Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package

Prepare for the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting examination and the Virginia Class A/B contractor business examination with an Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package that combines trade references, business and law references, organized book preparation, course access, and Application Service in one package.

This package is designed for candidates pursuing the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty who also need to prepare for the applicable Class A or Class B contractor business examination. Rather than preparing separately with unfamiliar reference materials, candidates receive the listed books highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation so they can become familiar with the materials they may need to navigate during Virginia's open-book contractor examinations.

Commercial Improvement Contracting, commonly identified as CIC, involves a broad range of construction knowledge. The technical examination covers areas such as carpentry and framing, building codes, roofing and exterior siding, drywall, concrete, masonry, windows and doors, and construction safety. Class A and Class B contractor candidates must also understand Virginia contractor regulations and business subjects applicable to their license class.

The Ultimate package brings these preparation needs together. It includes the listed trade and business reference books, 1 year of course access, and Application Service. All rental books are highlighted and tabbed to support organized study and efficient reference navigation.

Total Cost: $1,645.

Refundable Deposit: An additional $750 refundable deposit applies. The deposit is refundable when the books are returned in similar condition within 1 year from the date received.

Total Initial Payment: $2,395.

Please allow up to 15 business days for Ultimate book package orders. All included rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation.

Exam Details

Virginia contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietorships through the Virginia Board for Contractors. The license consists of a class and one or more classifications or specialty designations. Commercial Improvement Contracting is a specialty designation identified by the code CIC.

The Qualified Individual associated with the CIC specialty must meet Virginia's applicable experience requirements and successfully complete the required technical examination. The Commercial Improvement Contracting examination is administered through PSI.

Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting Examination:

• 50 questions.
• 120 minutes allowed.
• 70% minimum passing score.
• 35 correct answers required to achieve the published passing score.

The CIC examination covers multiple areas of construction knowledge. Published content areas include windows and doors, rough carpentry and metal framing, general code requirements, roofing and exterior siding, drywall, concrete, masonry, and safety.

Class A and Class B contractor businesses also have examination requirements for the company's Designated Employee. Class B candidates complete the Virginia Portion and General Portion of the contractor business examination. Class A candidates complete the Virginia Portion, General Portion, and Advanced Portion.

The Virginia Portion addresses subjects such as Virginia contractor rules, regulations, and other state-specific requirements. The General Portion covers broader contractor business subjects, including estimating, bidding, contracts, project management, risk management, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxes, and lien-related knowledge. Class A candidates must also prepare for the additional Advanced Portion.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting examination and the Virginia Class A/B contractor business examinations are open book. Candidates are responsible for bringing permitted reference materials to the examination because the testing center does not provide the books.

Open-book testing makes reference navigation an important part of preparation. Candidates should know which book applies to a particular subject, where major topics are located, and how to use indexes, tables of contents, code sections, chapters, and permanent tabs efficiently.

PSI permits reference books to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination. Written notes are not permitted in the references. Candidates may not write in the books during the examination. Permanent tabs may be used, while removable tabs and loose papers are not permitted under the examination reference rules.

The highlighted and tabbed rental books in this Ultimate package are intended to support a more organized approach to studying. Candidates should work with the prepared references throughout their course access period so the book structure and tab locations become familiar before examination day.

Licensing Steps

1. Determine the appropriate contractor license class. Virginia issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses. Candidates should determine the license class appropriate for their business and planned contracting activity.
2. Select the Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty. Applicants pursuing CIC must request the Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty designation as part of the contractor licensing process.
3. Identify the Qualified Individual. Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for each specialty or classification on the contractor license. The CIC Qualified Individual must satisfy the applicable experience and examination requirements.
4. Submit experience verification when required. Commercial Improvement Contracting is one of the specialties requiring examination pre-approval, and the Qualified Individual must provide the applicable experience documentation.
5. Receive approval for the technical examination. The Qualified Individual must be approved before taking the required CIC specialty exam.
6. Complete the Commercial Improvement Contracting exam. After becoming eligible, the candidate completes the CIC technical examination through PSI.
7. Identify the Designated Employee for Class A or Class B. Class A and Class B contractor businesses must designate an individual who satisfies Virginia's requirements and completes the appropriate contractor business examination.
8. Complete the applicable business examination. Class B requires the Virginia and General portions. Class A requires the Virginia, General, and Advanced portions.
9. Complete pre-license education. Virginia requires eight hours of approved pre-license education for new contractor license applicants. This requirement is separate from the contractor examinations.
10. Complete and submit the contractor license application. The business must provide the required information and supporting documentation to the Virginia Board for Contractors.

The Application Service included with this Ultimate package provides application-related support as candidates work through the Virginia contractor licensing process.

State Requirements

The Virginia Board for Contractors requires each licensed contractor business to have a Qualified Individual associated with each classification or specialty appearing on its license. The Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee of the business or a member of Responsible Management and must satisfy the experience requirements for the applicable license class.

For Class A applicants, the Qualified Individual must have at least five years of experience within the applicable classification or specialty. Class B requires at least three years of experience. Class C requires at least one year of applicable experience.

Commercial Improvement Contracting is among the Virginia specialties requiring the Qualified Individual to receive pre-approval and successfully complete a board-approved technical examination.

Virginia also requires eight hours of approved pre-license education for new Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses. For Class A and Class B applicants, the course may be completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee. The pre-license education requirement is separate from the Class A and Class B examinations.

Class A and Class B contractor applicants must identify a Designated Employee who fulfills the applicable Virginia requirements and completes the required contractor business examination portions. This Ultimate package includes business and law exam references in addition to the Commercial Improvement Contracting trade references.

