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PrepIQ Rhode Island Underground Utility Contractor
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – RI Underground Utility Contractor
The exam covers all key content areas required by the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and
Licensing Board (CRLB) for the underground utility contractor license. All installation of water, sewer,
storm drainage, and related utility lines must be performed by a licensed Underground Utility
Contractor in Rhode Island .
Licensing Requirements & Regulations :
• Surety bond: $20,000 for a two-year period
• Insurance: $1,000,000 combined single limit general liability
• License fee: 200fortwoyears,plus200fortwoyears,plus50 pre-license fee and $10 photo ID fee
• Examination: Written exam provided by PSI; CRLB conducts exams at least 3 times per year
• Renewal: Every two years (surety bond also two-year period)
• Exemptions: Master plumbers (R.I. Gen. Law Chapter 5-20) and master pipefitters are exempt
• Out-of-state contractors: Must appoint a registered agent or attorney with an office in Rhode
Island
• Grace period for enforcement: April 1, 2020
Dig Safe Law and Utility Marking :
• RIGL §39-1.2 (Dig Safe Law) requires notification to utility companies before excavation
• Notification window: At least 72 hours before excavation, not exceeding 30 days
• Pre-marking color: White paint, flags, or stakes to identify excavation area
• APWA utility color code:
o Red – Electric power
o Yellow – Gas, oil, steam
o Orange – Communications (phone, CATV)
o Blue – Water
o Green – Sewer
o Purple – Reclaimed water
o White – Proposed excavation
OSHA Excavation Safety Standards (Subpart P) :
• Competent Person: Must conduct daily trench inspections and hazard assessments
• Protective systems required: For trenches 5 feet deep or more (shoring, shielding, sloping)
• Soil types: Type A (cohesive – clay), Type B, Type C (granular – sand, gravel)
• Trench box (shield) : Protects workers from cave-ins
• Atmospheric hazards: Low oxygen levels, toxic gases require ventilation and monitoring
Utility Installation Methods & Pipe Materials :
• Pipe materials: PVC (ASTM D3035 for water), ductile iron (ASTM A252), HDPE
• Trenchless technologies: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), pipe jacking, auger boring
• Water main disinfection: Chlorine flush (most common)
• Solvent cement joint procedure: Clean → apply primer → apply cement → insert pipe → rotate
Project Management & Calculations :
• Contract requirements: Right of rescission clause for contracts over $1,000
• Backfill volume: Length × Width × Depth (rectangular trench)
• Excavation classification: Six classes of excavation per RIDOT standards
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• Soil compaction: Vibratory plate compactor for trench backfill
1. What is the minimum surety bond amount required for Rhode Island underground utility contractors
for a two-year period?
A) 10,000B)10,000B)15,000
C) 20,000D)20,000D)25,000
Answer: C – R.I. Gen. Laws §5-65.3-10 specifies a $20,000 surety bond for a two-year period to
indemnify cities and towns for damages from work performed .
2. Which organization is responsible for regulating underground utility contractor licensing in Rhode
Island?
A) Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
B) Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)
C) Rhode Island State Police
D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Answer: B – The Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) oversees licensing and regulation
of underground utility contractors in Rhode Island .
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3. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §5-65.3-2, who is specifically EXEMPT from obtaining an underground utility
contractor's license?
A) All out-of-state contractors
B) Master plumbers licensed under Chapter 5-20
C) Electrical contractors
D) General contractors
Answer: B – Master plumbers licensed under R.I. Gen. Law Chapter 5-20 and master pipefitters under
Chapter 28-27 are exempt from the underground utility license requirement .
4. What is the minimum liability insurance coverage required for Rhode Island underground utility
contractors?
A) 250,000B)250,000B)500,000
C) 1,000,000combinedsinglelimitD)1,000,000combinedsinglelimitD)2,000,000
Answer: C – A Limited Liability Insurance Certificate in the amount of $1,000,000 combined single limit is
required, with the Contractors Board listed as the certificate holder .
5. How often must an underground utility contractor license be renewed in Rhode Island?
A) Annually
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B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Answer: B – The license must be renewed every two years, consistent with the surety bond period .
6. What is the non-refundable license fee for an underground utility contractor in Rhode Island?
A) 100B)100B)150
C) 200D)200D)300
Answer: C – R.I. Gen. Laws §§5-65.3-4 and 5-65.3-5 specify a license fee
of 200foreachtwo-yearperiod,plusa200foreachtwo-yearperiod,plusa50 pre-license fee and $10 photo ID
fee .
