Sedgwick County Kansas National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC - F13-N) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

Sedgwick County Kansas National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC - F13-N) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

If you’re preparing for the Sedgwick County, Kansas National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam (ICC F13-N), the fastest way to raise your score is to get comfortable working inside the code book the exam is based on—quickly, calmly, and under time pressure.

This Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package is built for that reality. Instead of starting with a plain code book and spending your first weeks figuring out what to mark, where to tab, and how to find key requirements when the clock is running, you begin with an exam-ready reference set up for navigation.

Your included reference is the International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition. That matters because contractor exams don’t reward “mostly right.” They reward the candidate who can locate the correct section, confirm the exact detail, and choose the best answer based on code language—especially when exceptions, notes, and tables change what applies.

Highlighting and tabs help you do that more efficiently. Tabs get you to the correct chapter area fast. Highlighting helps your eyes land on the controlling language once you’re there. Together, they reduce the time you spend searching and increase the time you spend answering—exactly what open-book code exams demand.

This package is ideal for:

• Residential contractors pursuing the National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) credential used by jurisdictions and licensing departments
• Experienced builders who know the trade but want stronger code-navigation speed for an exam environment
• Students who want an exam-ready IRC without the trial-and-error of setting up a book from scratch
• Test takers who learn best by doing—practicing real lookups instead of trying to memorize large portions of the code

What You Get

• International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition (Highlighted & Tabbed)
  A prepared code reference designed for faster navigation during study and exam-style practice. Permanent tabs support quick access to key chapter areas, and highlighting helps you confirm the controlling language efficiently when you’re working under time pressure.

Exam Details

The ICC F13-N National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is a contractor/trades exam that measures your ability to apply residential code requirements in jobsite-style scenarios. You’re not just answering “what do you think?” questions—you’re expected to interpret the code and choose the best answer based on the requirements in your approved reference.

Common exam expectations include:

• Format: Multiple-choice
• Total questions: 80
• Time limit: 4 hours
• Passing score: 70%

Topic coverage is commonly presented in the same practical categories residential contractors deal with on real projects, such as:

• Permits and general regulations (foundational code concepts and how requirements are organized and triggered)
• Building planning and life safety (scenario-driven safety questions that require careful reading and accurate code confirmation)
• Structural systems (foundations, framing, floors, walls, stairs, roofs, and the details that separate correct from “almost correct”)
• Building envelope (exterior elements and roofing-related requirements that require attention to conditions and exceptions)

The strongest preparation is not passive reading. It’s active, repeatable practice using the same workflow you’ll use on test day: identify the topic, get to the right chapter, find the controlling section, confirm notes/exceptions, and answer with confidence.

Open Book Test

The ICC F13-N National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is an open book exam, and that changes how you should prepare. Open book does not mean you have time to “search everything.” It means your references are available, and your success depends on how efficiently you can use them.

A smart open-book strategy is built around these habits:

• Start in the right place fast by using tabs and chapter familiarity instead of depending on the index for every question.
• Read for triggers (the condition that tells you whether a requirement applies).
• Scan for exceptions and notes before committing to an answer.
• Use tables carefully—including footnotes and referenced sections that modify the table value.

This highlighted & tabbed IRC helps you build those habits sooner because it reduces the friction of navigation. You’ll spend less time flipping pages and more time practicing the skill that matters most: proving answers with code language.

Licensing Steps

Contractor licensing in Kansas is commonly handled at the local level. In the Sedgwick County and Wichita area, contractor licensing is administered through the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) for its jurisdictional coverage.

While requirements vary by license classification and scope, the process typically follows a path like this:

1. Confirm your license classification based on the type of residential work you plan to perform and where you’ll pull permits.
2. Confirm the required exam and the exact exam code (ICC F13-N) listed for your classification.
3. Prepare using the approved reference and train your navigation method through consistent practice.
4. Complete the exam requirement as directed by the licensing authority.
5. Submit your local application and supporting documentation.
6. Maintain your license according to local renewal requirements and ongoing compliance expectations.

This package supports the preparation step in a practical way: it helps you work with the IRC the way the exam expects you to use it—quickly, accurately, and repeatedly.

State Requirements

Because licensing is local, requirements can differ depending on where you work, which jurisdiction you will be permitted in, and what classification applies to your scope. In the Sedgwick County/Wichita metro area, MABCD provides contractor licensing resources and handles processing for contractor licensing within its jurisdiction.

If your goal is to move smoothly from “studying” to “licensed,” stay organized with the items that typically come up during the application process—especially anything your jurisdiction requires for contractor licensing such as insurance documentation, applications, and exam results when applicable.

