North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam Book Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam with a complete book package that combines the four references allowed inside the examination room with nine additional study books covering carpentry, roofing, masonry, excavation, concrete, wood trusses, erosion control, contractor law, and North Carolina licensing responsibilities.

This package is designed for candidates preparing for the North Carolina Residential Contractor classification who want one organized collection of exam-room references and supporting trade books. It brings together the building code, administrative code, construction safety standards, and contractor business guide used during the open-book examination, along with additional materials needed to study residential construction subjects before test day.

Residential contracting requires broad knowledge across multiple trades. Candidates may need to understand foundations, concrete, framing, roofing, masonry, excavation, wood trusses, structural systems, jobsite safety, permits, inspections, erosion control, contracts, estimating, project management, licensing, and legal responsibilities.

The four exam-room references included in this package are the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry with the latest available amendments, the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition, the North Carolina Building Code: Building Code 2018, and the North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition.

The supporting study books include Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016, Roofing Construction and Estimating, Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 10th Edition, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, the 2025 edition of BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, North Carolina erosion-control regulations and statutes, and Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina.

The additional study books are not allowed inside the exam room. Candidates should review them thoroughly before testing because they address practical trade subjects that may not be available for direct lookup during the examination.

This package supports both code-based preparation and broader residential trade review. Candidates can practice navigating the approved references while building the practical knowledge needed to identify the subject of a question and determine which book applies.

What You Get

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
• North Carolina Building Code: Building Code 2018
• North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
• Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 10th Edition
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
• The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
• 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
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina

The first four books are included for use inside the North Carolina Residential Contractor examination room. The remaining nine books are supporting study materials and must remain outside the testing center.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam evaluates knowledge associated with residential construction, workplace safety, building-code compliance, contractor business practices, project administration, and state licensing responsibilities.

Preparation should include building layout, foundations, concrete, framing, roofing, masonry, excavation, drainage, wood trusses, structural systems, fire-resistance provisions, permits, inspections, jobsite safety, estimating, contracts, insurance, project management, erosion control, licensing, and legal obligations.

Some examination questions may require direct reference lookup in the approved exam-room books. Other questions may depend on trade knowledge developed through study, experience, and familiarity with residential construction practices.

Questions involving construction types, structural provisions, walls, floors, roofs, openings, fire resistance, occupancy, and general building requirements may require the North Carolina Building Code.

Questions involving permits, inspections, approvals, certificates, enforcement, and administrative responsibilities may require the North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies.

Questions involving jobsite safety, fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, material handling, and employee protection may require the North Carolina occupational safety standards.

Questions involving contracts, estimating, project management, accounting, insurance, employment responsibilities, liens, licensing, and business organization may require the Contractor’s Guide.

Trade questions involving carpentry, roofing, masonry, concrete, excavation, trusses, or erosion control must be prepared for in advance because the supporting books covering those subjects are not allowed inside the examination room.

Purchasing this package does not submit a contractor application, establish examination eligibility, schedule a testing appointment, pay testing fees, or issue a North Carolina contractor license. Those steps are completed separately through the applicable licensing and examination process.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam is an open-book test. Only the approved references may be brought into the examination room.

The four exam-room books included in this package are:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
• North Carolina Building Code: Building Code 2018
• North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references. The testing center does not provide the books. Each publication should be complete, securely bound, and prepared according to the current exam-room rules.

All references may be inspected before admission into the testing room. Loose sheets, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, attached study materials, or other prohibited items may cause a book to be rejected.

Effective open-book preparation requires candidates to understand the purpose of each reference. Safety questions belong in the occupational safety standards. Technical building questions belong in the Building Code. Administrative questions belong in the Administrative Code and Policies. Business, contract, and project-management questions belong in the Contractor’s Guide.

Candidates should practice with the approved books before test day. Timed lookup exercises can help improve book selection, navigation, and interpretation. A candidate should be able to read a question, identify its subject, choose the correct book, locate the relevant section, and confirm the answer efficiently.

