The A-5 classification, administered by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) through PSI testing centers, is a commercial specialty license that covers digging, trenching, grading, horizontal boring, compacting, filling, and the application of oil surfacing or similar products. This license also allows incidental blasting or drilling and includes the placement of shoring, casing, geotextiles, or liners as required for earthwork operations. It specifically does not authorize excavation for water, gas, or oil wells. The A-5 exam is the trade component of the licensing process—candidates must also pass the Arizona Business Management Exam (Statutes and Rules) and document four years of verifiable experience, with at least two of those years within the last ten. Core subject areas include earthwork and soil mechanics, excavation and trenching safety (OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P), grading and drainage, asphalt and oil surfacing, equipment operation, blueprint reading, and Arizona-specific construction codes and statutes. Let this practice book be your partner in achieving that goal.
This book is designed to prepare you for the Arizona A-5 Excavating, Grading and Oil Surfacing Trade Exam—the test that qualifies you to operate as a licensed commercial excavating contractor in Arizona. Whether you are an experienced operator transitioning to contracting or a construction professional looking to expand your business, this collection of unofficial self-practice questions and detailed answers provides the focused preparation you need.
