Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting - Book Rental Package (Class A/B Business and Trade)

Prepare for the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting examination and the Class A/B contractor business examination with a focused book rental package built around the references used for these open-book contractor exams. This package is designed for candidates who want the required trade and business reference materials organized, highlighted, and tabbed before exam day so they can spend more of their preparation time learning where information is located and how to navigate the books efficiently.

Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting, commonly identified as CIC, covers repair or improvement work on structures that are not defined as dwellings or townhouses under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The CIC specialty includes commercial improvement work but does not authorize construction of new buildings or accessory buildings, and it does not include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas work. Virginia also recognizes masonry contracting, painting and wallcovering contracting, and roofing contracting within the CIC scope.

This rental package combines references used for the Commercial Improvement Contracting trade examination with key materials used for the Virginia Class A/B business examination. The books are prepared with highlighting and tabs to help candidates become familiar with major sections, code provisions, tables, subjects, and reference locations during study and on exam day.

Exam Details

The Virginia contractor licensing process separates the business examination requirement for Class A and Class B contractors from the specialty or trade examination requirement associated with the Qualified Individual. Candidates pursuing Commercial Improvement Contracting may therefore need to prepare for both the CIC technical examination and the appropriate Class A or Class B business examination portions.

Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting Examination:

• 50 questions.
• Minimum passing score: 70%, or 35 correct answers.
• Time allowed: 120 minutes.
• Administered through PSI as part of Virginia's contractor examination program.

The Commercial Improvement Contracting examination content outline includes:

• Windows and Doors — 4 items.
• Rough Carpentry and Metal Framing — 9 items.
• General Code Requirements — 5 items.
• Roofing and Exterior Siding — 7 items.
• Drywall — 5 items.
• Concrete — 7 items.
• Masonry — 8 items.
• Safety — 5 items.

The Class B business examination is made up of the Virginia Portion and the General Portion. The Class A business examination includes those same two portions plus the Advanced Portion.

Virginia Portion: 24 items, with 18 correct required to pass and 48 minutes allowed. Topics include regulation of contractors, Board rules and regulations, building codes, the Transaction Recovery Fund, and Virginia erosion and sediment control regulations.

General Portion: 50 items, with 35 correct required to pass and 100 minutes allowed. Subjects include business organization, estimating and bidding, contract management, project management, risk management, safety, labor laws, financial management, federal and state taxes, and lien laws.

Class A Advanced Portion: 24 items, with 17 correct required to pass and 60 minutes allowed. The Advanced Portion addresses higher-level contractor business subjects including estimating and bidding, contract management, project management, risk management, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxation, and lien laws.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting examination and the Class A/B contractor business examinations are open-book examinations. Candidates must bring their own permitted references because books are not supplied at the testing site.

Open-book testing rewards candidates who understand how their reference materials are organized. Simply having the books available is not a substitute for preparation. A strong study approach includes learning the table of contents, indexes, chapter structure, code organization, major tables, and frequently tested subjects before the examination.

PSI permits references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. References containing writing are not permitted. Candidates may not write in the reference materials during the examination session. Permanent tabs are permitted, while removable tabs are not allowed. Loose papers and unbound references are also restricted under PSI examination rules.

This package's highlighted and tabbed format is intended to help candidates develop familiarity with the references they will use during preparation and testing. Candidates should still spend time practicing how to identify the correct book, locate the correct chapter or section, and confirm the best answer within the available examination time.

Licensing Steps

Virginia contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietorships through the Virginia Board for Contractors. The class of license determines the level of contracting activity permitted, while the classification or specialty identifies the type of contracting work the business is authorized to perform.

1. Determine the appropriate license class and specialty. A business pursuing Commercial Improvement Contracting must determine the appropriate contractor class and include the CIC specialty as part of its licensing path.
2. Identify the Qualified Individual. Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty appearing on the contractor license. For Commercial Improvement Contracting, the Qualified Individual must meet the applicable experience requirements and examination requirements.
3. Complete the required CIC examination process. Commercial Improvement Contracting is one of the Virginia specialties requiring examination qualification.
4. Identify the Designated Employee for Class A or Class B. Class A and Class B contractor firms must name a Designated Employee who satisfies Virginia's requirements and completes the required business examination portions.
5. Complete the Class A or Class B business examinations. Class B requires the Virginia and General portions. Class A requires the Virginia, General, and Advanced portions.
6. Complete pre-license education. New Virginia contractor applicants must satisfy the Board's eight-hour pre-license education requirement. For Class A and Class B applicants, the course may be completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee.
7. Complete the contractor license application. The business must submit the required application and supporting documentation to the Virginia Board for Contractors.

State Requirements

The Virginia Board for Contractors requires every licensed contracting firm to identify a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty designation on the license. The Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee of the firm or a member of Responsible Management and must meet the experience and qualification requirements that apply to the requested license class and specialty.

For a Class B contractor business, the Qualified Individual must have at least three years of experience in the appropriate classification or specialty. For a Class A contractor business, the Qualified Individual must have at least five years of experience in the appropriate classification or specialty.

Class A and Class B firms must also identify a Designated Employee. The Designated Employee must be at least 18 years old, must be a full-time employee or a member of Responsible Management, and must complete the required contractor business examination unless an applicable exemption applies under Virginia law.

The Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty covers repair or improvement to structures that are not dwellings or townhouses under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. It does not provide authority for new building construction, accessory building construction, electrical work, plumbing work, HVAC work, or gas work. The CIC specialty also encompasses masonry contracting, painting and wallcovering contracting, and roofing contracting without requiring those specialties to be separately listed on the contractor license.

