New Virginia Concrete Contractor Exam Prep - Live Virtual + Self Study Training

Prepare for the Virginia Concrete Contracting examination with a flexible training program that combines live virtual instruction with self-study preparation. The New Virginia Concrete Contractor Exam Prep - Live Virtual + Self Study Training is designed for candidates who want guided trade-focused review while maintaining the flexibility to study independently between live sessions.

Virginia Concrete Contracting is identified by the Virginia Board for Contractors as the CEM specialty. The specialty covers work connected with processing, proportioning, batching, mixing, conveying, and placing concrete using materials common to the concrete industry. It also includes concrete finishing, coloring, curing, repairing, testing, sawing, grinding, grouting, film barriers, sealing, waterproofing, formwork, molds, slipforms, pans, centering, and the use of reinforcing steel.

Preparing for this contractor specialty exam requires familiarity with a wide range of technical subjects. Candidates may encounter concepts involving concrete materials, reinforcing steel, excavation, formwork, structural concrete requirements, building codes, estimating, construction practices, and OSHA safety regulations. This training program helps organize those areas into a structured study process so candidates can build technical knowledge while becoming more comfortable using the books associated with the exam.

The live virtual portion provides instructor-led review without requiring candidates to travel to a physical classroom. The self-study portion gives candidates additional opportunities to reinforce technical concepts, practice exam-style questions, and work directly with the reference materials. Together, these two formats support a balanced approach to Virginia Concrete Contractor exam preparation.

Reference navigation is especially important when preparing for a technical contractor exam that uses approved books. Candidates should know more than the subject matter. They should also understand how each reference is organized, what topics it covers, and how to locate important information efficiently. Repeated practice with the books can help candidates develop a more systematic approach to answering technical questions.

What You Get

• Live Virtual Training: Instructor-led exam preparation delivered virtually for candidates who want guided review without attending an in-person classroom.
• Self Study Training: Independent preparation that allows candidates to continue reviewing trade knowledge, technical concepts, and reference materials outside the live sessions.
• Trade-Focused Review: Preparation centered on concrete construction, formwork, reinforcing steel, excavation, safety, building-code requirements, and structural concrete concepts.
• Reference Navigation Practice: Guidance that helps candidates become more familiar with the organization of the technical books used for preparation.
• Practice-Oriented Preparation: A study approach that reinforces technical knowledge while helping candidates develop a repeatable method for working through exam-style questions.

Live Class Schedule

The live training schedule is organized around the books and technical references used on the exam. Click Here to View the Current Live Class Schedule

Exam Details

The Virginia Concrete Contracting examination is part of the contractor specialty examination program administered through PSI for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors. Candidates must receive eligibility approval before taking the specialty examination.

• Specialty: Concrete Contracting
• Specialty Abbreviation: CEM
• Regulatory Authority: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Contractors
• Testing Provider: PSI
• Exam Delivery: Computer-administered examination
• Eligibility: Candidates must receive approval before taking the examination
• Eligibility Period: One year

Virginia requires candidates to satisfy the applicable education and work-experience requirements established by the Board before applying for the contractor specialty examination. After approval, candidates can register and schedule the examination through PSI.

The examination is intended to measure the minimum knowledge necessary for a Qualified Individual working within the Concrete Contracting specialty. Preparation should therefore focus on understanding concrete construction practices as well as knowing how to locate information within technical references.

PSI provides examination content outlines that identify the subject areas, time limits, passing requirements, and reference materials associated with individual Virginia contractor specialty examinations. Candidates should use the applicable current outline when organizing their final exam preparation.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Concrete Contracting examination allows approved reference books to be used during testing. Candidates should prepare for the open-book format by learning how to navigate their references efficiently before exam day.

Open-book testing still requires strong preparation. Technical books such as building codes, OSHA regulations, concrete standards, formwork manuals, and reinforcing-steel references can contain hundreds of pages. A candidate who begins searching unfamiliar books only after reading an exam question may spend too much time locating information.

A better strategy is to become familiar with each book during study. Learn the table of contents, index structure, chapter organization, common terminology, major tables, illustrations, and frequently used sections. Practice identifying the subject of a question and deciding which reference is most likely to contain the answer before opening a book.

