North Carolina Highway Contractor Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam with a focused package containing the six reference books identified for use inside the examination room. This package is designed for candidates pursuing the North Carolina Highway Contractor classification who need the approved exam-room references without the additional books used only for study outside the testing center.

The North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam covers a wide range of construction subjects, including asphalt paving, excavation, grading, concrete, piles, sports fields, traffic control, safety, equipment, project planning, business law, coastal development, and roadway construction specifications. Because the examination spans several construction disciplines, candidates need an organized set of references and a practical plan for locating information efficiently.

This package includes Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance, Second Edition, 2010; the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition; the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018; the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry with the latest available amendments; Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition; and the CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina.

Each reference supports a different part of the examination. The sports-field book addresses athletic-field construction and maintenance. The Contractor’s Guide supports business, law, estimating, contracts, project management, and North Carolina contractor responsibilities. The standard specifications address roadway and structure construction. The occupational safety standards cover workplace hazards and employee protection. The construction planning book addresses equipment, productivity, excavation, hauling, concrete operations, piles, and construction methods. The CAMA handbook addresses coastal development and regulated coastal areas.

Studying with the same books intended for exam-room use helps candidates build familiarity with each publication’s layout, terminology, chapter structure, tables, specifications, indexes, and cross-references. That familiarity is valuable because an open-book exam still requires fast decisions. Candidates must identify the subject, choose the correct reference, locate the applicable information, and evaluate the available answer choices within the testing period.

This package is appropriate for candidates who already own the supporting books that are not allowed into the exam room or who need only the approved references. It provides a streamlined set of books focused on exam-room preparation and timed reference navigation.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam is part of the licensing process administered through the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive examination eligibility before registering and scheduling a testing appointment with the approved testing provider.

• Classification: Highway Contractor
• Number of questions: 90
• Time allowed: 265 minutes
• Required passing score: 70 percent
• Exam format: Computer-based contractor licensing examination
• Reference status: Open book with approved references only

The examination covers multiple construction categories rather than one narrow trade. Major subjects include asphalt paving, excavation and grading, tunneling, railroad construction, business and law, concrete, marine construction, piles, construction safety, reinforcing steel, sports fields, erosion and sedimentation control, concrete paving, One Call requirements, traffic control, licensing, and liens.

Candidates should expect a combination of direct reference questions and questions based on trade knowledge or common construction practices. Some questions may require calculations, equipment selection, interpretation of specifications, understanding of construction sequencing, or recognition of proper safety procedures.

The approved exam-room references do not replace technical preparation. Candidates should understand the major construction concepts well enough to identify the correct book and search location. Reading every book from beginning to end during the exam is not practical, so preparation should focus on navigation, terminology, chapter organization, and frequently tested subject areas.

The exam is administered in a controlled testing environment. Candidates must follow current policies concerning identification, arrival time, calculators, personal belongings, reference materials, security procedures, and book inspection. Every reference may be inspected before it is admitted into the examination room.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam is an open-book test. Candidates may bring the six approved references included in this package into the examination room, subject to the current testing-center rules.

Open book does not mean that every construction book or personal study guide may be used. Only approved references are admitted, and the books must meet the current standards for binding, preparation, markings, and inspection.

Candidates are responsible for supplying their own books. The testing center does not provide the references. Each publication should be complete and securely bound. The CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina should be presented as a complete bound reference rather than as loose pages or a partial printout.

Before highlighting, underlining, indexing, or tabbing the books, candidates should review the current candidate instructions. Loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, and other prohibited materials may cause a book to be rejected during inspection.

Effective open-book preparation begins with understanding the purpose of every reference. The Contractor’s Guide is the primary source for business, law, contracts, estimating, project administration, and contractor responsibilities. The North Carolina standard specifications support roadway, bridge, drainage, paving, earthwork, material, measurement, and acceptance questions.

The North Carolina occupational safety standards address jobsite hazards, employee protection, equipment safety, excavation, fall protection, tools, material handling, personal protective equipment, and other construction-safety subjects. Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition supports equipment selection, productivity, excavation, hauling, compaction, piles, concrete operations, cranes, scheduling, and construction methods.

Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance supports questions involving athletic-field grading, drainage, soils, turf, irrigation, construction, and maintenance. The CAMA handbook supports coastal-development topics, regulated coastal areas, environmental considerations, and construction in coastal environments.

Practice should include mixed timed lookups. Read a question, identify the subject, select the correct reference, locate the relevant section, and confirm the answer. Reviewing slow searches can help identify where additional indexing or study is needed.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the Highway Contractor classification. Confirm that the classification covers the work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review the current licensing requirements. Examine the application, qualifier, ownership, financial, 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 requested forms, supporting documents, and business information.
4. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the submission and determines whether the candidate is authorized to take the Highway Contractor examination.
5. Schedule the examination. Follow the instructions supplied with the authorization to register, pay the applicable testing fee, and select an appointment.
6. Study the examination outline. Divide preparation among paving, excavation, concrete, equipment, sports fields, safety, business law, coastal development, and the other examination subjects.
7. Prepare the approved books. Organize the references only in ways permitted under the current testing-center policies.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification, approved reference books, and permitted calculator.
9. Complete the licensing process. Passing the examination is one part of qualification. The Board must determine that all applicable requirements have been completed before issuing a contractor license.

Purchasing this package does not submit a license application, create examination eligibility, schedule an appointment, pay a testing fee, or issue a license. Those steps are completed separately through the North Carolina contractor licensing process.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates the Highway Contractor classification. The classification covers a broad range of highway, transportation, and related infrastructure work.

The scope may include grading, asphalt paving, concrete paving, bridge construction and repair, culvert construction and repair, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, parking decks, guardrails, fencing, signage, and related highway hardware.

The classification may also include exterior artificial athletic surfaces and airport or airfield work involving runways, taxiways, aprons, fencing, signs, lighting, and pavement markings. Related work may involve boring and tunneling, concrete construction, marine construction, railroad construction, and grading and excavating.

Applicants must satisfy the requirements connected to the requested classification and license limitation. Passing the examination does not independently authorize a person or company to perform contracting work.

Individual projects may also require permits, inspections, environmental approvals, utility notifications, coastal development approvals, traffic-control plans, owner specifications, and local or state agency compliance. These obligations are separate from the contractor examination and licensing process.

Reference Books

• Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance, Second Edition, 2010
  This reference addresses the planning, design, construction, renovation, and maintenance of sports fields. Topics include site selection, field layout, grading, drainage, soils, turf establishment, irrigation, artificial surfaces, maintenance practices, and performance considerations.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This contractor-focused reference covers business organization, licensing, contracts, estimating, project management, accounting, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety administration, liens, and North Carolina construction practices.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  This North Carolina construction reference contains specifications for road and structure work. It supports preparation involving earthwork, grading, paving, concrete, bridges, drainage, materials, traffic control, construction methods, measurement, inspection, and acceptance.
• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This reference contains construction workplace safety requirements applicable in North Carolina. It supports preparation involving excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, machinery, tools, fall protection, traffic exposure, material handling, access, and employee protection.
• Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition
  This reference addresses construction planning, equipment selection, productivity, estimating, earthmoving, excavation, hauling, compaction, cranes, piles, concrete operations, scheduling, and construction methods. It helps candidates connect equipment capabilities with project conditions and production requirements.
• CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina
  This publication addresses coastal-development considerations in North Carolina. It supports preparation involving regulated coastal areas, shoreline conditions, estuarine resources, ocean hazards, permitting concepts, and development responsibilities in coastal environments.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following six references are included specifically for use inside the North Carolina Highway Contractor examination room:

• Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance, Second Edition, 2010
  Use this reference for sports-field layout, grading, drainage, soils, turf, construction, renovation, and maintenance questions.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  Use this reference for business, contracts, project management, estimating, licensing, insurance, accounting, and North Carolina contractor-administration questions.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Use this reference for roadway construction, structures, earthwork, paving, drainage, materials, measurement, and acceptance requirements.
• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Use this reference for jobsite safety, excavation hazards, protective equipment, tools, machinery, access, fall protection, and employee-safety requirements.
• Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition
  Use this reference for equipment, production, earthmoving, excavation, hauling, compaction, cranes, piles, concrete operations, and construction-planning questions.
• CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina
  Use this reference for coastal development, regulated coastal areas, environmental conditions, and construction considerations in coastal North Carolina.

