North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Books & Course Rental - Exam Room Approved

Prepare for the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination with a focused rental package that combines the two exam-room-approved references with a self-study trade course. Both rental books are professionally highlighted and tabbed to support faster navigation during study sessions and the open-book examination.

This package is designed for candidates who need the approved examination books without purchasing a larger reference library. It includes the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018. These are the two references currently allowed inside the examination room for the North Carolina Grading and Excavating classification.

The included self-study trade course helps candidates organize preparation around grading, excavation, construction safety, erosion and sedimentation control, One Call responsibilities, licensing rules, lien law, and general trade knowledge. Course access is available for six months, giving students time to work through the material, practice reference navigation, and review challenging subjects.

All rental books are highlighted and tabbed before shipment. Highlighting directs attention to important safety provisions, construction specifications, definitions, tables, excavation requirements, and other useful material. Permanent tabs divide the references into practical sections so candidates can practice moving quickly between subjects.

Please allow 15 business days for professional highlighting and tabbing before shipment. The package price is $690, plus a refundable $200 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $890. The $200 deposit is refundable when all rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive examination eligibility from the licensing board before registering and scheduling a testing appointment.

• Classification: H — Grading and Excavating
• Number of questions: 45
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Passing score: 70%
• Testing format: Computer-based examination
• Testing provider: PSI Services LLC

The examination content outline includes the following subject areas:

• General Knowledge and Regulations: 9 questions
• Excavating and Grading: 18 questions
• Safety: 6 questions
• Liens: 1 question
• Licensing and Regulations: 2 questions
• One Call: 3 questions
• Erosion and Sedimentation Control: 6 questions

Excavating and grading is the largest examination category, accounting for 18 of the 45 questions. Candidates should prepare for earthmoving operations, cuts, fills, trenches, backfill, grading, clearing, grubbing, equipment use, materials, and general field practices.

Safety and erosion and sedimentation control account for another 12 questions combined. These subjects deserve focused preparation because they involve both practical jobsite knowledge and specific regulatory requirements. General knowledge, One Call responsibilities, licensing rules, and lien law complete the examination outline.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates may bring only the references approved for this classification. This rental package includes both exam-room-approved books listed for the examination.

The approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Tabs must be permanent and securely attached to the pages. Removable index flags, temporary markers, and Post-it-style tabs are not accepted. Notes may not be written on the tabs.

Loose papers and attached supplemental materials are not permitted inside the approved references. Candidates may not write in their books during the examination session. The references are subject to inspection at the testing center, so they must remain in a condition that complies with current examination rules.

The 120-minute time limit gives candidates an average of approximately two minutes and forty seconds per question. That time includes reading the question, evaluating the answer choices, identifying the correct reference, locating the applicable section, and submitting a response.

Open-book testing works best when the candidate already understands the material and knows where to look. The highlighted sections and permanent tabs provide an organized navigation system, but students should practice using that system throughout the six-month rental and course period.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Grading and Excavating classification. Confirm that the classification matches the type of work the business intends to perform.
2. Choose the appropriate license limitation. Select a limitation that fits the applicant’s financial qualifications and anticipated project values.
3. Identify the qualifier. Designate the individual whose examination will support the requested classification.
4. Complete the application or examination request. Submit the required business, ownership, financial, qualifier, and background information to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
5. Receive examination eligibility. After approval, the candidate receives an eligibility letter and instructions for registering with PSI.
6. Register and schedule the examination. Select an available testing appointment within the eligibility period.
7. Complete the course and reference practice. Use the six-month access period to study the trade material and practice navigating the highlighted and tabbed books.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification and the two approved rental references.
9. Complete the licensing process. Passing the examination satisfies the testing requirement, but the licensing board must complete its review before issuing the license.
10. Return the rental books. Return all rental books within six months in similar condition to qualify for the refundable $200 deposit.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating classification covers the digging, moving, and placement of materials that form the surface of the earth. Its scope includes cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenches, backfill, and similar operations performed with hand tools, power tools, and machinery commonly used in the trade.

The classification also covers work on earthen dams, the use of explosives in connection with covered operations, clearing and grubbing, and erosion-control activities. Candidates should understand both the practical trade scope and the contractor responsibilities connected with performing this work.

North Carolina generally requires a general contractor license when a person or business bids on, contracts for, or undertakes a covered construction project valued at $40,000 or more. The licensed entity must hold a classification suitable for the work and a limitation suitable for the project value.

The classification determines the type of work the contractor is authorized to perform. The license limitation governs the monetary value of projects the contractor may undertake. Applicants should select both based on the company’s intended work, expected project size, and financial qualifications.

The applicant must identify a qualifier whose accepted examination supports the Grading and Excavating classification. Passing the examination completes the testing component, but it does not independently issue a license or authorize contracting work. The licensing board must approve the applicant and issue the license to the applicable business entity.

