AGMT Certification

What Is AGMT Certification?

The Architectural Glass & Metal Technician (AGMT) credential validates that a glazier possesses the field knowledge and hands-on skill to install, seal, and troubleshoot commercial glazing systems - curtainwall, storefront/entrance framing, and related sealant work. Unlike a purely written credential, AGMT combines a closed-book knowledge-based test (KBT) with a separate set of performance-based test (PBT) sections that must be completed on real assemblies. If you are still sorting out exactly what the letters mean and how the program is structured, our overview at What Is AGMT? and the plain-language explainer at AGMT Meaning are good starting points before diving into the mechanics below.

This page focuses on the parts of the program every candidate needs to plan around: eligibility, the KBT structure, the PBT sections, domain weighting, and the fee schedule. For a deeper breakdown of exactly which topics live inside each domain, see AGMT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 7 Content Areas.

Who Administers the Credential

Administrative Management Systems, Inc. administers the AGMT program with oversight from the AGMCC. The governing documents for this record are the January 14, 2026 Candidate Handbook and the September 15, 2025 KBT Study Guide - both of which should be treated as the authoritative reference over any secondhand summary, including this one. If a detail here ever seems to conflict with the current handbook, defer to the handbook.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you can sit for the KBT or PBT, you need to meet AGMT's documented eligibility criteria:

• 7,500 hours of glazing work experience completed within a five-year window
• OSHA 10 certification, or qualifying Canadian safety training for candidates working north of the border
• A signed candidate agreement submitted as part of the application

There is a documented early-testing path: applicants who have logged at least 7,000 hours may test before hitting the full 7,500-hour mark, provided they document completion of the remaining experience requirement within 12 months of passing the PBT. This is useful for technicians who are close to the threshold but want to lock in an exam date. A full walkthrough of how to document hours and safety training lives at AGMT Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Knowledge-Based Test Format

The KBT is administered at Prometric test centers as a closed-book exam. Here's what candidates actually sit down to on test day:

• 125 graded questions, four-option multiple choice, in a 2-hour window
• Additional unscored beta items may be mixed in - you won't know which questions are beta, so treat every item as scored
• Passing score: 92/125 (73.6%)
• Available in English and Spanish
• A non-scientific calculator is supplied at the workstation - no personal calculator needed or permitted

Because beta items are unscored but indistinguishable from graded ones, pacing matters. With 125 questions in 120 minutes, you have well under a minute per question on average, so time management during practice sessions should mirror that constraint. For a question-by-question breakdown of what "hard" actually means on this exam - pacing, question style, and where candidates typically lose points - see How Hard Is the AGMT Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And if you want the exact number restated plainly with context on what it means for your margin for error, read AGMT Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

The Three Performance-Based Test Sections

Passing the KBT alone does not make you AGMT-certified. Candidates must also pass all three PBT sections, each scored and timed independently:

One practical detail worth planning around: passed practical sections are retained within the handbook's retake period, so if you clear Curtainwall but come up short on Sealing, you don't have to redo the sections you already passed - you can retake just the failed section(s) within the allowed window. This retention rule is a big factor in how candidates should schedule their retake budget, which we cover in the fees section below.

The Seven KBT Domains

The KBT draws from seven weighted content domains. Weighting matters because it tells you where to concentrate limited study time - a domain worth 21% deserves proportionally more review than one worth 9%.

Notice that Sealants and Gaskets / Ancillary Materials (21%) and Systems (18%) together account for close to 40% of the KBT - nearly two out of every five questions. Quality Control / Failure Prevention (16%) and Glass and Panels (14%) round out the next tier. A candidate who under-studies these four domains is taking on unnecessary risk. For a full content map with subtopics under each domain, see AGMT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 7 Content Areas.

Fees and Retake Costs

Effective July 1, 2026, the USD fee schedule for AGMT is as follows:

• KBT: $250
• PBT: $1,000
• Business-account fee: $150
• Initial total: $1,400 before applicable extras

If a retake is needed:

• KBT retake: $250
• PBT retake, one section: $550
• PBT retake, two sections: $900
• PBT retake, all three sections: $1,000

Because passed practical sections are retained within the handbook retake period, most candidates who fail a PBT attempt only pay the single-section or two-section retake rate rather than the full $1,000. For a line-by-line cost breakdown including how these fees stack up against the overall investment in certification, read AGMT Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Renewal and Continuing Education

AGMT certification is valid for four years. To renew, certificants must:

• Pass a current KBT
• Complete 32 continuing-education hours, split into 16 hours per two-year segment of the certification term
• Document 4,000 work hours during the certification term, or complete a PBT retest in lieu of hours

The standard renewal package is priced at $600. Because the continuing-education requirement is split into two-year segments rather than a single lump total, it's worth logging CE hours as you go rather than scrambling in year three or four.

Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains

Generic study techniques only help if they're pointed at the right material. Given that Sealants and Gaskets / Ancillary Materials (21%) and Systems (18%) carry the most weight, a sensible multi-week plan front-loads those domains early, when your retention window is longest, and revisits them again just before test day.

This sequencing isn't a rigid template - it's a direct response to how the KBT is weighted. For step-by-step preparation guidance built specifically around the AGMT domain list and study guide, see AGMT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And once you're ready to gauge where you actually stand, running scored practice questions on our AGMT practice test platform is the fastest way to find domain-level gaps before exam day.

Who Hires AGMT-Certified Technicians

AGMT-certified technicians typically work for commercial glazing contractors, curtainwall and storefront installation firms, glass fabricators, and general contractors that self-perform glazing scopes on commercial projects. Because the credential requires demonstrated field hours (7,500 within five years) plus passing hands-on PBT sections in Curtainwall, Storefront/Entrance, and Sealing, it signals to employers that a technician can be trusted on live commercial installs - not just tested on theory. For context on how this credential fits into a glazing career path and what roles typically call for it, see AGMT Jobs and AGMT Training.

If you're weighing whether the time and fee investment is worthwhile given your current role, Is the AGMT Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AGMT Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis walk through the considerations in more depth. For scheduling logistics - when testing windows open and how far in advance to register - check AGMT Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

Once you've locked in eligibility and a study timeline, a condensed reference sheet can help during final review. Our AGMT Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts consolidates the passing scores, timing, and fee numbers covered in this article into a single quick-reference page. And if you want data-driven context on how other candidates have performed, AGMT Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows is worth reading alongside your prep plan. You can also start testing your knowledge right now with realistic practice questions at AGMT Exam Prep.

Frequently Asked Questions