, and contract administration.
Exam Overview and Format
The Alabama Building Construction (Commercial) General Contractor Trade Exam, administered by PSI on behalf of the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, is the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. It is the credential the Board requires for prime contractors bidding commercial work valued at $100,000 or more. Before you can sit for it, you'll need Board approval, a designated qualifying party, Secretary of State registration, liability insurance, and a CPA-prepared financial statement showing at least $10,000 in both net worth and working capital. For the full checklist, see AL-GC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Once approved, the trade exam itself is 115 questions delivered by computer at a PSI test center, with a time limit of 5 hours 30 minutes. It is open book, meaning you may bring approved reference materials, and you're permitted a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator. Be aware that PSI may seed in up to 10 unscored experimental questions that count against your time but not your score - you won't know which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts. Passing requires a raw score of 81. For a deeper look at what that number means in practice, read AL-GC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
This guide walks through all 12 domains that structure the exam blueprint, explains what each one actually tests, and shows how the weighting should shape your review priorities.
All 12 Content Areas Explained
The exam blueprint is organized into 12 domains that mirror the divisions of commercial construction work, from site preparation through contract administration. Understanding what falls inside each one helps you triage your study time instead of re-reading generic construction textbooks cover to cover.
Domain 1: General Requirements
Covers project administration basics: submittals, permits, safety programs, temporary facilities, and general conditions that apply across a commercial job site regardless of trade.
- Understand how general conditions interact with specific technical divisions
- Know standard submittal and inspection sequencing
Domain 2: Site Construction
Focuses on earthwork, grading, excavation, utilities, and site preparation activities that precede foundation work on a commercial project.
- Recognize soil and site drainage considerations
- Understand sequencing between site work and structural trades
Domain 3: Concrete
Tests knowledge of formwork, reinforcement, mix design principles, curing, and placement practices used in commercial foundations and structural concrete.
- Know concrete testing and quality control basics
- Understand reinforcement placement requirements
Domain 4: Masonry
Covers unit masonry systems, mortar types, reinforcement, and the coordination masonry work requires with structural and finish trades.
- Understand masonry wall assemblies common in commercial buildings
- Know quality control and inspection points for masonry work
Domain 5: Metals
Addresses structural steel, metal fabrications, and the coordination issues that arise when structural framing interfaces with other trades on a commercial job.
- Recognize structural steel connection basics
- Understand metal fabrication and erection sequencing
Domain 6: Wood
Covers rough carpentry, wood framing systems, and finish carpentry as applied in commercial construction contexts.
- Know wood framing methods used in commercial applications
- Understand fastening and structural wood requirements
Domain 7: Thermal and Moisture Protection
Tests knowledge of waterproofing, insulation, roofing systems, and building envelope details that keep commercial structures weathertight.
- Understand roofing system types and application
- Know insulation and vapor barrier placement principles
Domain 8: Doors, Windows, and Glazing
Covers door and window systems, hardware, and glazing requirements as they apply to commercial building envelopes and interior partitions.
- Understand fire-rated door and glazing requirements
- Know hardware coordination basics
Domain 9: Finishes
Addresses interior finish systems including drywall, flooring, ceilings, and paint as they relate to commercial project closeout.
- Understand finish schedules and sequencing near project completion
- Know common finish material coordination issues
Domain 10: Mechanical and Plumbing Systems
Tests general contractor-level knowledge of HVAC and plumbing system coordination, not subcontractor-level design detail.
- Understand how mechanical and plumbing rough-in coordinates with structure
- Know general contractor oversight responsibilities for these systems
Domain 11: Electrical Systems
Covers general contractor-level electrical system coordination, including how electrical rough-in and finish work integrates into the overall project schedule.
- Understand coordination between electrical and other finish trades
- Know general oversight expectations rather than electrician-level code detail
Domain 12: Procurement and Contracting Requirements
This is the largest domain on the exam and covers bidding procedures, contract types, bonding, insurance requirements, change orders, and administrative procedures governing commercial construction contracts.
- Know the differences between common contract delivery methods
- Understand bonding, insurance, and change order procedures thoroughly
- Expect this domain to carry more questions than any other single area
Why Procurement and Contracting Requirements Dominates
Of all 12 domains, Procurement and Contracting Requirements carries the most weight on the exam. This reflects the reality of the general contractor's role: you are ultimately responsible for contract administration, bonding, insurance compliance, and the paperwork that governs how a commercial project moves from bid to closeout - even when subcontractors execute the technical trade work.
Candidates who come from a strong hands-on trade background (framing, concrete, or masonry) sometimes assume their field experience will carry them through the exam. It won't, at least not on its own. If your daily work has been execution-focused rather than administrative, you'll need deliberate review of contract types, bid procedures, and bonding rules to perform well on this domain. This is one reason the exam trips up experienced tradespeople who haven't sat on the contract-administration side of a project.
Key Takeaway
Don't let field experience lull you into skipping the Procurement and Contracting Requirements domain - it's the largest single content area, and it tests administrative knowledge, not swing-a-hammer skill.
