- You need 49 correct answers out of 70 scored questions - exactly 70% - to pass CT-P2.
- The exam runs 150 minutes and may include up to 10 unscored pilot questions mixed in.
- Drain, Waste, and Vent is the largest domain at 11 questions - prioritize it heavily.
- PSI's bulletin was revised February 4, 2026, so verify references before test day.
The Passing Score Number: 49 of 70
If you're preparing for the Connecticut P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber License Exam, the number that matters most is simple: you need 70% to pass, which translates to 49 correct answers out of 70 scored questions. This is the standard set by PSI Services LLC, the testing provider that administers the exam on behalf of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the Plumbing and Piping Work Examining Board.
There's no partial credit for near-misses and no curve applied afterward. Either you land at 49 correct or higher, or you don't. That clarity is actually useful for planning - it means you can calculate, domain by domain, exactly how much room for error you have and where you can afford to guess versus where you need certainty.
How the 150-Minute Exam Is Structured
The CT-P2 exam is computer-based and open-book, administered at a PSI test center. Candidates get 150 minutes to complete the exam, which is a comfortable window if you know the material but can evaporate quickly if you're flipping through code books for every question. That's roughly two minutes per question if you count the full 80-question pool (70 scored plus up to 10 unscored), though most candidates move faster on straightforward recall items and slower on calculation-heavy ones involving developed length or isometric layouts.
Because this is a trade examination only - not the P-1 contractor track that also requires a separate Business and Law exam - every question on the CT-P2 bulletin is technical. You won't see business, contract, or licensing-law questions mixed in. The entire test is built around field knowledge: code compliance, system design, materials, and safety practices a working journeyperson plumber applies daily.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is open-book, your speed at locating a code section matters as much as memorization. Practice navigating your IPC and NFPA references before test day, not during it.
Scored Questions vs. the Unscored Ten
One detail that trips up candidates who haven't read the bulletin closely: the exam may include up to 10 additional unscored questions woven into the same 150-minute session. These are pilot items PSI uses to evaluate future exam content, and they look identical to scored questions - there's no way to tell which is which while you're testing.
Practically, this means two things. First, treat every single question as if it counts, because you genuinely don't know which ones do. Second, don't panic if you encounter a question on a topic that feels oddly specific or outside what you studied - it may simply be an unscored item and won't affect your 49-out-of-70 target either way.
Turning 70 Questions Into a Domain Strategy
The CT-P2 outline spans 16 domains, but they are not weighted equally. Knowing which domains carry the most questions lets you allocate study hours proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that matter unevenly on exam day. For a full breakdown of every domain and its likely weight, see our CT-P2 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas.
Drain, Waste, and Vent (Domain 9)
The single largest domain on the exam at 11 questions. Candidates must be fluent in DWV sizing, venting configurations, trap arm limits, and code-compliant layouts.
- Master IPC provisions for DWV sizing tables
- Understand venting requirements for fixture groups
- Practice identifying code violations in DWV diagrams
Isometric Analysis & Developed Length (Domains 12 & 13)
Combined, these two domains account for nine questions - nearly as many as DWV alone. These are calculation- and drawing-interpretation-heavy items that reward practice reading isometric riser diagrams under time pressure.
- Practice converting plan-view piping into isometric sketches
- Drill developed length calculations with fittings and offsets
- Time yourself - these questions take longer than simple recall items
Beyond these two heavyweight areas, the remaining 14 domains - General Plumbing Regulations, Gas Systems, Cleanouts, Fixtures and Equipment, Water Heaters, Piping/Valves/Controls, Water Supply, Hangers and Supports, Backflow, Traps and Interceptors, Joints and Connections, Safety and Excavation, and Water Treatment - round out the remaining 50 questions. None of them should be ignored, since a weak domain can still cost you several points, but your deepest review time should go where the question count is highest.
| Exam Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total scored questions | 70 |
| Passing score | 49 correct (70%) |
| Time allotted | 150 minutes |
| Possible unscored questions | Up to 10 |
| Largest domain | Drain, Waste, and Vent - 11 questions |
| PSI exam fee | $59 per attempt |
Why "Open-Book" Doesn't Mean Easy
The CT-P2 exam allows candidates to bring their own approved reference books, including the International Plumbing Code (2015, 2018, or 2021 editions), NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code or Handbook (2012), NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (2014), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 provisions, Water Processing: Residential, Commercial, Light Industrial (3rd edition, 2000), and NFPA 56 in its current listed edition. A silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is also permitted.
