Hawaii Tile Contractor (C-51) - Books & Courses Rental Package

The Hawaii Tile Contractor (C-51) Books & Courses Rental Package is designed for contractors preparing for the Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor trade exam and the Hawaii Business and Law exam. This package brings together the tile trade reference books, Hawaii business law books, and course access needed for organized, focused exam preparation.

The C-51 Tile Contractor classification covers tile work involving ceramic, mosaic, granite, terrazzo, pseudo tile, marble, and cultured marble products. A Hawaii C-51 tile contractor may prepare the base upon which these materials will adhere by suction, fasteners, or adhesives, and may install these products. Because the trade exam tests both practical tile knowledge and jobsite safety, a structured study plan helps candidates review the material in a more organized way.

This rental package is built for students who want access to the required study books without purchasing every reference separately. The package includes rental access to the listed trade books and business books, along with online course access that helps guide your study time. The Hawaii Tile Contractor C-51 exam is a closed book test, which means the books are used for preparation before exam day and are not taken into the testing room.

With this package, students can review tile installation methods, surface preparation, adhesives, grouting, finishing, terrazzo concepts, plan reading, estimating, OSHA safety, contractor business practices, public works rules, wage determinations, and Hawaii-specific business law subjects. The goal is to help you study with a clear path instead of sorting through multiple books without direction.

What You Get

Exam Details

The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor trade exam contains 40 questions. The minimum passing score is 75%, and the time allowed is 120 minutes. The exam is administered by computer and is designed to measure the candidate’s knowledge of tile contracting work as performed under the Hawaii C-51 classification.

The C-51 trade exam content areas include plan reading and estimating, general tile knowledge, grouting and finishing, adhesives, tile installation, terrazzo, and OSHA safety. These subject areas reflect the core skills a tile contractor needs when preparing substrates, selecting materials, applying installation methods, understanding jobsite safety, and completing tile work in a professional manner.

New applicants approved to take the Hawaii contractor examination are also required to take the Business and Law examination. The Business and Law exam contains 80 questions, has a minimum passing score of 75%, and allows 180 minutes. This exam covers topics that affect daily contractor operations, including business organization, contract management, estimating and bidding, financial management, labor law, licensing, lien law, project management, risk management, safety, tax laws, and related contractor business topics.

Students preparing for the Hawaii Tile Contractor C-51 license should study both sides of the licensing process: the tile trade knowledge required for the C-51 classification and the business and law knowledge required for contractor operations in Hawaii. This package supports both areas by combining tile references with Hawaii business law references and course-based review.

Closed Book Test

The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor exam is a closed book test. The listed reference books are used to prepare for the exam, but they are not allowed in the examination center. Students should use the rental books and course materials before exam day to build familiarity with tile installation concepts, technical standards, safety rules, estimating methods, and trade terminology.

The Hawaii Business and Law exam is also closed book. Business and law references are used during study, but they are not permitted in the exam room. Because the test is closed book, preparation should focus on understanding the concepts, recognizing how rules apply to contractor work, and practicing recall under exam-style conditions.

A closed book exam rewards steady review and repetition. Students should avoid simply reading the books once and instead work through the material in sections. Important areas include contractor responsibilities, licensing rules, contract administration, wage and labor topics, safety practices, and jobsite decision-making. For the C-51 trade exam, students should focus heavily on tile installation, adhesives, grouting, finishing, terrazzo, estimating, and OSHA safety.

Licensing Steps

Applicants must be approved by the Hawaii Contractors License Board before registering for the contractor examination. After the Board approves the application, the candidate receives examination approval and may schedule the approved exam through PSI. The approval determines which examination or examinations the candidate is eligible to take.

A typical path for a new Hawaii tile contractor applicant includes preparing the contractor license application, submitting the required information to the Board, waiting for Board approval, scheduling the exam after approval, studying the C-51 trade material and Business and Law material, taking the required examination or examinations, and completing any remaining licensing requirements set by the Board.

Students who are applying for an additional classification may have a different exam path than first-time contractor applicants. A candidate who is already licensed and approved for an additional classification may only need to take the classification exam for the added trade. New applicants approved for examination are required to take the Business and Law examination in addition to the trade examination.

The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor Books & Courses Rental Package helps students organize the study portion of this process by combining the trade references, business references, and online course access into one preparation package.

State Requirements

The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor classification applies to tile contracting work involving the preparation of bases and installation of ceramic, mosaic, granite, terrazzo, pseudo tile, marble, and cultured marble products. This includes work where materials adhere by suction, fasteners, or adhesives.

Hawaii contractor licensing is handled through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Contractors License Board. Applicants must receive Board approval before sitting for the examination. Exam eligibility is tied to the Board’s approval process, and candidates should follow the Board’s instructions for application submission, examination approval, and licensing completion.

For exam preparation, students should give attention to both the technical trade side and the contractor operations side. The C-51 trade exam focuses on tile work, while the Business and Law exam focuses on the legal, business, financial, safety, and management duties that affect contractors working in Hawaii.

Because Hawaii contractor licensing includes state-specific rules, business law preparation is especially important. The business references in this rental package support review of contractor business practices, Hawaii public works laws, wage and hour requirements, and wage determinations.

