ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N Exam Book Package

The ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N Exam Book Package is designed for candidates preparing for the ICC National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam using the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018. This reference supports study for residential building contractor topics, including code administration, building planning, life safety, foundations, framing, roof assemblies, exterior walls, masonry, glass and glazing, gypsum board, plaster, energy efficiency, and general residential construction requirements.

Residential building contractor exam preparation requires more than hands-on construction experience. A contractor may understand framing, concrete, roofing, wall systems, inspections, jobsite coordination, and residential construction practices, but an ICC contractor exam requires candidates to apply that knowledge through code-based questions. Candidates must be able to read each question carefully, identify the correct residential code topic, locate the applicable section, and apply the rule accurately under timed exam conditions.

This book package gives candidates the primary residential code reference needed to study one- and two-family dwelling construction requirements. The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018 is used to review residential building provisions related to permits, inspections, planning, structural systems, fire safety, means of egress, foundations, wall construction, floor construction, roof-ceiling construction, exterior coverings, interior finishes, glazing, energy provisions, and related residential building standards.

The ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam is focused on residential construction knowledge. Candidates preparing for this exam should be comfortable with residential code organization, construction terminology, building planning, light-frame construction, foundation requirements, roof assemblies, wall systems, masonry, concrete, life safety, and inspection-related responsibilities. This package is useful for builders, residential contractors, qualifying agents, supervisors, project managers, remodelers, and construction professionals preparing for the G13-N exam.

What You Get

• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018 — A residential code reference used to study one- and two-family dwelling construction, building planning, foundations, framing, wall construction, roof-ceiling construction, life safety, energy provisions, materials, inspections, and code administration.

This book package supports focused preparation for residential building contractor exam topics. The IRC helps candidates understand how residential construction requirements are organized and how code provisions apply to common building conditions. Candidates can use the book to practice locating requirements for permits, inspections, foundations, structural framing, wall systems, roof assemblies, exterior finishes, interior finishes, glazing, and energy-related requirements.

Exam Details

The ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam is part of the ICC Contractor/Trades examination program. The exam is used by participating jurisdictions to evaluate residential building contractor knowledge. The National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is listed as an open-book exam with 80 multiple-choice questions and a 4-hour time limit.

The exam content includes administration, building planning, plan reading, life safety, exterior walls, roof assemblies and rooftop structures, soils and foundations, concrete, masonry, wood, glass and glazing, gypsum board and plaster, and energy efficiency. These categories reflect the broad range of knowledge expected from a residential building contractor working with one- and two-family dwelling construction.

Administration questions may involve permits, inspections, code compliance responsibilities, approval requirements, construction documents, and general regulatory provisions. Building planning questions may involve occupancy concepts, room dimensions, light, ventilation, sanitation, ceiling heights, stairs, guards, handrails, fire separation, safety glazing, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and other planning requirements found in residential construction.

Plan reading may require candidates to interpret construction drawings, identify building elements, understand dimensions, recognize symbols, and apply code requirements to a project condition. Residential contractors should be comfortable reviewing basic plans and connecting the information shown on drawings to the requirements in the code book.

Life safety topics may include emergency escape and rescue openings, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire separation, flame spread, stairways, guards, handrails, landings, exits, and residential safety provisions. These topics are important because residential construction must protect occupants while also meeting minimum code requirements.

Structural and building-envelope topics are also important. Candidates should review soils and foundations, footings, foundation walls, slabs, wood framing, floor framing, wall framing, roof-ceiling construction, bracing, fasteners, sheathing, roof assemblies, exterior walls, weather protection, masonry, concrete, glass and glazing, gypsum board, plaster, and energy efficiency requirements. Many exam questions require candidates to locate tables, understand limitations, and apply requirements to common field conditions.

The G13-N exam may be accepted differently by different licensing authorities. A city, county, state, municipality, or local agency may determine whether this exam is required for a specific residential building contractor license classification. Passing an ICC exam does not automatically create a contractor license unless the applicable authority recognizes the exam as part of its licensing process.

Open Book Test

The ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam is an open-book test. Open-book testing allows candidates to use approved references during the exam, but it does not remove the need for preparation. Candidates must know how to navigate the International Residential Code efficiently, understand where major residential construction topics are located, and apply the correct section to the question being asked.

