North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Exam Book Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Exam with a complete package containing the approved exam-room references and the additional study books used to review excavation, grading, safety, erosion control, contractor law, licensing, and utility-location requirements.

This package is designed for candidates pursuing the North Carolina H Grading and Excavating classification through the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. It combines the two books permitted inside the examination center with six supporting references that are included for study but must remain outside the exam room.

The H Grading and Excavating classification covers the digging, moving, and placing of earth and other materials forming the surface of the ground. The work may include cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenching, backfilling, clearing, grubbing, erosion-control activities, work on earthen dams, and the use of explosives connected with qualifying grading and excavating operations.

Grading and excavation work requires more than the ability to operate equipment. Contractors must understand soils, compaction, slopes, drainage, embankments, trench safety, equipment practices, project layout, environmental responsibilities, underground utility protection, licensing rules, and construction law. This package supports preparation across those technical and regulatory areas.

The books allowed inside the examination center are the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry with the latest available amendments and the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018. These references support questions involving workplace safety, excavation requirements, grading procedures, materials, earthwork, construction practices, and state specifications.

The package also includes the North Carolina sedimentation-control rules, the state Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, the North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, and the laws and regulations applicable to North Carolina general contractors. These six resources are used for preparation but are not allowed inside the exam room.

Because the examination is open book and timed, candidates should become familiar with the approved references before test day. Effective preparation includes learning the organization of each book, identifying which topics are found in each publication, and practicing how to locate information without losing valuable testing time.

What You Get

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4, Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina

The first two references are permitted inside the examination center. The remaining six books are included to support preparation for subjects that must be studied before testing.

Exam Details

The North Carolina H Grading and Excavating Contractor Exam is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive examination eligibility from the Board before scheduling an appointment with PSI.

• Classification: H Grading and Excavating
• Number of questions: 45
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Required passing score: 70 percent
• Testing provider: PSI Services
• Exam format: Computer-based contractor licensing examination
• Reference status: Open book with approved references only

The examination outline includes 18 questions on excavating and grading, making it the largest single content area. General knowledge and regulations account for nine questions. Safety under the applicable federal construction standards and erosion and sedimentation control each account for six questions.

The remaining questions include three on One Call requirements, two on licensing and regulations, and one on lien law. Candidates should review every subject because a small number of missed questions can affect the final result.

The examination may include questions developed from the listed references as well as questions based on trade knowledge and common industry practices. Preparation should therefore combine reference-book study with practical understanding of excavation, grading, equipment, sitework, drainage, soil handling, safety, and environmental controls.

A silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator may be used in the examination center. A magnifying glass may also be provided upon request. All permitted items and reference materials remain subject to PSI security and inspection procedures.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Exam is an open-book examination. Only the two approved references may be brought inside the testing center: the North Carolina construction safety standards and the 2018 North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references. The examination center does not provide the books. Complete references are required, and partial copies are not accepted as exam-room materials.

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs may be used when they are securely attached to the pages. Removable tabs such as Post-it flags are not permitted, and notes may not be written on tabs.

Loose pages, attached papers, removable notes, and unauthorized inserts are prohibited. The testing rules also prohibit writing in the references before or during the examination. Testing-center personnel may inspect the books before admitting them into the exam room.

With 45 questions and 120 minutes, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes and forty seconds per question. That time must cover reading, calculations, reference lookups, and final review. Candidates should practice selecting the correct book before beginning a search.

Questions involving excavation safety, trench protection, personal protective equipment, access, machinery, tools, material handling, fall hazards, and employee protection may direct the candidate to the North Carolina construction safety standards.

Questions involving grading, excavation, embankments, earthwork, drainage, roadbed preparation, material placement, compaction, construction methods, and state specifications may require the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the classification scope. Confirm that the H Grading and Excavating classification matches the work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review current licensing requirements. Examine the application, qualifier, financial, ownership, and organizational requirements established by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
3. Submit the required application or examination request. Provide the Board with the required forms and supporting information.
4. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the submission and determines whether the candidate is authorized to test.
5. Schedule the examination with PSI. Follow the instructions in the eligibility notice to register, pay the applicable testing fee, and select an appointment.
6. Study the complete book package. Review both approved exam-room references and the six books that must be studied before testing.
7. Prepare the approved references. Highlight, underline, and add permanent tabs only in ways permitted by the current examination rules.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification, permitted calculator, and approved books.
9. Complete the remaining licensing requirements. Passing the examination is one part of qualification. The Board must determine that all applicable licensing requirements have been satisfied before issuing a license.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates the H Grading and Excavating classification. The classification covers digging, moving, and placing materials that form the surface of the earth, excluding air and water.

The work may involve cuts, fills, excavations, grades, trenches, backfill, clearing, grubbing, and similar operations performed with hand tools, power tools, and machinery commonly used for grading and excavation.

The classification also includes qualifying work on earthen dams, erosion-control activities, and the use of explosives connected with the grading and excavating operations described in the classification.

Passing the examination does not automatically issue a North Carolina contractor license. Applicants must also satisfy the Board’s current application, qualification, financial, organizational, and license-limitation requirements.

Individual projects may involve additional obligations related to erosion and sedimentation control, utility-location requests, environmental protection, occupational safety, permits, inspections, owner specifications, or local government requirements.

