Building Contractor’s Exam Preparation Guide
Chapter Preview

The primary reason that states, counties, and cities license building contractors is to protect public health, safety, and welfare. State laws accomplish these goals by preventing unqualified people from practicing a given profession or occupation. To become licensed, potential building contractors must meet minimum standards of experience and sometimes education. Licensing is also a formal and legal way of defining a trade or profession and assuring that those who meet the predetermined standards necessary for licensing can provide the public with competent and knowledgeable services and/or work. Licensing bodies serve society in a positive way and provide the following benefits:

• Screening applicants to ensure that they possess those minimum qualifications necessary for safe practice.
   
• Providing 6 mechanism for investigating charges of incompetence or faulty installations.
   
• Setting standards of practice and codes of conduct. These standards give the public a basis for determining acceptable quality in workmanship, service, and conduct.

A governmental agency which will first investigate charges of a contractor licensee's incompetence or failure to perform work and then will take the appropriate disciplinary action, helps to protect the profession from incompetent, unethical, or dishonest practitioners. It also serves notice on others that the regulatory agency will not tolerate practitioners whose activities may not be in the public interest.

Licensing in the United States

Standards for licensure are set forth by law or regulations. State, county, or city professional and occupational boards have the responsibility for filling in specific details through the rule-making process. Such boards have responsibility for deter- mining the content of the licensing examination and for interpreting certain other requirements. Furthermore, these same boards are responsible for determining who is qualified to be licensed.

In most areas, applicants apply to the appropriate agency by filing a form supplied by the board, paying the appropriate fee, being approved, and taking a written examination.

Most first-time applicants for a building contractor's license have been working in the building construction industry for a long time, accumulating much on-the-job experience. Yet many of them do poorly on a written examinations because the thought of taking exams worries them, or they do not know how to prepare for such exams.

This book shows how to properly take examinations, how to build the confidence you deserve, and how to keep exam anxiety from getting in the way of your knowledge.

What better way to prepare for your building contractor's examination than to study sample questions from actual state, county, and city examinations - in the privacy of your own home?

Building Contractor's Exam Preparation Guide will also help you:

• Familiarize yourself with state, county, and city testing procedures.
   
• Eliminate pre-exam anxiety.
   
• Better understand the subject appearing on contractor’s examinations.

Building Contractor's Exam Preparation Guide covers all the topics that will appear on any con- tractor's examination. Once you have reviewed the basic subject matter (using the hundreds of sample questions in this book), you can take the full-length practice examination that is included at the end of this book. This practice exam covers the same subject areas and types of questions that appear on actual contractor's examinations throughout the United States.

Any person, firm or corporation engaged in contracting building projects in Alabama costing over $ 1 0,000 shall be required to be licensed. A license is also required for any type of swimming pool construction or repair costing more than $5,000

Alaska

General contractors may not submit bids or do work until they are registered by the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Bids from subcontractors may not be used unless that subcontractor is also registered.

Alaska has not adopted any state-wide building codes. However, most localities have adopted the Uniform Building Code (UBC), as published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO).

Arizona

Any person, firm or corporation must submit evidence of qualifications to engage in contracting in Arizona, and shall be licensed as described in the Arizona State Contracting Licensing Laws and Regulations.

Arkansas

Any construction work in excess of $20,000 is regulated at the state level. Residential construction work, however, may be regulated at the local level.

California

Licensing is required for all building construction involving projects of $300 or more. First time applicants are subject to a business law examination and a trade examination. Exam results are good for 5 years.

Colorado

Most building construction work, other than electrical and plumbing, is regulated in varying degrees by cities or counties.

Connecticut

To safeguard life, health and property, no person is allowed to engage in or offer to practice as a general contractor or major subcontractor in the state unless such person has secured a license as provided by the Connecticut General Statutes and the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Statute.

Building codes used in Connecticut include: BOCA National Building Code, BOCA Supplement, State of Connecticut Code Supplement, and OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry.

Delaware

A license is required for any type of building construction in Delaware. Contractor licenses are issued for a one-year period, expiring on December 31st. The average processing time for a first-time applicant is approximately 6 weeks.

District of Columbia

Licenses are required only for home improvement contractors in the District of Columbia. Other contractors may be required to demonstrate their ability to handle a project before contracts are awarded.

Florida

Building construction in the state of Florida, depending upon the circumstances, is regulated by either the local/municipal level or by certification at the state level.

Georgia

Only specialty building construction trades are handled at the state level in Georgia. Some municipalities and counties, however, may require building contractors to be licensed.

Hawaii

Every aspect of building construction is regulated at the state level in Hawaii. At the present time, no written examination is required for building contractors; only a performance bond for each project.

Idaho

Building construction is not regulated at the state level; only electrical construction work is regulated. However, local cities and counties may require licensing.

Illinois

Except for public works, building construction is not regulated at the state level. Some cities and counties, however, do have licensing requirements.

Indiana

State licensing requirements exist for plumbing contractors only. Some cities and counties, however, may require licensing for building construction.

Iowa

All building construction may require state registration. All work preformed for the state or a state agency definitely requires registration.

