CTI Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CTI exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
CTI exam key facts
- The CTI online knowledge exam is an open-book test of 155 multiple-choice and true/false questions, taken together with a separate hands-on installation test. Source
- CTI candidates get a maximum of four hours to finish the online exam in a single sitting, and the hands-on test runs from 7:09 am to 4:00 pm. Source
- The CTI is graded pass/fail, and candidates need a combined score of 85% or higher across the online exam and the hands-on test. Source
- CTEF's Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program costs $629 per installer, which covers the online exam, the hands-on test and printed study materials. Source
- Candidates who fail the CTI may retake one or both tests at a reduced cost; the online test can be retaken at any time and the hands-on test at any convenient site. Source
📋 CTI Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CTI Topics to Study (23)
✍️ Sample CTI Questions & Answers
1. Why is tile thickness an important specification?
Tile thickness is a crucial specification because it directly impacts the tile's durability and the overall installation process. Thicker tiles generally offer greater strength and resistance to impact and heavy loads, making them suitable for high-traffic areas. It also affects the finished floor height and requires careful consideration for proper leveling and setting material selection to ensure a stable and long-lasting installation.
2. What does grout haze refer to?
Grout haze refers to a thin, cloudy film or residue that remains on the tile surface after the grout has been applied and the initial cleaning has been performed. This haze is caused by fine grout particles that dry onto the tile surface. It typically requires specific cleaning methods and products to remove completely and restore the tile's original appearance, ensuring a clean and professional finish.
3. What is the minimum required overlap for sheet waterproofing membrane seams in a wet-area tile installation?
Sheet membrane seams must overlap at least 2 inches and be fully bonded to create a continuous, leak-free waterproofing layer.
4. Which ANSI standard establishes performance requirements for standard Portland cement grouts used in tile installations?
ANSI A118.6 covers standard Portland cement grout performance requirements for tile installations.
5. For interior tile installations, what is the maximum recommended spacing between movement joints per TCNA EJ171?
TCNA EJ171 recommends movement joints at maximum 20–25 feet in each direction for interior tile installations to relieve built-up stresses.
6. When facing an unfamiliar challenge in environmental & sustainability practices within Certified Tile Inspector, what is the BEST approach?
Researching best practices and consulting colleagues combines established knowledge with practical experience, while documentation supports future reference.
🎯 Free CTI Practice Tests
📖 CTI Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CTI
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length CTI mock exam — 100 questions in 120 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed CTI question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable CTI cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- CTI flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free CTI practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- ceramictilefoundation.org — Eligibility, fees, registration, test delivery, exam format, late registration, passing score, retake policy, score release, time limit · verified Oct 2026