Every book remains subject to testing-center inspection. Candidates should ensure that the references are complete, securely bound, and free from loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, or other prohibited materials.

Test Information and Study Materials

Start with the largest technical areas, including asphalt paving, excavation and grading, tunneling, railroad construction, concrete, marine construction, and piles. Even though this package contains the books allowed into the examination, candidates should build trade knowledge before test day.

Use the North Carolina standard specifications to review roadway excavation, embankments, subgrades, aggregates, asphalt materials, concrete, drainage, structures, traffic control, measurement, and acceptance. Practice moving between the table of contents, division headings, section numbers, and referenced requirements.

Use Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition to study equipment capabilities, production calculations, earthmoving cycles, hauling, excavation, compaction, cranes, concrete operations, pile-driving equipment, job planning, and construction sequencing.

Review the Contractor’s Guide for business organization, contracts, estimating, project management, insurance, labor responsibilities, financial management, licensing, and legal duties. Business and law questions can affect the final score and should not be treated as secondary preparation.

Study the occupational safety standards for excavation, equipment, traffic exposure, personal protective equipment, fall protection, material handling, access, tools, and machinery. Candidates should understand how safety requirements apply to active highway construction sites.

Review sports-field construction as a separate subject. Focus on site evaluation, drainage, grading, soil preparation, turf establishment, irrigation, surface selection, field layout, and maintenance practices.

Use the CAMA handbook to become familiar with coastal development terminology, regulated areas, environmental concerns, shoreline conditions, and development responsibilities. Confirm that the complete handbook is properly bound before taking it to the testing center.

Create a reference map for all six books. List major subjects and the most likely book location. Use timed practice to reduce the time spent deciding which publication to search.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize preparation around the broad North Carolina Highway Contractor examination. Structured study guidance can make it easier to divide the exam into paving, grading, concrete, equipment, sports fields, safety, coastal development, business, and project-management subjects.

Trade-focused review connects the approved references to real construction activities, including roadway grading, asphalt paving, bridge work, drainage, concrete placement, equipment selection, sports-field construction, traffic control, and jobsite safety.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to use the books actively. Students can work through questions, identify the tested subject, select the correct reference, locate the applicable provision, and evaluate the available answers under timed conditions.

Reference navigation is especially important when six books are allowed into the exam room. Familiarity with indexes, chapter titles, specification divisions, tables, definitions, and frequently used provisions can help candidates search more efficiently.

1 Exam Prep also supports confidence-building study habits through consistent review, organized practice, and trade-focused preparation. No book package can guarantee a passing score, licensing approval, or a specific examination result, but disciplined preparation can help candidates approach test day with stronger familiarity and a clearer strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, but candidates may use only the references approved for the Highway Contractor exam.

Are all six books in this package allowed inside the exam room?

Yes. This package contains the six listed references intended for use inside the North Carolina Highway Contractor examination room.

Which edition of Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods is included?

This package includes Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition.

Does this package include books that are not allowed into the examination?

No. This package is limited to the six exam-room references and does not include the additional trade, erosion-control, excavation, concrete, asphalt, tunneling, or railway books used outside the testing center.

Why should I study before an open-book examination?

The examination is timed and covers many subjects. Candidates need to identify the issue, choose the correct book, locate the relevant information, and evaluate the answer efficiently.

What does the Highway Contractor classification cover?

The classification covers highway grading, paving, bridges, culverts, drainage, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, guardrails, signage, parking decks, airport surfaces, sports fields, and related specialty construction.

Does the CAMA handbook need to be bound?

The complete CAMA handbook should be presented as a properly bound reference and must comply with the current testing-center requirements.

Can I add tabs or highlights to the books?

Reference preparation must follow the current testing provider’s rules. Candidates should review the latest candidate instructions before highlighting, underlining, indexing, or tabbing their books.

Does purchasing this package register me for the examination?

No. The package contains books only. Application filing, examination eligibility, scheduling, testing fees, and licensing are handled separately.

Does passing the examination automatically issue a North Carolina contractor license?

No. Passing the exam is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors must determine that all applicable requirements have been completed before issuing a license.