North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor Books & Course Rental - Exam Room Approved

Prepare for the North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination with a focused rental package that combines all three exam-room-approved references with a structured self-study trade course. Each rental book is professionally highlighted and tabbed to support organized preparation, efficient reference navigation, and practical use during the open-book examination.

The North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor exam covers concrete pipe installation, ductile iron pipe installation, excavation, grading, jobsite safety, erosion and sedimentation control, utility-location requirements, contractor laws, and general trade knowledge. Candidates must understand underground utility construction while also knowing how to find exact installation and safety requirements in the approved books.

This package includes the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, the Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe, and Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, 2019. All three rental references are professionally highlighted and tabbed to help candidates identify important sections and practice locating information before test day.

The official examination reference list identifies earlier editions of the ductile iron and concrete pipe installation guides and permits candidates to use later editions of non-code references as they become available. This package uses the listed Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe and the 2019 edition of Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation.

The included self-study trade course provides 6 months of course access. Students can review water-line and sewer-line construction, pipe handling, trench preparation, bedding, installation, joint assembly, backfill, testing concepts, excavation safety, grading, and erosion-control principles. The course also helps candidates practice working with the same highlighted and tabbed references they plan to take into the examination room.

Please allow 15 business days for professional highlighting and tabbing before shipment. The package price is $420, plus a refundable $100 rental-book deposit, for a total initial payment of $520. The $100 deposit is refundable when all rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines 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.

• Classification: Public Utilities — Water Lines and Sewer Lines
• Number of questions: 45
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Passing score: 70%
• Testing format: Computer-based examination
• Testing provider: PSI Services LLC

The examination content outline includes the following subject areas:

• Safety: 6 questions
• General Knowledge: 3 questions
• Underground Utilities — Concrete Pipe Installation: 10 questions
• Underground Utilities — Ductile Pipe Installation: 10 questions
• Excavating and Grading: 9 questions
• Liens: 1 question
• Erosion and Sedimentation Control: 2 questions
• One-Call Requirements: 2 questions
• Laws and Regulations: 2 questions

Concrete pipe and ductile iron pipe installation account for 20 of the 45 examination questions. Candidates should study pipe materials, unloading, storage, inspection, trench preparation, bedding, joint assembly, alignment, grade control, installation procedures, backfill, compaction, and protection of completed work.

Excavating and grading account for nine questions. Preparation should include trench excavation, soil conditions, sloping, benching, protective systems, dewatering, trench access, spoil placement, grade control, backfilling, compaction, surface restoration, and safe operation around underground utilities.

Safety accounts for six questions and may overlap with excavation and pipe-installation activities. Candidates should understand trench protection, personal protective equipment, equipment hazards, lifting and rigging, confined work areas, ladders, traffic exposure, material handling, and general construction-site practices.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination is an open-book test. The three 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 excavations, trenches, protective systems, access, spoil placement, equipment operation, personal protective equipment, material handling, cranes, rigging, ladders, confined spaces, and other construction-site hazards.

The Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe supports questions involving ductile iron pipe handling, trench preparation, bedding, joint assembly, alignment, installation, restrained joints, fittings, backfill, thrust restraint, testing considerations, and protection of the completed pipeline.

Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, 2019 supports questions involving reinforced concrete pipe, box culverts, excavation, foundations, bedding, jointing, placement, line and grade, backfill, compaction, inspection, and installation practices for concrete drainage and utility structures.

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 permitted. Notes may not be written on the tabs.

Loose papers and attached supplemental materials are not allowed. Candidates may not write in the references during the examination session. The books should remain complete, securely bound, and in acceptable condition for entry into the testing center.

The 120-minute testing period provides an average of approximately two minutes and forty seconds per question. Candidates should learn the core installation principles before test day and use the books when a question requires an exact safety rule, procedure, dimension, installation recommendation, or technical detail.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Water Lines and Sewer Lines classification. Confirm that the classification matches the underground water and sewer construction work the business intends to perform.
2. Choose the appropriate license limitation. Select a limitation that fits the applicant’s financial qualifications and expected project values.
3. Identify the qualifier. Designate the individual whose accepted examination will support the requested classification.
4. Prepare the licensing 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 access period to review pipe installation, excavation, grading, safety, erosion control, and contractor requirements.
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 three 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 three-book rental set within six months in similar condition to qualify for the refundable $100 deposit.

Passing the examination does not independently authorize a person or company to perform licensed contracting work. The applicant or business entity must receive and maintain the appropriate North Carolina contractor license.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Water Lines and Sewer Lines classification covers construction work on water and sewer mains, water service lines, and house and building sewer lines as defined by the North Carolina State Building Code.

The classification also covers water storage tanks, lift stations, pumping stations, and appurtenances associated with water storage tanks, lift stations, and pumping stations. Related pavement patching, backfill, and erosion-control work is included when performed as part of the covered water-line or sewer-line construction.

