North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam Book Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam with a complete package of technical, safety, regulatory, business, and trade references associated with the S Railroad Construction classification. This collection includes the two references allowed inside the examination center and eight additional study books that support preparation but are not permitted in the exam room.

The North Carolina Railroad Construction classification covers the building, construction, and repair of railroad lines. The scope includes clearing and filling rights-of-way; shaping, compacting, setting, and stabilizing roadbeds; and installing railroad components such as ties, tie plates, rails, rail connectors, frogs, switch plates, switches, and signal markers.

The classification also includes the construction and repair of retaining walls, dikes, fences, gates, tool sheds, and platforms associated with railroad work. Candidates should be prepared to apply knowledge involving track construction, concrete railway structures, sitework, occupational safety, erosion and sedimentation control, excavation notification requirements, contractor laws, regulations, and liens.

This North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam Book Package combines the exam-room references with books that provide additional preparation for railway engineering, concrete structures, excavation, project management, licensing law, erosion control, and site operations. Together, these materials support a structured study plan for the technical and regulatory subjects covered by the examination.

The references permitted inside the testing center are the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry with the latest available amendments and a collection containing 49 CFR Parts 213, 214, and 236. These federal regulations address track safety, railroad workplace safety, and signal and train-control systems.

The other books in the package are not allowed inside the exam room. They are included because they support study of subjects found in the examination outline, including track construction, concrete railway structures, erosion control, sitework, excavation safety, business practices, contractor law, and liens.

Because only two references may be used during the open-book examination, candidates should study the non-approved books thoroughly before testing. The goal is to build enough technical understanding to answer trade-knowledge questions while using the approved books efficiently for safety and regulatory lookups.

What You Get

This North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam Book Package includes the following ten references:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• 49 CFR Part 213 – Track Safety Standards; Part 214 – Railroad Workplace Safety; and Part 236 – Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing Signal and Train-Control Systems
• 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
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
• The Practical Guide to Railway Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2019
• Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 8: Concrete Structures and Foundations
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina

The first two references are allowed inside the examination center. The remaining eight books are included as study resources and must remain outside the testing room.

Exam Details

The North Carolina S Railroad Construction Contractor Exam is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive examination eligibility from the Board before registering and scheduling an appointment with PSI.

• Classification: S Railroad Construction
• Number of questions: 50
• Time allowed: 120 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 content outline includes 16 questions on track construction and 15 questions on concrete railway structures. Together, these two categories account for 31 of the 50 examination questions and should receive the largest share of study time.

The outline also includes seven safety questions, five sitework questions, two erosion and sedimentation-control questions, two One Call questions, two questions involving laws and regulations, and one lien question.

The exam may include questions developed from the listed references as well as questions based on general trade knowledge and accepted industry practices. Candidates should prepare to interpret technical situations, identify appropriate construction procedures, recognize railroad components, and apply safety and regulatory requirements.

A silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator may be used in the examination center. Candidates may also request a magnifying glass from the testing center. All materials and personal items remain subject to current testing-center rules and inspection procedures.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam is an open-book test. However, candidates may bring only the two approved references into the examination center: the North Carolina construction safety standards and the identified federal railroad regulations in 49 CFR Parts 213, 214, and 236.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved books. The testing center does not supply reference materials. Complete references must be used, and partial reference materials are not accepted for testing.

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs may be used when they adhere securely to the pages. Removable tabs, including Post-it flags and similar temporary markers, are not accepted. Notes may not be written on tabs.

References may not contain loose pages, attached papers, inserted notes, or unauthorized materials. Books may not be written in before or during the examination under the published testing rules. Testing-center personnel may inspect each reference before admitting it into the exam room.

With 50 questions and 120 minutes, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. Efficient book navigation can help preserve time for technical questions, calculations, and final review.

Use the construction safety standards for questions involving excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, fall protection, material handling, access, employee protection, and other construction-site safety requirements.