Reference Books

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This exam-room reference addresses workplace safety requirements for construction activities in North Carolina. It supports preparation involving excavation hazards, trench protection, access and egress, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, material handling, fall prevention, employee protection, and related safety responsibilities.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  This exam-room reference contains North Carolina Department of Transportation specifications for road and structure construction. It supports preparation involving earthwork, excavation, embankments, grading, drainage, materials, compaction, construction methods, acceptance requirements, and project procedures.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
  This supporting reference addresses state erosion and sedimentation-control rules for land-disturbing activities. It helps candidates review planning, control measures, responsibilities, inspections, stabilization, and compliance requirements. It is not allowed inside the examination room.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4, Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  This supporting publication contains the North Carolina law governing sedimentation pollution control. It addresses regulated land-disturbing activities, responsibilities, enforcement, and related statutory requirements. It must remain outside the exam room.
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
  This supporting guide addresses excavation planning, underground utility damage prevention, locate requests, markings, safe digging practices, tolerance zones, emergency procedures, and North Carolina One Call responsibilities. It is included for study but is not allowed during testing.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This supporting contractor reference covers business organization, contracts, estimating, project management, accounting, insurance, employment responsibilities, licensing, liens, and North Carolina construction practices. It is not permitted inside the examination center.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This trade-focused book covers excavation, trenching, soils, grading, equipment, dewatering, pipe installation, backfilling, compaction, estimating, job planning, safety, and field operations. It supports preparation for practical trade questions but must remain outside the testing room.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  This supporting reference addresses contractor licensing laws, Board rules, license administration, liens, qualifier responsibilities, and legal obligations. It is included for preparation but is not approved for use inside the exam room.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following two references from this package are approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination center:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Approved for questions involving excavation safety, trench protection, access, protective equipment, machinery, tools, material handling, and workplace requirements.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Approved for questions involving excavation, grading, earthwork, embankments, materials, road construction, drainage, compaction, and state construction specifications.

The six additional books in the package are study resources only. They cover tested subjects but are not allowed inside the examination center. Candidates should review them thoroughly before exam day.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with excavating and grading because it accounts for 18 of the 45 questions. Review soil handling, cuts, fills, slopes, embankments, trenching, backfilling, compaction, drainage, equipment selection, material placement, site preparation, and grading procedures.

Use the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures to practice locating requirements related to earthwork, roadway excavation, borrow material, embankment construction, compaction, drainage, aggregate, stabilization, and acceptance procedures.

Use the North Carolina construction safety standards to review trench and excavation hazards, protective systems, access and egress, inspections, heavy equipment, personal protective equipment, material handling, and worker protection.

Study erosion and sedimentation control before exam day because the two main supporting references are not allowed inside the testing center. Review the purpose of control measures, stabilization practices, land-disturbing responsibilities, inspections, and environmental protection.

Review One Call and excavation-notification procedures using the North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines. Candidates should understand the relationship between locate requests, markings, excavation planning, tolerance zones, damage prevention, and emergency response.

Use the Contractor’s Guide and the North Carolina laws and regulations publication to prepare for licensing, liens, legal responsibilities, and contractor administration. These subjects represent a smaller part of the examination but still contribute to the passing score.

Complete timed lookup exercises with the two approved references. Practice identifying the subject, choosing the correct book, locating the applicable section, and confirming the answer efficiently.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize preparation around the North Carolina Grading and Excavating examination outline and the practical responsibilities of the trade. Structured study guidance makes it easier to divide the exam into excavation, grading, safety, erosion control, One Call, licensing, and legal subjects.

Trade-focused review connects technical information to real grading and excavation work, including soil movement, cuts, fills, slopes, trenches, embankments, compaction, drainage, equipment, clearing, grubbing, and erosion-control activities.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to apply information instead of only reading the books. Students can work through questions, identify the governing topic, select the correct reference, locate the applicable provision, and evaluate the answer under timed conditions.

Reference navigation is especially important for an open-book examination. Familiarity with the table of contents, indexes, sections, specifications, definitions, and safety requirements can help candidates reduce search time and use the approved books more effectively.

1 Exam Prep also supports confidence-building study structure through organized review and repeated practice. No book package can guarantee a passing score, contractor license, or application approval, but disciplined preparation can help candidates approach exam day with stronger technical familiarity and a clearer strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Exam open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, but candidates may bring only the two approved references into the testing center.

How many questions are on the exam?

The examination contains 45 questions. Candidates have 120 minutes and must earn a score of at least 70 percent to pass.

Which books are allowed inside the exam room?

The approved books are the North Carolina construction safety standards and the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018.

Why are books that are not allowed in the exam included?

The additional books support preparation for erosion control, excavation safety, One Call procedures, contractor law, licensing, liens, business practices, and practical excavation work. They must be studied before the examination.

Can I use removable tabs in the approved books?

No. Permanent tabs may be used, but removable tabs such as Post-it flags are not permitted. Notes may not be written on tabs.

Can I write notes in the exam-room references?

No. The examination rules prohibit writing in the references before or during the testing session. Loose papers and attached notes are also prohibited.

What work does the H Grading and Excavating classification cover?

The classification covers digging, moving, and placing earth materials, including cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenching, backfilling, clearing, grubbing, erosion control, earthen dam work, and qualifying use of explosives.

Does this package include exam registration?

No. The package includes the listed books only. Application filing, examination eligibility, registration, scheduling, testing fees, and licensing are handled separately.

Does passing the exam automatically issue a contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors determines whether all requirements for license issuance have been satisfied.