Associate Constructor (AC) Prep

Exam blueprint

Sourced from American Institute of Constructors (AIC) — Associate Constructor (AC) Examination Candidate Handbook + Domain Codes

• Communication8%
• Project Management13%
• Construction Engineering / Methods10%
• Contract Documents10%
• Bidding + Estimating13%
• Project Administration10%
• Materials + Methods (building systems)12%
• Construction Safety10%
• Construction Law (basics)7%
• Surveying + Site Layout7%

1. 01Project Management + Communication — the integrated PM core

   ~90min

   AC exam puts ~20% of questions in PM + Communication combined. The exam expects fluency with WBS, scheduling logic, productivity tracking, and the basics of running effective meetings + written communication.

   • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) — the foundation of PM

     A WBS decomposes the project's total scope into a hierarchy of WORK PACKAGES. Top level = the project. Each succeeding level subdivides into smaller, more specific deliverables until the bottom level (work packages) is small enough to ESTIMATE COST, ASSIGN OWNERSHIP, and SCHEDULE separately. Rule of thumb: a work package should be 8-80 hours of effort and assignable to one party. The WBS DRIVES three downstream artifacts: (1) the COST ESTIMATE — each work package gets a cost line; sum = project budget. (2) the SCHEDULE — each work package becomes (or decomposes further into) schedule activities. (3) the RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNMENT MATRIX (RACI) — who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed for each work package. AC exam tests WBS recognition, RACI logic, and the relationship between WBS and the cost + schedule baselines.

   • CPM scheduling — total float, free float, critical path

     A common AC exam topic: distinguish TOTAL FLOAT from FREE FLOAT. TOTAL FLOAT (TF) is how long an activity can be delayed without delaying the PROJECT END. FREE FLOAT (FF) is how long an activity can be delayed without delaying any IMMEDIATE SUCCESSOR. TF ≥ FF always. The CRITICAL PATH is the chain with TF = 0. For each activity: ES (Early Start) + Duration = EF (Early Finish); LS (Late Start) + Duration = LF (Late Finish); TF = LS − ES = LF − EF. AC exam will give you a small network and ask: identify the critical path, calculate TF for activity X, what happens to project duration if activity Y slips by N days. Practice 5-10 of these manually until the forward + backward pass feels automatic. Schedule compression: FAST-TRACKING = overlap activities; CRASHING = add resources to shorten duration. Trade-offs and risks are common AC scenario questions.

   • Communication channels formula + meeting management

     The communication-channels formula is a frequent AC exam item: number of two-way channels in a project team of N participants = N(N-1)/2. Five team members → 10 channels. Ten team members → 45 channels. The takeaway: as team size grows, communication complexity grows much faster — supporting the PM principle of keeping core teams small and using STRUCTURED CHANNELS (status reports, weekly meetings, MOS — manual of stipulations) to manage the explosion. MEETING MANAGEMENT essentials AC tests: written agenda before the meeting; defined timeboxes per topic; documented action items with owners + due dates; published minutes within 24-48 hours; closure of action items at the next meeting. The supervisor or PM who runs disciplined meetings beats one who relies on memory + good intentions every time.

   Practice questions (2)

   1. 1. In a 25-person project team, how many two-way communication channels exist per the standard formula?

      • A.25
      • B.50
      • C.300✓ correct
      • D.625

      Channels = N(N-1)/2 = 25 × 24 / 2 = 300. AC exam includes one or two of these calculations directly. (A) gives just N. (B) gives 2N (a common mis-formula). (D) gives N² (another common mis-formula). The takeaway concept: communication complexity grows faster than team size — structured channels matter.

   2. 2. Activity B has Early Start = day 10, Late Start = day 17, Duration = 5 days. What is its Total Float, and is it on the critical path?

      • A.TF = 7 days; not on critical path✓ correct
      • B.TF = 7 days; on critical path
      • C.TF = 0 days; on critical path
      • D.TF = 5 days; not on critical path

      TF = LS - ES = 17 - 10 = 7 days. Critical-path activities have TF = 0; B has TF = 7, so it is NOT on the critical path. (B) contradicts itself — TF > 0 cannot be critical. (C) gets the float wrong. (D) confuses duration with float — duration is unrelated to float calculation.

