The 1 Package: All-Inclusive New Virginia Concrete Contractor Exam, Licensing & Business Setup Solution

Take a more complete approach to becoming a Virginia concrete contractor with The 1 Package, an all-inclusive solution that combines exam preparation, the listed highlighted and tabbed reference books, licensing support, business setup services, and one year of course access in one organized package.

This package is built for candidates pursuing the Virginia Concrete Contracting specialty, identified as CEM by the Virginia Board for Contractors. Instead of treating the technical exam, licensing paperwork, reference books, and business setup as completely separate projects, The 1 Package brings these important steps together into a structured path.

Concrete contracting requires knowledge across multiple construction disciplines. Candidates may need to work with concrete materials, structural concrete provisions, reinforcing steel, formwork, excavation, building-code requirements, calculations, and OSHA construction safety. The package includes seven technical references covering these areas, and the books are provided highlighted and tabbed to support faster navigation during preparation.

The included course access gives candidates a full year to work through trade-focused preparation, practice-oriented review, and reference navigation. The Application Service helps organize the contractor licensing process, while the included business setup services address formation, EIN filing, and contractor compliance guidance.

The book portion of The 1 Package requires a refundable deposit. The package cost is $3,495, plus a $900 refundable book deposit. The $900 deposit is refundable when the books are returned in similar condition within one year. The initial total is $4,395.

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders. The books are highlighted and tabbed as part of the package.

Exam Details

The Virginia Concrete Contracting examination is a contractor specialty examination associated with the Concrete Contracting, or CEM, designation. Virginia contractor specialty examinations are administered through PSI for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors.

Concrete is one of the Virginia contractor specialties for which the Qualified Individual must successfully complete a Board-approved technical examination. Candidates must obtain the applicable approval before scheduling the specialty exam. Examination eligibility is valid for one year after approval.

• Specialty: Concrete Contracting
• Specialty Code: CEM
• Regulatory Authority: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors
• Exam Provider: PSI
• Exam Type: Technical contractor specialty examination
• Testing Method: Computer-administered examination
• Eligibility: Approval is required before scheduling the specialty examination
• Eligibility Period: One year

The technical examination is intended to confirm that the Qualified Individual has the minimum level of knowledge needed for the Concrete Contracting specialty. Preparation should therefore combine practical trade knowledge with familiarity using technical construction references.

Open Book Test

The Virginia contractor specialty examination permits candidates to bring approved reference books into the examination room. PSI permits reference books to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination, although they must otherwise remain unmarked. Study guides and sample examinations are not permitted as exam-room references.

The highlighted and tabbed books included with The 1 Package are designed to help candidates become more familiar with important sections while studying. Tabs can make large code books and technical manuals easier to navigate, while highlighting helps draw attention to selected material during preparation.

An open-book exam still requires substantial study. Technical references can contain hundreds of pages, so simply bringing the books into the testing center is not enough. Candidates should practice identifying keywords, choosing the correct reference, and locating the relevant section efficiently.

For example, workplace safety questions may lead toward 29 CFR Part 1926, while structural concrete questions may involve ACI 318-14. Concrete mixture, strength, placement, curing, and durability subjects may be addressed in Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures. Reinforcing questions may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars, and formwork questions may lead to SP-4 Formwork for Concrete.

Licensing Steps

The Virginia Concrete Contractor exam is one part of the broader contractor licensing process. The 1 Package combines exam preparation with Application Service and business setup support to help candidates organize multiple parts of the process.

1. Determine the appropriate contractor license class. Virginia contractor licenses are issued as Class A, Class B, or Class C.
2. Select the appropriate specialty. Candidates performing work within the Concrete Contracting scope may pursue the CEM specialty.
3. Identify the Qualified Individual. Virginia requires an appropriate Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty listed on the contractor license.
4. Satisfy applicable experience requirements. The Qualified Individual must meet the experience requirements associated with the selected license class.
5. Complete required pre-license education. Virginia requires eight hours of approved pre-license education for new contractor license applicants.
6. Obtain technical examination approval. Concrete Contracting requires the Qualified Individual to receive the applicable approval and pass the Board-approved technical examination.
7. Prepare for and complete the exam. Use the course and reference books to build trade knowledge and improve reference navigation.
8. Complete the contractor application process. The included Application Service supports organization of the applicable contractor licensing paperwork.
9. Establish the business structure. The package includes Business Formation for an LLC or Corporation.
10. Complete EIN filing. EIN Filing with the IRS is included as part of the business setup services.

State Requirements

Virginia contractor licensing is administered by the Board for Contractors. Contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietors, with the license class and classification or specialty defining the scope and level of contracting activity.

Every contractor business must identify a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty listed on the application. Current Virginia contractor application instructions require the Qualified Individual to be a full-time employee of the business or a member of Responsible Management and to satisfy the experience requirement for the selected license class.

Current application instructions identify minimum Qualified Individual experience of one year for Class C, three years for Class B, and five years for Class A. Concrete Contracting is among the specialties requiring examination pre-approval and successful completion of a technical examination.