Kansas

Licensing for building construction is not handled on the state level in Kansas. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements and a bond is required for all contracts. In lieu of local examinations, code exams given by the Inter- national Congress of Building Officials and Block & Associates are recognized by the local licensing authorities. The examinations recognized are the ICBO's General Contractor exam (4 hours, open book) and Block's Kansas UBC exam (6 hours, open book).

Kentucky

Licensing for building construction is not handled on the state level in Kentucky. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements.

Louisiana

Licensing is required for all building construction exceeding $50,000 in cost. Building contractors must pass a written examination dealing with the specific trade as well as business law.

Maine

Licensing for building construction is not handled on the state level in Maine. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements.

Maryland

Home improvement contractors are licensed at the state level. Other construction work requires registration by the state.

Massachusetts

Building construction up to 35,000 cu. ft. re- quires a licensed contractor supervisor. Many cities and counties in Massachusetts have their own examinations and prequalification requirements.

Michigan

Residential construction requires licensing at the state level. All other building contractors are regulated at local city or county level.

Minnesota

Residential building and remodeling contractors are licensed at the state level. All other building contractors are regulated at a local city or county level.

Mississippi

Any person contracting or undertaking projects as a prime contractor, subcontractor or sub-subcontractor in the state of Mississippi must have a Certificate of Responsibility or a Residential Builder's License, depending upon the size and type of project.

The Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) is the standard building code in Mississippi. The state also uses OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry.

Missouri

Construction is not regulated at the state level in Missouri. Some municipalities and counties, however, may require building contractors to be licensed.

Montana

All construction work over $500 requires registration, but licensing of contractors is not held at the state level. Some municipalities and counties, however, may require building contractors to be licensed.

Nebraska

Contracts exceeding $2,500 by out-of-state con- tractors are regulated at the state level in Nebraska. Some municipalities and counties, however, may require building contractors to be licensed.

Nevada

All building construction in the state of Nevada is regulated at the state level. A license is not required when a contractor performs work for the federal government on federal land.

New Hampshire

General building construction is not regulated at the state level. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements.

New Jersey

New residential building construction, maintenance, and repair is regulated at the state level. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for other building construction projects.

New Mexico

All building construction is regulated at the state level in New Mexico.

New York

Building construction is not handled on the state level in New York. Many cities nad counties, however, have licensing requirements.

North Carolina

All building construction is regulated at the state level in North Carolina. Applicants for a general contractor's license must pass trade and law examinations before a license will be issued.

North Dakota

All construction work exceeding $2,000 per project is handled at the state level in North Dakota. Some cities and counties may also have licensing requirements.

Ohio

Licensing for building contractors is not handled on the state level in Ohio. Some municipalities and counties, however, may require building contractors to be licensed.

Oklahoma

Building construction is not regulated at the state level in Oklahoma. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Oregon

All building construction costing over $500 is regulated at the state level in Oregon. One responsible individual per new contracting business must complete 16 hours of business and law classes before an application can be made. General contractors are further required to post a bond to bid on construction work.

Pennsylvania

Building construction is not handled on the state level in Pennsylvania. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Rhode Island

Residential building construction of 4 dwelling units or less is regulated at the state through registration. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for other building construction projects.

South Carolina

General building construction projects costing over $30,000 are regulated at the state level in South Carolina. Residential general work over $5,000, and residential specialty work over $200, also requires a state license.

South Dakota

General building construction projects, and licensing thereof, are not handled at the state level. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Tennessee

Any person, firm or corporation engaged in contracting in Tennessee shall be required to submit evidence of qualifications to engage in contracting, and shall be licensed as described in the State of Tennessee Contractors' License Law.

The Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) is the standard building code in Tennessee. The state also uses OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry.

Texas

Building Construction is not handled on the state level in Texas. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Utah

All building construction work costing over $500 is regulated at the state level in Utah. The size of each construction project is limited, based on the financial statement of each individual contractor.

Vermont

Building Construction is not handled on the state level in Vermont. Many cities and counties have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Virginia

Building construction work in excess of $ 1,000 is regulated at the state level. Applicants for a building or general contractor's license must pass an open book examination on regulations and statutes of the Contractor's Board and business management practices.

Washington

Construction work of all kinds is regulated at the state level in Washington. However, building contractors are not required to take any examination at the present.

West Virginia

All construction work costing over $1,000 (including materials and labor) is regulated at the state level. Applicants for a building contractor's license must pass an open book examination on business and law, and a trade specific test, with a minimum score of 70%. Furthermore, before undertaking a construction project, the contractor must show proof of Worker's Compensation and Employment Security coverage.

Wisconsin

Building construction is not regulated at the state level in Wisconsin. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

Wyoming

Building construction is not regulated at the state level in Wyoming. Many cities and counties, however, have licensing requirements for building construction projects.

This book is a guide to preparing for building contractor's examinations throughout the United States. It is not, however, a substitute for studying the recommended references. It will not teach you all about the building construction industry; you need some prior knowledge and experience first. But this book will give you a complete knowledge of the type of questions asked in any contractor's exam. It will also give you a "feel" for the examination and provide some of the confidence you need to pass.

