The 1 Package: All-Inclusive North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor Licensing & Business Setup

Build a complete path toward your North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor license and business setup with one organized package. The 1 Package combines professionally highlighted and tabbed exam references, a one-year trade course, self-study preparation, live-class instruction, Application Service, business formation support, EIN filing, and contractor compliance guidance.

This all-inclusive package is designed for contractors who want more than a stack of books. It brings exam preparation, licensing support, and essential business setup services into one structured program. Candidates receive the two references approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating examination room, six additional study-only references, organized course access, and assistance with the administrative steps involved in building a contracting business.

Every included book is professionally highlighted and tabbed. Highlighting draws attention to important standards, definitions, procedures, tables, safety rules, construction specifications, excavation concepts, erosion-control requirements, and contractor regulations. Permanent tabs divide each reference into practical sections, helping candidates locate information more efficiently during study and inside the approved references on exam day.

The trade course includes both self-study and live-class preparation. Self-study access gives candidates the flexibility to review course material on their own schedule, while the live class provides guided instruction and a more structured way to work through exam topics. Course access remains available for one full year.

Please allow 15 business days for the included books to be highlighted and tabbed before shipment. The package price is $1,955, plus a refundable $400 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $2,355. The $400 deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Exam Details

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is administered by PSI for the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Eligibility to take the examination is determined through the licensing process before the candidate registers and schedules a testing appointment.

• Examination classification: H — Grading and Excavating
• Number of scored questions: 45
• Passing score: 70%
• Time allowed: 120 minutes
• Testing format: Computer-based examination
• Testing provider: PSI Services LLC

The examination content outline includes the following subject areas:

• General Knowledge and Regulations: 9 questions
• Excavating and Grading: 18 questions
• Safety: 6 questions
• Lien Law: 1 question
• Licensing and Regulations: 2 questions
• One Call: 3 questions
• Erosion and Sedimentation Control: 6 questions

Excavating and grading is the largest examination category, but candidates should prepare for every subject. Safety and erosion-control questions make up a meaningful part of the test, while One Call procedures, licensing rules, general regulations, and lien law can affect the final score.

The two-hour testing period gives candidates an average of approximately two minutes and forty seconds per scored question. Effective preparation should include trade knowledge, careful reading, and repeated practice locating exact information in the approved references.

Open Book Test

The North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination is an open-book test. Only the references officially approved for this classification may be used inside the examination room. In this package, the approved references are the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and the North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018.

The six remaining books are included for study but are not allowed inside the examination room. Candidates should use these references to learn erosion-control requirements, excavation practices, One Call responsibilities, business law, lien concepts, licensing rules, and contractor regulations before test day.

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the exam. Permanent tabs must be securely attached to the pages. Removable flags, temporary tabs, loose notes, and easily detached markers are not accepted. Candidates should bring only the approved books and materials permitted under the current testing rules.

The highlighted and tabbed preparation in this package supports faster navigation, but candidates should practice using the tabs throughout the course. Familiarity with the location of safety provisions, construction specifications, definitions, tables, and earthwork requirements is essential when working within the examination time limit.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Grading and Excavating classification. Confirm that the classification matches the work the company plans to perform.
2. Choose the license limitation. Select the North Carolina license limitation that fits the company’s financial qualifications and expected project size.
3. Establish the business entity. Form the LLC or corporation that will operate the contracting business.
4. Obtain the EIN. File for the Employer Identification Number used for banking, taxation, hiring, and business administration.
5. Identify the qualifier. Designate the individual whose examination will qualify the license for the requested classification.
6. Prepare the application. Complete the required licensing information and assemble the requested business, financial, and background documents.
7. Submit the licensing materials. Use the included Application Service to organize and submit the applicable application information.
8. Receive examination eligibility. After approval, follow the instructions provided for registering with PSI.
9. Schedule and take the examination. Select an available testing appointment and bring only approved exam-room references.
10. Complete the licensing process. Satisfy the remaining board requirements before the license is issued.
11. Maintain business compliance. Keep the business entity, licensing records, tax information, and contractor requirements properly organized.

The Application Service helps organize the licensing process, while the business formation and EIN services address key steps involved in establishing the contracting company. License approval remains subject to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors and its applicable requirements.

State Requirements

North Carolina generally requires a valid general contractor license when a person or business bids on, contracts for, or undertakes a covered construction project valued at $40,000 or more. The license must include a classification and limitation appropriate for the work and project value.

The Grading and Excavating classification covers the digging, moving, and placement of materials that form the surface of the earth. This includes cuts, fills, excavation, grading, trenches, backfilling, clearing, grubbing, erosion-control activities, work on earthen dams, and related operations performed with tools and equipment commonly used in the trade.

The applicant must designate a qualifier whose accepted examination supports the requested classification. Passing the examination completes the testing requirement, but it does not independently issue the contractor license. The licensing board must complete its review of the applicant and business entity.

Classification and limitation serve different purposes. The classification identifies the type of construction work the contractor is authorized to perform. The limitation governs the maximum value of a single project the contractor may undertake.

