ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Exam Prep Guide

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N examination is designed for contractors, builders, supervisors, project managers, and construction professionals preparing to demonstrate broad knowledge of commercial and general building construction.

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N exam prep collection includes a books and courses rental package, professionally highlighted and tabbed references, flexible online exam preparation, and a standard exam book package.

This guide explains the available G11-N packages, examination details, reference books, major construction subjects, code-navigation methods, and practical study strategies.

Available G11-N Exam Prep Packages

• ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N - Books & Courses Rental Package: $790.00 sale price, reduced from $1,090.00
• ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package: $595.00 sale price, reduced from $795.00
• ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N - Online Exam Prep: $295.00 sale price, reduced from $395.00
• ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Exam Book Package: $395.00 sale price, reduced from $495.00

The rental package combines temporary book access with online training. The highlighted and tabbed package supports faster reference navigation. The online course is suitable for candidates who already own the correct books, while the exam book package supports independent preparation.

Books & Courses Rental Package

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Books & Courses Rental Package combines access to the assigned references with structured online exam preparation.

The package is listed at a sale price of $790.00, reduced from the regular price of $1,090.00.

This option may be appropriate for candidates who:

• Need the exam books and online course together
• Do not currently own the approved references
• Want an organized general building contractor study plan
• Need help navigating building-code and concrete references
• Want practice with code questions and calculations
• Prefer combining lessons, books, and exam-style practice

Candidates should review the current product listing for course access, rental periods, shipping details, deposit requirements, and return instructions.

Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package provides professionally organized references for candidates who want to begin studying without preparing every section themselves.

The package is listed at a sale price of $595.00, reduced from the regular price of $795.00.

The prepared references may help candidates locate:

• Code administration and definitions
• Occupancy classifications
• Construction types
• Building height and area
• Fire-resistance-rated construction
• Means of egress
• Accessibility requirements
• Foundations and concrete
• Masonry, steel, and wood construction
• Exterior walls and roof assemblies

Highlighted and tabbed books improve organization, but candidates must still understand how to interpret and apply the requirements they locate.

Online Exam Prep

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Online Exam Prep course provides flexible, self-paced preparation for candidates who already own the correct references or plan to purchase them separately.

The course is listed at a sale price of $295.00, reduced from the regular price of $395.00.

Online preparation may help candidates:

• Review construction subjects in a logical order
• Understand how the references work together
• Practice code-navigation techniques
• Review structural and concrete topics
• Identify weak knowledge areas
• Complete exam-style practice questions
• Study around active construction projects

The course is most effective when candidates use the approved references while completing lessons and practice questions.

Exam Book Package

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Exam Book Package provides the printed references associated with the examination for independent study.

The package is listed at a sale price of $395.00, reduced from the regular price of $495.00.

This package may be appropriate for candidates who:

• Prefer independent book-based preparation
• Want to own the exam references
• Already understand many construction subjects
• Want to create a personalized tab and highlighting system
• Already have separate training or practice questions
• Need the references for continued professional use

What Is the ICC G11-N Examination?

The G11-N examination is the ICC National Standard General Building Contractor (A) examination. Participating jurisdictions may use it as part of a Class A contractor, building contractor, supervisor certificate, or similar qualification process.

The examination includes 90 multiple-choice questions and has a four-hour time limit. Candidates must earn at least 70 percent to pass.

The exam is open book, subject to current rules for approved references, permanent tabs, highlighting, handwritten notes, inserted materials, and book condition.

Passing G11-N does not automatically issue a contractor license. The applicable licensing authority controls experience, applications, insurance, bonding, financial qualifications, registration, and final approval.

G11-N Exam References

The current G11-N package identifies two primary references:

• International Building Code, 2018 Edition
• 2021 ICC Concrete Manual

The International Building Code supports preparation involving code administration, occupancy classification, construction type, building height and area, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, structural systems, exterior walls, roof assemblies, finishes, and special construction.

