Nevada Concrete Contractor (C-5) Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the Nevada Concrete Contractor (C-5) trade examination with a focused Books Allowed into Exam Package containing the references approved for use during the exam. This package is designed for candidates who already have their broader concrete study materials and specifically need the code books permitted in the Nevada C-5 examination room.

The package includes the International Building Code, 2018 and ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary. These references support preparation involving structural concrete, reinforcement, foundations, concrete construction requirements, building-code provisions, and other technical topics connected with the Nevada C-5 classification.

The Nevada C-5 Concrete classification covers preparing surfaces, placing reinforcing steel and other embedded materials that are essential to concrete construction, pouring and placing concrete, finishing and installing concrete, constructing and assembling forms, molds, slipforms, and pans, applying concrete sealants and waterproofing products, and sawing, cutting, drilling, and coring concrete and asphaltic paving material.

Because the C-5 examination is open book with designated approved references, candidates should practice using both books throughout their preparation. The goal is not simply to have the correct references available on exam day. Candidates should also become familiar with the structure of each book and know which reference is most likely to contain the information needed for a specific question.

The International Building Code, 2018 supports building-code preparation involving foundations, structural systems, materials, concrete-related requirements, and other construction provisions that may apply to C-5 work.

ACI 318-14 is a primary technical concrete reference covering structural concrete requirements, reinforcement, materials, construction provisions, development and placement concepts, and other requirements directly associated with reinforced concrete work.

This package is intentionally limited to the books allowed into the examination. It does not include the broader study-only materials candidates may use for OSHA safety, formwork, excavation, concrete cutting, concrete quality, or other technical subjects. Candidates who already own or have access to those materials can use this package to complete their exam-room-approved reference set.

Exam Details

The Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor trade examination is administered through PSI for candidates authorized to test through the Nevada State Contractors Board.

• Exam: Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor
• Testing Provider: PSI
• Number of Questions: 60
• Time Allowed: 2 hours
• Minimum Passing Score: 42 correct answers

The examination is divided into the following subject areas:

• Safety: 6 questions
• Concrete-Earthwork: 7 questions
• Concrete: 15 questions
• Concrete-Reinforcement: 10 questions
• Concrete-Formwork: 12 questions
• Concrete-Cutting: 10 questions

Concrete is the largest individual category with 15 questions. Candidates should review concrete materials, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, joints, surface preparation, quality practices, and related field procedures.

Concrete-Formwork accounts for 12 questions. Preparation should include forms, molds, slipforms, pans, supports, bracing, alignment, stripping, materials, and practical formwork considerations associated with concrete placement.

Concrete-Reinforcement contains 10 questions. Candidates should understand reinforcing steel, embedded materials, placement, cover, spacing, development concepts, and related requirements that may be found in ACI 318-14.

Concrete-Cutting also accounts for 10 questions. Candidates should prepare for sawing, cutting, drilling, coring, joint cutting, equipment use, and practical considerations associated with concrete and asphaltic paving materials.

Concrete-Earthwork represents seven questions and may involve excavation, grading, site preparation, subgrade conditions, compaction, and other earthwork relationships relevant to concrete construction.

Safety contributes six questions. Candidates should understand hazards associated with formwork, reinforcing steel, excavation, concrete placement, saw cutting, tools, personal protective equipment, and general construction operations.

Open Book Test

The Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor examination is an open-book test with specific approved references permitted in the examination room.

The books included in this package and allowed into the C-5 examination are:

• International Building Code, 2018
• ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary

The International Building Code is useful for questions involving broader building requirements, foundations, structural provisions, materials, and code requirements that interact with concrete construction.

ACI 318-14 is especially important for questions involving reinforcing steel, structural concrete, material requirements, cover, placement, development concepts, and other technical concrete provisions.

A productive open-book strategy begins with identifying the subject of the question before opening a reference. Questions involving a specific structural concrete requirement may point toward ACI 318-14, while broader building-code questions may require the International Building Code.

Candidates should avoid searching both references for every difficult question. Learning the purpose and organization of each book before test day can improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary page turning during the two-hour examination.

Technical knowledge remains essential. The C-5 examination includes subjects such as safety, earthwork, formwork, concrete cutting, and practical concrete construction. Candidates should be prepared to answer many questions from their trade knowledge without relying on a code lookup.

