About this C-8 — Concrete prep
This prep is built specifically for the C-8 — Concrete examination and includes a 18,000+-word study guide written for this exam, 5 full-length practice exams and 500 practice questions, each with a written explanation.
The C-8 Concrete trade examination is administered by CSLB / PSI. Closed book. 100 Q / 210 min. Pass % not published. Mix on/after 3/1/2026: Planning 28, Pre-placement 27, Place/finish 17, Post 7, Safety 21. C08StudyGuide.pdf. Not C-12. Not Law 115/73. CCR §832.08.. This prep is written to that board’s current scope, not to a generic national syllabus.
The real C-8 — Concrete exam contains 100 questions. Our practice exams mirror that structure so the format is familiar before you sit it.
Topics covered
- 1 ACI 318 — Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
- 2 Reinforcing Steel Requirements (ACI 318 Chapter 20 and Chapter 25)
- 3 California Building Code — Concrete Provisions
- 5 Contract Types
- 6 Public Works Requirements
- 7 Insurance Requirements
- 16 Rebar Spacing Worked Example
- 4 Formwork Requirements
- 8 Permits and Inspections
- 1 Portland Cement
- 2 Concrete Aggregates
- 3 Admixtures
- 4 Concrete Mix Design
- 5 Ready-Mixed Concrete (ASTM C94)
- 6 Hot Weather Concreting (ACI 305)
- 7 Cold Weather Concreting (ACI 306)
- 6 Curing Requirements
- 7 Concrete Testing and Quality Control
- 8 Concrete Finishing
- 5 Concrete Placement Requirements
How access works
You are paying for access length (30, 60, or 90 days). The study guide and four timed exams are the same on every term. Access starts when you enrol and works on any device for that term.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor. For exam-preparation purposes only.
What is actually on the C-8 exam
CSLB divides the Concrete (C-8) examination into five sections. These weightings are the Board’s own, taken from the study guide it publishes for this classification — they are not our estimate:
| Section | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Planning and Estimating | 28% |
| Pre-placement Preparation | 27% |
| Placing and Finishing | 17% |
| Post-placement Tasks | 7% |
| Safety | 21% |
The C-8 examination is closed book — no reference materials may be used during the test. Questions are multiple choice with four options, and there is no penalty for guessing, so leave nothing blank.
This is only half of what you sit. Every applicant also passes the separate Law and Business examination, which is not part of the C-8 paper and is weighted on its own outline. Budget preparation time for both.
Source: CSLB Concrete (C-8) examination study guide. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CSLB.