Virginia Farm Improvement Contracting Exam Complete Book Package

Prepare for the Virginia Farm Improvement Contracting (FIC) examination with a complete collection of construction references covering safety, building codes, residential construction, carpentry, concrete, masonry, excavation, and wood-truss handling and bracing. This package is designed for contractors, qualified individuals, construction supervisors, farm-building professionals, and experienced tradespeople preparing for Virginia's Farm Improvement Contracting specialty examination.

Virginia defines Farm Improvement Contracting as work involving the installation, repair, or improvement of nonresidential farm buildings or structures, nonresidential farm accessory-use structures, and additions to those structures. The specialty does not include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas-fitting functions. Because farm construction can involve foundations, concrete, masonry, framing, excavation, structural components, and jobsite safety, preparation requires familiarity with several different areas of construction knowledge.

This package brings those subjects together through a coordinated set of technical books. The included references are Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA); International Building Code, 2018; International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021; Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016; Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition; Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone by Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition; Pipe and Excavation Contracting; and BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025.

The variety of references reflects the practical nature of farm improvement construction. A farm building project can require knowledge of site preparation, excavation, footings, foundations, concrete placement, masonry, structural framing, trusses, code requirements, and OSHA safety. Candidates can use this complete book package to build a structured study plan around those subjects and practice locating technical information efficiently.

This is the standard Complete Book Package. Highlighting, tabbing, online course access, Application Service, or other services are not included unless specifically identified in another 1 Exam Prep product.

What You Get

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
• International Building Code, 2018
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
• Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter 10th Edition
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025

Together, these books provide study coverage for many of the construction activities associated with nonresidential farm structures, including sitework, foundations, concrete, masonry, carpentry, framing, wood trusses, building-code concepts, and workplace safety.

Exam Details

The Virginia Farm Improvement Contracting specialty examination is part of the Virginia Board for Contractors licensing process. Virginia contractor specialty examinations are administered by PSI for qualified individuals seeking classifications and specialties that require technical testing.

Farm Improvement Contracting is identified by the Virginia Board for Contractors with the abbreviation FIC. The specialty focuses on construction knowledge applicable to nonresidential farm buildings, structures, accessory-use structures, and additions.

Preparation should include general building construction knowledge as well as familiarity with the individual trades and activities that can be involved in farm structures. Candidates may need to understand sitework, excavation, concrete, masonry, carpentry, structural framing, truss installation, code requirements, and OSHA construction safety.

The examination may also involve trade knowledge and general industry practices in addition to information found directly in reference materials. For that reason, candidates should use the books to strengthen understanding rather than treating preparation as an exercise in memorizing page locations.

A productive preparation strategy combines technical review with repeated reference practice. Learn what each book covers, recognize terminology that points toward a particular reference, and practice finding detailed construction information without searching every book from beginning to end.

Open Book Test

Virginia contractor specialty examinations administered through PSI are open-book examinations. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own permitted reference materials because references are not provided at the testing site.

PSI permits reference books to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Books must otherwise remain unmarked and may not contain written notes. Permanent tabs may be used for indexing, while removable tabs are not permitted.

No loose papers or unbound reference materials are allowed. Downloaded references must be properly bound in accordance with PSI testing requirements. Study guides and sample examinations are not permitted as examination-room references.

The open-book format makes preparation with the physical references especially useful. Candidates should practice moving through the books before test day so the location of major topics becomes familiar. An open-book examination still requires time management, trade knowledge, and the ability to decide which reference applies.

For example, a workplace-safety question may direct you toward 29 CFR Part 1926, while a framing question may require Carpentry and Building Construction. Concrete questions may point toward Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, masonry questions toward Modern Masonry, and excavation questions toward Pipe and Excavation Contracting.

Questions involving wood trusses can require knowledge of handling, installation, restraint, and bracing practices. Using the BCSI reference during preparation can help candidates become more familiar with terminology and procedures associated with metal plate connected wood trusses.

Licensing Steps

Virginia contractor licensing is administered by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation through the Board for Contractors. Contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietors and consist of both a license class and a classification or specialty.