7. The Rhode Island "Dig Safe Law" is codified in which section of the General Laws?
A) RIGL §5-65.3
B) RIGL §39-1.2
C) OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
D) RIGL §5-20
PrepIQ Rhode Island Underground Utility Contractor
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – RI Underground Utility Contractor
The exam covers all key content areas required by the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and
Licensing Board (CRLB) for the underground utility contractor license. All installation of water, sewer,
storm drainage, and related utility lines must be performed by a licensed Underground Utility
Contractor in Rhode Island .
Licensing Requirements & Regulations :
• Surety bond: $20,000 for a two-year period
• Insurance: $1,000,000 combined single limit general liability
• License fee: 200fortwoyears,plus200fortwoyears,plus50 pre-license fee and $10 photo ID fee
• Examination: Written exam provided by PSI; CRLB conducts exams at least 3 times per year
• Renewal: Every two years (surety bond also two-year period)
• Exemptions: Master plumbers (R.I. Gen. Law Chapter 5-20) and master pipefitters are exempt
• Out-of-state contractors: Must appoint a registered agent or attorney with an office in Rhode
Island
• Grace period for enforcement: April 1, 2020
Dig Safe Law and Utility Marking :
• RIGL §39-1.2 (Dig Safe Law) requires notification to utility companies before excavation
• Notification window: At least 72 hours before excavation, not exceeding 30 days
• Pre-marking color: White paint, flags, or stakes to identify excavation area
• APWA utility color code:
o Red – Electric power
o Yellow – Gas, oil, steam
o Orange – Communications (phone, CATV)
o Blue – Water
o Green – Sewer
o Purple – Reclaimed water
o White – Proposed excavation
OSHA Excavation Safety Standards (Subpart P) :
• Competent Person: Must conduct daily trench inspections and hazard assessments
• Protective systems required: For trenches 5 feet deep or more (shoring, shielding, sloping)
• Soil types: Type A (cohesive – clay), Type B, Type C (granular – sand, gravel)
• Trench box (shield) : Protects workers from cave-ins
• Atmospheric hazards: Low oxygen levels, toxic gases require ventilation and monitoring
Utility Installation Methods & Pipe Materials :
• Pipe materials: PVC (ASTM D3035 for water), ductile iron (ASTM A252), HDPE
• Trenchless technologies: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), pipe jacking, auger boring
• Water main disinfection: Chlorine flush (most common)
• Solvent cement joint procedure: Clean → apply primer → apply cement → insert pipe → rotate
Project Management & Calculations :
• Contract requirements: Right of rescission clause for contracts over $1,000
• Backfill volume: Length × Width × Depth (rectangular trench)
• Excavation classification: Six classes of excavation per RIDOT standards
, Page 2 of 113
• Soil compaction: Vibratory plate compactor for trench backfill
1. What is the minimum surety bond amount required for Rhode Island underground utility contractors
for a two-year period?
A) 10,000B)10,000B)15,000
C) 20,000D)20,000D)25,000
Answer: C – R.I. Gen. Laws §5-65.3-10 specifies a $20,000 surety bond for a two-year period to
indemnify cities and towns for damages from work performed .
2. Which organization is responsible for regulating underground utility contractor licensing in Rhode
Island?
A) Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
B) Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)
C) Rhode Island State Police
D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Answer: B – The Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) oversees licensing and regulation
of underground utility contractors in Rhode Island .
, Page 3 of 113
3. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §5-65.3-2, who is specifically EXEMPT from obtaining an underground utility
contractor's license?
A) All out-of-state contractors
B) Master plumbers licensed under Chapter 5-20
C) Electrical contractors
D) General contractors
Answer: B – Master plumbers licensed under R.I. Gen. Law Chapter 5-20 and master pipefitters under
Chapter 28-27 are exempt from the underground utility license requirement .
4. What is the minimum liability insurance coverage required for Rhode Island underground utility
contractors?
A) 250,000B)250,000B)500,000
C) 1,000,000combinedsinglelimitD)1,000,000combinedsinglelimitD)2,000,000
Answer: C – A Limited Liability Insurance Certificate in the amount of $1,000,000 combined single limit is
required, with the Contractors Board listed as the certificate holder .
5. How often must an underground utility contractor license be renewed in Rhode Island?
A) Annually
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B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Answer: B – The license must be renewed every two years, consistent with the surety bond period .
6. What is the non-refundable license fee for an underground utility contractor in Rhode Island?
A) 100B)100B)150
C) 200D)200D)300
Answer: C – R.I. Gen. Laws §§5-65.3-4 and 5-65.3-5 specify a license fee
of 200foreachtwo-yearperiod,plusa200foreachtwo-yearperiod,plusa50 pre-license fee and $10 photo ID
fee .
7. The Rhode Island "Dig Safe Law" is codified in which section of the General Laws?
A) RIGL §5-65.3
B) RIGL §39-1.2
C) OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
D) RIGL §5-20