For example, a question about construction safety may point toward 29 CFR Part 1926. A question about structural concrete requirements may involve ACI 318-14. Concrete materials, proportioning, curing, strength, and durability may lead to Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures. Reinforcing-bar placement can lead to Placing Reinforcing Bars, while formwork subjects can be addressed through SP-4 Formwork for Concrete.

Repeated reference practice during both live virtual training and self-study can help candidates develop faster navigation habits and a clearer approach to open-book questions.

Licensing Steps

The Virginia Board for Contractors licenses contractor businesses and requires applicants to satisfy the requirements associated with the appropriate license class and classification or specialty. The Concrete Contracting technical examination is one component of that process.

1. Determine the appropriate Virginia contractor license class. Virginia contractor licenses are issued as Class A, Class B, or Class C.
2. Select the applicable classification or specialty. Concrete Contracting is identified by the specialty abbreviation CEM.
3. Identify the Qualified Individual. The contractor business must designate an appropriate Qualified Individual for each requested classification or specialty.
4. Meet applicable experience requirements. The Qualified Individual must satisfy the experience requirements associated with the contractor license class being pursued.
5. Complete required pre-license education. Virginia requires eight hours of approved pre-license education for new contractor license applicants.
6. Apply for specialty examination eligibility. The applicable education and work-experience requirements must be completed before examination approval.
7. Schedule the examination through PSI. After approval, the candidate can register and schedule the Concrete Contracting specialty exam.
8. Complete the licensing application process. The contractor business must satisfy the remaining Board requirements and submit the applicable contractor license application.

Passing the specialty examination does not by itself issue a Virginia contractor license. The business must also complete the remaining requirements associated with its selected license class, organizational structure, Qualified Individual, and application.

State Requirements

The Virginia Board for Contractors regulates contractor businesses engaged in construction, removal, repair, or improvement work on property owned by others. Virginia contractor licenses consist of a license class and a classification or specialty. The class determines the level of contracting activity permitted, while the classification or specialty identifies the type of work the contractor may perform.

Concrete Contracting is recognized as the CEM specialty. The scope includes processing, proportioning, batching, mixing, conveying, placing, finishing, coloring, curing, repairing, testing, sawing, grinding, grouting, sealing, waterproofing, formwork, and reinforcing steel used in concrete construction.

Virginia requires new Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor license applicants to complete eight hours of approved pre-license education. This education is a basic business course addressing contractor regulations, statutes, and requirements. It is separate from preparation for the Concrete Contracting technical examination.

Candidates pursuing a contractor specialty that requires an examination must receive eligibility approval before testing. The Qualified Individual should make sure that the required experience, documentation, education, and examination requirements are properly coordinated with the contractor business application.

Reference Books

The New Virginia Concrete Contractor Exam Prep - Live Virtual + Self Study Training is organized around the following technical references supplied for study and exam preparation:

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This federal construction-safety reference covers requirements affecting construction workplaces. Topics include excavation safety, personal protective equipment, fall protection, concrete and masonry construction, equipment, tools, material handling, and other jobsite hazards.
• International Building Code, 2021
  The 2021 International Building Code provides requirements affecting structural construction, foundations, materials, inspections, loads, and other building-related subjects. Candidates can use this reference to develop familiarity with code organization and technical construction provisions.
• ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  ACI 318-14 addresses structural concrete requirements including materials, durability, reinforcement, development and splicing, structural members, and construction provisions. It is an important technical resource for reinforced and structural concrete concepts.
• Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  This reference provides detailed coverage of concrete materials and performance. Subjects include cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, mixture proportioning, batching, mixing, placement, curing, strength, durability, and testing.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This construction reference supports preparation involving excavation, trenching, earthwork, equipment, grades, layout, underground construction, and practical field procedures.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  This reinforcing-steel reference covers bar identification, placement, supports, ties, splices, tolerances, detailing concepts, and field practices involved in installing reinforcement for concrete work.
• SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 2014, 8th Edition
  This ACI formwork reference covers form materials, pressures, loads, shores, reshores, bracing, wall and slab forms, construction methods, and practical considerations related to concrete formwork.

