AGMT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 7 Content Areas

AGMT Exam Domain Overview

The Architectural Glass and Metal Technician credential, administered by Administrative Management Systems, Inc. under AGMCC oversight, tests candidates across seven content areas on the knowledge-based test (KBT). If you're building a study plan, understanding how these domains are weighted is more useful than any generic study advice - it tells you exactly where to spend your limited prep hours. This guide breaks down each of the seven domains, what topics live inside them, and how they connect to the practical skills tested on the performance-based test (PBT).

For a broader look at how these domains fit into a complete prep plan, see the AGMT Study Guide 2026. If you're still deciding whether to pursue certification at all, the ROI analysis and salary guide are worth reading first.

Domain 1: Glazing Theory (11%)

Glazing Theory establishes the foundational principles that every other domain builds on. This section covers the physics and logic behind why glass and metal systems are designed and installed the way they are - thermal movement, structural loading concepts, gasket compression theory, and the basic mechanics of how framing systems accommodate building movement.

Domain 2: Tools / Equipment of the Trade (9%)

This is the smallest domain by weight, but it's foundational for anyone claiming hands-on glazing experience. Expect questions on the correct tool for a given task, safe operation of common glazing equipment, and recognizing when specialized equipment (suction cups, setting blocks, glass lifts, sealant guns) is required versus optional.

Because eligibility for AGMT requires OSHA 10 or qualifying Canadian safety training, expect some overlap between this domain and general jobsite safety knowledge. Full eligibility details are covered in our AGMT Requirements guide.

Domain 3: Construction Documents and Layout (11%)

This domain tests the ability to read and interpret shop drawings, elevations, and specifications - the paperwork side of glazing work. Candidates need to translate a drawing into a physical layout, understand symbol conventions, and cross-reference specs against field conditions.

Domain 4: Glass and Panels (14%)

Glass and Panels covers the material science side of the trade: glass types, coatings, insulating glass units, laminated assemblies, and panel materials used in curtainwall and storefront systems. This domain requires memorizing distinctions between products that look similar but perform very differently.

Domain 5: Systems (18%)

Systems is the second-heaviest domain and covers the actual framing systems a technician installs: curtainwall, storefront, entrance systems, and window wall. This domain connects directly to two of the three PBT sections - Curtainwall and Storefront/Entrance - making it a high-value area to master thoroughly before test day.

Domain 6: Sealants and Gaskets / Ancillary Materials (21%)

This is the single largest domain on the KBT at 21% of the exam - meaning roughly one in five questions touches sealants, gaskets, or ancillary materials. It also maps directly to the Sealing section of the PBT (45 minutes, 79/100 passing), so mastery here pays off twice.

Given its weight, this domain deserves the most dedicated review time in any study plan. The AGMT Cheat Sheet is a useful quick-reference tool for keeping sealant and gasket facts straight during final review.

Domain 7: Quality Control / Failure Prevention (16%)

Quality Control / Failure Prevention is the third-heaviest domain and tests a technician's ability to identify defects, understand common failure modes, and apply inspection procedures before problems become warranty claims. This domain ties together concepts from every other domain - you can't spot a sealant failure without understanding sealant theory, and you can't catch a layout error without document literacy.

How Domains Relate to the KBT and PBT

It's important to be precise about what these seven domains actually measure. The domain weights above describe the KBT - the closed-book, 125-question, four-option multiple-choice exam administered at a Prometric test center in 2 hours (with a supplied non-scientific calculator, available in English and Spanish). Additional unscored beta items may appear alongside the graded questions, but they don't count toward your score.

Full certification requires passing the KBT and all three PBT sections separately: Curtainwall (3 hours 30 minutes, 462/600), Storefront/Entrance (2 hours, 321/425), and Sealing (45 minutes, 79/100). The domains don't have published weights on the PBT the way they do on the KBT, but the subject matter overlaps heavily - especially Systems and Sealants and Gaskets, which correspond almost directly to PBT section names.

If you're unsure exactly how tough this combination is compared to other trade certifications, the AGMT difficulty guide breaks it down section by section, and the passing score breakdown explains exactly what number you need to clear on each component.

Mapping a Study Schedule to Domain Weight

Rather than studying all seven domains equally, allocate time proportional to weight - spend the most hours on Sealants and Gaskets / Ancillary Materials (21%), Systems (18%), and Quality Control / Failure Prevention (16%), since together they account for well over half the KBT.

This schedule is a starting framework, not a fixed rule - adjust it based on your actual field experience. Someone with years of hands-on curtainwall installation may need less time on Systems and more on Construction Documents and Layout, or vice versa. For a deeper walkthrough of study techniques mapped to each domain, read the full AGMT Study Guide.

Fees and Timing Tied to These Domains

Understanding domain content is only half the equation - knowing the cost and timeline helps you plan when to sit for the KBT. Effective July 1, 2026, the KBT fee is $250, the PBT fee is $1,000, and there's a $150 business-account fee, bringing the initial total to $1,400 before any extras. KBT retakes are $250; PBT retakes run $550 for one section, $900 for two, or $1,000 for all three, with passed practical sections retained within the handbook's retake period.

Because the KBT and PBT are scored and retaken independently, a poor showing in one heavily weighted domain like Sealants and Gaskets doesn't require retesting sections you've already passed on the practical side. For the complete fee schedule and renewal cost structure, see AGMT Certification Cost 2026, and check AGMT Exam Dates 2026 before locking in a testing window.

Who Hires Based on These Domains

Employers looking for AGMT-certified technicians are typically glazing contractors, curtainwall installation firms, and commercial general contractors working on storefront, entrance, and curtainwall projects. Because the domains map so closely to real installation work - Systems, Glass and Panels, and Sealants and Gaskets in particular - the certification signals that a technician can be trusted on complex commercial envelope work without close supervision. If you're evaluating career paths, the AGMT Jobs overview and salary guide go into more detail on where certified technicians typically work.

You can also run through full-length AGMT practice tests organized by these same seven domains to see which areas need the most attention before committing to a testing date.

Frequently Asked Questions