2. 02Bidding + Estimating — quantity takeoff to bid submission

   ~90min

   13% of AC exam — second-largest single block. The exam expects you to know quantity takeoff principles, unit cost vs. lump sum, escalation, contingency, and the bid-submission mechanics (bid bonds, bid security).

   • Quantity takeoff — the direct-cost foundation

     QUANTITY TAKEOFF = systematically counting and measuring the quantities of every material, labor + equipment hour, and trade item in the contract documents. Two methods: (1) MANUAL takeoff — printed or PDF drawings, scales + colored pens + scaled rulers. (2) DIGITAL takeoff — software (Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff) overlays measurement tools on PDFs and exports counts to spreadsheets. AC exam tests recognition of the takeoff sequence: structural concrete (cubic yards) → reinforcing steel (tons) → formwork (square feet of contact area) → masonry (count of brick or block + mortar) → drywall (square feet) → MEP (linear feet of duct, pipe, conduit + count of fixtures + units of equipment). Each quantity drives a UNIT COST × QUANTITY = direct cost line. Crew productivity rates (units per crew-hour) drive labor hour calculations.

   • Direct cost + indirect cost + markup — the bid stack

     A bid stacks up: DIRECT COST (labor + materials + equipment + subcontractor work directly producing the work) + INDIRECT COST (project-level overhead — site supervision, temporary facilities, project insurance, jobsite trailer, security, project manager portion of time, etc., AKA 'general conditions' or 'GC&Os') + GENERAL OVERHEAD (home-office allocation — typically a percentage applied to the project) + PROFIT (target margin) + CONTINGENCY (risk reserve, may or may not be visible to owner). The total = bid price. AC exam tests recognition of where each cost lives. A common question: 'is the project superintendent's salary a direct cost?' — answer: NO, it's INDIRECT (general conditions / project overhead). Material installed in the work IS direct. The site office trailer is INDIRECT.

   • Bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds — the surety stack

     BID BOND — submitted with the bid, typically 5-10% of bid price; guarantees the bidder will sign the contract at the bid price if awarded. If they refuse, the surety pays the difference between the original bid and the next-lowest responsive bid. PERFORMANCE BOND — issued at contract execution, typically 100% of contract value; guarantees the contractor will complete the work; if they fail, the surety either takes over the project, hires a replacement, or pays damages. PAYMENT BOND (a.k.a. labor + material bond) — also at execution, typically 100% of contract value; guarantees subs and suppliers will be paid; protects the owner from mechanics' liens. On federal contracts > $150,000 the Miller Act REQUIRES performance + payment bonds (FAR 28.102). State 'Little Miller Acts' apply on most state public works. The AC exam tests recognition of which bond is required when, and what each bond protects.

     Reference: FAR 28.102 (Performance and Payment Bonds and Alternative Payment Protections)

   Practice questions (2)

   1. 1. Which of the following is typically classified as an INDIRECT cost on a construction project?

      • A.Concrete delivered to the slab
      • B.The carpenter labor installing forms
      • C.The project superintendent's salary on the project✓ correct
      • D.The structural steel beams

      Project superintendent salary is project-level overhead — INDIRECT (general conditions). The other three are DIRECT — concrete, labor, and steel are physically installed in the work, charged to specific work packages. AC exam consistently tests this direct/indirect distinction; supervision is the textbook indirect cost.

   2. 2. The Miller Act requires which type(s) of bond on federal construction contracts greater than $150,000?

      • A.Bid bond only
      • B.Performance bond only
      • C.Performance bond + Payment bond, both at 100% of contract value✓ correct
      • D.Payment bond only

      The Miller Act (40 USC § 3131) requires BOTH a performance bond and a payment bond on federal construction contracts > $150K, each typically at 100% of contract value (with performance bond reduction in some cases). (A) the bid bond is contract-procurement, not Miller Act. (B) and (D) drop one of the two required bonds. AC exam tests Miller Act recognition because it shapes the procurement landscape on every federal job.

3. 03Materials + Methods + Construction Engineering

   ~105min

   Roughly 22% of AC exam combined. The exam expects familiarity with major building systems (foundation, structure, envelope, MEP) and the means + methods most commonly used for each.

