North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination with a complete, professionally organized reference package designed for efficient study and faster information retrieval. Every book and reference in this package is highlighted and tabbed to help you locate important safety standards, grading requirements, excavation principles, erosion-control rules, licensing regulations, and other testable material without spending valuable study time creating your own navigation system.

This package contains the two references currently approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination room, along with six additional references used for study and exam preparation. The additional books are important sources of trade, legal, safety, and regulatory knowledge, but they are not permitted inside the examination room for this classification.

The highlighting identifies key provisions, definitions, tables, procedures, and subject areas that deserve attention during preparation. Permanent tabs divide the references into practical sections so you can move between topics more efficiently. This organized format is especially useful for an open-book contractor examination, where success depends not only on understanding the material but also on knowing where information is located.

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating classification covers work involving the digging, moving, and placement of earth materials. Its scope includes cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenching, backfilling, clearing and grubbing, earthen-dam work, and erosion-control activities. The examination therefore draws from several knowledge areas, including excavation practices, construction safety, regulations, utility-location responsibilities, licensing requirements, lien law, and sedimentation control.

This highlighted and tabbed package gives candidates an organized foundation for studying those subjects. It is intended for contractors, qualifiers, supervisors, estimators, project managers, and construction professionals preparing to demonstrate their knowledge of grading and excavation work under North Carolina requirements.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Eligibility to take the examination is determined by the licensing board.

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

The published examination content outline assigns questions to the following subject areas:

• General Knowledge and Regulations: 9 questions
• Excavating and Grading: 18 questions
• Safety — Code of Federal Regulations: 6 questions
• Lien Law: 1 question
• Licensing and Regulations: 2 questions
• One Call: 3 questions
• Erosion and Sedimentation Control: 6 questions

The largest part of the examination focuses on excavation and grading, but candidates should not overlook the smaller categories. Safety, utility-location procedures, sedimentation control, licensing rules, and lien requirements can make the difference between a passing and failing score.

PSI may also include a small number of experimental questions. These questions are not scored. Candidates receive their examination results after completing the test, and a score of at least 70% is required to pass.

All included references are professionally highlighted and tabbed. Please allow 15 business days for preparation before the package is ready to ship.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is an open-book test. However, open book does not mean that every book used for study may be taken into the testing room. Only the references specifically identified as approved for this examination classification are allowed.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their approved references to the examination center. PSI permits approved books to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Tabs must be permanent and may not be easily removed from the pages. Removable flags and temporary notes are not accepted. Notes may not be written on the tabs.

Loose papers and additional attached materials are not permitted. References may not be written in during the examination session. Candidates should review the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin before test day and make sure their books continue to meet all examination-center rules.

The organization provided in this package is valuable because the examination allows approximately two minutes and forty seconds per scored question. Candidates must read the question, determine whether a reference lookup is necessary, find the relevant section, evaluate the available answers, and submit a response within the overall testing period. Familiarity with the tabs and highlighted sections should be developed before exam day.

Licensing Steps

1. Choose the appropriate classification and limitation. Determine that the Grading and Excavating classification matches the work the company intends to perform and select the appropriate license limitation for the business.
2. Identify the qualifier. A North Carolina general contractor license must be connected to an individual who has passed the examination approved for the requested classification. This person is known as the qualifier or qualifying party.
3. Complete the license application. Submit the required application information to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors through its current application process.
4. Provide the required supporting information. The board evaluates matters such as age, character, financial responsibility, applicable fees, and any required background information.
5. Receive examination eligibility. After the application or examination request is approved, the candidate receives an eligibility letter and instructions for registering with PSI.
6. Schedule and take the examination. Use the assigned eligibility information to register, pay the examination fee, select a testing location, and schedule the examination within the authorized eligibility period.
7. Complete the licensing process. Passing the examination satisfies the testing component, but the board must complete its review before issuing the license.

Candidates should follow the current instructions provided by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors and PSI because application procedures, forms, testing policies, and administrative requirements may be revised.

State Requirements

Applicants seeking a North Carolina general contractor license must submit an application to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Before becoming entitled to an examination, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, possess good moral character as determined by the board, provide evidence of financial responsibility, submit the appropriate application fee, and consent to a criminal background check when required.

The business must designate a qualifier who has passed an examination accepted by the board for the applicable classification. The qualifier’s examination is intended to evaluate the practical application of contracting knowledge, including plans and specifications, estimating, construction practices, ethics, state laws, contractor responsibilities, and erosion and sedimentation-control requirements.

The Grading and Excavating specialty classification covers the digging, moving, and placement of earth materials using hand tools, powered tools, and equipment commonly associated with excavation and grading operations. The classification includes cuts, fills, trenches, backfilling, clearing, grubbing, erosion-control activities, work on earthen dams, and the use of explosives when connected with covered operations.

In North Carolina, a general contractor license is generally required when a person or business bids on, contracts for, or constructs a qualifying project valued at $40,000 or more. The exact classification and license limitation must be appropriate for the work and project value.

Reference Books

This package contains eight highlighted and tabbed references. Two are approved for use in the Grading and Excavating examination room. The remaining six are study-only references and must not be taken into the examination room for this classification.

