North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor Highlighted & Tabbed Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor examination with a focused set of professionally highlighted and tabbed books allowed into the exam room. This package includes the North Carolina construction safety standards, the 2007 CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina, and Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition.

These three references support important examination topics involving coastal development, small docks, pile driving, construction planning, equipment selection, marine operations, excavation, lifting, concrete work, and jobsite safety. Each book is organized to help candidates study efficiently and develop the reference-navigation skills needed for an open-book contractor examination.

Professional highlighting draws attention to important requirements, definitions, procedures, tables, equipment concepts, coastal-development provisions, and safety standards. Permanent subject tabs divide major sections and commonly reviewed topics so candidates can move through the books with less unnecessary page turning.

Marine construction work may involve deep-water installations, harbors, inlets, sounds, bays, channels, lakes, canals, ponds, and other navigable waters. Projects can include dredging, pile installation, piers, docks, decks, slips, bulkheads, and related construction activities. Contractors must understand both the physical construction process and the regulatory or safety responsibilities connected with working around water.

The North Carolina Marine Construction examination includes questions covering CAMA-regulated areas, small docks, pile driving, concrete, concrete reinforcement, safety, laws and regulations, liens, and erosion and sedimentation control. The books in this package provide direct exam-room support for several of these subjects, while separate preparation may be needed for topics addressed by references that are not permitted in the testing center.

Open-book testing requires preparation before exam day. Candidates must recognize the subject being tested, decide which reference applies, locate the relevant section, and interpret the information within the available time. Working with the same highlighted and tabbed books throughout your preparation can help make reference navigation more familiar and consistent.

The highlighting and tabs are designed to improve organization and book familiarity. They do not replace reading the references, studying the complete examination outline, or practicing under timed conditions.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Marine Construction examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. The Board determines examination eligibility, and approved candidates receive instructions for registration and scheduling.

• Examination: North Carolina Marine Construction
• Testing Provider: PSI
• Number of Questions: 50
• Time Allowed: 120 minutes
• Required Passing Score: 70%
• Testing Format: Computer-administered examination
• Reference Format: Open book with approved materials

The published examination outline assigns seven questions to CAMA-regulated areas and seven questions to small docks. Pile driving is the largest subject area, with 12 questions. Concrete and concrete reinforcement each account for seven questions, while safety accounts for five questions.

The remaining examination areas include two questions on laws and regulations, one question on liens, and two questions on erosion and sedimentation control. Candidates should prepare for the entire outline because every subject contributes to the final score.

Pile-driving preparation should include equipment, pile types, handling, layout, driving methods, leads, hammers, driving resistance, alignment, cutoffs, underwater conditions, and safe operation. Candidates should also review construction planning, production, lifting, marine equipment, cranes, excavation, and methods used to support work performed from barges or waterfront sites.

CAMA-related preparation should include coastal development terminology, regulated areas, permitting concepts, Areas of Environmental Concern, docks, piers, shoreline development, estuarine waters, public trust areas, coastal shorelines, and other provisions addressed by the handbook.

Allow up to 15 business days for preparation. This preparation period is separate from shipping transit time and allows the books to be professionally highlighted, tabbed, and organized before fulfillment.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved reference materials to the testing center.

The books may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs may be used when they remain securely attached and are not easily removable. Notes may not be written on the tabs. Temporary page flags, removable tabs, loose papers, attached notes, and unauthorized inserts are not permitted.

The CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina must be complete and properly bound for testing. A complete copy may be spiral-bound or hole-punched and placed in a binder. Partial copies are not accepted as exam-room references.

References may not contain handwritten notes, and candidates may not write in the books during the examination. Before arriving at the testing center, inspect each publication and remove any material that does not comply with the current rules.

With 50 questions and 120 minutes, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. This time includes reading the question, identifying the subject, selecting the correct book, locating the applicable information, interpreting the material, and choosing an answer.

