North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam Online Course

Prepare for the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam with a structured online course created for contractors, qualifiers, construction professionals, and exam candidates pursuing the Highway classification. This course helps students organize a large body of technical material, review important highway construction concepts, and become more efficient when working with the references approved for the open-book examination.

Highway construction involves multiple trades, materials, systems, and project conditions. Candidates may need to understand grading, paving, excavation, concrete, drainage, bridges, culverts, athletic surfaces, construction equipment, coastal development, jobsite safety, project planning, and related construction practices. Effective preparation requires more than reading books from beginning to end. Students must learn how the subjects connect and how to locate relevant information quickly in the approved references.

The North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam Online Course provides a practical framework for reviewing these areas. Course material is organized to help students identify important concepts, strengthen trade knowledge, and develop a repeatable method for answering reference-based questions. The online format allows candidates to study around work schedules, project responsibilities, and personal commitments.

This product includes 6 months of online course access. No physical books are included. Students must obtain the required reference books separately and confirm that they have the correct titles, editions, and amendments before the examination.

What You Get

Exam Details

The North Carolina Highway Contractor classification covers highway construction activity and related work. Its scope includes grading, paving, bridge and culvert construction and repair, parking decks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, guardrails, fencing, signs, highway hardware, and exterior artificial athletic surfaces. It also includes specified airport and airfield work, such as paving and grading runways, taxiways, and aprons.

The classification also encompasses work performed under several related specialty areas, including grading and excavating, boring and tunneling, concrete construction, marine and freshwater construction, and railroad construction. Because the scope is broad, candidates should prepare across multiple technical subjects rather than concentrating on only one type of highway work.

Exam preparation may involve understanding construction specifications, equipment selection, production methods, occupational safety, project planning, earthwork, paving, concrete, coastal development requirements, drainage systems, field operations, and general contracting responsibilities. Questions may test direct knowledge or require the candidate to identify the correct rule, specification, procedure, or technical principle from an approved book.

Students should practice interpreting the exact condition described in each question. A question may focus on a material requirement, jobsite hazard, construction sequence, equipment application, quality standard, or project specification. Identifying the central subject first makes it easier to select the correct reference and locate the applicable information.

Current scheduling procedures, identification requirements, test-center policies, and candidate instructions are provided during the application and examination process. Candidates must follow the instructions issued by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors and the authorized examination provider.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam is an open-book examination. Only approved references may be taken into the exam room. A book that is useful for studying is not automatically permitted during testing, so candidates must clearly separate exam-room books from study-only materials.

The following six references are approved for use in the examination:

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

Open-book testing rewards preparation and familiarity. Candidates should know which book addresses each major subject, how the chapters are arranged, where important indexes are located, and which technical terms are likely to lead to the correct section. Entering the exam with unfamiliar books can make it difficult to locate information within the available testing period.

As part of your study routine, practice looking up answers using only the approved books. Begin by identifying the topic, choose the most likely reference, and then use the table of contents, index, chapter headings, and section numbers to find the answer. Repeating this process helps develop speed and reduces unnecessary searching.

Candidates should also review current exam-day rules concerning tabs, markings, handwritten notes, bindings, inserts, and loose material. All books should comply with the testing provider’s current requirements.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate classification. Review the scope of the North Carolina Highway Contractor classification and confirm that it matches the work the applicant intends to perform.
2. Choose the requested license limitation. North Carolina contractor licenses include both a classification, which determines the type of work permitted, and a limitation, which determines the project size the licensee may undertake.
3. Submit a new license application. The applicant must complete the application process through the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
4. Identify the qualifier. The applicant designates an individual who will satisfy the examination requirement for the requested classification.
5. Submit required supporting information. The application may require business records, ownership details, financial information, qualifier information, and other documents related to the applicant and requested license.
6. Receive examination eligibility. When the application is complete and an examination is required, the candidate receives eligibility information for scheduling the exam.
7. Schedule the examination. The candidate follows the eligibility instructions to arrange testing with the authorized examination provider.
8. Prepare with the approved references. Study the technical subjects, learn the approved books, and practice answering questions under timed conditions.
9. Take the required examination. Follow all identification, scheduling, test-center, and reference-book rules.
10. Complete Board review. Passing the exam satisfies an examination component, but the license is issued only after the application and related qualifications receive final approval.

The applicant is the individual or business entity seeking the license. The qualifier is the person whose examination credential supports the classification on that license. Passing the examination does not, by itself, authorize a person or company to perform licensed general contracting work. The license must be approved and issued to the applicant.

State Requirements

North Carolina general contractor licensing is administered by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. State licensing requirements apply to covered construction projects that meet the current statutory project-cost threshold. Contractors must hold an appropriate classification and limitation for the work they intend to undertake.

The classification determines the permitted category of construction. For Highway contractors, the scope includes a wide range of highway and infrastructure activities, such as grading, paving, bridge work, culverts, storm drainage, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, parking decks, airport paving and grading, exterior artificial athletic surfaces, and related construction systems.

The license limitation controls the dollar value of individual projects that the licensee may undertake. Applicants should select the limitation that matches their intended project size and satisfy the financial requirements associated with that limitation.

The licensing process also requires a qualifying individual. The qualifier must hold the examination credential accepted for the requested classification and remain connected to the license in accordance with Board requirements. A candidate preparing for the Highway exam should understand that the examination is one part of a broader licensing process involving the applicant entity, qualifier, financial qualification, classification, and limitation.

Licensed contractors must perform work within the authorized scope of their license and maintain accurate information with the Board. Licensees are also responsible for completing applicable renewal requirements and complying with state laws, Board rules, contracts, safety requirements, and construction standards.

Reference Books

The following references support preparation for the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam. The first six books are approved for use in the exam room. The remaining titles are study references that are not allowed during the examination.

• Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance, Second Edition, 2010
  An approved exam-room reference addressing the planning, construction, renovation, drainage, surface preparation, and maintenance of sports fields.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  An approved exam-room reference covering contractor business practices, project administration, contracts, management responsibilities, and North Carolina-specific construction topics.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  An approved exam-room reference containing requirements for road and structure construction, materials, workmanship, measurement, and accepted project procedures.
• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with latest available amendments
  An approved exam-room reference addressing construction safety requirements, workplace hazards, employee protection, equipment practices, excavation safety, and related jobsite responsibilities.
• Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition
  An approved exam-room reference covering construction planning, equipment capabilities, production methods, earthmoving, excavation, hauling, paving, and project operations.
• CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina
  An approved exam-room reference providing guidance related to coastal development, regulated areas, permitting considerations, and construction activity in coastal North Carolina.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4 Sedimentation Control, including the latest amendments
  A study reference covering administrative requirements for erosion and sedimentation control. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4 Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  A study reference addressing North Carolina statutory requirements related to sedimentation pollution control. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or later
  A study reference focused on excavation planning, underground facilities, damage prevention, and safe excavation practices. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  A trade reference covering trenching, excavation, pipe installation, underground work, production planning, equipment, and field procedures. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  A technical study reference covering concrete materials, mixture design, production, placement, performance, and quality considerations. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Hot Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook
  A study reference addressing asphalt materials, paving operations, plant production, placement, compaction, and pavement quality. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  A study publication containing laws and Board rules related to general contractor licensing and practice in North Carolina. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  A technical study reference focused on reinforcing-bar details, placement practices, supports, splices, handling, and field installation. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  A study reference covering fundamental field practices for unbonded post-tensioning systems. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• Jacked Tunnel Design and Construction, 1999
  A study reference addressing the planning, design, equipment, and construction considerations associated with jacked tunneling. This book is not allowed in the exam room.
• The Practical Guide to Railway Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2019
  A study reference covering railway engineering concepts, track systems, construction practices, drainage, structures, and related infrastructure. This book is not allowed in the exam room.