   • Foundations — shallow vs. deep, soil bearing capacity

     SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS (spread footings, mat / raft slabs) work when soil bearing capacity is adequate near the surface (typically > 1500 psf for residential; 3000+ psf for commercial structures). DEEP FOUNDATIONS (driven piles, drilled shafts / caissons, helical piles, micropiles) transfer loads to deeper competent strata when surface soils are weak or unstable, OR when high uplift / lateral loads require it. AC exam tests recognition of when each is appropriate. SOIL BEARING CAPACITY is reported in the geotechnical report (a contract document on most projects); it is the maximum pressure soil can resist without unacceptable settlement. Allowable bearing pressure typically incorporates a factor of safety (commonly 3.0). Relevant standards: ASCE 7 for design loads, ACI 318 + IBC Chapter 18 for foundation design.

     Reference: IBC Chapter 18 (Soils and Foundations)

   • Concrete — mix design, pouring, curing

     Concrete mix is specified by COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH at 28 days (3000 psi residential, 4000-5000 psi commercial structural, 7000+ psi for high-rise columns). Mix variables: cement-to-water ratio (lower w/c = stronger but harder to place), aggregate (size + gradation), admixtures (air-entrainment for freeze-thaw, plasticizers for workability, retarders for hot weather, accelerators for cold). PLACEMENT: maximum free-fall typically 5-6 feet to avoid aggregate segregation; consolidation with mechanical vibrators (don't over-vibrate or you SEGREGATE the mix). CURING: keep concrete moist + temperature-controlled for at least 7 days (longer in cold weather); curing methods include water spray, curing compounds, plastic sheeting. AC exam tests slump test (workability), air content test, compression cylinder testing (cast on site, broken at 7 + 28 days). Slump too high = too much water = lower strength; slump too low = won't place properly.

     Reference: ACI 301 (Specifications for Structural Concrete)

   • Structural steel + erection sequence

     Structural steel arrives at site as fabricated shapes (W-shapes for beams + columns, HSS tubes, plates, angles) per the SHOP DRAWINGS approved before fabrication. ERECTION SEQUENCE: typically begins at a corner or central point with a 'lead column' set on its base plate + anchor bolts; first beam connects two columns to provide initial stability; sequence outward + upward. Connections: BOLTED (most common in field — high-strength bolts per ASTM F3125), WELDED (for specific connections per AWS D1.1), or RIVETED (legacy — not used in new construction). PLUMBING is verified after erection of each tier — beam-to-column relationships set the building geometry. SAFETY during erection is heavily regulated by OSHA 1926 Subpart R (Steel Erection) — specific fall protection rules for connectors and decking.

   Practice questions (2)

   1. 1. A geotechnical report shows soil bearing capacity of 1,200 psf in the upper 8 feet, with stiff clay at 25 feet depth. For a 4-story commercial structure, the appropriate foundation type is most likely:

      • A.Spread footings on the upper soil
      • B.Deep foundations (driven piles or drilled shafts) extending to the stiff clay✓ correct
      • C.Mat slab on the upper soil
      • D.No foundation — build directly on grade

      1,200 psf is too weak for a 4-story commercial bearing on shallow footings (need 2,500-3,500+ psf typically). Deep foundations transfer load to the competent stiff clay at 25 feet. (A) and (C) accept inadequate bearing — would settle or fail. (D) is not an actual option for any building. AC exam tests this geotechnical-to-foundation matching directly.

   2. 2. Concrete cylinders cast from a slab pour show 28-day compressive strength of 3,200 psi vs. specified 4,000 psi. Most likely root cause to investigate FIRST?

      • A.Cement brand
      • B.Water added on arrival or excessive water-cement ratio in the mix as delivered✓ correct
      • C.Aggregate color
      • D.Concrete truck speed on the highway

      Compressive strength below spec most commonly results from EXCESS WATER in the mix — either added on site (often by drivers to ease placement) or batched too high. Higher w/c = lower strength. (A) cement brand variation produces small differences, not 800 psi. (C) aggregate color is irrelevant. (D) is unrelated. AC exam tests this root-cause logic; the 5-Whys reliably leads to water-cement ratio.