Use the CAMA handbook for questions involving regulated coastal areas, permits, shoreline development, docks, piers, and other coastal-management subjects. Use Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods for equipment selection, pile-driving methods, productivity, planning, excavation, lifting, and related construction operations. Use the North Carolina safety standards for questions involving worker protection, marine operations, cranes, excavation, fall protection, personal protective equipment, and other jobsite hazards.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the classification scope. Confirm that the Marine and Freshwater Construction classification corresponds with the work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Complete the contractor license application. Submit the requested information to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
3. Identify the qualifier. Designate the individual who will satisfy the examination requirement for the classification.
4. Select the appropriate license limitation. Choose the limitation that matches the size and scope of the projects the business expects to undertake.
5. Provide supporting documentation. Submit the organizational, financial, qualifier, and other information required by the Board.
6. Receive examination eligibility. Approved candidates receive the information needed to register and schedule the examination.
7. Prepare for the full examination outline. Study marine construction, pile driving, CAMA requirements, docks, concrete, reinforcement, safety, laws, liens, and sedimentation control.
8. Practice with the approved books. Use the highlighted and tabbed references for timed searches and topic-based review.
9. Take the examination. Bring the required identification and only the books and materials permitted by the current testing rules.
10. Complete remaining licensing requirements. Follow the Board’s instructions concerning examination results, application completion, and license issuance.

Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. It does not automatically issue a North Carolina contractor license. The Board must approve the complete application and confirm that all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Marine and Freshwater Construction classification covers marine construction and repair work performed in deep-water installations, harbors, inlets, sounds, bays, channels, canals, lakes, ponds, and other navigable waterways.

The classification includes dredging and the construction or installation of pilings, piers, decks, slips, docks, and bulkheads. Structures placed on top of docks, slips, or piers may fall outside the classification and may require another contractor classification.

Applicants must identify a qualifier who satisfies the examination requirement connected with the classification. The license is issued to the approved individual or business entity after the Board completes its review.

North Carolina contractor licenses are issued under limitations that affect the value of projects a licensee may undertake. Applicants should select the limitation that matches their intended work and provide the financial or bonding information required for that limitation.

Marine contractors must also understand responsibilities involving coastal permits, environmental protection, erosion control, worker safety, navigation, equipment operation, lifting, underwater conditions, and coordination with other trades or agencies.

Reference Books

This highlighted and tabbed exam-room package includes the following three references:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This publication contains construction safety requirements applicable to marine and waterfront projects. Important subjects include personal protective equipment, fall protection, cranes and derricks, material handling, excavation, scaffolds, ladders, concrete operations, electrical hazards, confined spaces, commercial diving, marine operations, and worker access around water.
• CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina, 2007
  This handbook explains development considerations under the North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act. It supports preparation involving Areas of Environmental Concern, coastal shorelines, estuarine waters, public trust areas, ocean hazard areas, permits, docks, piers, shoreline stabilization, and development in regulated coastal locations.
• Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition
  This technical reference covers construction planning, equipment selection, productivity, earthmoving, excavation, hauling, lifting, cranes, pile driving, concrete operations, scheduling, cost considerations, and construction methods. It supports preparation for equipment-intensive marine work and pile-driving questions.

Each book serves a different purpose. The safety standards address worker protection and hazardous conditions. The CAMA handbook addresses regulated coastal development. Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods supports questions involving pile driving, equipment, planning, and field operations.

Learn which reference applies to each examination topic. Efficient candidates do not search all three books for every question. They identify the subject first and then move directly to the most likely source.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following highlighted and tabbed references are included for use in the North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina, 2007
• Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition

The testing bulletin identifies an earlier edition of Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods and permits later editions of non-code references. This package includes the 10th Edition specified for the product.

This package contains only the three books designated for exam-room use. Additional study materials may still be useful for concrete mixtures, reinforcing steel, sedimentation control, contractor laws, liens, and dock construction, but those separate references are not included in this package.

