North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam with a focused package containing the two references approved for use inside the examination center. This package is designed for candidates pursuing the North Carolina S Railroad Construction classification who need the exam-room books without the additional study materials that are not permitted during testing.

The North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam covers the building, construction, and repair of railroad lines and related facilities. Candidates are expected to understand railroad track construction, concrete railway structures, sitework, occupational safety, erosion and sedimentation control, excavation notification requirements, contractor laws, regulations, and liens.

This package includes the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry with the latest available amendments and a federal regulatory reference containing 49 CFR Part 213, Part 214, and Part 236. These are the two listed references allowed inside the testing center for the North Carolina Railroad Construction examination.

The North Carolina construction safety reference supports preparation for jobsite safety, excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, fall protection, material handling, access, employee protection, and other construction-industry requirements.

The federal railroad reference covers track safety standards, railroad workplace safety, and rules governing signal and train-control systems. It provides essential regulatory material for candidates preparing to work around railroad tracks, roadway workers, track components, maintenance activities, signals, and train-control equipment.

Because the examination is open book and timed, candidates should become familiar with both references before entering the testing center. Knowing which part, subpart, section, or topic applies to a question can reduce unnecessary searching and leave more time for technical reasoning and final review.

This package is intended for candidates who already own or do not need the additional railroad engineering, concrete, excavation, erosion-control, business, and licensing books used for study outside the exam room. It provides a streamlined set of approved references specifically for testing-center use.

Exam Details

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

• 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 represent 31 of the 50 questions and form the largest portion of the examination.

The remaining content 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 contain questions based on the listed references, trade knowledge, or general industry practices. Candidates should therefore prepare for both direct regulatory lookups and questions that require practical understanding of railway construction.

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

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam is an open-book test. Only the two references included in this package are approved for use inside the testing center for this classification.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved reference materials. The examination center does not provide the books. Complete references must be used because partial reference materials are not accepted.

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

References may not contain loose pages, attached papers, inserted notes, or unauthorized materials. The published examination rules also prohibit writing in the references before or during the testing session. Testing-center personnel may inspect both books before allowing them into the examination room.

With 50 questions and 120 minutes, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds for each question. Book familiarity is essential because spending several minutes searching the wrong regulation can reduce the time available for technical questions and final review.

Practice identifying the subject before opening a book. Construction workplace hazards, excavation safety, tools, access, protective equipment, and employee protection generally point toward the North Carolina occupational safety standards.

Track conditions, track inspection, track classes, maintenance standards, roadway worker protection, on-track safety, signal systems, and train-control equipment generally point toward 49 CFR Parts 213, 214, or 236.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the classification scope. Confirm that S Railroad Construction matches the type of railroad contracting work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review the current licensing requirements. Examine the application, qualifier, financial, ownership, 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 information and supporting materials required for review.
4. Receive examination eligibility. The Board determines whether the candidate is authorized to take the Railroad Construction examination.
5. Schedule the examination with PSI. Follow the instructions supplied with the eligibility letter to select an appointment and complete the examination-payment process.
6. Study the examination outline. Prepare for track construction, concrete railway structures, safety, sitework, erosion control, One Call requirements, laws, regulations, and liens.
7. Prepare the approved references. Highlight, underline, and add permanent tabs only in ways permitted by current testing-center rules.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification, approved reference books, and any permitted calculator.
9. Complete the licensing process. Passing the exam is one part of qualification. The Board must determine that all applicable requirements have been satisfied before issuing a contractor license.

The examination eligibility letter is valid for 120 days and allows one examination attempt during that authorization period. Missing a scheduled examination may count as an attempt. Candidates should carefully review the eligibility notice and appointment instructions before selecting a test date.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates the S Railroad Construction classification. The classification covers the building, construction, and repair of railroad lines and associated structures.

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

Related work may include retaining walls, dikes, fences, gates, tool sheds, and platforms associated with railroad construction. Contractors may also encounter excavation, grading, drainage, foundation, concrete, and site-safety responsibilities while performing this work.

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

Individual railroad projects may also be subject to federal railroad regulations, occupational safety standards, railroad-owner requirements, utility-location procedures, erosion-control rules, inspections, permits, and project-specific specifications.

Reference Books

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with latest available amendments
  This exam-room reference addresses construction workplace safety requirements applicable in North Carolina. It supports preparation involving excavation hazards, protective systems, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, material handling, access, fall protection, employee training, and other jobsite-safety responsibilities.
• 49 CFR Part 213 – Track Safety Standards; Part 214 – Railroad Workplace Safety; and Part 236 – Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Signal and Train-Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances
  This exam-room regulatory collection covers minimum track-safety requirements, workplace protections for railroad employees and contractors, roadway worker protection, and federal rules for railroad signal and train-control systems. It supports preparation involving track conditions, inspection, maintenance, worker safety, signals, devices, and system repairs.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following two references are included specifically because they are allowed 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 construction safety, excavation hazards, protective equipment, tools, machinery, material handling, access, and workplace-protection questions.
• 49 CFR Part 213 – Track Safety Standards; Part 214 – Railroad Workplace Safety; and Part 236
  Approved for federal track-safety standards, railroad workplace safety, roadway worker protection, and signal and train-control system requirements.

