North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor examination with a focused package containing the two references approved for use inside the examination room. This package includes the North Carolina construction safety standards and the state administrative rules governing water supplies, giving candidates the core exam-room resources needed for safety and water-regulation questions.

The North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor Books Allowed into Exam Package is intended for candidates who want only the references permitted during the open-book examination. It does not include the additional concrete, shotcrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, excavation, sedimentation-control, business, law, or project-management books used for broader study outside the testing center.

The examination covers construction work associated with water and wastewater systems and treatment facilities. Candidates may be tested on safety, shotcrete, concrete, concrete reinforcement, excavation and grading, water regulations, laws, liens, utility-location requirements, erosion and sedimentation control, and formwork. Although this package contains the two books allowed into the exam room, successful preparation should also include study materials addressing the subjects not covered by those references.

An open-book examination still requires strong trade knowledge and efficient reference navigation. Candidates must recognize the topic presented in a question, decide whether the answer is likely found in the safety standards or the water-supply regulations, locate the applicable section, and interpret the information within the available time. Regular practice with both books can help make that process more organized.

This package is a practical choice for applicants who already own the study-only references, are using an online exam-preparation course, or want to purchase the exam-room books separately. The two publications can be used throughout preparation to review construction safety requirements, public water-supply provisions, regulatory terminology, treatment-facility responsibilities, and related compliance topics.

What You Get

The books in this package should be used during preparation as well as on exam day. Becoming familiar with their organization, section numbering, headings, definitions, tables, and terminology can reduce the amount of time spent searching during the examination.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. The Board determines whether a candidate is eligible to take the examination. Once approved, the candidate receives instructions for registration and scheduling.

• Examination: North Carolina PU Water Purification and Sewage Disposal
• Testing provider: PSI
• Number of questions: 50
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Passing score: 70%
• Testing method: Computer-administered examination
• Reference format: Open book with approved materials

The examination content outline assigns six questions to safety, five questions to shotcrete, eight questions to concrete, seven questions to concrete reinforcement, and seven questions to excavation and grading. Water regulations account for two questions, while laws and regulations account for four questions.

The remaining subjects include one question on liens, two questions on One Call requirements, two questions on erosion and sedimentation control, and six questions on formwork. Concrete, concrete reinforcement, formwork, and shotcrete together represent a significant part of the examination, so candidates should use additional study materials to prepare for those subjects even though those books are not allowed in the testing center.

The examination may also contain questions based on trade knowledge and accepted industry practices. Candidates should understand construction methods and contractor responsibilities instead of depending exclusively on their ability to search the two approved books.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor examination is an open-book test. Candidates may bring the two approved references included in this package into the examination center when the materials comply with PSI’s current rules.

Candidates are responsible for bringing their own reference materials. Personal copies are not supplied at the testing center. The books should be complete, properly bound, and free from unauthorized materials.

Reference materials may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Permanent tabs may be used when they are securely attached and not easily removable. Removable page flags and temporary tabs are not accepted. Notes may not be written on tabs.

References may not contain handwritten notes, attached papers, loose pages, or unauthorized inserts. Candidates may not write in the reference books before or during the examination session. Testing-center personnel may remove or confiscate prohibited material.

With 50 questions and 120 minutes, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds per question. That time includes reading the question, identifying the subject, choosing the correct reference, finding the applicable rule or safety provision, interpreting it, and selecting an answer.

Practice deciding which book applies before opening a reference. Questions involving trench protection, worker access, equipment hazards, personal protective equipment, concrete operations, scaffolds, fall protection, or general construction safety should generally direct you to the occupational safety standards. Questions involving public water supplies, treatment requirements, system responsibilities, construction provisions, monitoring, or regulatory compliance should direct you to Title 15A, Subchapter 18C.