Reference Books

• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Federal construction safety regulations covering workplace safety requirements and construction practices relevant to safety questions on the CIC examination.
• Included Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018
  A Virginia-specific construction code reference addressing statewide building requirements and code provisions relevant to contractor exam preparation.
• Included Book: International Building Code, 2021
  A comprehensive building code reference covering commercial construction requirements, building systems, materials, occupancy provisions, structural considerations, means of egress, and other code topics.
• Included Book: International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021
  A construction code reference covering one- and two-family dwelling requirements, building components, structural systems, materials, and related residential construction provisions.
• Included Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  A practical construction reference covering carpentry, framing, construction methods, building components, materials, tools, and related trade knowledge.
• Included Book: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  A technical concrete reference addressing concrete materials, proportioning, production, placement, properties, curing, and quality considerations.
• Included Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  A masonry reference covering brick, block, stone, mortar, masonry tools, materials, procedures, and construction techniques used in the trade.
• Included Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  A reference covering gypsum products, drywall construction, wall and ceiling assemblies, installation methods, and related construction systems.
• Included Book: NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Virginia, 11th Edition
  A primary business and law preparation reference for the Virginia Class A/B contractor business examination covering contractor management, business practices, law, project administration, and related topics.
• Included Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Part 1 Summary, 2018
  A Virginia code reference included for both business and trade examination preparation.

Test Information and Study Materials

Preparation for the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting exam should combine technical study with repeated reference-book navigation. Because the CIC examination covers several different construction disciplines, candidates should learn to identify the correct reference quickly rather than searching every book for each question.

For example, safety questions may direct you toward 29 CFR Part 1926, while concrete questions may require the concrete reference and masonry questions may be answered using the masonry text. Framing and carpentry questions may involve the construction textbook or applicable code references, while drywall questions can require familiarity with the gypsum handbook.

The same approach applies to the business examination. Candidates should become comfortable navigating the NASCLA contractor guide and Virginia code material for questions involving business practices, contractor regulations, estimating, contracts, project management, risk, safety, labor, financial management, and other tested subjects.

Use the included course access alongside the prepared books. Work through trade-focused review material, practice-oriented preparation, and reference-navigation exercises while using the same books repeatedly. The more familiar the books become, the easier it is to recognize which reference is likely to contain the information needed for a question.

Timed practice can also help candidates develop a realistic exam strategy. Rather than answering every practice question from memory, use the books and practice locating the supporting information. This reinforces technical knowledge while developing the navigation skills that are especially valuable in an open-book testing environment.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Virginia contractor candidates bring structure to an examination process that involves technical construction knowledge, contractor business material, multiple reference books, and state licensing requirements.

The Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package combines prepared reference materials with 1 year of course access and Application Service. This gives candidates an organized way to work through both trade and business preparation while using the books they will become familiar with during study.

The highlighted and tabbed references support faster navigation through construction codes, OSHA regulations, carpentry material, concrete information, masonry topics, gypsum construction, and contractor business content. Candidates can use the books alongside practice-oriented preparation to develop a repeatable method for approaching open-book questions.

1 Exam Prep's study approach focuses on organized guidance, trade-specific review, business exam preparation, reference navigation, practice questions, and confidence-building study structure. Rather than relying only on memorization, candidates can learn how construction topics connect to the reference materials used during preparation.

Application Service adds another level of support for candidates working through the contractor licensing process. Combined with the prepared books and course access, the Ultimate package is designed to help candidates stay organized from exam preparation through the application stage.

Exam preparation does not guarantee a passing score or licensing approval, but a structured approach can help candidates study more effectively, understand their reference materials, and approach the Virginia contractor examinations with greater familiarity.

FAQ Section

What is included in the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package?

The package includes the listed CIC trade references, Class A/B business and law references, highlighted and tabbed books, 1 year of course access, and Application Service.

How much does the Ultimate package cost?

The package cost is $1,645. An additional $750 refundable deposit is required, making the total initial payment $2,395.

Is the $750 book deposit refundable?

Yes. The $750 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned in similar condition within 1 year from the date received.

How long do I receive course access?

The Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package includes 1 year of course access.

Is Application Service included?

Yes. Application Service is included with this Ultimate package.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. All included rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation and reference navigation.

How long should I allow for my Ultimate package order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for Ultimate book package orders.

Is the Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting exam open book?

Yes. The CIC technical examination is open book, and candidates are responsible for bringing permitted references to the examination.

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

Yes. The Virginia contractor business examination portions are open book and are subject to PSI rules governing permitted reference materials.

How many questions are on the CIC exam?

The Virginia Commercial Improvement Contracting examination contains 50 questions. Candidates are allowed 120 minutes and must achieve a minimum score of 70 percent.

Does the package include business exam books?

Yes. The package includes the NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Virginia, 11th Edition and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Part 1 Summary, 2018 for applicable business exam preparation.

What business exams are required for Class B?

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

What business exams are required for Class A?

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

Who takes the Commercial Improvement Contracting technical exam?

The technical examination is associated with the Qualified Individual for the Commercial Improvement Contracting specialty. The Qualified Individual must satisfy Virginia's applicable experience and examination requirements.

Can I write notes in my reference books for the exam?

Written notes are not permitted. PSI permits references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before the examination, subject to the testing provider's current reference-material rules.

Does Virginia require contractor pre-license education?

Yes. New Virginia Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor applicants must satisfy the state's eight-hour pre-license education requirement. This requirement is separate from the contractor examinations.