The Technical Building Systems Domains
The remaining domains - Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors/Windows/Glazing, Finishes, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems, and Electrical Systems - mirror the standard divisions of commercial construction work. Together they test whether you understand how a commercial building goes together from the ground up, and how a general contractor is expected to oversee each trade even without being a specialist in it.
A useful mental model: for each technical domain, ask "what does a prime contractor need to know to competently supervise this trade and catch a problem before it becomes expensive?" That framing is different from studying to become an electrician or a plumber. The exam tests supervisory-level knowledge across Mechanical and Plumbing Systems and Electrical Systems, not licensed-trade depth.
| Domain Category | Domains Included | Study Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative | General Requirements; Procurement and Contracting Requirements | Contract types, bonding, submittals, general conditions |
| Structural | Site Construction; Concrete; Masonry; Metals; Wood | Sequencing, materials, quality control |
| Envelope and Finish | Thermal and Moisture Protection; Doors, Windows, and Glazing; Finishes | Weathertightness, closeout coordination |
| Building Systems | Mechanical and Plumbing Systems; Electrical Systems | Oversight-level coordination, not design detail |
If you want a broader gauge of how these domains combine to determine overall exam difficulty, see How Hard Is the AL-GC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And if you're weighing whether the license is worth pursuing given the domain breadth and the licensure requirements, Is the AL-GC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 covers that question directly.
Sequencing Your Domain Review
Because Procurement and Contracting Requirements carries the most questions, it deserves the most calendar time - but not all of it, since the exam still draws heavily from the technical divisions. A practical sequencing approach is to group domains by how closely related they are, rather than studying strictly in numerical order.
Administrative Foundation
- Review General Requirements and begin Procurement and Contracting Requirements, since it's the largest domain
- Study contract types, bonding, and insurance provisions in depth
Structural Trades
- Work through Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, and Metals
- Focus on sequencing and quality control rather than memorizing formulas
Envelope and Finish
- Cover Wood, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors/Windows/Glazing, and Finishes
- Pay attention to how these domains interact near project closeout
Systems and Final Review
- Study Mechanical and Plumbing Systems and Electrical Systems at a supervisory level
- Return to Procurement and Contracting Requirements for a second pass, then run full timed practice sessions
For a more detailed week-by-week study plan built around this same domain structure, see AL-GC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want a condensed reference to keep nearby during final review, the AL-GC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts distills the highest-yield facts across all 12 domains onto a single page.
How Domain Knowledge Connects to Licensure
Passing the trade exam is only one piece of Alabama commercial general contractor licensure. You'll also need to pass a separate Alabama Business and Law exam, submit documentation of at least three relevant projects, provide three qualified references, and pay the $300 prime application fee to the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Once approved, eligibility to sit for the trade exam lasts one year, during which you get unlimited attempts - so a strong grasp of all 12 domains up front reduces the number of retakes you'll need within that window.
After you pass and the Board issues your prime license, renewal is required annually for $200. Because the license applies specifically to commercial projects of $100,000 or more, the domain content - especially Procurement and Contracting Requirements - reflects the scale and complexity of the projects you'll be authorized to lead. For a full breakdown of every fee involved in the process, from application through the trade exam itself, see AL-GC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
It's also worth understanding who actually pursues this credential and why. Commercial general contracting firms, construction managers, and prime contractors bidding public and private commercial work in Alabama rely on individuals holding this license to serve as the qualifying party on a project. If you're researching career paths tied to the credential, AL-GC Jobs and AL-GC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover the employment landscape in more detail, while AL-GC Training outlines preparation options beyond self-study.
Key Takeaway
Domain mastery and licensure paperwork are two separate tracks - start the Board application and financial statement process early so you're not scrambling once you've locked in your one-year exam eligibility window.
If you're still getting oriented to the basics of this credential - what the letters stand for, who administers it, and how it differs from other licenses - the following resources fill in that context: What Is AL-GC?, AL-GC Meaning, What Does AL-GC Stand For?, and What Is AL-GC Certification?. For registration timing specifics, AL-GC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers scheduling logistics, and AL-GC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at how candidates perform overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam is organized into 12 content areas, ranging from General Requirements and Site Construction through Procurement and Contracting Requirements, which is the largest single domain.
Start with Procurement and Contracting Requirements since it carries the most questions on the exam, then move through the structural, envelope, and systems domains in groups rather than strict numerical order.
No. These domains test general contractor-level oversight and coordination knowledge, not licensed-trade design detail, since a commercial GC supervises these trades rather than executes the specialized work directly.
Yes, the entire 115-question, 5 hour 30 minute exam is open book and computer administered through PSI, and a silent nonprinting nonprogrammable calculator is allowed throughout.
Your eligibility to test lasts one year from Board approval, and you get unlimited attempts within that window, so you can retake the trade exam and continue reviewing weaker domains without reapplying immediately.