The supporting study books are not allowed inside the examination room. Candidates should review carpentry, roofing, masonry, excavation, concrete, truss handling, erosion control, and licensing law before test day so they can answer those subjects without relying on unavailable references.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the Residential Contractor classification. Confirm that the classification matches the type of residential construction work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Review current licensing requirements. Examine the application, qualifier, ownership, financial, business, and organizational requirements associated with the requested contractor license.
3. Submit the required application materials. Provide the licensing authority with the requested forms, supporting documentation, and applicant information.
4. Receive examination eligibility. Complete the required approval process before scheduling the Residential Contractor Exam.
5. Register for the examination. Follow the instructions provided with the authorization to select a testing appointment.
6. Study the complete book package. Review the four exam-room references and the nine supporting books used for trade, legal, business, and regulatory preparation.
7. Practice reference navigation. Use the approved books to complete timed lookups involving safety, business, building-code, and administrative subjects.
8. Take the examination. Bring the required identification and only the references allowed inside the testing center.
9. Complete the remaining licensing requirements. Passing the examination is one part of qualification. All applicable licensing requirements must be completed before a contractor license is issued.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Residential Contractor classification applies to qualifying construction involving residential structures and related building work within the scope of the license.

Residential projects may involve site preparation, excavation, foundations, concrete, masonry, framing, trusses, roofing, exterior walls, interior partitions, structural systems, stairs, openings, weather protection, and related construction components.

Contractors must coordinate work with building plans, engineering documents, manufacturer instructions, permits, inspections, safety requirements, erosion-control obligations, project schedules, and applicable building standards.

Residential construction also requires attention to contracts, estimates, insurance, workforce responsibilities, material management, subcontractor coordination, change orders, project documentation, liens, and licensing requirements.

Projects may require local permits, inspections, environmental controls, sedimentation measures, engineered plans, and approvals from authorities having jurisdiction.

Passing the examination does not independently authorize contracting activity. The applicant must complete the licensing process and receive the appropriate North Carolina contractor license before performing work that requires licensure.

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, including fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, excavation hazards, personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, material handling, access, employee training, and jobsite protection.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This exam-room reference covers business organization, contracts, estimating, scheduling, project management, accounting, insurance, employment responsibilities, licensing, liens, and contractor administration.
• North Carolina Building Code: Building Code 2018
  This exam-room code addresses general building requirements affecting residential construction, including structural systems, fire resistance, walls, floors, roofs, openings, construction types, occupancy, and related building provisions.
• North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition
  This exam-room reference addresses permits, inspections, approvals, certificates, enforcement, administrative responsibilities, and procedures connected with North Carolina building-code compliance.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  This supporting trade book covers residential construction methods, layout, framing, floors, walls, roofs, stairs, doors, windows, finishes, tools, materials, and building practices. It is not allowed inside the examination room.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  This supporting reference addresses roofing systems, materials, slopes, flashing, underlayment, ventilation, estimating, quantities, installation methods, and common roof details. It must remain outside the testing center.
• Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 10th Edition
  This supporting book covers brick, concrete masonry units, stone, mortar, grout, reinforcement, bonds, flashing, wall systems, fireplaces, chimneys, layout, and estimating. It is included for study only.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This supporting reference addresses excavation, trenching, soils, drainage, pipe installation, equipment, grading, safety, bedding, backfill, and construction methods. It is not allowed inside the exam room.
• The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  This supporting book addresses concrete materials, placement, consolidation, curing, finishing, joints, reinforcement, testing, quality control, and common construction practices. It must remain outside the testing center.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  This supporting guide addresses the handling, storage, installation, temporary restraint, permanent bracing, and safe placement of metal plate connected wood trusses. It is included for study but is not allowed inside the examination room.
• North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4, Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
  This supporting regulatory reference addresses erosion and sedimentation-control requirements for land-disturbing activities in North Carolina. It must remain outside the testing room.
• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4, Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  This supporting statute addresses legal responsibilities connected with sedimentation pollution control, regulated land-disturbing activities, enforcement, and compliance. It is not permitted inside the examination room.
• Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  This supporting publication addresses contractor licensing laws, rules, qualifier responsibilities, license administration, and legal obligations. It is included for preparation but must remain outside the exam room.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following four references from this package are included for use inside the North Carolina Residential Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Use this reference for fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, excavation hazards, tools, machinery, personal protective equipment, material handling, access, and worker-protection questions.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  Use this reference for contracts, estimating, scheduling, insurance, project management, accounting, employment responsibilities, licensing, and lien questions.
• North Carolina Building Code: Building Code 2018
  Use this reference for technical building-code requirements involving walls, floors, roofs, structural systems, fire resistance, openings, construction types, and occupancy provisions.
• North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition
  Use this reference for permits, inspections, approvals, certificates, enforcement, administrative responsibilities, and code-compliance procedures.