Both references remain subject to inspection by testing-center personnel. A reference may be rejected when it contains removable tabs, handwritten notes, loose papers, unauthorized inserts, or other materials that do not comply with current examination rules.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with the two largest content areas: track construction and concrete railway structures. Although the two books in this package are approved for the exam room, much of the technical content in these major categories depends on trade knowledge developed before testing.

Review the construction and function of roadbeds, ballast, ties, tie plates, rails, connectors, switches, frogs, crossings, drainage systems, retaining structures, platforms, and foundations. Study how site preparation, soil conditions, compaction, alignment, drainage, and material placement affect track performance.

Use 49 CFR Part 213 to study federal track-safety requirements. Become familiar with the organization of the part, including the sections that address track classes, roadbed conditions, track geometry, rail, track structure, inspection, and remedial action.

Study 49 CFR Part 214 for railroad workplace safety. Review roadway worker protection, on-track safety procedures, job briefings, working limits, lone-worker protection, roadway maintenance machines, and responsibilities connected with work performed on or near active tracks.

Review 49 CFR Part 236 for signal and train-control systems. Learn how the regulation is organized and where to locate requirements involving installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, records, devices, and appliances.

Use the North Carolina occupational safety standards to prepare for general construction hazards. Focus on excavation, access and egress, protective systems, personal protective equipment, cranes and rigging, tools, machinery, fall protection, material handling, and hazard communication.

Create a reference map before exam day. List the major topics found in each book, then identify the part, subpart, section, or chapter most likely to contain the information. This can reduce the time required to navigate long regulatory publications.

Complete timed lookup exercises with both references. Select a topic, locate the applicable requirement, and confirm the answer within approximately two minutes. Alternate between safety questions and federal railroad-regulation questions so that navigation becomes more natural.

Do not depend entirely on the open-book format. Candidates should understand railroad terminology, common track components, construction sequencing, site preparation, concrete structures, safety practices, and project responsibilities before entering the examination center.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize preparation around the North Carolina Railroad Construction examination outline and the technical responsibilities of the trade. A structured study plan can make it easier to divide the examination into track construction, concrete railway structures, safety, sitework, and regulatory subjects.

Trade-focused review connects federal regulations and occupational safety requirements to the work performed on railroad construction projects. This includes track components, roadbeds, structures, worker protection, inspections, maintenance activities, and signal or train-control equipment.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to work through realistic questions rather than only reading the books. Students can identify the tested subject, select the correct reference, locate the applicable section, and apply the information under timed conditions.

Reference-navigation practice is particularly important because the approved books contain extensive regulatory material. Learning how the table of contents, parts, subparts, sections, indexes, and defined terms are organized can help candidates move through the references more efficiently.

1 Exam Prep also supports confidence-building study structure through organized review, consistent practice, and a clear connection between examination topics and railroad construction work. No book package can guarantee a passing score or licensing approval, but disciplined preparation can help candidates approach the examination with stronger reference skills and greater familiarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor Exam open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, but candidates may bring only the references approved for the S Railroad Construction exam.

Are both books in this package allowed inside the exam room?

Yes. This package contains the two references listed for use inside the North Carolina Railroad Construction Contractor examination center.

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 subjects are covered by 49 CFR Part 213?

Part 213 contains federal track-safety standards. It addresses track conditions, track classes, geometry, roadbeds, rail, track structure, inspection, maintenance, and related safety requirements.

What subjects are covered by 49 CFR Part 214?

Part 214 addresses railroad workplace safety, including roadway worker protection, on-track safety, working limits, job briefings, and roadway maintenance machines.

What subjects are covered by 49 CFR Part 236?

Part 236 covers rules for the installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of railroad signal and train-control systems, devices, and appliances.

Can I use removable tabs in the books?

No. References may be indexed with permanent tabs, but removable tabs such as Post-it flags are not permitted. Notes may not be written on tabs.

Can I write notes in the approved references?

No. The examination rules prohibit writing in the references before or during the testing session. Loose papers and attached notes are also prohibited.

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

No. This package is limited to the two references approved for use inside the testing center.

Does purchasing this package register me for the exam?

No. The package contains reference books only. Examination eligibility, registration, scheduling, testing fees, and contractor licensing are handled separately.

Does passing the examination automatically issue a contractor license?

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