North Carolina Public Utilities Contractor Exam Book Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Public Utilities Contractor Exam with a comprehensive book package covering the major utility, construction, safety, business, and technical subjects included in the PU Public Utilities examination. This package combines the reference books allowed inside the exam room with additional study materials that support preparation but are not permitted in the testing center.

The North Carolina Public Utilities classification is broad. It covers work performed under several specialty classifications, including boring and tunneling, communications, fuel distribution, electrical work ahead of the point of delivery, water lines and sewer lines, water purification and sewage disposal, and swimming pools. Because the examination draws from multiple trades, candidates must prepare across a wide range of subjects rather than concentrating on one narrow specialty.

This package includes materials related to business and law, occupational safety, public water supplies, swimming pools, fuel-storage systems, gas transmission and distribution piping, electric power distribution, ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, excavation, sedimentation control, welding, concrete, shotcrete, tunneling, and precast concrete erection.

The books allowed inside the exam room include the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition, the North Carolina construction safety standards, water-supply regulations, public swimming-pool rules, petroleum equipment recommended practices, ASME B31.8, the 2017 National Electrical Safety Code, Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, the ductile iron pipe installation guide, and the concrete pipe and box culvert installation guide.

The package also includes supporting materials that must remain outside the examination room. These resources address erosion and sedimentation control, excavation safety, pipe and excavation contracting, North Carolina licensing laws, jacked tunnels, precast concrete erection, welding, concrete mixtures, and shotcrete.

Working with the complete collection helps candidates prepare for both reference-based questions and general trade-knowledge questions. The examination may test practical understanding in addition to information found directly in the approved books, so preparation should include technical review, calculations, book navigation, and application of industry practices.

What You Get

This North Carolina Public Utilities Contractor Exam Book Package includes the following references:

• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A, Subchapter 18C: Water Supplies, Including the Latest Amendments
• Public Swimming Pools – North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Title 15A, Subchapter 18A, Section .2500
• Recommended Practices for Installation of Aboveground Storage Systems for Motor-Vehicle Fueling, RP200, 2013
• Recommended Procedure for Testing Electrical Continuity of Fuel-Dispensing Hanging Hardware, RP400, 2002
• ASME Code for Pressure Piping B31.8 – Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, 2014
• National Electrical Safety Code 2017
• Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook
• Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe
• Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4, Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
• Jacked Tunnel Design and Construction, 1999
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
• Modern Welding, 2013
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
• Guide to Shotcrete, 2022

The first eleven references are allowed inside the examination center. The remaining ten books are included for study and must remain outside the exam room.

Exam Details

The North Carolina PU Public Utilities Contractor Exam is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive authorization through the Board before scheduling the examination.

• Classification: PU Public Utilities
• Number of questions: 100
• Time allowed: 240 minutes
• Required passing score: 70 percent
• Testing provider: PSI Services
• Exam format: Computer-based contractor licensing examination
• Reference status: Open book with approved references only

The examination contains questions from excavation and grading, electrical power distribution, fuel distribution, swimming pools, concrete and concrete reinforcement, shotcrete and gunite, water and sewer piping, communication systems, boring and tunneling, erosion and sedimentation control, safety, liens, licensing, business and law, One Call requirements, and welding.

Electrical power distribution is the largest single content area, with 15 questions. Fuel distribution, concrete and concrete reinforcement, and water and sewer piping each account for 12 questions. Safety accounts for 8 questions, business and law for 7 questions, excavation and grading for 6 questions, and welding for 6 questions.

The remaining questions cover swimming pools, shotcrete and gunite, communication systems, boring and tunneling, erosion and sedimentation control, liens, licensing, and One Call requirements. Candidates should prepare for every listed subject because the broad examination is designed to measure knowledge across the full public utilities classification.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Public Utilities Contractor Exam is an open-book examination. Only the approved references may be taken into the testing center. The additional study books included in this package are useful during preparation but are not allowed inside the examination room.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references. The testing center does not provide the books. Complete references should be used, and all materials remain subject to inspection by testing-center personnel.