No physical books are included with the online course. Students are responsible for obtaining the approved references and any optional study books they choose to use.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following six books are identified as approved references for the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam:

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

The other references listed on this page are not allowed in the testing room. Candidates should organize their exam preparation around the six approved books and make sure each book complies with current test-center rules.

Test Information and Study Materials

Start by dividing the examination material into manageable categories. Useful study areas include highway specifications, construction safety, grading and earthwork, paving, concrete, drainage, bridges, culverts, construction equipment, planning, coastal development, athletic surfaces, and project management.

Build a reference map for the six approved books. Write down the primary subjects covered by each title and note how each book is organized. During practice, identify the subject of the question before opening a reference. This prevents time from being lost searching several books for information that is likely contained in only one.

Practice using indexes, tables of contents, section headings, and technical terminology. The wording used in a question may not exactly match the wording in the book, so students should learn common industry terms and related keywords. For example, a question about compaction may be located under density, earthwork, embankment, rolling, or paving requirements.

Read each question carefully and pay attention to terms such as minimum, maximum, required, prohibited, except, before, after, and most appropriate. These words may determine which answer is correct. Review every available answer choice before making a final selection.

Include timed lookup sessions in your preparation. Use only the permitted references and simulate the process of identifying a topic, choosing the book, locating the section, and confirming the answer. Timed practice helps reveal which books and subjects require more familiarity.

Field experience is valuable, but exam questions may be based on a published standard or specification rather than a practice used by a particular employer. Connect your practical knowledge with the terminology and requirements found in the approved books.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates turn a broad contractor examination into a structured study plan. Highway construction covers many technical areas, and it can be difficult to decide where to begin. Organized course guidance helps students move through the material in logical sections and spend more time on the subjects that need additional attention.

The course supports trade-focused review by connecting highway construction concepts with exam-oriented preparation. Students can review key topics, practice analyzing questions, and build familiarity with the standards and methods associated with highway work.

For an open-book examination, reference navigation is an essential skill. 1 Exam Prep helps students develop a practical approach to selecting the correct book, recognizing useful keywords, and locating information through indexes, chapters, and specification sections.

Practice-oriented preparation also helps candidates become more comfortable applying technical information. Instead of relying only on memorization, students learn to distinguish between similar concepts, identify the main issue in a question, and confirm answers using approved references when appropriate.

With 6 months of online course access, students can review material at their own pace and revisit challenging areas throughout the access period. This flexible format supports steady preparation and allows candidates to build confidence through repetition, organization, and reference familiarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Highway Contractor Exam open book?

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

How many books are approved for the exam room?

Six references are identified as approved exam-room books for this examination.

Are all the books listed on this page allowed during the exam?

No. The six titles listed in the Exam Room Approved Books section are permitted. The remaining titles are study references and are not allowed in the exam room.

Are physical books included with the online course?

No. This product includes online course access only. Students must obtain all required books separately.

How long is the course available?

The course includes 6 months of online access.

What type of work is covered by the Highway Contractor classification?

The classification covers highway construction activities such as grading, paving, bridge and culvert work, storm drainage, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, parking decks, athletic surfaces, highway hardware, and specified airport and airfield work.

Does passing the exam automatically create an active contractor license?

No. Passing the examination satisfies an examination requirement. The applicant must also complete the licensing process and receive approval from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

How should I study for the open-book exam?

Review the trade subjects, learn the organization of every approved reference, complete practice questions, and perform timed book-lookup exercises. The goal is to know both the material and where important information is located.

Can I complete the course at my own pace?

Yes. The online format allows students to create their own study schedule during the 6-month access period.

Should I bring the study-only books to the testing center?

No. Only the approved exam-room references should be brought for use during the examination, subject to current testing rules.