4. 04Contract Documents + Administration + Construction Law

   ~90min

   These three domains together account for ~27% of the AC exam. Examiners test recognition of contract document hierarchy, change-order process, lien rights, and the basic legal doctrines a constructor must know.

   • Contract types — lump sum, cost-plus, GMP, unit price, T&M

     AC exam tests recognition of pricing structures: (1) LUMP SUM / FIXED PRICE — contractor commits to a single price for defined scope; risk on contractor; works when scope is well-defined. (2) COST-PLUS-FEE — owner pays actual costs plus a contractor fee; risk on owner; works when scope is poorly defined or speed > certainty. Variants: cost + percentage fee (perverse incentive — higher cost = higher fee); cost + fixed fee (better — fee is a lump sum regardless of cost). (3) GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE (GMP) — cost-plus with a CAP; if final cost is below GMP, savings are typically split per contract; common in CMAR. (4) UNIT PRICE — owner pays per unit of work performed (cubic yard of excavation, linear foot of conduit); works when total quantity is uncertain (utilities, grading). (5) TIME AND MATERIALS (T&M) — owner pays labor at billed rates + materials at cost + markup; works for repair work or change orders.

   • Change order process — bilateral CO vs. CCD

     When a change to scope, time, or cost is required: the standard process is a BILATERAL CHANGE ORDER — owner + contractor agree on scope + cost + time impact in writing before the work proceeds. When schedule pressure does not allow time to negotiate, the contract typically allows a CONSTRUCTION CHANGE DIRECTIVE (CCD) — owner's UNILATERAL written direction to proceed; cost reconciled later via T&M, unit prices, or negotiated lump sum. The constructor's job is to: (1) recognize when scope is changing — even small directions can be 'cardinal changes' if they alter the fundamental nature of the work; (2) document the WORK PERFORMED and COST IMPACT contemporaneously; (3) submit a formal change order request with substantiation. AC exam tests recognition that VERBAL DIRECTIONS are not contractually enforceable until reduced to writing per the change-order clause.

   • Mechanic's liens + payment protection

     A MECHANIC'S LIEN is a state-law remedy giving contractors, subs, and material suppliers a security interest in the property they improved if they are not paid. Lien laws are STATE-SPECIFIC; AC exam tests general principles, not state details. Common framework: (1) PRELIMINARY NOTICE — many states require subs/suppliers to send a notice within 20-60 days of starting work; failure to notice waives lien rights. (2) LIEN FILING DEADLINE — typically 60-120 days from last work, recorded with the county. (3) LIEN ENFORCEMENT — must file suit within a state-specific period (often 1 year) or the lien expires. (4) LIEN WAIVER — at each progress payment, owners typically require partial lien waivers from prime + subs; at final payment, full final waivers. The PAYMENT BOND on Miller Act federal projects substitutes for lien rights (federal property cannot be liened). AC exam tests recognition of lien-vs-bond protection in different procurement contexts.

   Practice questions (2)

   1. 1. A cost-plus-PERCENTAGE-FEE contract creates a problematic incentive because:

      • A.It is illegal
      • B.The contractor's fee grows when costs grow — incentive to allow inefficiency✓ correct
      • C.It is too complex to administer
      • D.It is only used on residential work

      Cost-plus-percentage-fee directly rewards higher costs because the contractor's compensation is a % of cost. This perverse incentive has led many federal agencies to BAN this structure (FAR prohibits it on federal cost contracts in favor of cost-plus-FIXED-fee). (A) it is not illegal in private work but is restricted federally. (C) it is actually simpler than fixed-fee. (D) it can be used at any scale. AC exam tests recognition of the incentive misalignment.

   2. 2. On a federal construction project, why are mechanic's liens not the primary payment-protection mechanism for subcontractors?

      • A.Federal subs are paid before primes
      • B.Federal property generally cannot be liened; the Miller Act payment bond substitutes✓ correct
      • C.Subs do not have lien rights
      • D.Federal courts ignore liens

      Federal property is not subject to state mechanic's lien laws (sovereign immunity). Congress addressed the protection gap with the Miller Act payment bond — subs and suppliers claim against the bond when not paid. (A) is not the rule. (C) overstates — subs DO have lien rights on private/state work. (D) is incorrect. AC exam tests Miller-Act-vs-lien substitution because it changes how a sub protects payment rights on federal work.

