Most experienced investors, myself included, would advise that you first test out your market and explore investment options there.

The moment folks starts testing new markets because Memphis "Isn't working out" is the moment all the deals reveal themselves!

Any recommendations for practice test books/courses to prep for the licensing test following completion of the course?

You can get mold test kits at HD for about $10I agree that full sheets are the way to go and that the price you were quoted is way too high.Good luck !!

She had asked the plumber if she should test the washer to ensure it was unclogged, but he said it wasn't necessary.

I'm excited about this because it's a whole set of tested forms.  

Deegan and @Arda Bircan There are technically 7 Tests for Material Participation (but 3 that are most common) -> the individual 500 hour mark, that the activity of the individual is substantially all, and that the individual participates more than 100 hours + no-one else spends more time than them.Litmus Test: Are your hours integral to the operationsThe hours that qualify must be substantially all hours and have a legitimate impact on the rental activities.Activities that generally count: showing the property for rent, taking tenant applications & screening tenants, preparing & negotiating leases, cleaning & preparing the units for rent, repairs, and improvements, managing the construction, purchasing supplies & materials, inspecting the property, responding to tenant complaints & inquiries, collecting & depositing rents, evicting tenants, writing & placing advertisements, and working on your websiteActivities that don't count: education & research, investor-type activities, and travel time..

Any idiot can pass the test , And a lot do . 

I would recommend testing multiple different scenarios though.

This allows you to test the waters without committing entirely to unfamiliar territory.Local Expertise: Leveraging the knowledge of local experts is invaluable.