Testing-center personnel make the final determination regarding the acceptability of books presented on exam day. Candidates should inspect the references before the appointment and remove loose papers, removable flags, handwritten notes, unauthorized attachments, or incomplete material.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin with pile driving because it is the largest examination category. Study pile materials, equipment, hammers, leads, driving systems, handling, positioning, alignment, splicing, cutoffs, penetration, refusal, bearing considerations, and inspection. Understand the role of cranes, barges, templates, rigging, and support equipment.

For small docks, review layout, pilings, framing, decking, access, slips, shoreline connections, water depth, structural support, and construction sequencing. Connect practical dock construction knowledge with the coastal-development provisions found in the CAMA handbook.

For CAMA-regulated areas, learn how Areas of Environmental Concern affect development. Review the terminology used for coastal shorelines, estuarine waters, public trust areas, ocean hazard areas, permits, setbacks, docks, piers, and shoreline projects.

Concrete and concrete reinforcement together represent 14 questions. Separate study should address concrete materials, placement, consolidation, curing, durability, reinforcing-bar placement, supports, spacing, splices, development, cover, and marine exposure. Concrete used in waterfront environments may face wet conditions, salt exposure, access limitations, and placement challenges.

Safety preparation should include working over or near water, fall hazards, personal flotation devices, cranes, rigging, pile-driving equipment, suspended loads, heavy machinery, electrical exposure, excavation, ladders, scaffolds, and personal protective equipment.

Use timed reference-navigation sessions. Choose a subject, decide which book applies, locate the relevant chapter, and confirm the answer. Repeat difficult searches until the organization of each publication becomes familiar.

Do not rely exclusively on highlighted passages. Read nearby definitions, tables, exceptions, illustrations, and conditions. A highlighted rule may depend on surrounding language that affects how it applies to a particular question.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor candidates turn an exam-room book list into an organized preparation system. This package provides the three permitted references professionally highlighted and tabbed for focused review.

Professional highlighting draws attention to important coastal-development provisions, construction methods, equipment concepts, safety requirements, definitions, and tables. Permanent tabs create convenient navigation points for major chapters and frequently reviewed topics.

The package supports trade-focused study involving CAMA-regulated areas, docks, pile driving, construction equipment, marine operations, lifting, excavation, concrete work, and jobsite safety. Candidates can use the organized references to connect examination terminology with the correct book and section.

1 Exam Prep encourages practice-oriented preparation. Working directly with the books, reviewing trade concepts, and completing timed reference searches can help candidates build a repeatable process for approaching open-book questions.

No book package guarantees a passing score, application approval, or contractor license. Results depend on the candidate’s knowledge, experience, preparation, reference familiarity, and performance during the examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Marine Construction examination open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, and candidates may bring approved references that comply with current testing-center rules.

How many books are included in this package?

The package includes three professionally highlighted and tabbed references.

Which books are included?

The package includes the North Carolina construction safety standards, the 2007 CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina, and Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 10th Edition.

Are all three books allowed into the exam room?

Yes. This package is limited to the three listed references prepared for use during the North Carolina Marine Construction Contractor examination.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The references are professionally highlighted and fitted with permanent subject tabs to support organized study and faster navigation.

How many questions are on the examination?

The North Carolina Marine Construction examination contains 50 questions.

How much time is allowed?

Candidates are allowed 120 minutes to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The required passing score is 70%.

Does the CAMA handbook need to be bound?

Yes. The complete CAMA handbook must be properly bound. It may be spiral-bound or hole-punched and placed in a binder. Partial copies are not accepted.

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

No. This package contains only the three listed exam-room references. Separate study materials may be needed for concrete, reinforcement, laws, liens, dock construction, and sedimentation control.

How long does package preparation take?

Allow up to 15 business days for preparation. Shipping transit time is separate from the preparation period.

Does passing the examination automatically issue a contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors must approve the complete application and confirm that all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

Does this package guarantee a passing score?

No. The package provides organized exam-room references, but examination results depend on the candidate’s preparation, knowledge, experience, reference-navigation skills, and performance.