Important exam-number correction: Chicago 307 is the Concrete Masonry Contractor C Card examination. Chicago 302 is the separate Brick Masonry Contractor B Card exam.
Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry Contractor Exam Overview
The Chicago 307 C Card examination is administered through Continental Testing Services for the City of Chicago. Candidates are tested on practical concrete construction, reinforcing steel, materials, tools, estimating, safety, quality control and formwork.
Unlike many contractor licensing exams, the Chicago Concrete Masonry Contractor exam is closed book. That means your exam prep needs to move beyond reference lookup and toward real recall, calculation practice and timed testing.
Classification: Chicago 307
License Card: Concrete Masonry Contractor C Card
Testing time: 3 hours
Passing score: 70 or higher
Format: multiple choice, closed book
Official Exam
Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry Contractor
Card
C Card
Testing Administrator
Continental Testing Services
Exam Length
3 hours
Passing Score
70 or higher
Format
Closed-book multiple-choice examination
Calculator
Non-programmable, non-printing portable calculator allowed
Minimum Age
21
Related Exam
Chicago 302 Brick Masonry Contractor B Card
A Card Path
Passing both B Card and C Card examinations can support
qualification for the broader Masonry Contractor A Card
Chicago 307 C Card Exam Weighting
These percentages follow Continental Testing Services' published Concrete Masonry Contractor examination outline. The published values total 101% because of rounding.
Reinforcing & Installing Steel
20%
Concrete Methods & Installations
18%
Concrete Materials
14%
Concrete Tools, Equipment & Fasteners
14%
Quantity Surveying & Estimating
12%
Safety, Inspection & Quality Control
12%
Formwork
11%
Reinforcing & Installing Steel Exam Prep
Reinforcing and Installing Steel is the largest published Chicago 307 C Card exam category, so it deserves serious study time.
Reinforcing Fundamentals
- Purpose of reinforcing steel
- Reinforcing-bar placement
- Bar spacing
- Supports and chairs
- Splices
- Development and placement principles
Field Applications
- Footing reinforcement
- Beam reinforcement
- Girder reinforcement
- Handling reinforcing steel
- Hoisting and placement safety
- Installation sequencing
Concrete Methods & Installation Exam Prep
Placement & Finishing
- Concrete placement
- Consolidation
- Vibration
- Finishing operations
- Joints
- Surface preparation
Curing & Conditions
- Concrete curing
- Weather conditions
- Hot-weather placement
- Cold-weather considerations
- Handling procedures
- Site preparation
Concrete Materials Exam Prep
Concrete Materials accounts for 14% of the published examination. Candidates should understand how concrete ingredients and mix decisions affect workability, strength and durability.
Concrete Components
- Portland cement and cementitious materials
- Water
- Fine aggregate
- Coarse aggregate
- Admixtures
- Ready-mixed concrete
Material Performance
- Water-cementitious material ratio
- Workability
- Concrete strength
- Durability
- Temperature
- Mix consistency
Concrete Estimating & Construction Math
Quantity Surveying and Estimating represents 12% of the official outline, so construction math should be practiced, not merely admired from a safe distance.
Volume Calculations
- Length Ć width Ć depth
- Cubic feet
- Cubic-yard conversion
- Slab quantities
- Footing quantities
- Wall quantities
Estimating Skills
- Material quantities
- Waste allowances
- Dimensions
- Production calculations
- Concrete ordering
- Quantity review
Safety, Inspection & Quality Control
Safety, Inspection and Quality Control accounts for 12% of the examination, and OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 is one of the official study references.
Jobsite Safety
- Personal protective equipment
- Reinforcing-steel safety
- Material handling
- Equipment safety
- Scaffolding awareness
- Concrete-placement hazards
Inspection & Quality
- Concrete temperature
- Sampling
- Inspection procedures
- Concrete quality
- Placement quality control
- Jobsite documentation concepts
Formwork Exam Prep
Formwork represents 11% of the official Chicago C Card outline. Candidates should understand both form construction and safe removal.
- Form materials
- Form construction
- Shoring
- Bracing
- Alignment
- Form pressure
- Form-release procedures
- Concrete strength before stripping
- Safe form removal
Closed-book reminder: Continental's recommended books are study references. They are not test-day reference books because the Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry Contractor C Card examination is closed book.