Reference Books

No study-only books are included in this rental package. The package contains the two references approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination room.

• Included Rental Book: North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This exam-room-approved reference contains construction safety requirements related to excavation, trenching, protective systems, access and egress, equipment, material placement, inspections, personal protective equipment, and workplace hazards. The rental copy is professionally highlighted and tabbed.
• Included Rental Book: North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  This exam-room-approved reference contains North Carolina roadway and structural construction specifications. It supports preparation involving earthwork, excavation, grading, embankments, materials, construction procedures, measurement, and related requirements. The rental copy is professionally highlighted and tabbed.

Both books remain rental property and must be returned within six months. The refundable $200 deposit applies to the complete rental set and is returned when all rental books are received in similar condition.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following two rental books are approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Use this reference for questions requiring exact safety standards involving excavation, trenches, protective systems, access, equipment, inspections, and other construction-site requirements.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Use this reference for questions involving grading, excavation, earthwork, embankments, construction methods, materials, specifications, measurement, and related roadway work.

Candidates are responsible for taking the approved books to the testing center and following all current reference-material rules. The highlighting and tabbing are intended to support navigation, but students should become familiar with the placement and meaning of the tabs before examination day.

Test Information and Study Materials

The included self-study trade course provides 6 months of course access. The course helps candidates organize preparation around the examination outline and develop a steady study schedule. Students can review material at their own pace and return to difficult subjects throughout the access period.

Begin with excavating and grading because it represents the largest portion of the examination. Review soil and earthwork concepts, excavation procedures, cuts and fills, trenches, slopes, backfill, compaction, drainage, clearing, grubbing, equipment applications, and common field conditions.

Safety preparation should include excavation hazards, soil conditions, protective systems, access and egress, spoil placement, inspections, equipment exposure, material handling, personal protective equipment, and safe work practices. Practice locating exact requirements in the approved North Carolina safety standards.

Erosion and sedimentation control accounts for six questions. Review the purpose of sediment-control requirements, land-disturbing activities, stabilization, runoff control, sediment barriers, inspections, maintenance, and contractor responsibilities. Since the primary erosion-control references are not included with this rental package or allowed inside the examination room, students should learn these concepts through the course before test day.

One Call preparation should include underground-utility notification, communication, markings, safe excavation near facilities, and the responsibilities of excavators. Licensing and regulation review should address contractor classifications, limitations, qualifiers, and the general responsibilities of a licensed contracting business.

Use the approved rental books during practice sessions. Read a question, identify its subject, choose the correct reference, and move to the most likely tab. Confirm the answer from the applicable text, table, definition, or specification instead of relying only on memory.

Timed practice is especially valuable. The goal is not to search every question in a book. Candidates should answer familiar trade questions directly and use the references when exact language, a numerical requirement, a table, or a specific standard is needed.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and a confidence-building study structure. This rental package provides the two approved exam books and a self-study course without requiring candidates to purchase the references outright.

The professionally highlighted and tabbed rental books reduce the time required to create an exam-reference system. Highlighting directs attention toward important safety provisions, construction specifications, definitions, procedures, and tables. Permanent tabs provide consistent access points for repeated practice.

The self-study course helps candidates connect the examination outline with practical grading and excavation knowledge. Students can review excavation, earthwork, safety, erosion control, One Call procedures, licensing, and regulations while developing a study routine that fits their schedules.

The six-month rental period aligns with the six-month course access period, giving candidates time to study with the same books they plan to use during the examination. Regular use helps build familiarity with the tabs, chapter structure, and location of frequently reviewed material.

No course or rental package guarantees a passing score, license approval, or a particular examination outcome. Results depend on the candidate’s experience, preparation, study habits, reference familiarity, and performance during the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this rental package?

The package includes two highlighted and tabbed exam-room-approved rental books and a self-study trade course with six months of access.

What is the total initial payment?

The package price is $690, plus a refundable $200 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $890.

How is the $200 deposit refunded?

The deposit is refundable when all rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

How long can I keep the rental books?

The rental period is six months. All books must be returned within that period to qualify for the deposit refund.

How long is the course available?

The package includes 6 months of course access.

Are both rental books allowed in the examination room?

Yes. Both books included in this package are approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination room.

Are the rental books already highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. Both references are professionally highlighted and tabbed before shipment.

Does the course include live classes?

No. This package includes self-study trade-course access.

How long do the books take to prepare?

Please allow 15 business days for professional highlighting and tabbing before shipment.

Does this package include licensing application service?

No. This product includes the rental books and self-study trade course. Licensing applications, examination eligibility, testing fees, scheduling, and license issuance are handled separately.

Does this rental package guarantee a passing score?

No. The package provides organized references and study support, but examination results depend on the candidate’s knowledge, preparation, reference familiarity, and performance during the test.