NC Residential Contractor Exam Prep
Extensive preparation for the North Carolina Residential Contractor licensing exam — recorded trainings, practice questions, residential-code navigation guides, and a proven study roadmap. Get instant, on-demand online Study Vault access, or take it live and in person.
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NC Residential Contractor Exam Prep
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North Carolina Residential Exam Facts
Know What You're Walking Into
The NC Residential Contractor exam is administered through PSI test centers statewide. Open book — but the residential building code reference set is dense. You need to know exactly where to look.
90
Questions
Residential trade exam
3h 30m
Exam Duration
70%
Min. Pass Score
$79
PSI Exam Fee
Per attempt · no wait to retake
📖 Open book (approved bound references only). North Carolina is a single-exam license path — the Residential trade exam is the whole requirement, and state law puts the business, law and lien questions inside it. This prep covers all of it. Wondering about a separate Business & Law exam?
Scope — read this first: the NC Residential license covers residential work only (1–4 unit homes). It does not cover commercial. If you also want to do commercial work, you need the NC Building (General) license, which covers both commercial and residential.
Residential covers single + multi-family residential structures (per the residential building code), site work, driveways, sidewalks, and water/wastewater systems for those structures. The challenge isn't memorization — it's knowing exactly where to look in your code references under time pressure.
Not sure if Residential, Building, or NASCLA is right for you? → Take the 60-second Which-License guide. · Want the full breakdown of specs, books, and rules? See the NC Contractor Knowledge Hub.
Who This Is For
Built for First-Time North Carolina Residential License Seekers
This prep is for anyone taking the NC Residential Contractor exam through PSI: 90 questions, 210 minutes, 70% to pass, open book with a 4-book reference set. The Residential license covers residential work only, not commercial, and the exam is the same whichever limitation you apply for.
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New contractors entering the trade
Getting your first NC contractor license to start building residential
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Subcontractors going independent
Stepping out from working under another GC and pulling your own permits
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Remodelers formalizing the business
You've been working under another license — time to get your own
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Out-of-state contractors moving to NC
Qualify through reciprocity? You take only the NC Business & Law exam. Otherwise, this full NC Residential exam is the one you need.
10-Part Education Series · Part 3 of 10
Which Contractor Exam Is Right for You?
Is this the right exam for you? In this free video, Malcolm Lee Boney puts the NC Residential, NC Building and NASCLA Commercial exams side by side and shows you how to match the right one to your business plan.
Good News · One Class Covers All Tiers
This Study Vault Prepares You for Any License Tier
- You don't choose a tier here. You pick one when you apply with the NC Licensing Board, based on your working capital — the three tiers below just set your financial requirements and project limits.
- They're reference only, set by the state (not by NCCA). Most newcomers start at Limited and upgrade later.
- This class prepares you for the exam no matter which tier you pursue.
Limited Residential
$17K working capital · projects up to $750,000 each — entry-level residential builder.
Intermediate Residential
$75K working capital · projects up to $1,500,000 each — mid-tier residential builder.
Unlimited Residential
$150K working capital · NO project value cap — full-scope residential builder.
What You Get · Instant On-Demand Access
The North Carolina Residential Exam Prep Study Vault
Your Study Vault opens the moment you buy, so you can start right away and re-study any part as often as you need. It covers the whole NC Residential exam, including the business, law and lien questions built into it, with a focus on finding answers fast in the residential code and your other references.
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Narrated Video Lessons
Thirteen lessons that follow the exam: site work, footings and foundations, concrete and rebar, wood framing and roofing, masonry and metals, doors, windows and finishes, electrical and mechanical coordination, the residential code, and two Site Construction Reviews.
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Blueprint, Tabbing & Lookup Drills
Practice reading plans, set up and tab your reference books the way PSI allows, then drill lookups until finding an answer is quick.
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Exam Guidelines & Test-Day Strategy
The exam's rules, timing and question mix, and a clear plan for what to study, in what order, and how to manage the clock.
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In English or Spanish
Every narrated lesson plays in English or Spanish with one switch. The exam itself is given in English, so the Spanish lessons give you the English terms too.
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Practice Exam Simulator Included
Timed, PSI-style practice exams with the questions and answers shuffled every attempt, and a study plan that ranks the topics costing you the most points.
Exam Prep Combo Deal
NC Residential Exam Prep: In‑Person Class + Study Vault
Take the one-day class in person and get the full NC Residential Study Vault and the Practice Exam Simulator the moment you check out. You pick your class date when you sign up.
Need the Books?
Get the NC Residential Exam Books, Tabbed and Highlighted
Four references, led by the 2018 NC Residential Code. Get the set in the editions PSI names, ready to study the day it arrives.