Virginia also requires eight hours of pre-license education for new Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor license applicants. This education addresses contractor business and regulatory requirements and is separate from technical Concrete Contracting exam preparation.

The included Application Service and Contractor Compliance Guidance are intended to help customers organize the licensing and business setup process. These services do not replace state approval or the candidate's responsibility to satisfy Virginia's licensing requirements.

Reference Books

The 1 Package includes the following highlighted and tabbed reference books. The $900 refundable book deposit applies to the book portion of the package and is refundable if the books are returned in similar condition within one year.

• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Covers federal construction safety requirements involving jobsite hazards, excavation, personal protective equipment, fall protection, tools, equipment, concrete and masonry construction, and other OSHA construction topics.
• Included Book: International Building Code, 2021
  Provides model building-code requirements affecting structural construction, foundations, materials, inspections, building systems, and other construction requirements relevant to contractor work.
• Included Book: ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Covers structural concrete provisions involving materials, reinforcement, durability, development and splicing, structural members, and concrete construction requirements.
• Included Book: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  Provides detailed technical information about concrete materials, proportioning, aggregates, cementitious materials, water, admixtures, batching, mixing, placement, curing, testing, strength, and durability.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Supports preparation involving excavation, trenching, earthwork, grades, layout, underground construction procedures, equipment, and related field practices.
• Included Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Focuses on practical reinforcing-steel work, including bar identification, supports, placement, ties, splices, tolerances, and reinforcing practices used in concrete construction.
• Included Book: SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 2014, 8th Edition
  Covers concrete formwork materials, construction loads, pressures, wall and slab forms, shoring, reshoring, bracing, construction methods, and practical formwork considerations.

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.

Test Information and Study Materials

The included books cover several different areas of concrete contracting, so preparation is most effective when candidates learn how the references complement one another. Rather than reading each book from beginning to end, candidates can organize study sessions around specific trade subjects.

Concrete materials preparation can include cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, mixture proportioning, mixing, transportation, placing, finishing, curing, testing, strength, and durability. Structural concrete study can focus on reinforcement, concrete construction requirements, durability, splicing, and related ACI provisions.

Formwork study can include loads, form pressures, bracing, shoring, wall forms, slab forms, and safe construction practices. Reinforcing-steel review can include bar placement, supports, ties, splices, identification, and field procedures. Excavation preparation can combine practical earthwork knowledge with OSHA safety requirements.

The one year of course access provides time to review these subjects repeatedly while becoming more familiar with the highlighted and tabbed references. Candidates can use practice-oriented preparation to identify weaker subjects and spend additional time navigating the books connected with those areas.

A useful reference-navigation method is to read the question, identify its main technical keyword, select the book most likely to contain the information, use the index or table of contents, and confirm the answer within the applicable section. Repeating that sequence can build better open-book habits.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep brings the major pieces of the contractor preparation process together through The 1 Package. Candidates receive organized exam preparation, highlighted and tabbed technical books, one year of course access, Application Service, business formation assistance, EIN filing, and contractor compliance guidance.

For exam preparation, 1 Exam Prep emphasizes trade-focused review and practice-oriented study. Candidates can work through concrete materials, structural requirements, reinforcement, formwork, excavation, safety, and building-code topics while using the same technical references throughout the preparation process.

Reference navigation is a central part of open-book preparation. Highlighted and tabbed books help establish an organized starting point, while repeated study helps candidates learn the vocabulary, chapter structure, indexes, tables, and technical sections found throughout the references.

The licensing and business setup services extend the package beyond exam preparation. Application Service supports the organization of the contractor licensing process. Business Formation assists with establishing an LLC or Corporation, and EIN Filing with the IRS helps establish the federal tax identification used for common business activities. Contractor Compliance Guidance provides additional support in understanding requirements relevant to operating a contractor business.

The result is a single package designed to help candidates move from exam preparation into the licensing and business setup stages with a clearer structure. No course or service can guarantee an examination result or state licensing approval, but an organized preparation and application process can make the overall path easier to manage.

FAQ Section

What is included in The 1 Package for Virginia Concrete Contractors?

The package includes seven highlighted and tabbed reference books, 1 year of course access, Application Service, Business Formation for an LLC or Corporation, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance.

How much does The 1 Package cost?

The package cost is $3,495, plus a $900 refundable book deposit, for a total initial cost of $4,395.

Is the $900 book deposit refundable?

Yes. The $900 deposit is refundable if the books are returned in similar condition within 1 year.

Are the Virginia Concrete Contractor books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The books included with The 1 Package are highlighted and tabbed to support organized study and reference navigation.

How long should I allow for the book order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.

How long do I receive course access?

The 1 Package includes 1 year of course access.

Is Application Service included?

Yes. Application Service is included with The 1 Package.

Does the package include business setup assistance?

Yes. The package includes Business Formation for an LLC or Corporation, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance.

Who administers the Virginia Concrete Contracting examination?

PSI administers Virginia contractor specialty examinations for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors.

Does purchasing The 1 Package guarantee a contractor license?

No. Virginia contractor licensing approval depends on satisfying the applicable state requirements. The package provides preparation and support services but does not guarantee exam results or licensing approval.