North Carolina Residential Contractor Books & Course Rental - Exam Room Approved

Prepare for the North Carolina Residential Contractor examination with a complete rental package that combines all four exam-room-approved references with a structured self-study trade course. Every rental book is professionally highlighted and tabbed to support organized study, efficient code navigation, and practical use during the open-book examination.

The North Carolina Residential Contractor exam covers the full range of knowledge involved in residential construction. Candidates must prepare for site work, foundations, concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, energy conservation, drywall, estimating, plan reading, safety, licensing, business law, coastal construction, and erosion-control principles. The broad examination outline requires both trade knowledge and the ability to locate exact information in the approved books.

This package includes the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, the Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, the North Carolina State Building Code: Residential Code 2018, and the North Carolina State Building Code: Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition. These are the four references approved for use inside the Residential Contractor examination room.

All four rental books are professionally highlighted and tabbed. Highlighting directs attention to important safety standards, residential code provisions, definitions, tables, construction requirements, business topics, licensing rules, and administrative procedures. Permanent tabs divide the references into practical sections so candidates can develop a repeatable method for locating information under examination time limits.

The included self-study trade course provides 6 months of course access. Students can review the major examination subjects at their own pace, practice working with the approved references, and return to difficult topics throughout the rental period. The package price is $790, plus a refundable $300 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $1,090. The $300 deposit is refundable when all rental books are returned within six months in similar condition. Please allow 15 business days for professional highlighting and tabbing before shipment.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Residential Contractor examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Candidates must receive examination eligibility through the licensing process before registering and scheduling a testing appointment.

• Examination: North Carolina Residential Contractor
• Number of questions: 90
• Time allowed: 210 minutes
• Passing score: 70%
• Testing format: Computer-based examination
• Testing provider: PSI Services LLC

The examination content outline includes the following subject areas:

• Site Work, Footings and Foundations: 12 questions
• Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement: 10 questions
• Masonry: 7 questions
• Carpentry: 11 questions
• Associated Construction Trades, Including Energy Conservation and Drywall: 8 questions
• Roofing: 6 questions
• Estimating, Plan Reading and General Residential Code Requirements: 16 questions
• OSHA Safety: 4 questions
• Licensing, Business and Law: 10 questions
• Special Construction Zones, Including Wind, Coastal, Erosion and Sedimentation Control: 6 questions

Estimating, plan reading, and general residential code requirements form the largest examination category. Candidates should understand how to read residential plans, identify dimensions, interpret symbols, calculate quantities, review code requirements, and connect the plans with the written specifications.

Site work, foundations, concrete, masonry, and carpentry also represent a substantial part of the test. Preparation should include excavation, drainage, soil conditions, footings, foundation walls, slabs, concrete reinforcement, masonry units, framing systems, floor assemblies, walls, roofs, stairs, openings, and structural connections.

The exam also includes roofing, energy conservation, drywall, safety, contractor business law, licensing, wind, coastal construction, and erosion control. A balanced study plan is important because the classification covers the complete construction of residential units rather than one isolated trade.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Residential Contractor examination is an open-book test. The four highlighted and tabbed rental references included in this package are approved for use inside the examination room.

The North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry supports questions involving excavation, fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, personal protective equipment, tools, material handling, electrical hazards, housekeeping, and other residential construction safety requirements.

The Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management supports questions involving North Carolina contractor licensing, business organization, contracts, estimating, financial management, project administration, insurance, risk management, employment topics, liens, and professional responsibilities.

The North Carolina State Building Code: Residential Code 2018 supports questions involving residential building requirements, foundations, concrete, masonry, wood framing, walls, floors, roofs, stairs, energy efficiency, exterior protection, structural systems, and residential construction methods.

The North Carolina State Building Code: Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition supports questions involving permits, inspections, approvals, enforcement, code administration, responsibilities, and procedures connected with residential construction projects.

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Tabs must be permanent and firmly attached to the pages. Removable index flags, temporary markers, and Post-it-style tabs are not accepted. Notes may not be written on the tabs.

