The Masonry (C-29) Exam: Format, Topics, and Passing Score
The Masonry (C-29) exam is a closed-book, multiple-choice trade test with four choices per question, taken by computer at a PSI site. It is built from seven weighted topic areas, the two heaviest being Job Site Preparation and Personnel and Job Site Safety at 20% each (CSLB C-29 study guide). CSLB does not publish one numeric passing score; you are told the percentage of correct answers needed to pass at the test site (CSLB). So the real answer to the C-29 exam topics and passing score question is: study to the published blueprint weights and follow the instructions given at your appointment.
The exam at a glance
| Exam item | Current answer (as of July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Format | Closed book; multiple choice, four choices, one BEST answer |
| Location | PSI computer-based testing site, six days a week |
| Math | Some questions require computation; a calculator is provided |
| Guessing | No penalty for guessing |
| Public question count | CSLB does not publish a universal question count |
| Passing score | The required percentage is given at the test site |
| Retake wait | 21 calendar days after a failed exam before you can pay and reschedule |
| Eligibility window | 18 months to pass both exams, or the application voids |
| Trade blueprint | Official C-29 study guide |
Source: CSLB application-accepted page and the official study guide.
What the C-29 exam covers
The C-29 study guide (for exams scheduled on or after March 1, 2023) splits the test into seven sections. The percentages are approximate, but they tell you where the exam writers concentrate the questions.
| Section | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Job Site Preparation | 20% | Pre-construction, water management, reinforcement and bracing, site prep |
| Personnel and Job Site Safety | 20% | Cal/OSHA rules, elevated work, handling stone slabs, contaminated-material disposal |
| Masonry Wall and Building Installation and Repair | 16% | CMU walls and buildings, historical repair, retaining walls, cleaning |
| Planning and Estimating | 15% | Scope, reading plans, calculating material, labor, and equipment needs |
| Masonry Veneer and Stone Installation and Repair | 11% | Adhered, anchored, and dimensional stone veneers; repair and cleaning |
| Decorative Masonry Installation and Repair | 9% | Flatwork, staircases, precast, glass block, decorative repair |
| Fireplace, Chimney, and Outdoor Cooking Area | 9% | Fireplace, chimney, barbecue, and fire-pit construction requirements |
The so what: the classification page defines the C-29 scope as building structural and non-structural masonry walls and fences with or without mortar, plus veneer, paving, and incidental waterproofing (CSLB C-29 classification). The exam tests that whole scope, not just laying block.
Where the exam really lives: prep and safety
Here is the pattern most masons miss. Add up the sections that are actually about setting block, stone, and veneer — wall installation (16%), decorative (9%), veneer (11%), and fireplaces (9%). That hands-on installation work is about 45% of the exam. The other 55% is planning, estimating, site preparation, and safety.
Put another way, Job Site Preparation and Personnel and Job Site Safety are 40% of the test by themselves — tied for the largest weight, and exactly the material a skilled mason is most tempted to skim because it feels like common sense on the job. It is not common sense on the exam. Cal/OSHA rules for elevated work, silica and stone-slab handling, bracing, and water management have specific right answers. If you study only the trowel work, you can know masonry cold and still fail on the 40% you treated as filler.
A study-hour plan built from the weights
Weights are only useful if you turn them into time. Here is a simple way to split a study budget so your hours match the exam, using a 40-hour plan as the example. Scale it up or down to your own schedule.
| Section | Weight | Hours in a 40-hour plan |
|---|---|---|
| Job Site Preparation | 20% | 8 |
| Personnel and Job Site Safety | 20% | 8 |
| Masonry Wall and Building Installation | 16% | 6.5 |
| Planning and Estimating | 15% | 6 |
| Masonry Veneer and Stone | 11% | 4.5 |
| Decorative Masonry | 9% | 3.5 |
| Fireplace, Chimney, Outdoor Cooking | 9% | 3.5 |
The so what: put the safety and prep blocks first, while you are fresh, not last. Most people do the opposite and give their best study energy to the block-laying they already know.
One worked example
Planning and Estimating is 15% of the exam and almost always includes a coverage calculation. Here is a fresh one in the exam's style.
A mason is laying a straight CMU wall 40 feet long and 8 feet high using standard 8" x 8" x 16" block. About how many blocks are needed before adding waste?
- A. 288
- B. 320
- C. 360
- D. 405
Correct answer: C
Wall area is 40 × 8 = 320 square feet. Standard 8" x 8" x 16" CMU covers about 1.125 blocks per square foot of wall face (the study guide's own sample shows 550 blocks covering roughly 490 square feet, which is the same ratio). So 320 × 1.125 ≈ 360 blocks. Set up the area first, apply the block-per-square-foot factor, then add your waste allowance separately.
How to practice without guessing
A practice score helps only when it changes what you study next. Work the free official C-29 study guide first and map the seven weighted sections onto a one-page plan. Then work the Peerless Masonry (C-29) Study Guide Book in blueprint order, heaviest sections first.
Drill questions in timed blocks with the Peerless Masonry (C-29) online practice exam. It is delivered online, auto-graded, and works on any device including a phone or iPad. Keep a short error log with three columns: topic, why you missed it, and the rule or calculation that fixes it. If the same topic shows up twice, go back to the book before you quiz again. Aim for consistent 85%+ across more than one session before you schedule — that is a study checkpoint, not a CSLB passing-score claim.
Remember the trade exam is only half the requirement: every California applicant also takes the Law & Business exam. Pair your masonry prep with the CSLB Law & Business practice exam, and see the Law & Business exam guide and the California contractor license roadmap for how the exams fit into the full application.
FAQ
How many questions are on the C-29 Masonry exam?
CSLB does not publish a single universal question count for its trade exams on the public study guides. Use your Notice to Schedule and the PSI appointment instructions for the specifics tied to your exam, and plan your study around the seven weighted topic areas instead of a fixed number.
What passing score do I need on the C-29 exam?
CSLB does not print a numeric passing score. You are told the percentage of correct answers needed to pass at the test site. Do not rely on a specific percentage from a study forum or an older article, because those numbers are unverified and can change.
Is the C-29 exam open book?
No. The official C-29 study guide states it is a closed-book examination and no reference materials may be used. Prepare by recalling code values, calculations, and safety rules from memory, not by planning to look them up during the test.
Can I use a calculator on the masonry exam?
Yes. The C-29 study guide says some questions require mathematical computation and that a calculator will be provided. Practice the estimating math — wall area, block counts, mortar and grout quantities — so you set up the calculation quickly and only use the calculator to check arithmetic.
How soon can I retake the C-29 exam if I fail?
You must wait 21 calendar days after a failed exam before you can pay and reschedule. Your application stays valid for 18 months, so use the wait to rebuild weak sections from your error log rather than re-testing on the same gaps.
Sources
- CSLB: C-29 examination study guide (PDF)
- CSLB: C-29 Masonry classification
- CSLB: Studying for the examination
- CSLB: My original exam application was accepted
Peerless Institute has helped Californians prepare for CSLB exams since 1953. The Peerless Masonry (C-29) Study Guide Book covers the trade material in blueprint order, and the online practice exam gives you hundreds of questions with instant grading — the book or the exam is $120 each, or get both together in the Silver bundle for $220. Add the Law & Business practice exam and the Gold bundle is $320.