The emphasis is on multiple-choice questions because that's the style that nearly all tests utilize. Questions are grouped into chapters, each chapter covering a single subject. This will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses. Then when you take the final exam in the back of this book, you can analyze the questions you miss. You will probably notice you are weaker in some subjects than others. When you learn where your weaknesses are, you will know what areas need further study.

The preparatory questions in the front part of this book have the answer after each question. When reading a question, cover the answer with a card or a ruler of an appropriate size. Read the question carefully. Mark your answer on a separate sheet of paper before moving the card or ruler that covers the correct answer. Then slide the card or ruler away and check to see if your answer is correct. If it isn't, read the responses under the answer to find out why it is wrong.

How to Study

Set aside a definite time to study, following a schedule that meets your needs. Studying a couple of hours two or three nights each week is better than studying all day on, say, Saturdays. The average mind can only concentrate for approximately 4 hours without taking a break. There is no point in studying if you don't retain much of the information. Study alone most of the time, but spend a few hours reviewing with another person before exam day. If you have a buddy that is also going to take the building contractor's exam, work together. You can help each other dig out the facts and concepts you will need to pass the exam.

Try to study in a quiet, well-lighted room that is respected as your study space by family members and friends. If it's hard to find a spot like that in your home, go to the local library where others are reading and studying.

Before you begin to study, spend a few minutes getting into the right frame of mind. That's important. You don't have to be a genius to pass the builder's exam, but good motivation will nearly always guarantee your success. No one can provide that motivation but you. Getting your contractor's license is a goal you set for yourself; it's your key to the future and a satisfying career in the building construction industry.

The Examination

Questions on state and local city and county examinations are usually compiled by members of the Contractor's Examination Board and also, in many cases, by the National Assessment Institute(NAI). Although the exact content will vary from state to state, and from one examination to another, all will contain questions relative to the building construction industry. Most, if not all, of these questions are covered in this preparation guide.

The format of the actual examination, the time allowed, and the reference material which the applicant may be allowed to take into the examination room vary with each locality. The following is typical of the examination given in many areas:

In many localities, a business and law examination is also required of all contractors; this business and law examination is in addition to the trade examination. Again, the content of the business and law exam will vary from state to state, but the following is typical:

Most answer sheets used today are designed for computer grading. Each question on the exam is numbered. Usually there will be 4 or 5 possible responses for each question. You will be required to mark the best answer on the answer sheet. The following is a sample of a multiple-choice question:

1. Richmond is the capitol city of what state?

1. Texas
2. Maryland
3. Virginia
4. Alabama

You should mark answer C for question I on the answer sheet.

Answer sheets will vary slightly for each examining agency, so be sure to follow any instructions on that sheet. Putting the right answer on the wrong section will almost certainly cause you to fail.

The Night Before

Give your mind a rest! If you have not prepared correctly for the exam by this time, then you can't cram it all into your brain in one night. So take it easy. If the place of the examination is more than an hour's drive from your home, you might want to stay at a motel in the city where the examination is being held. Getting up at, say, 4 a.m. and driving a couple of hours in heavy traffic will not help you to pass the exam. On the other hand, a drive to the location the afternoon before the exam, a good dinner, and a relaxing evening watching TV will help your possibilities of passing. Just don't stay up too late.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule. Some people find it difficult to sleep comfortably the first night at a strange location. If this is the case with you, you would be better off getting a good night's sleep at home and driving to the location the next morning.

Just be sure to have all of your reference material with you, and get a good night's sleep before the day of the exam. If you have prepared yourself correctly, you will pass with flying colors!

The Examination Day

On the day of your examination, listen carefully to any oral instructions given and read the printed directions. Failing to follow instructions will probably disqualify you.

You will seldom find any trick questions, but many will require careful reading. Certain words like shall, should, always, and never can make abig difference in your answer.

Sometimes several of the answers may seem possible, but only one will be correct. If you are not sure of the answer, use the process of elimination.

There are several ways to take an exam, but the following is the method I used to pass the Virginia State Electrical Contractor's Exam a few years ago. This method should apply equally well to building contractor's examinations.

When the exam booklets were passed out for my exam and we were given permission to open them, I spent the first 2 or 3 minutes going over the entire exam booklet, noting the total number of questions. This knowledge allowed me to pace myself. I noted a total of 100 questions on the morning exam, which allowed me less than 3 minutes to spend on each one.

I then started with question number I and continued in sequence through the test booklet. When a tough question was encountered or I found one that I was not sure of, I merely skipped it and went on to one that I definitely knew. This way, I went through the entire test booklet one time and answered about 50% of the questions in a little over an hour. I was quite sure that I had answered all of these questions correctly. However, 70% is usually the minimum passing grade, and at this point, I had only 50% of the questions answered. However, I still had about 3 hours to spend on the tougher questions.

I started back at the beginning of the exam and went down the list of questions until I found one that was left, and answered it. This process continued until I had answered all the questions to the best of my ability. I spent the remaining time reviewing all answers, making changes as necessary.