Loose papers and attached supplemental materials are not permitted inside the references. Printed code materials must be complete and properly bound. Partial code books are not accepted. Candidates may not write in the references during the examination session.

The 210-minute testing period provides an average of approximately two minutes and twenty seconds per question. Candidates should study the major trade concepts before test day and use the books when a question requires exact code language, a table, a safety standard, a calculation method, or a business-law provision.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Residential Contractor classification. Confirm that the classification matches the residential construction activity the business intends to perform.
2. Choose the appropriate license limitation. Select the limitation that fits the applicant’s financial qualifications and anticipated project values.
3. Identify the qualifier. Designate the individual whose accepted examination will support the requested Residential Contractor classification.
4. Prepare the license application. Assemble the required ownership, business, qualifier, financial, and background information.
5. Submit the required materials. Complete the current application or examination-request process established by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
6. Receive examination eligibility. Approved candidates receive an eligibility letter with instructions for registering and scheduling through PSI.
7. Begin the self-study course. Use the six-month course period to review residential construction subjects and develop a consistent study schedule.
8. Practice with the rental books. Work with the highlighted and tabbed references regularly so their organization becomes familiar before test day.
9. Schedule and take the examination. Bring the required identification and all four approved rental references in acceptable condition.
10. Complete the remaining licensing requirements. Passing the examination satisfies the testing component, but the licensing board must complete its review before issuing the license.
11. Return all rental books. Return the complete four-book rental set within six months in similar condition to qualify for the refundable $300 deposit.

Passing the Residential Contractor examination does not independently authorize a candidate or business to perform licensed work. The applicable applicant or business entity must receive and maintain the proper North Carolina general contractor license.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Residential Contractor classification covers construction and demolition activity involving residential units that are required to comply with the residential building code adopted by the North Carolina Building Code Council.

The classification includes site work, driveways, sidewalks, and water and wastewater systems that are ancillary to covered residential structures and improvements. It also includes work performed as part of those residential units under several specialty classifications.

Covered specialty work includes insulation, interior construction, masonry construction, roofing, swimming pools, and asbestos work when performed as part of the residential project. The classification also covers the installation of solar panels on residential units that are required to comply with the residential building code.

North Carolina generally requires a general contractor license when the total value of a covered construction project is $40,000 or more. The licensed entity must hold the appropriate classification and license limitation for the work and project value.

The classification identifies the type of construction activity the contractor is authorized to perform. The license limitation determines the monetary value of projects the contractor may undertake. Applicants should select both according to the company’s intended services, financial qualifications, and anticipated contract sizes.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, meet the board’s character and financial-responsibility requirements, submit the applicable application fee, and consent to a criminal background check when required. The applicant must also identify a qualifier who has passed an examination accepted by the board.

Reference Books

This rental package includes four professionally highlighted and tabbed references. All four books are approved for use inside the North Carolina Residential Contractor examination room. No additional study-only books are included with this product.

• Included Rental Book: North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This reference contains construction safety standards involving excavation, fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, personal protective equipment, tools, electrical hazards, material handling, housekeeping, concrete operations, and other residential jobsite concerns.
• Included Rental Book: Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management - North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  This reference covers contractor licensing, business organization, estimating, contracts, project management, financial administration, insurance, risk, employment, liens, and professional responsibilities applicable to North Carolina contractors.
• Included Rental Book: North Carolina State Building Code: Residential Code 2018
  This code covers residential construction requirements involving foundations, concrete, masonry, floors, walls, roofs, framing, stairs, exterior systems, energy efficiency, structural provisions, and other requirements applicable to residential units.
• Included Rental Book: North Carolina State Building Code: Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition
  This reference addresses code administration, permits, inspections, approvals, enforcement, responsibilities, and construction procedures. It supports preparation for questions involving the administrative side of residential construction.