Test Information and Study Materials

A strong Virginia Concrete Contractor exam prep plan should combine technical study with repeated use of the reference materials. Begin by identifying what each book covers so you can quickly connect a question with the most appropriate reference.

For general concrete preparation, study cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, mixture proportioning, batching, mixing, transportation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, strength, durability, and testing. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures is especially useful for developing a broad understanding of these subjects.

Structural concrete preparation should include reinforcement, concrete construction requirements, durability, development, splicing, and other topics addressed in ACI 318-14. Candidates do not need to rely only on memorization. Learning how to locate sections efficiently can be equally important during open-book preparation.

For reinforcing steel, become familiar with bar placement, supports, ties, splices, tolerances, and field terminology. Use Placing Reinforcing Bars during practice so the organization of the book becomes familiar before exam day.

Formwork preparation should include form materials, construction loads, lateral pressures, shores, reshores, bracing, wall forms, slab forms, and safe construction practices. SP-4 Formwork for Concrete provides focused information for this area.

Excavation study should include practical site work along with safety considerations. Pipe and Excavation Contracting supports technical preparation, while 29 CFR Part 1926 provides OSHA safety requirements applicable to construction work.

During self-study, use practice questions as navigation exercises. Read the question, identify the primary subject, select the reference most likely to contain the answer, locate the relevant section, and confirm the information. This process can help candidates become more comfortable moving between books instead of searching them randomly.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Virginia Concrete Contracting candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and a clear structure for working through technical material.

The live virtual format provides guided instruction while allowing candidates to participate remotely. Instructor-led review can help organize concrete contracting topics into manageable sections and show how different references connect to specific areas of the trade.

The self-study component gives candidates time to continue reinforcing the material between live classes. Candidates can revisit difficult subjects, work through practice questions, and spend additional time using the reference books until navigation becomes more familiar.

Reference navigation is a major part of the preparation process. 1 Exam Prep encourages candidates to learn where information is located, recognize useful keywords, and develop a repeatable method for moving between the code books, concrete standards, OSHA regulations, excavation references, reinforcing-steel material, and formwork guidance.

The combination of live instruction and independent preparation allows candidates to build both understanding and repetition. Guided training provides direction, while self-study gives candidates flexibility to focus additional effort on weaker areas.

The goal is to help candidates approach the Virginia Concrete Contractor examination with an organized study plan, greater familiarity with technical references, improved trade knowledge, and more confidence in the preparation process without promising a specific examination or licensing outcome.

FAQ Section

What does the Virginia Concrete Contractor Live Virtual + Self Study Training include?

The program combines live virtual instruction with self-study preparation focused on concrete contracting knowledge, structured review, practice-oriented preparation, and reference navigation.

Where can I view the current live class schedule?

Visit the Live Class Schedule page to view current live training dates and availability.

What is the Virginia Concrete Contracting specialty code?

The Virginia Board for Contractors identifies Concrete Contracting with the specialty abbreviation CEM.

Who administers the Virginia Concrete Contractor specialty exam?

PSI administers Virginia contractor specialty examinations for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Do I need approval before taking the Virginia Concrete Contracting exam?

Yes. Candidates must receive the applicable eligibility approval before taking the contractor specialty examination.

How long is contractor specialty examination eligibility valid?

Virginia contractor specialty examination eligibility is valid for one year.

Is Virginia pre-license education included in this exam prep?

No. Virginia's required eight-hour contractor pre-license education is a separate licensing requirement from technical Concrete Contracting exam preparation.

Why should I practice with the reference books?

Technical references can be large and detailed. Practicing with the books helps candidates learn their organization, indexes, terminology, and major sections so they can locate information more efficiently.

What subjects should I focus on when studying?

Preparation should include concrete materials and placement, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, excavation, building-code provisions, construction calculations, and OSHA safety requirements.

Does passing the Concrete Contracting examination automatically issue a contractor license?

No. The specialty examination is one part of the Virginia contractor licensing process. The contractor business and Qualified Individual must also satisfy all applicable licensing, education, experience, documentation, and application requirements.