The examination is timed at 240 minutes for 100 questions, giving candidates an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. Efficient navigation is therefore an important part of preparation. Candidates should learn which book addresses each major content area and practice locating answers quickly.

Books should be prepared only according to current testing-center rules. Candidates should review the latest PSI candidate bulletin before highlighting, underlining, indexing, or adding tabs. Loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, and other prohibited materials may cause a reference to be rejected.

Code questions are based on the listed code editions. For non-code books, later editions may be usable when available, but candidates should study with the identified references so the organization, terminology, and page locations are familiar before exam day.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the Public Utilities classification. Confirm that the classification matches the construction work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review the current application requirements. Examine the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors requirements for the requested classification and license limitation.
3. Submit the required application materials. Provide the Board with the application and supporting information required for review.
4. Receive examination authorization. The Board determines examination eligibility before a candidate can schedule with PSI.
5. Schedule the examination. Follow the authorization instructions to select a testing appointment and complete the examination registration process.
6. Study the complete reference package. Review approved exam-room books and the additional materials that must be studied before testing.
7. Prepare the approved books. Organize the references only in ways permitted by current testing-center policies.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification, approved references, and permitted calculator.
9. Complete the licensing process. Passing the examination is one part of qualification. License issuance remains subject to Board approval and completion of all applicable requirements.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates the PU Public Utilities classification. A public utilities contractor license covers work performed under multiple specialty classifications rather than one single trade area.

The classification includes work under S Boring and Tunneling, PU Communications, PU Fuel Distribution, PU Electrical–Ahead of Point of Delivery, PU Water Lines and Sewer Lines, PU Water Purification and Sewage Disposal, and S Swimming Pools.

This broad scope may include pipelines, utility electrical distribution systems, communications infrastructure, fuel systems, water and sewer installations, water treatment and sewage disposal facilities, swimming pools, excavation, tunneling, concrete work, welding, safety, and related construction operations.

Passing the examination does not automatically issue a North Carolina contractor license. Applicants must satisfy the Board’s current application, qualification, financial, organizational, and licensing requirements for the requested license and limitation.

Reference Books

• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This exam-room reference addresses contractor business organization, project management, estimating, contracts, insurance, accounting, employment practices, licensing, safety administration, and North Carolina-specific construction law.
• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This exam-room reference supports preparation for excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, fall protection, tools, machinery, electrical hazards, material handling, welding safety, and employee protection.
• North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A, Subchapter 18C: Water Supplies, Including the Latest Amendments
  This exam-room reference addresses North Carolina public water-supply requirements, including system construction, operation, treatment, distribution, protection, and regulatory responsibilities.
• Public Swimming Pools – Title 15A, Subchapter 18A, Section .2500
  This exam-room reference contains North Carolina requirements for public swimming-pool construction, operation, circulation, filtration, disinfection, safety, equipment, and water quality.
• Recommended Practices for Installation of Aboveground Storage Systems for Motor-Vehicle Fueling, RP200, 2013
  This exam-room reference covers aboveground motor-fuel storage systems, tank placement, foundations, supports, piping, dispensing equipment, protection, and installation practices.
• Recommended Procedure for Testing Electrical Continuity of Fuel-Dispensing Hanging Hardware, RP400, 2002
  This exam-room publication addresses procedures for testing electrical continuity in fuel-dispensing hoses, nozzles, swivels, and related hanging hardware.
• ASME Code for Pressure Piping B31.8 – Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, 2014
  This exam-room standard covers gas-piping materials, design, construction, joining, testing, operation, maintenance, and safety.
• National Electrical Safety Code 2017
  This exam-room code supports preparation for utility electrical supply stations, overhead lines, underground systems, grounding, clearances, and electrical safety.
• Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook
  This exam-room handbook addresses electric power transmission and distribution, transformers, conductors, cables, poles, substations, tools, grounding, and field practices.
• Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe
  This exam-room guide covers handling, trench preparation, joint assembly, installation, bedding, backfilling, testing, and practical procedures for ductile iron pipe.
• Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation
  This exam-room reference addresses excavation, foundations, bedding, joining, placement, backfilling, and installation of concrete pipe and box culverts.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control
  This supporting reference addresses erosion and sedimentation-control requirements. It is included for study but is not allowed in the exam room.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4
  This supporting material contains the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 and related legal responsibilities. It is not allowed in the examination center.
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
  This supporting publication addresses underground utility location, safe excavation, damage prevention, and One Call practices. It must remain outside the exam room.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This supporting trade book covers piping, excavation, trenching, equipment, estimating, dewatering, installation, and field operations. It is not allowed during the examination.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  This supporting reference addresses licensing statutes, Board rules, liens, regulatory duties, and contractor responsibilities. It is not allowed inside the exam room.
• Jacked Tunnel Design and Construction, 1999
  This supporting reference covers planning, design, equipment, shafts, excavation, pipe jacking, alignment, ground conditions, and tunnel construction. It is not permitted in the testing center.
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  This supporting manual addresses precast concrete handling, rigging, erection planning, bracing, tolerances, connections, and safety. It is not allowed in the exam room.
• Modern Welding, 2013
  This supporting book covers welding processes, equipment, joints, symbols, cutting, metallurgy, inspection, and safe work practices. It must remain outside the examination center.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  This supporting reference addresses concrete materials, proportioning, mixing, placement, curing, testing, durability, and quality control. It is not allowed during testing.
• Guide to Shotcrete, 2022
  This supporting guide addresses shotcrete materials, equipment, placement, reinforcement, curing, quality control, inspection, and repair. It is not permitted in the examination room.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with the largest exam areas: electrical power distribution, fuel distribution, concrete and reinforcement, water and sewer piping, safety, business and law, excavation, and welding.