The license class determines the monetary level of contracting work the business may perform, while the classification or specialty determines the type of work authorized. Virginia issues contractor licenses in Class A, Class B, and Class C categories.

Candidates pursuing Farm Improvement Contracting must have a qualified individual who satisfies the applicable experience and examination requirements for the FIC specialty. Virginia identifies FIC as one of the specialties requiring pre-approval and passage of the applicable specialty examination.

The qualified individual completes the required specialty examination through PSI after satisfying the eligibility requirements established by the Board. Examination eligibility is generally valid for the period established by the Board and PSI testing program.

Virginia also requires pre-license education for new contractor licenses. The applicable responsible management member or designated employee must complete the required Board-approved pre-license education based on the license class being requested.

Class A and Class B contractor licensing also involves business examination requirements for the designated employee. These business examinations are separate from the Farm Improvement Contracting specialty examination and should be prepared for independently.

After the applicable examination, education, experience, business, financial, and application requirements are satisfied, the contractor submits the required licensing materials to the Virginia Board for Contractors for review and approval.

State Requirements

Virginia defines Farm Improvement Contracting (FIC) as the service of installing, repairing, or improving a nonresidential farm building or structure, a nonresidential farm accessory-use structure, or additions to those structures.

The FIC specialty does not provide authority to perform electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas-fitting functions. Contractors who intend to perform those regulated activities must hold the appropriate authorization required by Virginia law.

The Commercial Building and Residential Building classifications also provide for farm improvement work within their broader authorized scopes. FIC itself is a specialty focused specifically on nonresidential farm improvements.

Virginia contractor licenses contain two important components: the license class and the classification or specialty. The class establishes the financial size of projects a contractor may undertake, while FIC establishes the type of farm-improvement contracting work authorized.

Applicants should make sure the specialty matches the services the business intends to offer. Farm Improvement Contracting can involve substantial structural and sitework responsibilities, but its scope remains limited by the exclusions established in Virginia contractor regulations.

The qualified individual associated with the FIC specialty must meet the experience and examination requirements applicable to that designation. The business must also satisfy the licensing requirements associated with its chosen Class A, B, or C license.

Reference Books

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This federal construction safety reference covers OSHA requirements for construction activities. It supports study involving excavation, ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, personal protective equipment, concrete construction, tools, material handling, and other hazards relevant to farm-building projects.
• International Building Code, 2018
  This building-code reference provides requirements involving building construction, occupancy, structural systems, materials, means of egress, fire and life safety, and other general building provisions. It gives candidates a code-focused resource for reviewing construction requirements.
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021
  This reference covers residential building provisions involving foundations, floors, walls, roofs, framing, structural components, and other construction requirements. It can also reinforce general code-navigation skills and building terminology used throughout construction.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  This trade-focused construction reference covers site preparation, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, carpentry tools, materials, and practical building methods. It is useful for reviewing construction sequences and wood-framing concepts associated with farm structures.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  This concrete technology reference covers cementitious materials, aggregates, admixtures, mixture proportioning, workability, strength, durability, placement, curing, testing, and quality considerations. It supports preparation for foundations, slabs, structural concrete, and other farm-building applications.
• Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter 10th Edition
  This masonry reference covers brick, concrete masonry units, stone, mortar, tools, layout, installation procedures, reinforcement, and practical masonry construction. It supports preparation for masonry walls, foundations, and related farm-building work.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This practical reference addresses excavation, earthmoving, trenching, pipe installation, equipment, backfilling, compaction, quantities, and field procedures. It supports preparation for site-development and excavation activities associated with farm improvements.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  This specialized guide addresses the handling, installation, restraint, and bracing of metal plate connected wood trusses. It supports preparation involving truss safety, erection procedures, temporary restraint, permanent bracing concepts, and proper jobsite practices.

Test Information and Study Materials

A strong Farm Improvement Contracting study plan should be organized around construction systems rather than reading every book in sequence. Begin with sitework and foundations, then move into concrete, masonry, framing, trusses, code requirements, and safety.

For sitework preparation, use Pipe and Excavation Contracting to review excavation methods, trenching, earthmoving equipment, backfill, compaction, and basic field procedures. Connect those concepts with OSHA excavation requirements so you understand both practical construction procedures and safety obligations.

