NCCER Certification NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills Syllabus

NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills in NCCER Certification, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Basic Safety (OSHA-Aligned)

   5 topics

   • Construction Hazard Recognition
     • Struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution, and fall hazards (Focus Four)
     • Job hazard analysis (JHA) and pre-task planning
     • Reporting unsafe conditions and near-misses
   • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
     • Head, eye, face, and hearing protection selection
     • Respiratory protection basics and fit
     • Inspection, care, and limitations of PPE
   • Fall Protection Systems
     • Guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems
     • Full-body harness donning and anchor point selection
     • 100% tie-off and self-rescue awareness
   • Hazard Communication and SDS
     • GHS labels and pictograms
     • Reading Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
   • Fire Prevention and Emergency Response
     • Fire classes and extinguisher selection
     • Hot work permits and evacuation procedures
2. 2

   Introduction to Construction Math

   4 topics

   • Whole Numbers, Fractions, and Decimals
     • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions
     • Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages
   • Measurement Systems
     • U.S. customary units (feet, inches, sixteenths)
     • Metric system and conversions
     • Reading a tape measure and rule
   • Geometry for the Trades
     • Area, perimeter, volume, and circumference
     • Right triangles and the 3-4-5 rule for squaring
   • Working with Formulas and Order of Operations
3. 3

   Hand and Power Tools

   3 topics

   • Hand Tool Identification and Use
     • Layout, measuring, and marking tools
     • Cutting, fastening, and clamping tools
     • Proper care, storage, and inspection
   • Portable Power Tools
     • Drills, drivers, grinders, and saws
     • Pneumatic and powder-actuated tools
     • Guards, GFCI protection, and safe operation
   • Tool Maintenance and Defect Reporting
4. 4

   Construction Drawings and Communication

   3 topics

   • Introduction to Construction Drawings
     • Plan, elevation, section, and detail views
     • Title blocks, legends, and revision tracking
     • Architectural scales and dimensioning
   • Basic Communication Skills
     • Verbal, written, and nonverbal communication on site
     • Active listening and giving clear instructions
   • Reading Specifications and Symbols
5. 5

   Materials Handling and Employability

   3 topics

   • Basic Rigging and Material Handling
     • Manual lifting techniques and ergonomics
     • Forklifts, dollies, and material carts
     • Stacking, storing, and securing materials
   • Basic Employability Skills
     • Critical thinking and problem solving
     • Teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution
   • Introduction to Construction as a Career
     • Craft career pathways and apprenticeship
     • Work ethic, attendance, and professionalism

NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills flashcards for NCCER Certification

23 of 57 cards from the NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In construction safety, what does the acronym JHA stand for, and what is its purpose?

   Job Hazard Analysis. It is a systematic process of breaking a job into steps to identify potential hazards and determine the safest way to perform each task before work begins.

2. Name the four main categories of construction hazards a worker must recognize on a jobsite.

   Physical hazards (noise, heat, falls), chemical hazards (gases, dusts, solvents), biological hazards (mold, bacteria), and ergonomic hazards (repetitive motion, awkward postures).

3. What are OSHA's 'Focus Four' (Fatal Four) hazards that cause the most construction deaths?

   Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution.

4. What is the difference between a 'hazard' and a 'risk' in construction safety?

   A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm; risk is the likelihood and severity of harm actually occurring from that hazard.

5. What does PPE stand for, and where does it rank in the hierarchy of controls?

   Personal Protective Equipment. It is the last line of defense, ranking lowest in the hierarchy of controls after elimination, substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls.

6. What ANSI/class rating identifies hard hats that protect against both impact and electrical (high-voltage) hazards?

   Class E (Electrical) hard hats, rated to protect against contact up to 20,000 volts.

7. What is the minimum side-shield requirement for safety glasses on a construction site, and what standard governs eye protection?

   Safety glasses must have side shields, and they must meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard for eye and face protection.

8. How are respirators classified by their method of protection?

   Air-purifying respirators (filter contaminants from ambient air) and atmosphere-supplying respirators (provide clean air from a separate source, such as SCBA or supplied-air systems).

9. At what height in general construction does OSHA require fall protection?

   6 feet or more above a lower level.

10. What are the three main types of fall protection systems used in construction?

    Guardrail systems, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).

11. What three components make up a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)?

    An anchorage, body support (full-body harness), and a connecting device (lanyard or self-retracting lifeline). Often remembered as the ABCs: Anchorage, Body harness, Connectors.

12. What is the minimum anchorage strength required for a personal fall arrest system per OSHA?

    The anchorage must support at least 5,000 pounds per attached worker, or be designed with a safety factor of at least two under a qualified person's supervision.

13. What is the maximum free-fall distance allowed before a personal fall arrest system must arrest the fall?

    6 feet, and the system must prevent the worker from contacting any lower level.

14. What is the required top-rail height for a standard guardrail system, and how much force must it withstand?

    42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the walking surface, and it must withstand at least 200 pounds of force applied downward or outward.

15. What does SDS stand for, and what replaced the older MSDS format?

    Safety Data Sheet. The standardized 16-section SDS replaced the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) under OSHA's adoption of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

16. How many sections does a GHS-compliant Safety Data Sheet contain, and what does Section 1 cover?

    16 sections. Section 1 covers Identification (product name, manufacturer, and emergency contact information).

17. Under the GHS pictogram system, what does the 'flame' pictogram warn about?

    Flammable materials (and related hazards such as self-reactives, pyrophorics, and self-heating substances).

18. What are the two signal words used on GHS hazard labels, and which indicates the more severe hazard?

    'Danger' (more severe hazard) and 'Warning' (less severe hazard).

19. What three elements must be present for a fire to occur, and what is this model called?

    Fuel, heat, and oxygen — known as the fire triangle. The fire tetrahedron adds a chemical chain reaction as the fourth element.

20. Match each fire class to its fuel: Class A, B, C, D, and K.

    Class A = ordinary combustibles (wood, paper); Class B = flammable liquids/gases; Class C = energized electrical equipment; Class D = combustible metals; Class K = cooking oils and fats.

21. What does the PASS acronym stand for when operating a fire extinguisher?

    Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.

22. When adding fractions with unlike denominators, what is the first step?

    Find the lowest common denominator (LCD) and convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with that denominator before adding the numerators.

23. How do you convert the fraction 3/4 to a decimal?

    Divide the numerator by the denominator: 3 divided by 4 equals 0.75.

See more NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills flashcards →

Planning NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills for NCCER Certification

NCCER Core Curriculum: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills (NCCER Certification) FAQ