Use the approved references to practice direct lookups, but study the prohibited books thoroughly before exam day. Questions involving erosion control, One Call, tunneling, welding, concrete mixtures, shotcrete, excavation practices, liens, and licensing may require knowledge developed from books that cannot be taken into the testing center.

Create a reference map that identifies which approved book applies to each major subject. Practice timed searches and aim to locate relevant sections within two minutes. Candidates should also complete mixed-topic exercises because the examination moves across several public utility specialties.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize this broad examination into manageable trade and business subjects. Structured study guidance can help students focus on the areas carrying the greatest number of questions while still reviewing the smaller categories that affect the final score.

Trade-focused preparation connects the references to utility electrical systems, fuel distribution, water and sewer piping, swimming pools, communications, tunneling, concrete, welding, excavation, safety, and project administration.

Practice-oriented review helps candidates strengthen both technical understanding and reference navigation. Students can work through questions, select the correct book, locate the governing provision, and apply it under timed conditions.

1 Exam Prep also emphasizes consistent study, organized book use, and confidence-building preparation. No package can guarantee a passing score or license approval, but a structured approach can help candidates enter the examination with stronger familiarity and a clear testing strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Public Utilities Contractor Exam open book?

Yes. The exam is open book, but only the approved references may be brought into the testing center.

How many questions are on the exam?

The examination contains 100 questions. Candidates have 240 minutes and must earn at least 70 percent to pass.

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

No. Eleven references are allowed inside the examination center. The remaining books are included for preparation and must remain outside the testing room.

Why are non-approved books included?

They cover tested subjects such as erosion control, excavation safety, tunneling, welding, concrete, shotcrete, One Call requirements, licensing, and liens. Candidates should study these materials before exam day.

What work does the Public Utilities classification cover?

The classification covers work under several specialties, including boring and tunneling, communications, fuel distribution, electrical work ahead of the point of delivery, water and sewer lines, water purification and sewage disposal, and swimming pools.

Does this package include exam registration?

No. It includes the listed books only. Application filing, examination eligibility, scheduling, testing fees, and licensing are handled separately.

Does passing the exam automatically issue a license?

No. Passing the exam is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors determines whether all applicable requirements have been completed.