Reference Books

Please allow up to 15 business days for tabbed and highlighted  -exam approved book package orders

• International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition
  The primary reference for the ICC F13-N National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam track. This package includes a highlighted & tabbed version designed to support faster navigation and more efficient exam-style lookups during study and testing.

Test Information and Study Materials

The best way to prepare for a residential contractor code exam is to study the way you’ll be tested: by answering questions through code lookups. That approach builds the two skills the exam rewards—understanding what the question is asking and finding the controlling language fast.

Build your “question-to-code” routine

Use the same routine every time you practice. Consistency is what creates speed.

1. Identify the topic (stairs, roof framing, foundations, egress, glazing, etc.).
2. Use tabs to get close to the right chapter family.
3. Narrow using headings and subheadings so you’re not scanning entire chapters.
4. Confirm the exact detail (exception, note, definition, or table value).
5. Answer and move on—don’t over-search once you’ve confirmed the controlling language.

What to focus on inside the IRC (without trying to study everything)

Most candidates improve faster when they stop trying to read the IRC like a textbook and instead practice the sections that show up repeatedly in scenario questions. High-impact areas often include:

• Footings and foundations: the kind of topics where conditions matter and definitions/notes can change how you apply a requirement
• Floors, walls, and roof framing: structural questions that require accurate lookups and careful reading of the code language
• Stairs, guards, and handrails: detail-heavy provisions where one missed condition can flip the correct answer
• Openings, glazing, and safety items: areas that often include exceptions and scenario-driven requirements
• Exterior elements and roofing-related provisions: topics where code language and conditions determine what applies

Timed drills that build exam speed

Speed comes from repetition with structure. Short drills tend to create better results than long, unfocused sessions.

• 10-minute navigation drill: Pick a topic and locate five related sections as fast as you can using only tabs and headings.
• Answer-and-prove drill: For each practice question, find the code section that supports your answer before you move on.
• Exception scan drill: Practice questions where the wrong answers ignore an exception. Train yourself to scan exceptions every time.
• Table drill: Choose a table and practice answering “what changes this?” by reading the notes, footnotes, and referenced sections.

How highlighting & tabbing helps on test day

• Faster chapter access: Tabs reduce the time it takes to land in the right part of the book.
• Cleaner confirmation: Highlighting helps your eyes find the controlling language once you’re in the right section.
• More confident pacing: When your book is familiar, you spend less time searching and less time second-guessing.
• Better focus under pressure: You can stay in “answer mode” instead of turning the exam into a page-flipping challenge.

This is what makes a prepared book valuable. It doesn’t replace learning—but it makes practicing the most important exam skill (navigation) easier, faster, and more consistent.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

Residential contractor candidates do best when their preparation matches how ICC-style questions work: scenario-driven, code-referenced, and time-sensitive. 1 Exam Prep supports your goal with a practical approach built around organized study and repeatable practice.

• Organized study guidance so your prep stays focused on the code areas most relevant to residential contractor job tasks.
• Practice-oriented preparation that reinforces the skill you’ll use on test day: turning a scenario into a correct code lookup and a code-backed answer.
• Reference navigation support to help you build speed using the IRC efficiently—critical for open-book testing.
• Confidence-building structure through consistent routines that improve accuracy and time management without overcomplicating your plan.

The goal is realistic: help you prepare with a method you can repeat on every question—so you walk into the exam with a calm process and stronger reference confidence.

FAQ: What is included in this highlighted & tabbed book package?

This package includes the International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition in a highlighted & tabbed format designed to support faster navigation and exam-style reference use.

FAQ: Is this a course or just the prepared book?

This is a prepared book package. It’s built for students who want the correct reference set up for efficient studying and exam-day lookups.

FAQ: Is the ICC F13-N exam open book?

Yes. The ICC F13-N National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) exam is an open book exam, so your preparation should emphasize navigation speed, accuracy, and consistent code lookups.

FAQ: Why does the code edition matter?

Code exams are tied to specific reference editions. Studying with the correct edition keeps your lookups aligned with the organization, numbering, and language you’ll be using during the exam.

FAQ: What’s the best way to study with an open-book code exam?

Practice the way you’ll test: read the scenario, identify the topic, find the controlling section quickly, confirm exceptions and table notes, and answer. Short, timed drills build speed and confidence faster than long reading sessions.

FAQ: Will a highlighted & tabbed book guarantee I’ll pass?

No. A prepared book supports faster navigation and cleaner lookups, but your results still depend on consistent practice and learning how to apply code language to residential contractor scenarios.

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