Concrete preparation should include materials, mixture characteristics, placement, curing, strength, and durability. Farm buildings may rely on slabs, footings, foundations, walls, and other concrete elements, making a working knowledge of concrete construction important.

Masonry preparation should include brick, block, stone, mortar, reinforcement, layout, and installation techniques. Review both terminology and construction procedures so you can interpret questions that describe practical field conditions.

Carpentry and framing preparation should include floor systems, wall framing, roof framing, structural members, fasteners, tools, and construction sequences. Use the carpentry reference alongside the building-code books to strengthen understanding of how field practices relate to code requirements.

Wood-truss preparation should include safe handling, lifting, installation, temporary restraint, and bracing. Trusses are engineered components that require proper installation and stabilization, making the BCSI guide an important specialized reference within this package.

OSHA study should be incorporated throughout preparation instead of saved for the end. Farm improvement projects can involve excavations, ladders, scaffolds, fall hazards, tools, heavy materials, concrete work, and structural erection. Practice identifying the hazard first and then locating the applicable OSHA requirement.

Because the exam is open book, conduct mixed-reference practice after studying individual subjects. Read a question, identify the construction area, choose the most likely book, locate the relevant section, and confirm the answer. Repetition helps turn a large reference package into a familiar working system.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Virginia Farm Improvement Contracting candidates organize a broad construction reference set into a practical study process. Farm improvement work can involve many construction disciplines, so candidates benefit from knowing how each reference contributes to the larger picture.

Trade-focused review helps separate sitework, concrete, masonry, carpentry, structural framing, trusses, codes, and OSHA safety into manageable subjects. Candidates can focus on one area at a time before combining subjects through practice questions and reference lookups.

Reference navigation is especially important for an open-book contractor examination. Candidates should become familiar with indexes, tables of contents, code chapters, technical terminology, diagrams, tables, and major subject divisions so they can locate information more efficiently.

Practice-oriented preparation helps candidates move beyond passive reading. Work through construction questions, identify the correct reference, research missed answers, and revisit unfamiliar concepts until the reasoning behind the correct response becomes clearer.

1 Exam Prep supports candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, reference navigation when applicable, practice-oriented preparation, and a confidence-building study structure. The goal is to help candidates approach the Virginia FIC examination with stronger familiarity with both the construction subjects and the books used during preparation.

Exam performance and contractor licensing approval depend on the candidate's preparation and completion of all applicable Virginia Board for Contractors requirements.

What does the Virginia FIC contractor specialty cover?

Farm Improvement Contracting covers the installation, repair, or improvement of nonresidential farm buildings or structures, nonresidential farm accessory-use structures, and additions to those structures.

Is the Virginia Farm Improvement Contracting exam open book?

Yes. Virginia contractor specialty examinations administered by PSI are open book. Candidates are responsible for bringing permitted references to the examination.

Can I highlight and tab my books?

PSI permits references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs are allowed, while removable tabs are not permitted. Books must otherwise remain unmarked.

Can I write notes in the books?

No. PSI requires examination references to remain otherwise unmarked. Written notes in reference materials are not permitted.

Does FIC allow electrical or plumbing work?

No. Virginia's Farm Improvement Contracting specialty does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas-fitting functions.

Why does the package include concrete and masonry books?

Nonresidential farm structures can involve concrete foundations, slabs, masonry walls, and other structural components. These books provide technical preparation for materials and construction methods used in those areas.

Why is a wood-truss guide included?

The BCSI guide supports study of proper handling, installation, restraint, and bracing of metal plate connected wood trusses, which are commonly used structural components in framed buildings.

Does Virginia issue different classes of contractor licenses?

Yes. Virginia issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses. The license class determines the monetary level of work permitted, while the classification or specialty determines the type of work the contractor may perform.

Is pre-license education required in Virginia?

Virginia requires Board-approved pre-license education for new contractor licenses. The person who must complete the education depends on the license class being requested.

Does purchasing this book package guarantee that I will pass the exam?

No. The package provides technical references for study and open-book preparation. Examination performance depends on the candidate's construction knowledge, preparation, reference-navigation skills, and performance on test day.