Use 49 CFR Part 213 for track safety standards, Part 214 for railroad workplace safety, and Part 236 for requirements governing the installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of signal and train-control systems, devices, and appliances.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the classification scope. Confirm that S Railroad Construction corresponds to the type of contracting work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review the current license requirements. Examine the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors requirements for the desired classification and license limitation.
3. Submit the application or examination request. Provide the Board with the required application information and supporting materials.
4. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the submission and determines whether the candidate is authorized to take the examination.
5. Schedule the exam with PSI. Follow the instructions in the eligibility letter to select a testing appointment and complete the examination-payment process.
6. Study the complete book package. Review the approved exam-room references and the additional books that must be studied before testing.
7. Prepare the approved references. Highlight, underline, and add permanent tabs only in ways permitted by current testing rules.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification, permitted calculator, and approved reference materials.
9. Complete the licensing process. Passing the examination is one part of qualification. The Board must determine that all applicable requirements have been met before issuing a contractor license.

The examination eligibility letter is valid for 120 days and permits one examination attempt during that authorization period. Missing a scheduled examination may count as an attempt. Candidates should carefully review their eligibility notice and PSI appointment instructions.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates the S Railroad Construction classification. The classification covers building, constructing, and repairing railroad lines and related structures.

The scope includes clearing and filling railroad rights-of-way and shaping, compacting, setting, and stabilizing roadbeds. It also includes setting ties, tie plates, rails, rail connectors, frogs, switch plates, switches, and signal markers.

Related construction may include retaining walls, dikes, fences, gates, tool sheds, and platforms. Candidates should understand both the technical work involved in railroad construction and the safety, sitework, and regulatory responsibilities connected with the classification.

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

Individual railroad projects may also involve federal railroad regulations, occupational safety requirements, erosion and sedimentation-control rules, utility-location procedures, permits, owner specifications, inspections, and other project-specific obligations.

Reference Books

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This exam-room reference addresses safety requirements for construction operations in North Carolina. It supports preparation involving excavation, personal protective equipment, fall hazards, tools, machinery, material handling, access, employee protection, and other workplace-safety subjects.
• 49 CFR Part 213 – Track Safety Standards; Part 214 – Railroad Workplace Safety; and Part 236
  This exam-room reference combines federal requirements for track safety, railroad workplace safety, and signal and train-control systems. It supports preparation involving track inspection, maintenance standards, worker protection, roadway workplace procedures, and signal-system installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
  This supporting reference addresses North Carolina erosion and sedimentation-control rules for land-disturbing activities. It is included for study but is not allowed inside the examination center.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4, Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  This supporting publication contains the state law governing sedimentation pollution control, regulated land-disturbing activities, responsibilities, enforcement, and related requirements. It must remain outside the exam room.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This supporting book covers contractor business organization, project management, contracts, estimating, accounting, insurance, employment responsibilities, licensing, and North Carolina construction practices. It is not permitted inside the examination room.
• North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
  This supporting guide addresses underground utility damage prevention, excavation planning, locate requests, markings, safe digging practices, and North Carolina One Call responsibilities. It is included for study but is not allowed during testing.
• The Practical Guide to Railway Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2019
  This trade-focused reference supports preparation involving railway systems, track components, alignment, roadbeds, ballast, ties, rails, switches, crossings, maintenance practices, and railway design principles. It must remain outside the exam room.
• Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 8: Concrete Structures and Foundations
  This supporting material addresses concrete railway structures and foundations. It supports preparation involving structural components, materials, design considerations, construction practices, foundations, retaining structures, and related railway applications. It is not allowed inside the testing center.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This supporting trade book covers excavation, grading, trenching, soils, equipment, dewatering, job planning, estimating, piping, backfilling, compaction, and field operations. It must remain outside the examination room.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  This supporting reference addresses contractor licensing laws, Board rules, liens, license administration, and legal responsibilities. It is included for preparation but is not permitted in the exam room.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following two references from this package are approved for use inside the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor examination center:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Approved for questions involving construction safety, employee protection, excavation hazards, tools, machinery, personal protective equipment, and workplace procedures.
• 49 CFR Part 213 – Track Safety Standards; Part 214 – Railroad Workplace Safety; and Part 236
  Approved for federal track-safety requirements, railroad workplace safety, and signal and train-control system rules.