Official C Card Study References
Core Masonry & Safety References
- Masonry Skills
- Concrete Masonry Handbook for Architects, Engineers and Builders
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
- ASTM C94/C94M Ready-Mixed Concrete
Concrete-Specific References
- Formwork for Concrete
- Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures
- Concrete Finisher's Guide
- Placing Reinforcing Bars
Chicago B Card, C Card & A Card
Chicago 302 B Card
- Brick Masonry Contractor
- Separate examination
- Focuses on brick masonry work
- Not the Concrete Masonry C Card exam
Chicago 307 C Card
- Concrete Masonry Contractor
- Focuses on concrete masonry work
- 3-hour closed-book exam
- Passing both B and C exams can support A Card qualification
Chicago 307 C Card Exam Prep Roadmap
Move from exam-outline review into focused topic study, calculations and closed-book simulation.
1
Learn the official exam weighting
Start with the seven published subject categories so your study time reflects the actual Continental outline.
2
Prioritize reinforcing steel
Reinforcing and Installing Steel is the largest exam category at 20 percent.
3
Review concrete methods and materials
Study placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, ready-mixed concrete and concrete properties.
4
Practice estimating and concrete math
Work cubic feet, cubic yards, slabs, walls, footings and material-quantity calculations.
5
Review OSHA and quality control
Study jobsite safety, reinforcing hazards, equipment safety, inspection and concrete-quality concepts.
6
Study formwork
Review form construction, shoring, bracing, concrete pressure and safe stripping procedures.
7
Finish with closed-book simulations
Stop relying on references and practice completing full three-hour exam simulations from memory and calculation skill.
Six-Week Chicago C Card Exam Prep Plan
Week 1
Reinforcing Steel
- Bar placement
- Spacing
- Splices
- Safety
Week 2
Concrete Methods
- Placement
- Consolidation
- Finishing
- Curing
Week 3
Concrete Materials
- Cement
- Aggregates
- Admixtures
- Water-cementitious ratio
Week 4
Estimating
- Cubic feet
- Cubic yards
- Footings
- Material quantities
Week 5
Safety & Formwork
- OSHA
- Inspection
- Form construction
- Form removal
Week 6
Closed-Book Simulation
- Timed practice exams
- Three-hour simulations
- Missed-question review
- Final math drills
Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry Contractor C Card FAQ
Exam Basics
Chicago 307 is the Concrete Masonry Contractor C Card examination.
Chicago 302 is the separate Brick Masonry Contractor B Card exam.
Candidates receive three hours.
Candidates must earn a score of 70 or higher.
No. The Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry Contractor exam is closed book.
Continental Testing Services administers the examination
for the City of Chicago.
Exam Topics
Reinforcing and Installing Steel is the largest
published category at 20 percent.
Concrete Methods and Installations represents
18 percent of the published exam outline.
Concrete Materials represents 14 percent
of the published exam outline.
Yes. Quantity Surveying and Estimating represents
12 percent of the published examination outline.
Yes. Safety, Inspection and Quality Control represents
12 percent, and OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 is one of the
official study references.
Yes. Formwork represents 11 percent
of the published examination outline.
Calculations & Reinforcing
Practice length, width and depth calculations,
cubic feet, cubic-yard conversions, slab quantities,
footing quantities, wall quantities and waste allowances.
Study reinforcing-bar placement, spacing, supports,
splicing, beam and footing reinforcement,
handling and safe installation.
Study References
Study references include Masonry Skills, Concrete Masonry Handbook,
OSHA 29 CFR 1926, ASTM C94/C94M, Formwork for Concrete,
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures,
Concrete Finisher's Guide and Placing Reinforcing Bars.
No. They are study references. The Chicago 307
Concrete Masonry examination is closed book.
Chicago Masonry Cards
Chicago 302 B Card is the Brick Masonry Contractor exam.
Chicago 307 C Card is the Concrete Masonry Contractor exam.
Passing both the B Card and C Card examinations can support
qualification for the broader Masonry Contractor A Card,
subject to applicable City licensing requirements.
Chicago Concrete Masonry Contractor Exam Prep Resources
Prepare for the Chicago 307 Concrete Masonry C Card Exam
Build reinforcing-steel knowledge, concrete-method confidence, material understanding, estimating skill, OSHA awareness, formwork knowledge and closed-book test stamina for the Chicago Concrete Masonry Contractor examination.
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