Licensing Steps

The Nevada State Contractors Board regulates the C-5 Concrete classification. Passing the C-5 trade examination is one component of the complete Nevada contractor licensing process.

1. Confirm the C-5 classification. Determine that Concrete Contracting matches the type of work the business intends to perform.
2. Identify the qualifying individual. Designate the person who will satisfy applicable experience and examination requirements.
3. Document qualifying experience. Prepare records showing relevant concrete work, including placement, finishing, reinforcement, formwork, earthwork, cutting, drilling, coring, and related responsibilities.
4. Prepare the Nevada contractor license application. Gather business information, qualifier information, experience documentation, financial information, and required supporting materials.
5. Submit the application. The Nevada State Contractors Board reviews the applicant's qualifications before examination eligibility is established.
6. Complete applicable background requirements. Follow required disclosure, fingerprint, and background procedures.
7. Meet financial responsibility requirements. Provide the applicable financial information required during the licensing process.
8. Receive examination eligibility. Candidates required to test can proceed with scheduling after authorization.
9. Schedule the C-5 examination through PSI. Arrange the Concrete Contractor trade examination after eligibility has been established.
10. Prepare for the examination. Review concrete, reinforcement, formwork, earthwork, cutting, safety, and reference navigation.
11. Complete applicable contractor management requirements. Nevada contractor licensing also includes management qualification in addition to the trade examination.
12. Complete remaining licensing requirements. Satisfy applicable bonding, financial responsibility, background, and other Nevada State Contractors Board requirements before license issuance.

State Requirements

The Nevada C-5 Concrete classification authorizes a contractor to prepare surfaces and place reinforcing steel and other embedded materials essential to or comprising an integral part of concrete or concrete construction.

The classification also covers pouring, placing, finishing, and installing concrete, as well as constructing and assembling forms, molds, slipforms, and pans used in concrete construction.

Additional authorized work includes applying concrete sealants and other waterproofing products and sawing, cutting, drilling, and coring concrete and asphaltic paving material.

This scope means that C-5 preparation should extend beyond basic placement and finishing. Candidates should understand the entire concrete construction process, including site preparation, reinforcement, formwork, placement, curing, finishing, waterproofing, cutting, drilling, and coring.

Formwork and reinforcement are especially important because together they represent 22 of the 60 trade examination questions. Candidates should understand how forms support concrete during placement and how reinforcing steel and embedded components contribute to the completed concrete system.

Concrete cutting is also a significant part of the classification and examination. Sawing, drilling, coring, and cutting should be treated as major study subjects rather than secondary topics.

Passing the C-5 trade examination does not automatically result in contractor license issuance. Applicants must also complete the applicable Nevada licensing requirements involving experience, management qualification, financial responsibility, bonding, background review, and other requirements administered by the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Reference Books

• International Building Code, 2018
  Exam-room-approved reference supporting preparation involving building-code requirements, foundations, structural construction, materials, and other provisions relevant to Nevada concrete contracting.
• ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Exam-room-approved concrete reference supporting structural concrete requirements, reinforcement, materials, placement, cover, development, construction provisions, and related technical requirements.

Exam Room Approved Books

• International Building Code, 2018
  This reference is approved for use during the Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor trade examination and is included in this Books Allowed into Exam Package.
• ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  This concrete reference is approved for use during the Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor trade examination and is included in this package.

This package is specifically focused on the references allowed into the examination room. It is a practical option for candidates who already have their broader technical study resources and need the approved IBC and ACI references for C-5 exam preparation.

Test Information and Study Materials

A strong C-5 study plan should reflect the weighting of the examination. Concrete, Formwork, Reinforcement, and Cutting make up most of the 60 questions and should receive the greatest amount of preparation time.

Prioritize concrete fundamentals. Review materials, mixing, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, joints, surface preparation, sealants, waterproofing, and quality practices.

Study formwork thoroughly. Review form materials, supports, bracing, alignment, molds, pans, slipforms, stripping, construction sequencing, and field procedures.

Practice reinforcement questions. Review reinforcing steel, embedded materials, placement, cover, spacing, development, and structural relationships. Use ACI 318-14 regularly during preparation so these topics become easier to locate.