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Exam Room Approved. This reference contains North Carolina construction-industry occupational safety and health standards. It supports preparation for questions involving excavation safety, trenching, protective systems, equipment, worksite hazards, and federal construction-safety requirements.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Exam Room Approved. Published by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, this reference addresses standards for roadway and structural construction. It supports preparation involving earthwork, excavation, embankments, materials, grading operations, measurement, construction requirements, and related specifications.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4 Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. This reference contains administrative rules related to sedimentation pollution control. It is useful for studying erosion-control responsibilities, land-disturbing activities, plans, enforcement provisions, inspections, and compliance requirements.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4 Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. This statutory material covers North Carolina’s Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, including the legal framework for controlling sedimentation resulting from land-disturbing activities.
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. This guide supports preparation for safe excavation and damage-prevention practices, including underground-facility notification, marking, communication, and responsibilities associated with North Carolina’s One Call system.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. This North Carolina contractor reference addresses licensing, business organization, project administration, contracts, liens, risk management, employment topics, financial management, and other business-law subjects relevant to general contractors.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. This trade reference covers excavation operations, soils, trenching, grading, equipment selection, productivity, pipe installation, estimating concepts, and field procedures commonly encountered in underground and earthwork construction.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Published by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, this reference contains statutes and administrative rules governing general contracting, licensing classifications, qualifiers, limitations, responsibilities, and board procedures.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following two books from this package 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
  This is the approved safety reference for the examination. It may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed with permanent tabs that comply with PSI rules.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  This is the approved construction-specifications reference for the examination. Candidates should become comfortable locating earthwork, excavation, grading, material, and construction-requirement sections before test day.

The six study-only references included in the package are not permitted inside the examination room. Their information should be studied and understood before the test rather than relied upon for exam-day lookup.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with the official examination content outline. Allocate the most study time to excavating and grading because it represents 18 of the 45 scored questions. Review terminology, soil and earthwork principles, excavation methods, equipment applications, trenching, backfilling, compaction, grading calculations, and common field practices.

Safety is another major area. Learn how to navigate the occupational safety reference and locate requirements involving excavations, trenches, access and egress, protective systems, inspections, material placement, mobile equipment, and worksite hazards. Avoid relying on memory alone when the approved safety book provides a specific regulatory answer.

Study erosion and sedimentation control from both the administrative rules and the governing statutes. Although those references are not allowed in the examination room, the topic accounts for six questions. Candidates should understand the purpose of sedimentation-control requirements, regulated land-disturbing activities, plan responsibilities, enforcement concepts, and contractor obligations.

One Call procedures account for three questions. Review excavation-notification responsibilities, locate requests, markings, tolerance-zone awareness, emergency situations, and communications with underground-facility operators. These questions may combine legal obligations with practical jobsite judgment.

Practice using the two approved books under timed conditions. Select a topic from the content outline, locate the corresponding tab, find the controlling section, and explain the answer in your own words. The objective is to develop a repeatable search process rather than simply recognizing highlighted passages.

During the examination, answer familiar questions first and flag questions that require more time. Use the references when a question depends on a precise standard, specification, table, or definition. Avoid searching through a book without first identifying the subject and likely section. A well-organized reference system is most effective when combined with knowledge of the books’ structure.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates approach contractor examination preparation with an organized, trade-focused study structure. Instead of beginning with an unmarked stack of technical books, you receive references that have already been highlighted and divided with practical tabs.

The package supports efficient review of grading, excavation, safety, specifications, erosion control, business law, licensing, utility-location procedures, and North Carolina contractor regulations. The approved exam-room references are prepared for faster navigation, while the study-only books help build the broader knowledge needed to answer questions that cannot be researched during the test.

Highlighted material helps direct attention toward important concepts, and tabs create consistent access points for repeated practice. As you study, you can build familiarity with where information appears, how the books are organized, and which reference is most likely to contain the answer to a particular question.

1 Exam Prep’s approach is designed to reduce disorganized preparation and help candidates develop confidence through repetition, reference navigation, practice-oriented review, and a clear understanding of the examination categories. No preparation product can guarantee a passing score or license approval, but a structured study system can help you use your preparation time more effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are included in this package?

The package includes eight highlighted and tabbed references. Two are currently approved for use inside the Grading and Excavating examination room, and six are provided for study only.

Are all eight books allowed in the examination room?

No. Only the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018, are identified as approved exam-room references for this classification.

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

The examination includes subjects that require advance study, including sedimentation control, One Call requirements, licensing, lien law, regulations, and general excavation knowledge. The study-only references help candidates prepare for those subjects even though the books cannot be consulted during the examination.

Is the North Carolina Grading and Excavating exam open book?

Yes. It is an open-book examination, but candidates may bring only the references approved for this specific classification.

What kind of tabs are used?

The references are organized with permanent tabs. PSI rules do not permit removable tabs such as Post-it flags, and notes may not be written on the tabs.

Can highlighted books be taken into the testing center?

PSI permits approved references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Candidates must still comply with all current rules regarding permanent tabs, notes, loose materials, bindings, and approved book titles.

How long does the package take to prepare?

Please allow 15 days for the highlighting and tabbing process before the package is ready to ship.

Does purchasing this package register me for the exam?

No. Examination eligibility, registration, scheduling, application processing, and licensing are handled separately through the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors and PSI.

Does this package guarantee that I will pass?

No. Examination results depend on the candidate’s knowledge, preparation, study habits, reference familiarity, and performance on test day. The package provides an organized set of study and exam-room materials to support preparation.

Should I study the books that are not allowed in the exam room?

Yes. Those references contain important material related to erosion and sedimentation control, excavation safety, utility-location procedures, contractor law, licensing, and trade practices. Candidates should study that information before arriving at the testing center.

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