Reference Books

• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Federal construction safety regulations used to review workplace safety requirements and safety topics associated with the Commercial Improvement Contracting examination.
• Included Rental Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018
  Virginia building code reference material covering statewide construction requirements and code provisions relevant to contractor examination preparation.
• Included Rental Book: International Building Code, 2021
  A primary commercial building code reference covering structural, occupancy, construction, fire-resistance, egress, and other building requirements.
• Included Rental Book: International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021
  A code reference addressing construction requirements for one- and two-family dwellings and related residential building provisions.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  A construction reference covering practical carpentry methods, framing concepts, building components, and construction practices relevant to trade examination subjects.
• Included Rental Book: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  A concrete reference focused on concrete materials, proportioning, properties, production, placement, and quality considerations.
• Included Rental Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  A masonry reference covering brick, block, stone, mortar, tools, materials, methods, and common masonry construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  A technical reference for gypsum construction systems, wall and ceiling assemblies, installation concepts, materials, and related construction applications.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Virginia, 11th Edition
  A contractor business reference used for preparation for the Class A/B business examination, with material addressing business, law, management, contracting, and project administration topics.
• Included Rental Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018 - Part I, Construction Code
  A Virginia code reference identified for use with Class A/B business examination preparation and the trade or technical examination.

Test Information and Study Materials

Because these examinations are open book, preparation should focus on both subject knowledge and reference navigation. Candidates who know which book contains a particular topic can avoid losing valuable testing time searching through the wrong reference.

For the CIC examination, study time should reflect the published content outline. Rough carpentry and metal framing, masonry, roofing and exterior siding, and concrete make up a substantial portion of the exam. Windows and doors, drywall, general code requirements, and safety are also specifically tested. A balanced study plan should cover every subject rather than concentrating only on the largest categories.

For Class A/B business preparation, candidates should become comfortable locating material involving Virginia contractor regulation, estimating, bidding, contracts, project management, risk, financial management, labor requirements, taxes, safety, and lien-related concepts. Class A candidates should also prepare for the additional Advanced Portion.

Practice should be timed. Use realistic question sets and require yourself to locate supporting information in the books rather than answering only from memory. This helps develop the habit of moving from a question to the correct reference, then to the correct chapter, section, table, or index entry.

Highlighted and tabbed books can make that process more efficient, but the strongest preparation comes from repeatedly using the same references before test day. Become familiar with how each book is organized, what type of information it contains, and which reference is most likely to answer a specific category of question.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps contractor candidates approach licensing preparation with a more organized study structure. Instead of beginning with an unfamiliar stack of books, this rental package provides the listed references highlighted and tabbed to support quicker navigation and more purposeful study.

Trade-focused preparation is especially important for the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting exam because the test draws from several construction disciplines, including carpentry, framing, roofing, drywall, concrete, masonry, safety, and building code requirements. Working directly with the references helps candidates connect technical concepts with the books they may need to use during the open-book examination.

For Class A and Class B candidates, organized business-reference preparation can also help make topics such as estimating, contracts, project management, contractor regulations, financial management, and business law easier to review in a structured way. The goal is to build familiarity, reduce unnecessary searching, and develop a repeatable method for working through exam questions.

1 Exam Prep's approach emphasizes reference navigation, practice-oriented preparation, trade knowledge review, and confidence-building study organization. No preparation method can guarantee an examination result, but candidates can put themselves in a stronger position by studying consistently and learning how to use their permitted references efficiently.

FAQ Section

Is the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting exam open book?

Yes. The Commercial Improvement Contracting examination is open book. Candidates are responsible for bringing permitted reference materials to the testing site.

Are the Virginia Class A and Class B contractor business exams open book?

Yes. The Virginia contractor business examination portions are open book, subject to PSI's rules governing acceptable reference materials.

What is included in this book rental package?

The package includes the listed Commercial Improvement Contracting trade references and Class A/B business references. The rental books are highlighted and tabbed to support study and open-book reference navigation.

How much does the rental package cost?

The rental cost is $1,149.00. A $750.00 refundable deposit is also required, making the total initial payment $1,899.00.

How does the refundable deposit work?

The $750.00 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned in similar condition within 6 months from the time the books are received.

How long does it take to prepare the books?

Please allow 15 business days for the books to be tabbed and highlighted.

How many questions are on the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting exam?

The CIC examination contains 50 questions. Candidates must answer at least 35 correctly to achieve the published 70% passing score, and the examination allows 120 minutes.

What exams are required for a Virginia Class B contractor?

The Designated Employee for a Class B contractor must complete the Virginia Portion and the General Portion of the contractor business examination.

What exams are required for a Virginia Class A contractor?

The Designated Employee for a Class A contractor must complete the Virginia Portion, General Portion, and Advanced Portion of the contractor business examination.

Can I write notes in my books for the exam?

PSI rules permit references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the exam, but references containing writing are not permitted. Candidates are also not permitted to write in reference materials during the examination.

Can the books be tabbed?

Yes. PSI permits permanent tabs. Removable tabs are not allowed. This rental package is prepared with tabs to help candidates navigate the references efficiently.

Does the Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty allow new building construction?

No. Virginia defines Commercial Improvement Contracting as repair or improvement work on structures that are not dwellings or townhouses. The CIC specialty does not provide for construction of new buildings or accessory buildings and does not include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas work.

Does Virginia require pre-license education for contractors?

Yes. New Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor applicants must satisfy Virginia's eight-hour pre-license education requirement. For Class A and Class B applicants, the course may be completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee.