Required Books

This is a semi-open book exam. Not all references can go into the test. The following books are permitted into the exam:

North Carolina Business and Project Management for Building 7th ed
North Carolina OSHA 1926 2018
North Carolina State Administrative Code and Policies 2018
North Carolina State Building Code
ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
ACI 530-13 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures
Sports Field Design, Construction, & Maintenance, 2nd ed.
ANSI Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities

These references may be tabbed (with permanent index tabs) and highlighted. They are available for purchase from our online contractor’s bookstore or by calling our office at 1-800-992-1910. *There are additional downloadable documents for the North Carolina General Building exam*

Add All Required Books to Cart ($1,734.70)

2018 North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies

Bookstore

Includes all of the administrative codes and policies of the 2015 North Carolina State Building Codes.

$44.00
Add to cart
2018 North Carolina Building Code, Tabbed and Highlighted

Bookstore

This is a fully integrated code based on the 2015 International Building Code. It comes tabbed & highlighted for…

$201.00
Add to cart
ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete

Bookstore

ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete- The “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (“Code”) provides minimum…

$255.00
Add to cart
ACI 530-13 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures

Bookstore

Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures contains two standards and their commentaries: Building Code Requirements for…

$168.00
Add to cart
ANSI A117.1-2017 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities

Bookstore

ANSI A117.1-20017 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities

$59.00
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Carpentry & Building Construction, 6th Ed, 2016

Bookstore

.awq5 { POSITION: absolute } Help students get ready for professional certification and competitive events with Glencoe's NEWCarpentry and…

$152.00
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Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th

Bookstore

Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures--the guide to applications, methods, and materials, has been the industry’s primary reference…

$149.00
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Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Girders

Bookstore

This technical digest is another addition to the series of Steel Joist Institute technical publications designed to give…

$50.00
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Manual of Construction with Steel Deck

Bookstore

SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck. This publication reviews good practice in Steel Deck Construction, and serves…

$53.00
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Modern Masonry, 2022

Bookstore

Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone provides a broad understanding of the properties and applications of masonry materials. It…

$148.00
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Business and Law NASCLA

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business Law and Project Management , North Carolina for Building 10th ed

Bookstore

North Carolina General, Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management is organized into 3 sections. Part 1…

$94.75
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North Carolina OSHA 1926

Bookstore

North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, from the North Carolina Department of Labor…

$54.00
Add to cart
Permanent Tabs for the North Carolina Business & Project Management book

Bookstore

American Contractors Exam Services has put together a package of permanent tabs for the North Carolina NASCLA Business…

$12.95
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Pipe & Excavation Contracting

Bookstore

Pipe and Excavation Contracting by Dave Roberts; published by Craftsman Book Co; (2011). Pipeline contracting can be rewarding…

$49.00
Add to cart
Roofing Construction & Estimating, Revised

Bookstore

The step-by-step, hands-on guide to any type of roofing on residential and commercial buildings. Covers everything from underlayment…

$50.00
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Sports Fields Design, Construction and Maintenance, 3rd ed.

Bookstore

The completely updated edition of the definitive sports field book Recognizing that new developments in the design, construction, and maintenance…

$115.00
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Training & Certification of Field Personnel For Unbonded Post-Tension

Bookstore

This manual is used in conjunction with PTI's Level 1 Field Fundamentals training program. Provides guidance for field…

$80.00
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Additional Services

NC HVAC App Fee - Made payable to the "State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors"

Application Processing

$100.00
Add to cart
NC HVAC Application Processing

Application Processing

$149.00
Add to cart
North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for "LIMITED LICENSE"

Application Processing

North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for "LIMITED LICENSE"

$75.00
Add to cart
North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for "UNLIMITED LICENSE"

Application Processing

North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for "UNLIMITED LICENSE"

$125.00
Add to cart
North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for an "INTERMEDIATE LICENSE"

Application Processing

North Carolina - Check made payable to "North Carolina Board for General Contractors" for an "INTERMEDIATE LICENSE"

$125.00
Add to cart
North Carolina - Check made payable to the "State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors"payday loan

Application Processing

North Carolina - Check made payable to the "State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors"

$150.00
Add to cart
North Carolina Application for Certificate of Authority

Application Processing

$250.00
Add to cart
North Carolina Application Processing

Application Processing

New Application Processing Fee for North Carolina License

$299.00
Add to cart
North Carolina Renewal Processing Fee

Application Processing

$75.00
Add to cart
North Carolina- Check made payable to the "State Board of Examiners of HVAC Contractors"

Application Processing

North Carolina- Check made payable to the "State Board of Examiners of HVAC Contractors"

$200.00
Add to cart

Confirm This Is the Right License for Your Work

Every state licensing board defines the exact project types, sizes, and trades that fall under each contractor classification. Review the scope below to make sure this license matches the work you actually do — then enroll in the seminar that prepares you for that exam the first time.

The General Building classification covers all types of construction activity including but not limited to commercial, industrial, institutional, and all types of residential building construction. This covers parking decks, all site-work, grading and paving of parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters which are ancillary to this type of construction. It also covers work done under the specialty classifications of Concrete construction, Insulation, Interior construction, Masonry construction, Roofing, Metal Erection, and Swimming Pools.