The remaining eight books in the package are study materials only and must remain outside the testing room. Candidates should review those references thoroughly before exam day because they cover major examination areas that cannot be researched from the books admitted into the examination center.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with track construction and concrete railway structures. These two categories make up most of the examination. Review track components, roadbed preparation, ballast, ties, rails, fasteners, switches, frogs, crossings, alignment, drainage, retaining structures, platforms, foundations, and concrete construction procedures.

Use The Practical Guide to Railway Engineering to strengthen understanding of railway terminology, track systems, construction practices, design principles, and maintenance considerations. Create study notes before exam day because this book cannot be used inside the testing center.

Review the railway-engineering manual chapter for concrete structures and foundations. Study the relationship between site conditions, foundations, structural support, material placement, reinforcement, construction sequencing, and railway loading.

Use the North Carolina occupational safety standards to prepare for the seven safety questions. Practice locating requirements involving excavation, employee access, protective systems, personal protective equipment, material handling, machinery, and jobsite hazards.

Study 49 CFR Parts 213, 214, and 236 by subject. Learn which part addresses track standards, which part governs railroad workplace safety, and which part covers signal and train-control systems. Timed lookup drills can help candidates locate federal requirements more efficiently.

Prepare for erosion control, One Call, laws, regulations, and liens using the books that are not allowed in the exam room. Because these references cannot be carried into testing, candidates should develop a working understanding of their central requirements before the examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize the North Carolina Railroad Construction examination into manageable technical, safety, and regulatory subjects. A structured study plan can make it easier to focus on the high-value categories while still reviewing the smaller areas that affect the final score.

Trade-focused review connects railway engineering concepts to track construction, roadbeds, rails, ties, switches, concrete structures, foundations, sitework, excavation, and jobsite safety. This approach helps candidates understand how technical information applies to railroad construction projects.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages students to work through questions, identify the tested subject, select the appropriate reference, and apply technical information under timed conditions. Reference-navigation exercises are especially useful for the approved safety and federal railroad regulations.

1 Exam Prep also supports preparation for subjects found in books that are not permitted during testing. Organized review of erosion control, excavation safety, contractor law, liens, railway engineering, and concrete structures helps candidates build knowledge before exam day.

No book package can guarantee a passing score, licensing approval, or a particular examination result. Consistent study, practical review, and familiarity with the approved references can help candidates approach the examination with greater confidence and a clearer testing strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam open book?

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

Which books are allowed inside the exam room?

The approved references are the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and the collection containing 49 CFR Parts 213, 214, and 236.

Why does the package include books that are not allowed in the exam?

The additional books cover tested subjects such as track construction, concrete railway structures, sitework, erosion control, excavation safety, One Call requirements, contractor law, and liens. They are intended for preparation before the examination.

How many questions are on the examination?

The examination contains 50 questions. Candidates have 120 minutes and must earn a score of at least 70 percent to pass.

What are the largest examination categories?

Track construction contains 16 questions, and concrete railway structures contains 15 questions. Together, these categories account for 31 of the 50 examination questions.

Can I use removable tabs in the approved references?

No. Only permanent tabs are permitted. Removable tabs such as Post-it flags are not allowed, and notes may not be written on tabs.

What work does the Railroad Construction classification cover?

The classification covers railroad-line construction and repair, rights-of-way, roadbeds, ties, rails, connectors, switches, signal markers, retaining walls, dikes, fences, gates, tool sheds, and platforms.

Does this package include exam registration?

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

Does passing the exam automatically issue a contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors determines whether the applicant has satisfied all requirements for license issuance.