Prepare for concrete cutting. Study saw cutting, joint cutting, drilling, coring, equipment use, timing, and practical field methods.

Review earthwork. Understand excavation, grading, compaction, site preparation, subgrades, drainage relationships, and other earthwork issues that affect concrete installation.

Prepare for safety. Review jobsite hazards associated with concrete placement, reinforcement, forms, cutting, excavation, tools, and personal protective equipment.

Practice International Building Code navigation. Become familiar with foundation, structural, material, and construction provisions that may apply to concrete work.

Practice ACI 318-14 navigation. Learn where reinforcing steel, material, cover, structural concrete, and construction requirements are generally located.

Use timed reference exercises. Candidates have two hours for 60 questions. Reference lookups should be efficient enough that a difficult question does not consume too much of the testing period.

Balance reference use with trade knowledge. An open-book examination still rewards candidates who understand the work. Use the approved books for specific code requirements while relying on prepared technical knowledge for practical questions.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and confidence-building study structure.

This Books Allowed into Exam Package focuses on the International Building Code, 2018 and ACI 318-14, providing candidates with the core references approved for use during the Nevada C-5 trade examination.

Reference-navigation preparation helps candidates develop a repeatable process for using the books. Instead of randomly searching through both references, candidates can learn whether a question is more likely to require the IBC or ACI 318-14 and begin the lookup in the correct place.

Trade-focused study should still cover concrete, reinforcement, formwork, cutting, earthwork, and safety. These categories require practical understanding that goes beyond locating code sections.

Practice-oriented preparation can help candidates identify weak areas. Someone with extensive concrete placement and finishing experience may need additional work with ACI reinforcement requirements, while another candidate may need more preparation involving formwork, cutting, or earthwork.

Organizing preparation according to the examination weighting can also help candidates use study time more effectively. Larger categories deserve greater attention, but smaller categories should still be reviewed so candidates are prepared across the full test.

By combining the approved C-5 exam-room references with structured preparation, concrete-focused review, and repeated code-navigation practice, 1 Exam Prep helps candidates build a focused approach to the Nevada Concrete Contractor examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What books are included in the Nevada C-5 Books Allowed into Exam Package?

The package includes the International Building Code, 2018 and ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary.

Are both books allowed into the Nevada C-5 examination?

Yes. The International Building Code, 2018 and ACI 318-14 are approved references for the Nevada C-5 Concrete Contractor trade examination.

Is the Nevada C-5 exam open book?

Yes. The C-5 Concrete Contractor trade examination is open book with designated approved references.

How many questions are on the C-5 exam?

The examination contains 60 questions.

How much time is allowed for the C-5 examination?

Candidates have two hours to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The minimum passing score is 42 correct answers out of 60 questions.

What is the largest C-5 exam category?

Concrete is the largest individual category with 15 questions, followed by Concrete-Formwork with 12 questions.

Does the C-5 examination include reinforcing steel?

Yes. Concrete-Reinforcement accounts for 10 questions, and candidates should understand reinforcement placement, cover, embedded materials, and related concrete requirements.

Does the exam include concrete cutting?

Yes. Concrete-Cutting accounts for 10 questions and includes knowledge related to sawing, cutting, drilling, coring, and associated field practices.

What does the Nevada C-5 classification cover?

The classification covers surface preparation, reinforcement, concrete placement and finishing, forms and molds, sealants and waterproofing products, and sawing, cutting, drilling, and coring concrete and asphaltic paving material.

Does this package include study-only concrete books?

No. This package is specifically focused on the two references allowed into the Nevada C-5 examination room.

Should I practice with both approved books?

Yes. Candidates should learn the organization of both the International Building Code and ACI 318-14 and practice identifying which reference applies to different types of questions.

Does passing the C-5 exam automatically issue a Nevada contractor license?

No. Passing the trade examination is one part of the licensing process. Applicants must also complete applicable Nevada State Contractors Board licensing requirements.

Who is this package best for?

This package is best for candidates who already have their broader C-5 technical study materials and specifically need the International Building Code, 2018 and ACI 318-14 for use during the Nevada Concrete Contractor trade examination.