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Free NWSA A&L Practice Test
15 questions · instant scoring · explanations cite the standard · Candidate Handbook REV 10/25
The real NWSA Antenna & Line Specialty exam is 70 questions · 120 minutes. These 15 questions are weighted the same way the handbook weights the exam — antenna installation & alignment, transmission line, grounding & bonding, RF safety, testing & documentation — so your score tells you which domain to study, not just whether you would pass. Every explanation names the OSHA, ANSI or ASME source so you can check it yourself.
How to use this test
Answer every question before you check. Treat it like the real thing: closed book, no notes. When you score it you get a breakdown by domain — that is the list of what to study. Open "Show answer and explanation" on anything you missed; the explanation is written to teach the rule, not just confirm the letter.
The full A&L Specialty Pro course has the complete timed timed practice exam, a real-exam mode matching the 70 questions format, flashcards, and a weak-area report that updates as you study — in English, Spanish and Russian.
Get A&L Specialty Pro — $49 What's inside →15 practice questions for the NWSA A&L exam
An antenna's azimuth is:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Azimuth is the horizontal pointing direction in degrees from true north. Carriers specify a tolerance — commonly a few degrees — and it is verified with a calibrated instrument, not a phone compass near steel.
Total downtilt on a panel antenna is the sum of:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Mechanical tilt is set by the bracket; electrical tilt is set in the antenna (often remotely via RET). They add.
A Remote Electrical Tilt (RET) actuator changes:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. RET steps the phase shifter inside the antenna to change electrical tilt without a climb. Mechanical tilt still requires hands on the bracket.
Antenna mount fasteners are torqued:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Published torque, calibrated wrench, documented. Anything else is unverifiable.
Exceeding the minimum bend radius of corrugated coax:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The outer conductor deforms and the dielectric is crushed. The line is replaced, not repaired.
Transmission line is raised up the tower using:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A hoisting grip (wire-mesh type) distributes the lift over the jacket. Tying the load line around the jacket crushes the cable; lifting by the connector destroys it.
A VSWR of 1.0:1 on a line sweep indicates:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. VSWR 1.0:1 means zero reflection. Real systems pass at a carrier-specified threshold such as 1.3:1 to 1.5:1 (about 15–20 dB return loss).
PIM (passive intermodulation) testing looks for:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. PIM is created where two strong carriers meet a nonlinear junction. The usual culprits are under-torqued connectors, contaminated mating faces and loose metal near the antenna.
Motorola R56 is the industry standard for:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. R56 (Standards and Guidelines for Communication Sites) is the grounding and bonding reference most carriers write into their specs.
Below-grade ground connections are made with:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Exothermic welds are permanent, corrosion-resistant molecular bonds. Mechanical connections below grade corrode and loosen.
Transmission-line ground kits are installed, as a minimum:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Top, bottom and entry are the baseline. The interval along a tall run comes from R56's tower-height provisions and the carrier's construction standard.
A ground conductor from a line ground kit should route:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Lightning is a fast impulse; sharp bends and upward turns present high impedance and the current finds another path — often through equipment.
RF energy at cellular frequencies is:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. FCC OET-65 limits are based on thermal effects. Non-ionizing does not mean safe: standing in a main beam at high power causes burns, often internal, before pain is felt.
Before working in front of a live antenna, the required step is:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A documented lockout of the sector, then verification with a monitor — equipment fails and communications break down. Never rely on the phone call alone.
The outer tape layer in three-layer weatherproofing exists to:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Butyl does the sealing; it degrades in sunlight. The inner tape layer keeps butyl off the threads for later service; the outer layer shields the butyl.
What the A&L exam actually covers
NWSA publishes the content outline in the Candidate Handbook. For A&L the domains and weightings are: antenna installation & alignment, transmission line, grounding & bonding, RF safety, testing & documentation. The exam is 70 questions · 120 minutes, multiple choice, delivered by online remote proctoring with a live proctor. There is no practical exam — that was discontinued in January 2024. The fee is $274, retakes are $274, and NWSA does not publish a passing score. Certification is valid for five years.
If you want the full picture of the exam, the NWSA exam guide covers registration, the zero-tolerance proctoring policy in force since September 2026, and what happens on test day. The A&L study guide page shows exactly what the paid course contains.
Other free NWSA practice tests
- Free NWSA TTT-1 practice test — 85 questions on the real exam
- Free NWSA TTT-2 practice test — 100 questions on the real exam
- Free NWSA Foreman practice test — 70 questions on the real exam
- Free NWSA ARC practice test — 95 questions on the real exam
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the NWSA A&L exam?
The A&L exam is 70 questions · 120 minutes, per the NWSA Candidate Handbook (REV 10/25). It is multiple choice, written only, delivered by online remote proctoring.
Is the NWSA exam computer-based?
Yes. Since January 2024 every NWSA certification exam is delivered by Online Remote Proctoring (ORP) — you take it on your own computer with a live proctor. The practical exam component was discontinued at the same time.
What score do I need to pass the NWSA exam?
NWSA does not publish a passing score. Exams are criterion-referenced and the cut score is set by a panel of subject-matter experts; results are reported as pass/fail with a domain-by-domain breakdown. Any site quoting a specific percentage is guessing.
How much does the NWSA exam cost?
$274 for every NWSA certification — TTT-1, TTT-2, A&L, Foreman and ARC. Retakes are the same $274, with a 30-day wait between attempts. Fees are set by NWSA and can change; nws-a.org is the authority.
Does this free practice test count toward certification?
No. Only NWSA issues certification, and only by passing the official exam at nws-a.org. This test is independent practice material to find weak areas before you pay the exam fee.
Exam facts on this page are from the NWSA Candidate Handbook, CH REV 10/25. Fees, formats and rules change — the handbook is the authority. NWSA Study Guide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or recognized by the National Wireless Safety Alliance.