The ICC Concrete Manual supports preparation involving concrete materials, reinforcement, formwork, placement, consolidation, curing, inspection, testing, and concrete construction practices.

Candidates should confirm the required references before purchasing materials or scheduling the examination because testing requirements can change.

How the References Work Together

• Use the International Building Code for building planning, occupancy, construction type, fire safety, egress, accessibility, structural requirements, exterior walls, roofs, and material-specific code provisions.
• Use the ICC Concrete Manual for detailed questions involving concrete materials, reinforcement, formwork, placement, curing, field inspection, and testing.

Candidates should identify whether a question concerns a general building-code requirement or a detailed concrete construction practice before selecting a reference.

Confirm Local Contractor Requirements

Before purchasing materials or scheduling the examination, candidates should verify:

• Whether the licensing authority accepts G11-N
• The scope of the General Building Contractor (A) classification
• The required reference editions
• The current approved book list
• The examination format and passing requirement
• Rules for tabs, highlighting, and notes
• Required construction and supervisory experience
• Application and examination fees
• Insurance and bonding requirements
• Financial or net-worth requirements
• Business-registration requirements
• License renewal requirements

What Does a General Building Contractor (A) Do?

A General Building Contractor (A) typically coordinates broad construction work involving multiple trades, structural systems, building types, and project phases within the scope permitted by the applicable licensing authority.

Common responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing construction plans and specifications
• Estimating labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor costs
• Obtaining permits and arranging inspections
• Scheduling construction activities
• Coordinating subcontractors and suppliers
• Managing foundations and structural systems
• Supervising concrete, masonry, steel, and wood construction
• Coordinating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work
• Managing fire- and life-safety requirements
• Maintaining quality control and jobsite safety
• Documenting changes and corrective work
• Completing project closeout

G11-N Examination Content Areas

The examination is organized around four broad subject areas:

• Administration and General Regulations: permits, inspections, construction documents, responsibilities, and general code administration
• Building Planning and Life Safety: occupancy, construction type, height and area, fire protection, egress, accessibility, and building safety
• Structural Systems: soils, foundations, concrete, masonry, steel, wood, structural components, and construction practices
• Building Envelope: exterior walls, roofs, glazing, weather protection, insulation, and related assemblies

Administration and General Regulations

Contractors should understand how projects move through plan review, permitting, inspections, corrections, and final approval.

Study subjects may include:

• Permit requirements
• Construction documents
• Deferred submittals
• Required inspections
• Approved materials and methods
• Alternative materials
• Unsafe structures
• Stop-work orders
• Temporary occupancy
• Final approval
• Responsibilities of the permit holder

Construction Documents and Plan Reading

Candidates should be able to interpret architectural and structural information presented in plans, schedules, specifications, and details.

Plan-reading subjects may include:

• Drawing scales
• Site and floor plans
• Building elevations
• Wall sections
• Foundation plans
• Structural framing plans
• Door and window schedules
• Finish schedules
• Fire-resistance details
• Occupancy and construction-type information
• Revision clouds and addenda
• Referenced notes and specifications

Occupancy Classifications

Occupancy classification affects building size, fire protection, egress, separation, and construction requirements.

Candidates should review:

• Assembly occupancies
• Business occupancies
• Educational occupancies
• Factory and industrial occupancies
• High-hazard occupancies
• Institutional occupancies
• Mercantile occupancies
• Residential occupancies
• Storage occupancies
• Utility and miscellaneous occupancies
• Mixed occupancies
• Accessory occupancies

Construction Types, Height, and Area

Construction type identifies the required fire-resistance performance of structural frames, floors, roofs, walls, and other building elements.

Study subjects may include:

• Types I through V construction
• Protected and unprotected construction
• Combustible and noncombustible materials
• Allowable building height
• Allowable number of stories
• Allowable building area
• Frontage increases
• Automatic sprinkler increases
• Mixed construction types
• Special building provisions

Candidates should practice using height and area tables, footnotes, and permitted increase formulas.

Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction

Fire-resistance-rated construction helps limit the spread of fire and smoke within and between buildings.

Important subjects include:

• Fire walls
• Fire barriers
• Fire partitions
• Smoke barriers
• Horizontal assemblies
• Shaft enclosures
• Opening protectives
• Fire doors
• Penetrations and firestopping
• Joint systems
• Membrane penetrations
• Protection of structural members

Candidates should distinguish the different assemblies because each has specific continuity, opening, and penetration requirements.

Fire Protection Systems

General building contractors should understand when fire protection systems are required and how they affect other building requirements.

Study subjects may include:

• Automatic sprinkler systems
• Standpipe systems
• Fire alarm systems
• Emergency alarm systems
• Smoke control systems
• Portable fire extinguishers
• Fire department connections
• Fire command centers
• Sprinkler-related height and area increases
• Coordination with rated assemblies

Means of Egress

Means-of-egress requirements provide a continuous and unobstructed path from occupied spaces to a safe exterior location.

Important subjects include:

• Occupant load
• Number of exits
• Exit-access travel distance
• Common path of travel
• Exit separation
• Corridors
• Doors and hardware
• Stairways
• Ramps
• Guards and handrails
• Exit signs
• Emergency lighting
• Accessible means of egress

Accessibility

Accessibility provisions affect routes, entrances, parking, doors, ramps, elevators, toilet rooms, dwelling units, and other building features.

Candidates may need to review:

• Accessible routes
• Accessible entrances
• Door clearances
• Ramps and landings
• Stair requirements
• Elevators and platform lifts
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Drinking fountains
• Accessible seating
• Accessible dwelling and sleeping units
• Signage
• Alterations to existing buildings

Soils, Excavation, and Foundations

Foundation questions may involve soil conditions, excavation, footing dimensions, frost protection, drainage, and structural support.

Study subjects may include:

• Soil classification
• Allowable soil-bearing pressure
• Excavation and grading
• Footing width and thickness
• Foundation walls
• Frost depth
• Retaining walls
• Foundation drainage
• Dampproofing and waterproofing
• Anchor bolts
• Underpinning
• Protection of adjacent property

Concrete Construction

Concrete preparation should include both code requirements and practical construction procedures.

Important subjects may include:

• Concrete materials
• Mixing and delivery
• Formwork
• Reinforcing steel
• Concrete cover
• Bar placement and support
• Splices and development
• Embedded items
• Concrete placement
• Consolidation
• Construction joints
• Curing and protection
• Sampling and testing
• Repair of defects

Concrete Reinforcement

Reinforcement must be placed according to the approved plans and protected by the required concrete cover.

Candidates should review:

• Bar size and grade
• Bar spacing
• Minimum concrete cover
• Lap splices
• Mechanical splices
• Hooks and bends
• Chairs and supports
• Dowels
• Anchor bolts
• Welded wire reinforcement
• Placement tolerances

Formwork, Placement, and Curing

Concrete work depends on properly designed forms, controlled placement, adequate consolidation, and suitable curing.

Study areas may include:

• Form strength and bracing
• Form release agents
• Embedded items
• Placement sequence
• Drop height and segregation
• Vibration and consolidation
• Construction joints
• Finishing
• Curing methods
• Hot-weather protection
• Cold-weather protection
• Form removal

Concrete Inspection and Testing

Testing helps verify that concrete materials and completed work meet project requirements.

Candidates should understand:

• Concrete sampling
• Slump testing
• Air-content testing
• Temperature testing
• Strength-test specimens
• Cylinder handling and curing
• Test frequency
• Inspection records
• Nonconforming test results
• Evaluation and corrective action

Masonry Construction

Masonry may be used for walls, foundations, veneers, shafts, partitions, and structural systems.