5. 05Construction Safety + Surveying / Site Layout

   ~60min

   AC exam combines basic OSHA familiarity (~10%) with construction surveying / site layout (~7%). Examiners test the essentials, not specialist depth in either.

   • OSHA Fatal Four + Subpart organization

     OSHA's FATAL FOUR in construction (~60% of construction worker fatalities): (1) FALLS — fall protection required at 6 feet for general construction (29 CFR 1926.501); steel erection 15 feet (Subpart R); scaffold 10 feet (Subpart L). (2) STRUCK-BY — falling materials, swinging loads, vehicles. (3) ELECTROCUTION — overhead power lines (10-foot clearance < 50 kV, more above), unguarded energized parts, improper lockout/tagout. (4) CAUGHT-IN/BETWEEN — trench cave-ins, equipment entanglement. AC exam tests recognition of which subpart governs which hazard: 1926 Subpart C (general safety), Subpart M (fall protection), Subpart L (scaffolds), Subpart P (excavations), Subpart R (steel erection), Subpart V (power transmission). Penalties: serious violation up to $16,131 per violation; willful or repeated up to $161,323 (2024 rates, indexed annually).

     Reference: 29 CFR 1926 Construction Standards

   • Surveying + site layout — benchmarks, control points, total stations

     BENCHMARK = a permanent point of known elevation referenced for the project (often tied to USGS NGVD 88 datum or a project-specific datum). CONTROL POINTS = horizontally + vertically established reference points around the site, used to lay out structures. TOOLS: TOTAL STATION (laser + electronic theodolite + distance measurement) is the modern standard for layout — gives 3D positions to mm-level accuracy. Earlier tools: TRANSITS, LEVELS, STEEL TAPES — still valid for some work but largely supplemented by total stations + GPS RTK on bigger sites. LAYOUT typically follows: (1) site benchmark + property line corners established by licensed surveyor; (2) project control points set; (3) building corners staked; (4) batter boards constructed offset from corners to preserve the layout during excavation; (5) elevations transferred via level + rod or laser level. AC exam tests recognition of these tools + sequence + when a LICENSED surveyor is required (property line, plat-related work — typically state-licensed land surveyor).

   Practice questions (2)

   1. 1. Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501, fall protection on general construction sites is required when an employee is exposed to a fall of:

      • A.4 feet or more
      • B.6 feet or more✓ correct
      • C.10 feet or more
      • D.Any height where they could fall

      1926.501 sets the general construction trigger at 6 feet. (A) is the GENERAL INDUSTRY trigger (1910.28) — different from construction. (C) is the SCAFFOLD trigger (Subpart L) — different rule. (D) is conservative but not the regulatory trigger. AC exam tests the 6-foot construction-industry rule because it's foundational to every construction safety program.

   2. 2. On a building project, who is typically required to set the PROPERTY LINE corners and the project benchmark?

      • A.The general contractor's superintendent
      • B.A state-licensed land surveyor (Professional Land Surveyor, PLS)✓ correct
      • C.The owner's representative
      • D.Anyone with a total station

      Property line work + plat-tied surveying is reserved by state law to LICENSED LAND SURVEYORS. Contractors set construction control points and layout INSIDE the surveyor-established framework, but the property line + benchmark are surveyor work product. (A) and (C) are not licensed for property work. (D) ignores the licensure requirement.

External resources

• Official
  American Institute of Constructors (AIC) — Constructor Certification portal ↗

  Official AC exam portal — candidate handbook, application + eligibility ladder, domain codes, exam dates (April + November windows), and post-exam path to CPC. The Candidate Handbook is the SINGLE most important document; read its content outline cover to cover before sitting.

• Official
  AIC AC + CPC Examination Content Outline (current edition) ↗

  AIC's content outline for both AC and CPC exams shares the same 10 domains; AC tests at the breadth + foundational level, CPC at depth + senior application level. Use the outline to prioritize study time across the 10 domains.

• Third-party
  PMBOK Construction Extension (PMI) — companion reference ↗

  PMI's Construction Extension to the PMBOK Guide provides a deep treatment of the project-management portion of the AC exam — WBS, scheduling, EVM, risk. Not required reading but a strong companion if you have access through your school or employer.