Open-book residential contractor exams reward candidates who understand code organization. The IRC is a detailed reference, and searching from scratch on every question can waste valuable time. Candidates should become familiar with the table of contents, index, chapter layout, definitions, building planning provisions, wall and roof construction chapters, foundation sections, tables, and residential safety requirements.

The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018 is especially useful for studying the structure of residential construction requirements. Candidates should practice locating provisions for permits, inspections, room dimensions, stairways, guards, handrails, emergency openings, smoke alarms, foundations, framing, roof assemblies, wall coverings, gypsum board, glazing, and energy efficiency.

Because the exam has 80 questions and a 4-hour time limit, pacing matters. Candidates should practice answering questions under timed conditions. A strong open-book strategy includes identifying the topic first, choosing the correct chapter or index term, locating the section quickly, reading the requirement carefully, and avoiding too much time on a single difficult question. Marking difficult questions and returning to them later can help protect exam pacing.

Exam-day reference rules may control which books are allowed, how books may be marked, whether tabs are permitted, whether notes are allowed, and what condition books must be in. Candidates should follow the current testing rules for the G13-N exam and the requirements of the jurisdiction connected to their license.

Licensing Steps

The ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam may be used by a city, county, state, municipality, local board, or contractor licensing authority as part of a residential building contractor qualification process. ICC administers contractor and trade exams, but licensing approval is controlled by the agency that issues or recognizes the license.

A typical licensing path may include identifying the correct residential contractor classification, confirming that the G13-N exam is required, reviewing the approved reference books, completing an application, receiving preauthorization when required, scheduling the exam, passing the exam, and submitting final licensing documents to the applicable authority. Depending on the jurisdiction, additional requirements may include business registration, insurance, bonding, experience documentation, responsible qualifying agent information, local registration, or renewal compliance.

Candidates should begin by identifying the agency that controls residential contractor licensing in the location where they plan to work. That agency determines the correct exam, accepted score, required documents, application process, fees, license scope, and renewal rules. This G13-N book package supports the study portion of the process. It does not replace licensing applications, agency approvals, insurance certificates, bonding documents, business filings, or local contractor registrations.

State Requirements

Residential building contractor requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Some states regulate residential contractors at the state level. Some areas use city, county, or municipal contractor licensing. Other jurisdictions may require local registration, trade exams, business licensing, insurance, bonding, or a combination of requirements before residential construction work may be performed.

Candidates should review the requirements for the exact location where they plan to perform residential building work. Important items may include the accepted ICC exam code, license classification, application approval, experience documentation, business entity requirements, insurance, bonding, workers’ compensation requirements, local code adoption, permit rules, inspection requirements, continuing education, and renewal deadlines.

This package is focused on the ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N book set and includes the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018. Candidates should make sure this reference and the G13-N exam match the requirements of the licensing authority before scheduling the exam.

Reference Books

• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  This residential code reference supports study of one- and two-family dwelling requirements, including code administration, building planning, life safety, foundations, concrete, masonry, wood framing, wall construction, roof-ceiling construction, exterior walls, roof assemblies, glazing, gypsum board, plaster, energy efficiency, and residential construction provisions used by building contractors.

The IRC is the central reference for residential building contractor preparation. Candidates should study both the layout of the book and the way requirements are written. Strong preparation includes learning where topics are located, practicing section lookup, understanding common tables, and applying code language to construction scenarios.

Test Information and Study Materials

Residential building contractor preparation should be organized around the major construction categories covered by the exam. Candidates should not rely on random reading alone. A better approach is to study by topic, locate the related code sections, answer practice-style questions, and repeat the process until reference navigation becomes faster and more natural.

For administration, candidates should review permit requirements, inspections, approved materials, construction documents, code compliance responsibilities, and general provisions that affect residential construction. These topics help candidates understand the official process behind construction work and how code enforcement fits into a residential project.

For building planning, candidates should study room dimensions, light, ventilation, sanitation, ceiling heights, stairways, guards, handrails, ramps, emergency escape and rescue openings, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, glazing safety, fire separation, and dwelling safety requirements. These provisions affect many residential construction projects and often appear in code-based questions.

For soils and foundations, candidates should review footing requirements, foundation walls, slabs, crawl spaces, drainage, anchor bolts, foundation support, and related structural provisions. Foundation questions may involve tables, dimensions, soil conditions, materials, and installation requirements. Candidates should practice locating foundation requirements quickly because this is a common residential building topic.