Licensing Steps

1. Review the classification. Confirm that Water Purification and Sewage Disposal matches the type of contracting work the applicant or business intends to perform.
2. Complete the application or examination request. Submit the required information to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
3. Identify the qualifier. The applicant must designate the individual who will satisfy the examination requirement for the classification.
4. Select the appropriate license limitation. Choose the limitation that corresponds with the size and scope of the projects the business plans to undertake.
5. Provide supporting documentation. Submit the organizational, financial, qualifier, and other information required by the Board.
6. Receive examination eligibility. Approved candidates receive an eligibility letter and instructions for registering with PSI.
7. Schedule the examination. Use the identification information supplied through the eligibility process to arrange the testing appointment.
8. Prepare for every examination subject. Study the two approved exam-room books and use separate materials for concrete, shotcrete, reinforcement, formwork, excavation, law, and sedimentation control.
9. Take the examination. Bring the required identification and only the reference materials and equipment permitted under current testing rules.
10. Complete the remaining licensing process. Follow the Board’s instructions concerning examination results and any outstanding application requirements.

Passing the examination does not automatically issue a contractor license. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors must approve the applicant and confirm that all applicable licensing requirements have been completed.

State Requirements

The Water Purification and Sewage Disposal classification covers construction work on water and wastewater systems and water and wastewater treatment facilities. It also includes site work, grading, and paving of parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters when those activities are ancillary to the construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities.

The classification includes qualifying work performed under several related specialty areas when completed as part of water and wastewater treatment-facility construction. These areas include concrete construction, insulation, interior construction, masonry construction, roofing, and metal erection.

Applicants must designate a qualifier who satisfies the examination requirement for the classification. The qualifier provides the examination qualification associated with the license, while the license is issued to the approved individual or legal business entity.

North Carolina contractor licenses are issued under limitations that affect the value of projects a licensee may undertake. Applicants must choose the appropriate limitation and satisfy the financial or bonding requirements connected with that level.

Water and wastewater treatment construction can involve structural concrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, process-related structures, excavation, grading, piping, safety controls, and environmental responsibilities. Contractors should understand the boundaries of the classification and coordinate work requiring other licensed trades when necessary.

Reference Books

This exam-room package includes the following two North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor references:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  This publication contains construction safety requirements applicable to water and wastewater treatment-facility projects. Topics include excavation and trenching, concrete and masonry construction, reinforcing steel, formwork, ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, confined spaces, hazardous atmospheres, electrical hazards, material handling, equipment operation, personal protective equipment, and employer responsibilities.
• North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A, Subchapter 18C: Water Supplies, Including the Latest Amendments
  This reference contains North Carolina regulations governing public water supplies. It supports preparation involving definitions, water-system requirements, sources, treatment, construction, operation, monitoring, distribution, compliance, and the responsibilities associated with public water-supply facilities.

The occupational safety standards should be studied as more than a list of isolated rules. Many requirements depend on jobsite conditions, employee exposure, equipment use, excavation depth, access, atmosphere, or the type of construction operation being performed. Read the surrounding sections so that exceptions, definitions, and condition-specific requirements are understood.

The water-supply regulations should be reviewed by topic and section number. Learn where definitions, system requirements, treatment provisions, operational responsibilities, monitoring rules, and enforcement-related material appear. Familiarity with the regulatory structure can make it easier to locate a specific provision when the wording of an examination question differs from the wording used in the rule.

Exam Room Approved Books

The following two references are allowed into the North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
• North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A, Subchapter 18C: Water Supplies, Including the Latest Amendments

This package does not include books that are prohibited in the examination room. Separate study references may still be needed for excavation safety, contractor business and law, sedimentation control, concrete mixtures, shotcrete, reinforcing bars, formwork, pipe and excavation contracting, liens, and North Carolina licensing regulations.

Before the testing appointment, inspect both references carefully. Remove temporary tabs, loose papers, handwritten notes, inserted pages, detachable materials, and unauthorized attachments. Permanent tabs must remain firmly attached and may not contain notes.

The testing center makes the final determination regarding whether a reference complies with exam-day requirements. Candidates should prepare their books before arriving so that prohibited materials do not delay check-in or prevent a reference from being used.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin your study plan with safety because the occupational safety standards are available in the examination room and safety accounts for six questions. Review excavation hazards, protective systems, access and egress, water accumulation, hazardous atmospheres, material handling, mobile equipment, personal protective equipment, fall protection, concrete construction, reinforcing steel, and formwork safety.

Water regulations account for two questions, but those questions can still contribute directly to the passing score. Study the organization of Title 15A, Subchapter 18C and become familiar with the terminology used for public water supplies, treatment, distribution, monitoring, compliance, and system responsibilities.

Concrete is the largest individual examination category, with eight questions. Concrete reinforcement and excavation and grading each contain seven questions. Formwork and safety each contain six questions, while shotcrete contains five questions. These subjects require separate preparation because the related technical books are not included in the approved exam-room list.

For concrete preparation, study materials, mixture properties, proportioning, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, durability, testing, and quality control. For concrete reinforcement, review bar identification, placement, spacing, supports, splices, development, bends, tolerances, and coordination with formwork and concrete placement.

Formwork study should include loads, bracing, shoring, materials, construction methods, tolerances, stripping, reshoring, safety, and planning. Shotcrete study should address surface preparation, equipment, materials, application methods, reinforcement encasement, curing, inspection, testing, and quality control.

Excavation and grading preparation should include soil removal, trench planning, equipment selection, slopes, access, dewatering, utility conflicts, line and grade, backfill, compaction, and site restoration. Candidates should also review One Call requirements before the examination because those responsibilities are tested even though the excavation guidelines are not allowed in the room.

Laws, regulations, liens, and erosion and sedimentation control should be learned before test day. Use separate study resources to review contractor licensing responsibilities, project administration, land-disturbing activities, stabilization, runoff, erosion-control planning, utility notification, and lien-related concepts.

Practice timed questions using the two approved books. Identify the subject first, choose the most likely reference, use the table of contents or section numbering, and confirm the answer. Record topics that take too long to locate and return to those sections during later study sessions.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor candidates build an organized preparation plan around the examination outline and approved reference materials. This package provides the two books available during the open-book test so candidates can begin developing reference familiarity early.

Trade-focused review should connect each examination subject with the correct resource. Safety and water-regulation questions can be practiced directly with the included books. Concrete, shotcrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, excavation, sedimentation control, and contractor law can be developed through separate study materials and preparation tools.

1 Exam Prep emphasizes reference navigation where it applies. Candidates should learn the structure of each approved book, practice searching by topic, and become comfortable using headings, definitions, section numbers, indexes, and tables. Repeated practice can help turn the books into useful exam tools instead of unfamiliar materials.

Practice-oriented preparation also helps reveal weak areas. A candidate experienced in excavation may need additional review of water regulations or reinforcing steel. Another candidate may understand concrete construction but need more work with safety standards, formwork, or North Carolina contractor responsibilities.

An organized study structure can help candidates approach a broad examination with greater confidence. No package can guarantee passing, application approval, or license issuance, but the correct references combined with consistent study can support a more focused preparation process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal exam open book?

Yes. The examination is open book, but only approved references that comply with the current testing rules may be used in the examination room.

How many books are included in this package?

The package includes two references: the North Carolina construction safety standards and Title 15A, Subchapter 18C: Water Supplies.

Are both included books allowed into the exam room?

Yes. Both books in this package are identified for use during the North Carolina Water Purification and Sewage Disposal Contractor examination.

Does this package include books that are not allowed into the exam?

No. This package is limited to the two exam-room references. Additional technical and business study books are purchased separately.

How many questions are on the examination?

The examination contains 50 questions.

How much time is allowed?

Candidates are allowed 120 minutes to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The required passing score is 70%.

Which subjects have the most questions?

Concrete contains eight questions. Concrete reinforcement and excavation and grading each contain seven questions. Safety and formwork each contain six questions.

Can the books be highlighted or tabbed?

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Tabs must be permanent, and notes may not be written on them. Removable flags and loose papers are prohibited.

Do these two books cover the entire examination?

No. They cover safety and water-regulation material available during the test. Candidates should use separate study resources for concrete, shotcrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, excavation, law, liens, utility notification, and sedimentation control.

Does passing the examination automatically issue a contractor license?

No. Passing the examination is one part of the licensing process. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors must approve the application and confirm that all requirements have been completed.

Does purchasing this package guarantee a passing score?

No. The package provides the approved exam-room references, but examination results depend on the candidate’s knowledge, preparation, trade experience, reference-navigation skills, and performance on test day.