Reference Books

Please allow up to 15 business days for book & course rental package orders,

• Included Rental Book: ANSI A108/A118/A136.1:2017, American National Standard Specifications for the Installation of Ceramic Tile, 2017
  A technical standards reference covering ceramic tile installation specifications, materials, and related installation requirements used for C-51 exam preparation.
• Included Rental Book: Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, 2017
  A tile installation handbook used to study methods, installation systems, material use, and best practices for ceramic, glass, and stone tile work.
• Included Rental Book: Setting Tile, 1995 (USED)
  A practical tile setting reference used to review tools, layout, surface preparation, installation techniques, and tile work practices.
• Included Rental Book: Terrazzo Specification and Design Guide
  A terrazzo reference used to study terrazzo materials, specifications, design considerations, and installation-related concepts.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  An OSHA construction safety reference used to review jobsite safety rules and construction safety requirements relevant to contractor exams.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management Hawaii edition 1st edition 2022
  A Hawaii business and law reference used to study contractor business practices, project management, legal responsibilities, and licensing-related topics.
• Included Rental Book: Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 103 Expenditure of Public Money and Public Contracts
  A Hawaii public contracts reference used for reviewing laws related to public money and public contracting.
• Included Rental Book: Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 104 Wages and Hours of Employees on Public Works
  A Hawaii public works labor law reference used to study wages and hours requirements for employees on public works projects.
• Included Rental Book: Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 12, Chapter 22 Wage Determinations
  A Hawaii wage determination reference used for business and law exam preparation involving public works wage requirements.

Test Information and Study Materials

The C-51 trade exam includes 5 questions on plan reading and estimating, 10 questions on general tile knowledge, 4 questions on grouting and finishing, 5 questions on adhesives, 9 questions on tile installation, 5 questions on terrazzo, and 2 questions on OSHA safety. Students should build a study schedule that gives the most time to the largest content areas while still reviewing every topic.

For plan reading and estimating, focus on measurements, quantities, material planning, and interpreting project information. For general tile knowledge, review tile types, substrates, bonding methods, layout considerations, material handling, and jobsite conditions. For grouting and finishing, study grout selection, application, cleanup, curing, and finished appearance. Adhesives should be reviewed in relation to bonding, compatibility, installation conditions, and proper use.

Tile installation is one of the most important areas of the exam. Students should review substrate preparation, layout, setting methods, joint considerations, waterproofing-related awareness when applicable, transitions, cutting, and workmanship standards. Terrazzo review should include general terrazzo systems, design considerations, specifications, and installation concepts. OSHA safety review should focus on construction safety awareness, hazard recognition, and safe work practices.

The Business and Law portion should be studied as a separate exam. Students should review business organization, contracts, estimating and bidding, financial management, labor law, licensing, lien law, project management, risk management, safety, and tax laws. Since the business exam is closed book, students should practice recognizing key concepts and applying them to contractor situations.

The online course access included in this package helps students move through the material with more structure. Instead of guessing where to begin, students can use the course as a guide while referencing the rental books for deeper review.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps students prepare for the Hawaii Tile Contractor C-51 exam with organized study guidance, trade-focused review, and practice-oriented preparation. The goal is to make the study process easier to manage by helping students focus on the subjects that matter most for the exam.

For tile contractor students, preparation is not just about reading books. It is about understanding how installation standards, jobsite practices, safety requirements, estimating, and trade terminology connect to exam questions. 1 Exam Prep helps students break the material into study sections so they can build knowledge step by step.

When reference books are part of the package, students can use them alongside the course to review technical subjects in a more purposeful way. The course structure helps students avoid feeling overwhelmed by large books and instead focus on the areas most relevant to their exam preparation.

For the Business and Law exam, 1 Exam Prep supports students with a practical study approach covering contractor operations, business management, contracts, licensing, safety, labor topics, and Hawaii-specific law references. This helps students prepare for both the trade side and the business side of the licensing process.

The Hawaii Tile Contractor Books & Courses Rental Package is a strong option for students who want the required study materials, online preparation access, and a more organized way to study before exam day.

FAQ: Is the Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor exam open book?

No. The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor exam is closed book. The reference books are used for studying before the exam and are not allowed in the examination center.

FAQ: Is the Hawaii Business and Law exam closed book?

Yes. The Hawaii Business and Law exam is closed book. The business and law books in this package are used for preparation before test day.

FAQ: How many questions are on the Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor exam?

The Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor exam has 40 questions. The time allowed is 120 minutes, and the minimum passing score is 75%.

FAQ: What topics are covered on the C-51 Tile Contractor exam?

The exam covers plan reading and estimating, general tile knowledge, grouting and finishing, adhesives, tile installation, terrazzo, and OSHA safety.

FAQ: What is included in this rental package?

This package includes rental access to the listed C-51 trade books, rental access to the listed Hawaii business and law books, and 6 months of course access.

FAQ: What is the total package price?

The rental cost is $1,180, the refundable book deposit is $450, and the total package price is $1,630.

FAQ: Do I need to take the Business and Law exam?

New applicants approved to take the Hawaii contractor examination are required to take the Business and Law exam. Applicants who already hold a contractor license and are approved for an additional classification may only need the added classification exam.

FAQ: Who is this package for?

This package is for students preparing for the Hawaii C-51 Tile Contractor license exam who want rental access to the listed reference books and structured course access for exam preparation.