- Editions matched to the current PSI bulletin
- Permanent tabs, the kind PSI allows in the testing room
- Key sections highlighted
- Free Practice Exam Simulator access included
In-Person Class Dates
Prefer to Learn In Person? Pick Your Date
Live, in-person NC Residential Contractor exam prep — taught by Malcolm, 8 AM–4 PM. Click a highlighted date to register. (Or grab the on-demand Study Vault above for instant access.)
After You Pass · The Annual Cycle
Your Annual NC CE Starts Day 1 of Licensure
Every licensed NC Residential Contractor owes 8 hours of NCLBGC-approved Continuing Education by November 30 each year — 2 hours mandatory + 6 hours electives. Here's what your year-one CE looks like, so you can plan ahead before you pass.
Official Sources
Where to Verify the Rules Yourself
We prepare you for the exam; we don't run it or set its rules. The NC Licensing Board, PSI and state law decide the requirements, fees and book list, and those can change, so confirm the details with them before you apply or book your exam.
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NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)
The official source for license rules, exam scheduling, classification approvals, and license lookup.
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PSI Examination Service Centers
Where you sit for the NC Residential Contractor exam. Schedule via PSI after NCLBGC application approval.
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NC General Statutes Chapter 87
The state law that defines NC contractor licensing categories, scope, and exam requirements.
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NCCA — Your Approved Provider
We're listed in the NCLBGC's directory of approved providers. Every class includes our provider info for verification.
Common Questions
North Carolina Residential Exam FAQ
What's the difference between Residential and Building/General?
Residential covers only residential units (single + multi-family per the residential building code). Building (General) Contractor covers residential + commercial + industrial + institutional. If you only plan to build homes, Residential is enough. If you want broader scope, see our NC Contractor Exam Prep.
Do I need to apply with the NCLBGC first?
Yes. Apply to the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors at nclbgc.org first. Once approved, you schedule your PSI exam. The limitation you apply for (Limited, Intermediate or Unlimited) doesn't change the exam: PSI gives the same Residential exam for all three, so our prep fits whichever one you choose. Plan your study so it's fresh when your exam date arrives.
What if I fail the exam?
NC sets no mandatory waiting period — you can retake as soon as you're ready (each attempt is another $79 PSI fee). Because the Study Vault is on-demand, you keep your access and can re-study any section as many times as you need before your next attempt. Most contractors who follow the study roadmap pass on their next try.
How long should I study?
Most successful candidates spend 4–6 weeks working through the Study Vault — enough to get fluent in code navigation and work through the practice questions. Study at your own pace.
When do I get access after I buy?
Instantly. The Study Vault is fully online and on-demand — once you purchase, you get access to all the training materials right away and can start studying immediately, on your own schedule.
What's the In-Person Class + Study Vault combo?
It's the one-day class in person plus the full Study Vault for $525, instead of $730 bought separately. You pick your class date when you sign up, and the Study Vault and Practice Exam Simulator open the moment you check out. If you can't make your date, we'll move you to another one. If no date works, we refund the class part ($160) and you keep the Study Vault.
Once I'm licensed, do I still need annual CE?
Yes — every North Carolina licensed contractor must complete 8 hours of Continuing Education each year. See our NC Continuing Education page for the full breakdown.
Do you provide the reference books or study materials?
Yes, the books, tabbed and highlighted. We sell the reference books for this exam as one set, permanently tabbed and highlighted to PSI's rules and delivered in 5 to 7 business days. The exam prep itself covers the instruction, strategy, code-navigation guidance, practice questions and a study roadmap; the books are a separate purchase.
What reference books can I bring to the exam?
The NC Residential exam permits four bound reference books: the NC OSHA Construction Standards; the NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management (North Carolina General Contractor edition, 10th edition); the NC State Building Code: Residential Code, 2018 edition; and the NC Administrative Code & Policies, 2018 edition. Always confirm the exact editions on the current PSI bulletin before buying.
The full NC Residential list with editions, plus the books that are specifically banned →
What are the open-book rules?
You may use approved bound books only — no partial or loose references. Before the exam you can highlight, underline and add permanent tabs, but PSI specifically bans Post-It Index Flags and Post-It Flags, and any temporary tab has to come out before the exam will begin. No notes written on the tabs, no writing in the books at all, and no extra papers loose or attached. A silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator is allowed, and PSI will give you a magnifying glass on request.
The complete rules, and what else you can and cannot take into the test center →
What's the single most important open-book skill?
Finding the answer quickly. The NC Residential exam is open book and on a clock, so navigation beats memorization — the people who run out of time usually knew the material, they just could not land on it fast enough. That means tabbing and highlighting your books properly, then practicing the lookup until it is quick.
It is the first thing our prep covers, and the Online Study Vault has a dedicated Highlighting, Tabbing & Lookup module with timed drills.
Ready to get licensed?
Stop Putting Off Your First Build
Most newcomers wait too long because the exam feels overwhelming. We make it simple — instant, on-demand access to a complete study path. Get the NC Residential Exam Prep Study Vault and start today.