The remaining nine books are supporting study materials and must stay outside the examination room.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin preparation with residential framing. Review floor systems, wall framing, roof framing, load paths, openings, headers, stairs, fastening, bracing, and common structural details.

Study roofing systems separately. Review roof slopes, materials, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, drainage, valleys, penetrations, estimating, and installation practices.

Review masonry for foundations, walls, veneers, fireplaces, chimneys, mortar, grout, reinforcement, flashing, and control joints.

Study excavation and concrete together. Review site preparation, trenching, drainage, foundations, reinforcement, placement, curing, joints, finishing, and quality control.

Use the 2025 BCSI guide to study wood-truss handling, storage, placement, restraint, bracing, and safe installation. Candidates should understand the importance of temporary and permanent stability during truss erection.

Review erosion and sedimentation control for land-disturbing activities, stabilization, runoff management, inspection responsibilities, control measures, and legal compliance.

Use the four approved references for timed practice. Alternate between safety, business, code, and administrative questions so selecting the correct book becomes more natural.

Study the nine supporting books before test day because their subjects may require knowledge that cannot be searched during the examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates organize preparation around the North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam and the broad responsibilities of residential construction.

Trade-focused review connects the books to carpentry, framing, roofing, masonry, excavation, concrete, wood trusses, erosion control, safety, business, law, and code administration.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to apply information rather than only reading it. Students can review a question, identify the subject, select the correct reference, locate the applicable information, and evaluate the answer.

Reference-navigation practice helps candidates become familiar with the North Carolina Building Code, the Administrative Code and Policies, the construction safety standards, and the Contractor’s Guide.

1 Exam Prep also supports preparation for subjects found in books that cannot be brought into the examination room. Organized review of carpentry, roofing, masonry, excavation, concrete, trusses, erosion control, and licensing law helps candidates build knowledge before test day.

No book package can guarantee a passing score, licensing approval, or a specific examination outcome. Consistent study, practical review, and familiarity with the references can help candidates approach the examination with stronger preparation and greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Residential Contractor Exam open book?

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

Which books are allowed inside the exam room?

The approved books are the North Carolina construction safety standards, the Contractor’s Guide, the 2018 North Carolina Building Code, and the 2018 North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies.

Why are books that are not allowed in the exam included?

The additional books support preparation for carpentry, roofing, masonry, excavation, concrete, wood trusses, erosion control, licensing, and legal responsibilities.

Is the 2025 BCSI truss guide included?

Yes. The package includes the 2025 edition of the BCSI guide for handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.

Are the erosion-control books allowed inside the exam room?

No. The North Carolina sedimentation-control regulations and statute are included for study but must remain outside the testing center.

Does this package include exam registration?

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

Does passing the examination automatically issue a contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. All applicable licensing requirements must be completed before a North Carolina contractor license is issued.