Study subjects may include:

• Masonry units
• Mortar and grout
• Wall thickness
• Reinforcement
• Bond beams
• Lintels
• Anchorage
• Control and expansion joints
• Masonry veneer
• Flashing and weep holes
• Cold- and hot-weather construction
• Inspection and testing

Structural Steel

General building contractor preparation may include structural steel erection, connections, protection, and coordination.

Important subjects may include:

• Structural steel framing
• Bolted connections
• Welded connections
• High-strength bolts
• Column base plates
• Steel joists and decking
• Erection tolerances
• Temporary bracing
• Fireproofing
• Corrosion protection
• Special inspection
• Approved fabrication documents

Wood Construction

Wood construction subjects may include conventional framing, engineered wood, connections, fireblocking, and protection from moisture or decay.

Candidates should review:

• Floor joists and beams
• Wall studs and headers
• Wall bracing
• Rafters and ceiling joists
• Roof trusses
• Wood structural panels
• Fastening schedules
• Notching and boring
• Fireblocking and draftstopping
• Deck construction
• Engineered wood products
• Protection from decay and termites

Building Envelope

The building envelope protects the structure from water, air leakage, temperature changes, and exterior exposure.

Important subjects may include:

• Exterior wall coverings
• Water-resistive barriers
• Flashing
• Masonry veneer
• Stucco
• Metal wall panels
• Exterior insulation systems
• Weather-resistant joints
• Thermal insulation
• Air barriers
• Moisture control
• Exterior openings

Roof Assemblies

Roof assemblies protect buildings from weather while transferring structural loads to the supporting framing.

Study subjects may include:

• Roof slope
• Roof decks
• Underlayment
• Asphalt shingles
• Metal roof coverings
• Low-slope membrane systems
• Roof insulation
• Flashing
• Roof drainage
• Rooftop structures
• Fire classification
• Reroofing

Glass and Glazing

Glazing requirements address structural performance, impact safety, fire protection, and fall hazards.

Candidates should review:

• Safety glazing locations
• Glazing near doors and floors
• Glazing around stairs
• Glass guards and handrails
• Skylights
• Sloped glazing
• Fire-protection-rated glazing
• Wind-load performance
• Window fall protection
• Glazing identification

Interior Finishes

Interior finish requirements address fire performance, installation, structural support, and exposure to moisture.

Study subjects may include:

• Gypsum board
• Gypsum plaster
• Cement plaster
• Interior wall finishes
• Ceiling finishes
• Fastener spacing
• Fire-resistance-rated assemblies
• Foam plastic
• Materials in wet areas
• Acoustical ceiling systems

Special Construction

Special construction provisions apply to building features that do not fit entirely within ordinary structural or occupancy requirements.

Possible study subjects include:

• Atriums
• High-rise buildings
• Underground buildings
• Pedestrian walkways and tunnels
• Membrane structures
• Temporary structures
• Stages and platforms
• Special amusement buildings
• Solar energy systems
• Photovoltaic panels
• Swimming pools
• Construction safeguards

Construction Calculations

G11-N preparation may include construction calculations and table interpretation.

Common calculation subjects may include:

• Building height and area
• Frontage increases
• Occupant loads
• Egress widths
• Floor and roof areas
• Concrete volume
• Excavation quantities
• Masonry quantities
• Board feet
• Stair rise and run
• Roof slopes
• Material waste factors

Candidates should identify the requested units and write each calculation step clearly.

Code-Book Navigation

An open-book examination still requires fast and accurate reference navigation.

A practical lookup method includes:

• Read the complete question
• Identify the construction subject
• Select the International Building Code or Concrete Manual
• Use the index or table of contents
• Locate the complete section, table, or figure
• Review definitions, exceptions, footnotes, and referenced sections
• Confirm that the requirement applies to the stated conditions
• Record difficult topics for additional practice

Candidates should practice deciding which reference applies before searching for the exact answer.