License Requirements

Pre-approval from the state is required to sit for the examination.
Please note a separate North Carolina Business and Law exam is not required as it is incorporated into the General Building exam.
A license is required for projects that are $30,000 or more.
No minimum experience required.
All licenses covered by the commercial licensing board are divided into 3 financial categories:
Limited: Applicants must have a minimum working capital of $17,000. This level allows bids up to $500,000 per single project.
Intermediate: Applicants must have a minimum working capital of $75,000. This level allows bids up to $1,000,000 per single project.
Unlimited: Applicants must have a minimum working capital of $150,000. This level has no restrictions as to the value of any single project.
Applicants for the Intermediate and Unlimited license must submit audited financial statements with classified balance sheets prepared by a CPA or independent accountant engaged in the public practice of accounting.
Surety bonds are required for applicants with insufficient working capital. The board may request that a surety bond and payment bond be obtained for jobs above a certain monetary level.

Reciprocity

North Carolina has a reciprocal agreement with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee to waive certain examinations.

NASCLA Accredited license is accepted in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia & the Virgin Islands.

Nevada is also accepting the NASCLA exam scores if the exam was passed after 12/1/2013. This is for the same classification. Arizona began accepting this examination in lieu trade examinations for the B-1 and B-2 General Commercial Contracting Classifications.

Florida is now accepting the NASCLA exam. Scores from the NASCLA exam are now acceptable for the Residential, Building, or General Contractor classifications. Applicants using the NASCLA exam will still be required to pass the Florida Business and Finance exams and meet all other application requirements.

Continuing Education

This needs added to NC

Courses

8 hours of CE must be completed in order to renew a license by at least one qualifier for licensees in the license classifications of Building, Residential and Unclassified. For the Unclassified license, it shall be the qualifier who has passed the Building examination.
The 8-hour course requirement includes a mandatory 2-hour course produced by the Board with information about changes in the laws and rules and other content applicable to general contracting.
The remaining 6 hours will be elective courses produced by outside providers, submitted to and approved by the Board.

Timing

The CE year begins January 1 and ends on November 30 annually.
Classes will not be offered during the month of December.

The Exam

The fee for the exam is $60 and a score of at least 70% is required to pass the exam.
The exam is open book, 90 multiple-choice questions and a 200 minute time limit.
Topics covered on the exam are site-work, concrete and concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, roofing, associated trades, business and law, safety, plan reading and estimating, general building code requirements, One Call, erosion and sedimentation control, licensing, and liens.
Once approved you will receive an eligibility letter to schedule your testing, valid for 120 days from the date on the letter, good for one exam during that time.
To schedule your exam you must contact PSI at 1-800-733-9267.
Failing candidates may not retake an exam until at least 30 days after the failed exam.

How We Help You Prepare

American Contractors offers an extensive, 2-day seminar to prepare for the North Carolina General Building contractor license exam. Please contact us for additional information, 1-800-992-1910.

To apply, contact State of North Carolina Licensing Board 1-919-571-4183.

Licensing fees are: Limited $75, Intermediate $100, and Unlimited $125.

Applications are reviewed and approved as soon as they are received. Once exams are passed, applications are submitted to the board for review.

Applications must be submitted the 1st week of the month prior to the next board meeting .The board meets every month except December. Processing time would be 1 to 2 months depending on the date submitted to the board.

All general contractors' licenses expire December 31 each year and normally are not issued during December.

Important Contacts

To apply for a General Contractor and related trade licenses, contact:

Licensing Board for General Contractors
Post Office Box 17187
Raleigh, NC 27619
(919)571-4183

www.nclbgc.org

Applications and licensing information for Electrical licenses may be obtained be obtained from:

Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
PO Box 18727
Raleigh, NC 27619
(919)733-9042

www.ncbeec.org

Applications and Exam information for Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler license may be obtained from:

Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinklers
1109 Dresser Court
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919)875-3612

www.nclicensing.org

For all examinations Contact:

PSI Licensure: Certification
ATTN: Examination Registration NC
3210 E Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(800) 733-9267 phone
702.932.2666 fax

www.psiexams.com

Full Seminar Schedule

Compare upcoming dates, locations, and class details. Use the Choose button to move a session into the registration selector.

Date	Location	Format	Location Info	Price
Jul 18, 2026	Charlotte	In-Person	View details Home 2 Suites Charlotte Univ Research Park 625 McCullough Dr Charlotte, NC 28262 (704) 659-5100 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00
Aug 8, 2026	Chapel Hill/Durham	In-Person	View details Hampton Inn and Suites 6121 Farrington Rd Chapel Hil, NC 27517 (919) 403-8700 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00
Sep 12, 2026	Charlotte	In-Person	View details Home 2 Suites Charlotte Univ Research Park 625 McCullough Dr Charlotte, NC 28262 (704) 659-5100 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00
Oct 3, 2026	Chapel Hill/Durham	In-Person	View details Hampton Inn and Suites 6121 Farrington Rd Chapel Hil, NC 27517 (919) 403-8700 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00
Nov 7, 2026	Charlotte	In-Person	View details Home 2 Suites Charlotte Univ Research Park 625 McCullough Dr Charlotte, NC 28262 (704) 659-5100 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00
Dec 5, 2026	Chapel Hill/Durham	In-Person	View details Hampton Inn and Suites 6121 Farrington Rd Chapel Hil, NC 27517 (919) 403-8700 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 1, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Day 2 This is a 2 day course	$795.00

What Past Attendees Say

This two day course was the missing link I needed to pass the general contractors exam.

Jason C.

5-star Google review

With the help of their exam prep seminar I passed the licensing exam on the first try!

Jim C.

I have taken classes here and they are worth it! All their instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Amy G.

North Carolina General Building Contractor

What Is Included in Your Seminar