Business formation is also an important part of the setup process. The LLC or corporation provides the legal structure under which the contracting company operates. The EIN supports business banking, tax administration, payroll, employee hiring, and other professional business activities.

Reference Books

The package includes eight professionally highlighted and tabbed references. Two books are approved for use inside the examination room. Six books are included for study only.

• Included Book: North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Exam Room Approved. Covers construction safety requirements involving excavations, trenches, protective systems, equipment, access, material placement, personal protective equipment, and workplace hazards.
• Included Book: North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Exam Room Approved. Contains roadway and structural construction specifications involving excavation, grading, earthwork, embankments, materials, measurement, construction procedures, and related requirements.
• Included Book: North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4 Sedimentation Control, Including the Latest Amendments
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Covers administrative rules related to sedimentation control, land-disturbing activities, plans, inspections, enforcement, stabilization, and compliance responsibilities.
• Included Book: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4 Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Provides the statutory framework for controlling sedimentation resulting from land-disturbing construction activities.
• Included Book: North Carolina Excavation Safety Guidelines, 2022 or Later
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Supports preparation for One Call, underground-facility notification, utility markings, safe excavation practices, and excavator responsibilities.
• Included Book: Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — North Carolina General Contractors Edition, 10th Edition
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Covers business organization, licensing, contracts, liens, project management, financial administration, insurance, risk, and contractor responsibilities.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Reviews soils, excavation, trenching, grading, pipe installation, equipment, dewatering, backfilling, compaction, estimating, and field practices.
• Included Book: Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina
  Study Only — Not Allowed in the Exam Room. Contains statutes and administrative rules involving contractor classifications, limitations, qualifiers, applications, responsibilities, and enforcement.

Exam Room Approved Books

Only the following two included books are approved for use inside the North Carolina Grading and Excavating Contractor examination room:

• North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, with Latest Available Amendments
  Used for safety questions involving excavation, trenching, protective systems, access, equipment, and construction-site requirements.
• North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018
  Used for questions involving earthwork, grading, excavation, embankments, materials, construction procedures, and specifications.

The other six books are study-only references and must not be taken into the examination room for this classification.

Test Information and Study Materials

The one-year trade course combines self-study and live-class preparation. Self-study access allows candidates to review material repeatedly and work through the topics at a manageable pace. The live class adds guided instruction, organized topic review, and a structured environment for understanding major exam areas.

Begin with excavating and grading because it accounts for 18 questions. Review soils, excavation methods, cut-and-fill operations, trenches, backfill, compaction, equipment applications, grading procedures, drainage, production, and common field conditions.

Safety and erosion control account for twelve questions combined. Practice navigating the approved safety reference while studying erosion-control rules and statutes in advance. Review excavation protection, access and egress, spoil placement, inspections, equipment hazards, stabilization, sediment-control measures, and land-disturbance responsibilities.

Study One Call requirements carefully because the excavation guidelines cannot be used during the exam. Learn utility-notification responsibilities, markings, communication practices, and safe digging procedures before test day.

Use timed reference exercises throughout the course. Identify the subject, choose the correct approved book, locate the relevant tab, and confirm the answer from the applicable section. The goal is to combine technical knowledge with efficient book navigation.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, live instruction, self-study preparation, reference navigation, and a confidence-building study structure. The package brings the exam books, course, application support, and business setup services into one coordinated program.

The highlighted and tabbed books reduce the time required to organize a large reference library. The course helps candidates connect the examination outline to the books, practice finding information, and review grading, excavation, safety, erosion control, One Call, licensing, and business topics.

Application Service helps organize the licensing paperwork, while business formation and EIN filing support the creation of the company’s legal and administrative foundation. Contractor Compliance Guidance helps customers understand the responsibilities that accompany operating a North Carolina contracting business.

No course or service can guarantee a passing score, license approval, or business outcome. Consistent preparation, accurate application information, financial qualification, compliance with state requirements, and performance on the examination remain essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in The 1 Package?

The package includes eight highlighted and tabbed books, one year of trade-course access, self-study preparation, live-class instruction, Application Service, LLC or corporation formation, EIN filing, and contractor compliance guidance.

What is the total initial price?

The package price is $1,955, plus a refundable $400 book deposit, for a total initial payment of $2,355.

How is the $400 book deposit refunded?

The $400 deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

How long is the course available?

The package includes 1 year of course access.

Does the course include live instruction?

Yes. The trade course includes both self-study preparation and a live class.

Are all eight books allowed in the exam room?

No. Only the North Carolina safety standards and the 2018 North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures are approved for exam-room use. The other six books are study only.

Does the package include business formation?

Yes. Business Formation for an LLC or corporation is included.

Is EIN filing included?

Yes. EIN filing with the IRS is included to support business banking, taxes, hiring, and professional operations.

Is Application Service included?

Yes. Application Service is included as part of The 1 Package.

How long do the books take to prepare?

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

Does this package guarantee license approval or a passing score?

No. The package provides preparation and administrative support, but examination results and license approval depend on the candidate and applicant meeting all applicable requirements.