The work commonly involves excavation, trench preparation, pipe installation, connections, fittings, valves, structures, bedding, backfill, compaction, testing coordination, site restoration, and protection of existing utilities. Contractors must perform this work according to applicable plans, specifications, safety rules, and inspection requirements.

The Water Lines and Sewer Lines classification is a subclassification within the Public Utilities contractor category. Applicants should select the classification that matches the work they intend to perform and the license limitation that matches their financial qualifications and anticipated project values.

The applicant must designate a qualifier whose accepted examination supports the Water Lines and Sewer Lines classification. Passing the examination completes the testing portion of the process, but the licensing board must approve the full application before issuing a license.

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 maintain the appropriate classification and limitation for the work and project value.

Reference Books

This rental package includes three professionally highlighted and tabbed references. All three books are approved for use inside the North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination room.

• Included Rental Book: North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This reference contains construction safety requirements involving excavations, trenches, protective systems, access, material handling, equipment, personal protective equipment, ladders, cranes, rigging, and other hazards associated with underground utility work.
• Included Rental Book: Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe
  This guide covers practical procedures for handling and installing ductile iron pipe. Topics include unloading, storage, trench preparation, bedding, joint assembly, fittings, alignment, restrained joints, thrust restraint, backfill, and protection of the completed pipeline.
• Included Rental Book: Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, 2019
  This guide addresses reinforced concrete pipe and box culvert installation. It includes excavation, foundations, bedding, placement, joining, line and grade, backfill, compaction, inspection, handling, and installation-quality considerations.

All three references remain rental property. The complete set must be returned within six months in similar condition for the $100 rental-book deposit to be refundable.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following three highlighted and tabbed rental references are approved for use inside the North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Use this reference for questions involving excavation safety, protective systems, trench access, spoil placement, personal protective equipment, material handling, lifting, equipment, and general jobsite requirements.
• Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe
  Use this guide for ductile iron pipe handling, trench preparation, bedding, joining, fittings, restraints, installation, backfill, and related pipeline procedures.
• Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation, 2019
  Use this guide for concrete pipe and box culvert handling, foundations, bedding, placement, jointing, backfill, compaction, inspection, and installation practices.

Candidates should practice using all three references before test day. Highlighting and permanent tabs create an organized navigation system, but repeated use is necessary to become familiar with each book’s layout, terminology, diagrams, tables, and installation procedures.

Test Information and Study Materials

The included self-study trade course provides 6 months of course access. It organizes the examination subjects into practical study areas and helps candidates combine underground utility knowledge with repeated reference-navigation practice.

Begin with concrete and ductile iron pipe installation because these categories account for almost half of the examination. Review receiving and inspecting pipe, unloading, storage, trench preparation, bedding, joint assembly, line and grade, fittings, restraints, backfill, compaction, and protection of installed work.

For concrete pipe and box culverts, study foundation conditions, bedding types, lifting, placement, joints, alignment, backfill zones, compaction methods, inspection points, and installation defects that may affect performance.

For ductile iron pipe, review pipe classes, joints, gaskets, fittings, restrained systems, thrust control, cutting, handling, trench conditions, bedding, assembly procedures, and backfilling practices.

Excavation and grading preparation should include soil conditions, trench geometry, sloping, benching, shielding, shoring, water control, safe access, spoil placement, equipment clearance, grade control, compaction, and restoration.

Safety study should emphasize trench protection, underground hazards, equipment operation, lifting, rigging, personal protective equipment, ladders, traffic exposure, and safe material handling. Candidates should practice locating exact requirements in the approved safety reference.

Timed practice should be part of the preparation routine. Read a question, identify the subject, choose the most relevant reference, locate the applicable tab, and confirm the answer from the correct section, diagram, table, or installation procedure.

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 combines all three approved examination references with a self-study Water and Sewer Lines Contractor course.

The professionally highlighted and tabbed rental books reduce the time required to build a reference-navigation system. Highlighting directs attention toward important installation procedures, safety standards, diagrams, definitions, and technical requirements. Permanent tabs create practical access points for repeated study and exam-day use.

The self-study course helps candidates review concrete pipe, ductile iron pipe, excavation, grading, safety, erosion-control principles, utility-location requirements, laws, and general trade knowledge. Students can work through the material at their own pace and revisit difficult subjects during the six-month access period.

The rental period allows candidates to prepare with the same books they plan to use during the examination. Regular use can strengthen familiarity with the tabs, section organization, terminology, illustrations, 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, experience, preparation, reference familiarity, and decisions during the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this rental package?

The package includes three 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 $420, plus a refundable $100 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $520.

How is the $100 deposit refunded?

The $100 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 three-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 three rental books approved for the exam room?

Yes. All three included references are approved for use inside the North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination room.

Are the books already highlighted and tabbed?

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

Is the examination open book?

Yes. The North Carolina Water and Sewer Lines Contractor examination is open book, and candidates may use the approved references in accordance with PSI testing rules.

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.