Recommended Study Plan

• Review exam rules and book organization
• Study administration and plan reading
• Review occupancy classifications
• Practice height and area calculations
• Study fire-resistance-rated construction
• Review means of egress and accessibility
• Study soils and foundations
• Review concrete materials and reinforcement
• Study formwork, placement, curing, and testing
• Review masonry, steel, and wood systems
• Study exterior walls and roof assemblies
• Practice construction calculations
• Complete timed code-navigation exercises
• Review every missed practice question

Which G11-N Package Should You Choose?

• Choose the Books & Courses Rental Package for temporary access to the references and structured online preparation.
• Choose the Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package for professionally organized references designed to support faster navigation.
• Choose Online Exam Prep when you already own the correct books and want guided study.
• Choose the Exam Book Package for independent preparation and permanent book ownership.

FAQ

Q. What is the ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N exam?

A. It is an ICC Contractor and Trades examination used by participating jurisdictions to evaluate general building contractor knowledge across commercial construction, life safety, structural systems, concrete, and building-envelope subjects.

Q. How much does the Books & Courses Rental Package cost?

A. The sale price is $790.00, reduced from the regular price of $1,090.00.

Q. How much does the Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package cost?

A. The sale price is $595.00, reduced from the regular price of $795.00.

Q. How much does Online Exam Prep cost?

A. The sale price is $295.00, reduced from the regular price of $395.00.

Q. How much does the Exam Book Package cost?

A. The sale price is $395.00, reduced from the regular price of $495.00.

Q. What books are included in the G11-N Exam Book Package?

A. The current package includes the 2018 International Building Code and 2021 ICC Concrete Manual.

Q. How many questions are on the G11-N examination?

A. The examination includes 90 multiple-choice questions.

Q. How much time is allowed?

A. Candidates have four hours to complete the examination.

Q. What score is required to pass?

A. Candidates must earn at least 70 percent.

Q. Is the G11-N examination open book?

A. Yes. Candidates may use approved references subject to current testing rules.

Q. What subjects should I study?

A. Study administration, building planning, occupancy, construction types, fire resistance, egress, accessibility, foundations, concrete, masonry, steel, wood, exterior walls, roofs, glazing, and finishes.

Q. Why is the ICC Concrete Manual included?

A. It supports preparation involving concrete materials, reinforcement, formwork, placement, consolidation, curing, inspection, and testing.

Q. Should I practice construction calculations?

A. Yes. Candidates should practice height and area, occupant load, egress, concrete volume, roof area, and material-quantity calculations.

Q. Does passing G11-N automatically issue a contractor license?

A. No. The applicable licensing authority controls experience, applications, insurance, bonding, financial requirements, fees, and final approval.

Q. Where can I purchase the G11-N packages?

A. The available options can be found in the ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N exam prep collection.

Conclusion

The ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N examination requires broad construction knowledge and efficient navigation of the International Building Code and ICC Concrete Manual.

Important preparation subjects include code administration, building planning, occupancy, construction type, fire resistance, means of egress, accessibility, foundations, concrete, masonry, steel, wood construction, exterior walls, roof assemblies, glazing, and finishes.

1 Exam Prep offers a Books & Courses Rental Package, Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package, Online Exam Prep, and Exam Book Package for different preparation needs and budgets.

Shop ICC General Building Contractor (A) - G11-N Exam Prep

Key Takeaways

• G11-N is the ICC National Standard General Building Contractor (A) examination.
• The Books & Courses Rental Package sale price is $790.00.
• The Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package sale price is $595.00.
• The Online Exam Prep sale price is $295.00.
• The Exam Book Package sale price is $395.00.
• The exam includes 90 questions and a four-hour limit.
• The passing requirement is 70 percent.
• The examination is open book under current testing rules.
• The references are the 2018 International Building Code and 2021 ICC Concrete Manual.
• The exam covers administration, life safety, structural systems, and the building envelope.
• Passing G11-N does not automatically issue a contractor license.
• Candidates should verify current exam and jurisdictional requirements before registering.