What's not allowed is just as important. Prior highlighting, underlining, and permanently bound tabs in your code books are fine. But question-and-answer notes, loose or attached papers, temporary sticky tabs, and any writing during the exam itself are prohibited. If a proctor finds unauthorized annotations, it can jeopardize your attempt. Study guides like Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters and Plumbing Design and Installation are valuable for learning the material beforehand, but they cannot come into the testing room - they're study-only references.
Passing an open-book exam still requires genuine command of the material - you don't have time to look up all 70 answers in 150 minutes. The books are there to confirm details and resolve edge cases, not to substitute for preparation. For a deeper look at why this format is more demanding than it sounds, read How Hard Is the CT-P2 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
What Happens If You Fall Short
DCP approval must happen before you can schedule with PSI, and once approved, your eligibility window lasts one year. Within that year, you can sit for the exam an unlimited number of times if you don't pass on your first try - but each attempt requires paying the $59 PSI fee again. There's no bundled retake discount, so a failed attempt is a real cost, not just lost time.
This is one more reason the 49-out-of-70 threshold deserves respect rather than a "I'll just retake it" mindset. Budgeting for the exam should account for at least the possibility of a second sitting, on top of the $90 DCP application fee and $120 annual renewal fee once you're licensed. For the full financial picture, see CT-P2 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Treat your first attempt as your real attempt. With unlimited retakes but no fee waiver, thorough preparation before you ever sit down at the PSI center saves both money and momentum.
A Focused Path to 49 Correct Answers
Generic study advice rarely accounts for how CT-P2's question distribution actually works. Instead of studying all 16 domains equally, sequence your review around question weight and personal weak spots. A four-week runway built around the domain breakdown looks like this:
Drain, Waste, and Vent Deep Dive
- Work through IPC DWV sizing tables until they're second nature
- Practice identifying vent type requirements by fixture
- Review trap arm distance limits and cleanout placement rules
Isometric Analysis & Developed Length
- Practice converting floor plans into isometric riser sketches
- Drill developed length math with common fitting allowances
- Time practice problems to build calculation speed
Gas Systems, Water Heaters, Backflow, Water Supply
- Review NFPA 54 provisions for gas piping and appliance venting
- Study backflow prevention device types and required locations
- Cover water supply sizing and pressure requirements
Remaining Domains + Reference Navigation
- Cover Cleanouts, Fixtures, Hangers, Joints, Safety/Excavation, Water Treatment
- Time yourself locating answers in your tabbed code books
- Take full-length timed practice sessions to simulate the 150-minute window
For a complete week-by-week study plan with more detail on each domain, our CT-P2 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through the full sequence, and the CT-P2 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is useful for last-minute review the night before your test date.
It's also worth checking your eligibility timeline and required documentation well before you lock in a study schedule - see CT-P2 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify for the DCP approval process, including the equivalency route of 8,000 on-the-job hours and 576 classroom hours for candidates without a formal apprenticeship. And once you know your testing window, CT-P2 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers how scheduling with PSI works after DCP approval.
Running full-length timed practice sessions on our CT-P2 practice test platform is one of the most reliable ways to find out, before test day, whether you're actually hitting the 49-question threshold under real time pressure. Simulating the 150-minute format with realistic domain distribution - especially the DWV and isometric-heavy sections - exposes pacing problems that flashcards alone never will.
FAQ: CT-P2 Passing Score Questions
You need 49 correct answers out of 70 scored questions, which equals 70%. This is the passing threshold set for the Connecticut P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber License Exam administered through PSI Services LLC.
No. Up to 10 additional unscored questions may appear in the same 150-minute session, but they do not count toward your 49-out-of-70 requirement. You cannot identify which questions are unscored while testing, so answer every question as if it counts.
No. While prior highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs in your approved reference books are allowed, loose or attached notes, question-and-answer sheets, temporary tabs, and any writing during the exam are prohibited.
Your DCP eligibility lasts one year, and you can take the PSI exam an unlimited number of times within that window. Each attempt requires paying the $59 PSI exam fee again, so retakes carry a real cost.
Drain, Waste, and Vent is the largest single domain at 11 questions, making it the highest-value area to master. Isometric Analysis and Developed Length together add nine more questions, so those three domains combined represent nearly 30% of the scored exam.
Understanding the exact mechanics behind the 49-out-of-70 passing score - how questions are distributed, what references you can rely on, and where your retake costs stand - turns an intimidating exam into a manageable target. Pair that clarity with focused practice on the highest-weight domains, and the CT-P2 passing score becomes a number you can plan for rather than fear.
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