OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Decorative Concrete Flatwork Finisher — Requirements & Free Practice

US · License preparation

100 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Loading selected examination banks…

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Decorative Concrete Flatwork Finisher

ACI certification recognizing decorative flatwork finishing knowledge and ability, requiring the decorative written exam, current Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher certification and verified experience.

Licensing authority: American Concrete Institute

Initial by examination
Decorative Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Associate written examination
All Of
[{"prerequisiteCertification":"Current ACI Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher, formerly Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Technician; prerequisite certification includes its own skills/experience requirements and is not a second decorative examination."},{"decorativeExperienceHours":1500,"minimumHoursEach":{"cleaningSealing":40,"coloring":250,"exposedFinishes":250,"stairs":250,"stamping":250},"verification":{"anyOf":["Affidavits signed by project superintendent, job foremen and/or company owner verifying the required experience.","If self-employed and unable to furnish employment proof, three client reference letters covering at least one year."]}}]
Award Validity
Five years after all certification requirements are completed.
Scope
Initial decorative certification only; no prerequisite examination bank, renewal assessment or aggregate certification route is added.

Decorative Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Associate written examination

Provider
American Concrete Institute; local sponsoring groups administer sessions
Format
Closed-book multiple-choice written examination; approved verbal administration available
Time limit
2 hours (120 minutes)
Passing score
70%
Examination outline
  • Safety
    • Know the minimum safety equipment required when working with wet concrete.
    • Know the SDS requirements for hazardous materials.
    • Understand the ventilation requirements related to solvent-based materials.
    • Understand when an approved respirator should be worn.
    • Understand the need to barricade the work area and maintain cleanliness.
    • Know the safety recommendations for working with electric tools.
  • Layout Considerations - Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines
    • Understand the acronym ADA.
    • Know the minimum width for an Accessible Route.
    • Know the Cross Slope for Walks and Ramps.
    • Understand the purpose of the ADA.
    • Understand the ramifications of noncompliance with the ADA.
  • Soils, Subgrade, and Base Requirements
    • Understand the purpose and terminology of a soils report.
    • Understand requirements that may be affected by the soils report.
    • Know how the subgrade is prepared.
    • Understand how to handle conflicting requirements from the soils report.
  • Forming, Reinforcement, and Dowels
    • Know the purpose of forming.
    • Understand the need to identify problems or conflicts before concrete is placed.
    • Know the recommended placing strategy for decorative concrete.
    • Understand the typical reinforcement for decorative concrete paving.
    • Understand the disadvantages of welded wire reinforcement.
    • Understand the importance of reinforcement position.
    • Know the proper method to place welded wire reinforcement and steel reinforcement.
    • Know the purposes for dowels.
    • Understand the purpose of microfibers.
    • Know the effects of microfibers on concrete aesthetics.
    • Understand the various names for isolation joints.
    • Understand the various names for contraction joints.
    • Know where isolation joints are placed.
    • Know where contraction joints are placed.
    • Know proper contraction joint spacing.
    • Understand the relationship between water-cementitious materials ratio and shrinkage cracking.
    • Understand the effect of subgrade on shrinkage cracking.
    • Understand how isolation joints function.
    • Understand how contraction joints function.
    • Understand how contraction joints are constructed.
    • Know when joints should be cut with saws.
    • Know how to select the proper form size and stakes.
    • Know welded-wire reinforcement designations.
    • Know the dosage rate of microfibers.
    • Understand the purpose of a contraction joint.
    • Understand the purpose of saw cutting construction joints.
    • Understand how the subgrade affects a concrete slab.
    • Understand how isolation joints are decoratively treated.
    • Understand slope recommendations for paving.
  • Basic Decorative Concrete Components
    • Understand the effect of aggregate size on water requirement.
    • Understand the effect of high water content on cracking.
    • Know the effect of aggregate size on cracking potential.
    • Understand the effect of fly ash on color.
    • Understand the effect of fly ash and slag cement on setting time.
    • Know the mix design criteria for areas that experience cycles of freezing and thawing.
    • Know when air entrainment is and is not needed for decorative concrete.
    • Understand the problems encountered when finishing concrete with entrained air.
    • Know how to minimize the problems encountered when finishing concrete with entrained air.
    • Understand why calcium chloride should not be used.
    • Know the disadvantages of carbon black.
    • Understand release agents.
    • Know release agent removal requirements.
    • Know the levels of exposure for top-surface retarders.
    • Know how to calculate how many stamping mats are needed.
    • Understand the use of flexible stamping mats.
    • Understand the use for tampers.
    • Understand why hand rollers are used after the stamping mats are removed.
    • Know the benefits, disadvantages, and dosage rate of integral color.
    • Know the composition, benefits, and disadvantages of color hardeners.
    • Understand the effects of supplementary cementitious materials on concrete color.
    • Know and be able to use basic tools for decorative flatwork.
  • Concrete Surface Retarders
    • Know when a top surface retarder is applied.
    • Understand why top surface retarders are used for decorative concrete.
    • Know the different aggregate exposure levels.
    • Understand how top surface retarders are applied.
    • Know the guidelines for use of surface retarders.
  • Stamped Concrete
    • Know the appropriate aggregate sizes for stamped concrete.
    • Know the alignment requirements with regards to a specific stamping tool.
    • Know when curing should be applied to decorative concrete.
    • Know which curing methods are appropriate for decorative concrete.
    • Understand the need for curing the mock-up panel.
    • Understand the cleaning requirements with release agent prior to sealer application.
    • Know the application of release agent.
    • Know and be able to perform application of color hardener.
  • Seeding Special Aggregates
    • Know the requirements of ASTM C33 for seeded aggregate.
    • Know what sizes of aggregate are used and at what rate.
    • Know how and be able to construct exposed aggregate concrete using the seeded aggregate method.
    • Know what should be included in a mock up and when to create it.
    • Understand the basic concept of alkali-silica reaction.
    • Understand the effect of aggregate color on albedo.
    • Understand the benefits of dark colors for vehicular paving.
  • Decorative Treatment of Stairs
    • Understand the dimension requirements for stairs.
    • Know the requirements for the radius of curvature at the leading edge of the tread on stairs.
    • Know the projection requirements for stair nosings.
    • Know the slope requirement for stair treads.
    • Know the appropriate slump for stairs.
    • Understand the direction of concrete placement for stairs.
    • Understand the direction of concrete finishing for stairs.
    • Understand when a mock-up should be constructed.
    • Understand timing of stair construction.
    • Understand application of color hardener to stairs.
  • Sealing Decorative Concrete
    • Know the difference between curing compounds, sealers, and cure and seal products.
    • Know the different types of sealers.
    • Understand compliance with VOC regulations.
    • Know the major causes of problems when applying sealers to decorative concrete.
    • Know the potential surface contaminants
    • Know the requirements for surface cleanliness prior to sealer application.
    • Know how sealers are applied.
Examination sources