All four references remain rental property. The complete set must be returned within six months in similar condition for the $300 book deposit to be refundable.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following four highlighted and tabbed rental references are approved 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 questions involving jobsite safety, excavation, fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, protective equipment, tools, material handling, and other construction-safety requirements.
• Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management - North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  Use this reference for business law, licensing, contracts, estimating, financial management, project administration, insurance, risk, liens, and contractor responsibilities.
• North Carolina State Building Code: Residential Code 2018
  Use this reference for residential code questions involving foundations, masonry, framing, walls, floors, roofs, stairs, structural systems, energy requirements, and general construction provisions.
• North Carolina State Building Code: Administrative Code and Policies, 2018 Edition
  Use this reference for questions involving permits, inspections, approvals, code administration, enforcement, and construction responsibilities.

Test Information and Study Materials

The included self-study trade course provides 6 months of course access. It organizes the examination outline into practical study areas and helps students combine residential construction knowledge with repeated reference-navigation exercises.

Begin with estimating, plan reading, and residential code requirements because this is the largest exam category. Practice reading plans, identifying dimensions, calculating quantities, interpreting symbols, locating code provisions, and connecting drawings with written requirements.

Review site work, footings, and foundations with attention to excavation, grading, drainage, soil conditions, footing dimensions, foundation walls, crawl spaces, slabs, moisture protection, anchorage, and site preparation.

Concrete, masonry, and reinforcement preparation should include materials, mixture basics, placement, curing, reinforcing steel, concrete masonry units, brick, mortar, grout, lintels, wall ties, flashing, and common installation practices.

Carpentry review should include floor systems, wall framing, roof framing, sheathing, connections, headers, openings, stairs, decks, fasteners, and wood construction principles. Candidates should also study drywall, insulation, energy conservation, roofing, and related residential trades.

Safety preparation should include fall hazards, scaffolds, ladders, excavation, tools, electrical exposure, personal protective equipment, material handling, and housekeeping. Business-law study should address licensing, contracts, liens, estimating, financial management, insurance, and project administration.

Timed practice should be part of the study routine. Read a practice question, identify the subject, select the correct approved book, locate the applicable tab, and confirm the answer from the relevant code section, table, standard, or business provision.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and a confidence-building study structure. This package provides all four approved examination references together with a self-study Residential Contractor course.

The professionally highlighted and tabbed rental books reduce the time required to create a reference-navigation system. Highlighting directs attention to important code requirements, safety provisions, administrative rules, business topics, tables, and definitions. Permanent tabs create consistent access points for repeated practice.

The self-study course helps candidates review residential site work, foundations, concrete, masonry, framing, roofing, drywall, energy conservation, estimating, plan reading, safety, licensing, and business law. Students can work through the lessons at their own pace and revisit difficult subjects throughout the six-month access period.

The rental period allows candidates to prepare with the same books they plan to use during the examination. Regular practice can improve familiarity with the tabs, chapter organization, terminology, tables, and location of frequently reviewed information.

No course or rental package guarantees a passing score, license approval, or a specific examination result. Performance depends on the candidate’s knowledge, practical experience, preparation, reference familiarity, and decisions during the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this rental package?

The package includes four professionally highlighted and tabbed exam-room-approved rental books and a self-study trade course with 6 months of course access.

What is the total initial payment?

The package price is $790, plus a refundable $300 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $1,090.

How is the $300 deposit refunded?

The $300 deposit is refundable when all rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

How long can I keep the rental books?

The rental period is six months. The complete four-book set must be returned within that period to qualify for the deposit refund.

How long is the course available?

The package includes 6 months of course access.

Are all four rental books approved for the exam room?

Yes. All four included references are approved for use inside the North Carolina Residential Contractor examination room.

Are the books already highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. Every rental reference is professionally highlighted and tabbed before shipment.

Does the package include the correct residential code?

Yes. The package includes the North Carolina State Building Code: Residential Code 2018.

Does the course include live classes?

No. This package includes self-study trade-course preparation.

How long do the books take to prepare?

Please allow 15 business days for professional highlighting and tabbing before shipment.

Does the package include the contractor-license application?

No. Licensing applications, examination eligibility, registration, testing fees, scheduling, and license issuance are handled separately.

Does this rental package guarantee a passing score?

No. The package provides organized rental references and self-study support, but examination results depend on the candidate’s knowledge, preparation, experience, reference familiarity, and performance during the test.