For wood construction, candidates should study floor framing, wall framing, roof-ceiling framing, braced wall lines, sheathing, fasteners, notching, boring, spans, headers, beams, rafters, joists, trusses, and load paths. Wood construction is a major part of residential building work, and candidates should be comfortable moving through the framing provisions and related tables.

For roof assemblies and rooftop structures, candidates should review roof framing, roof sheathing, roof coverings, underlayment, flashing, roof ventilation, slope requirements, and weather protection. Roof questions may require candidates to understand both structural framing and exterior weather-resistive requirements.

For exterior walls, candidates should study wall coverings, flashing, weather-resistive barriers, cladding, exterior plaster, masonry veneer, and moisture protection. Exterior wall questions often involve installation details that protect the building from water intrusion and support long-term performance.

For masonry and concrete, candidates should review basic material requirements, construction limitations, foundation applications, walls, reinforcement, and related residential provisions. Even when a contractor does not self-perform every trade, the exam may require knowledge of how those building systems are regulated in residential construction.

For glass and glazing, candidates should review safety glazing locations, hazardous locations, window requirements, and related building planning provisions. For gypsum board and plaster, candidates should review interior finish requirements, protection provisions, and installation-related code topics. For energy efficiency, candidates should review envelope requirements, insulation, fenestration, air sealing, and related residential energy provisions included in the code.

A strong study routine should include timed reference practice. Candidates should practice using the table of contents and index, locating answers by topic, reading section language carefully, and applying requirements to realistic residential construction questions. Open-book exam success depends on preparation, code familiarity, and time management.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps residential building contractor candidates prepare with structure, focus, and practical study direction. Contractor exams require candidates to understand field work, code language, and reference navigation. Many candidates have construction experience but need help turning that experience into an exam-ready study plan. 1 Exam Prep supports that process through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and confidence-building study structure.

For the ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam, candidates need to understand how the International Residential Code applies to one- and two-family dwelling construction. 1 Exam Prep helps students focus on major areas such as code administration, building planning, foundations, framing, roof assemblies, wall systems, masonry, concrete, glazing, gypsum board, plaster, and energy efficiency.

Reference navigation is especially important for an open-book contractor exam. Candidates need to know where common residential construction topics are located and how to move through the code efficiently. A candidate who can quickly identify the correct chapter, section, table, or definition has a stronger exam-day advantage. 1 Exam Prep encourages practical study habits that help candidates become more comfortable using their reference, interpreting questions, and applying residential code requirements.

This book package gives candidates the foundation needed for G13-N preparation. With the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018, students can study the major residential building code areas and build stronger familiarity with the material used during exam preparation. 1 Exam Prep helps candidates move toward their residential contractor goals with organized review, realistic preparation, and better reference-use habits.

FAQ Section

What book is included in the ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N Book Package?

This package includes the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018.

Is the ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam open book?

Yes. The National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is listed as an open-book test. Candidates should follow current testing rules for approved references, tabs, markings, notes, and book condition.

How many questions are on the G13-N Residential Building Contractor exam?

The National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is listed with 80 multiple-choice questions.

How much time is allowed for the G13-N exam?

The exam is listed with a 4-hour time limit.

What topics should I study for the G13-N exam?

Important study areas include administration, building planning, plan reading, life safety, exterior walls, roof assemblies, soils and foundations, concrete, masonry, wood, glass and glazing, gypsum board and plaster, and energy efficiency.

Does this book package include an online course?

This product is a book package. It includes the listed reference book and does not include online course access unless a separate course product is purchased.

Does passing the ICC G13-N exam automatically give me a contractor license?

No. Licensing is controlled by the applicable state, city, county, municipality, board, or local authority. The exam may be one part of the licensing process, depending on the jurisdiction.

Who should use this book package?

This package is useful for residential contractors, builders, qualifying agents, supervisors, remodelers, project managers, and construction professionals preparing for the ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) - G13-N exam.

How should I study with the IRC?

Study by topic, practice locating requirements in the code book, review major residential construction chapters, and use timed practice to improve lookup speed and exam pacing.

Can this book help with one- and two-family dwelling construction study?

Yes. The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018 supports study of residential construction requirements for one- and two-family dwellings.