Required Books

All of the references listed under, Reference Materials, on this page were used to create the exam and are recommended study material to prepare for the exam. However, only the following books are allowed into the exam room during the test:

North Carolina Business and Project Management for Building; North Carolina OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry; Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 9th Edition; NC Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018; CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina, and Sports Field Design, Construction, and Maintenance.

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 Highway exam*

Laws and Regulations Applicable to General Contracting in the State of North Carolina.

North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15A, Chapter 4 Sedimentation Control, as amended July 1, 2000.

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A, Article 4 Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973, as amended through October 2002.

North Carolina One Call.

CAMA Handbook for Development of Coastal North Carolina.

Add All Required Books to Cart ($1,520.65)

CAMA Handbook for Coastal Development

Bookstore

CAMA Handbook for Coastal Development

$22.95
Add to cart
Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods 9th ed.

Bookstore

Construction Planning, Equipment and Methods, Ninth Edition, follows in the footsteps of previous editions by laying out the…

$290.00
Add to cart
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
Add to cart
Hot Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook, pdf

Bookstore

This comprehensive handbook covers HMA project organization, mix design and job mix formulas, types of HMA manufacturing facilities,…

$57.00
Add to cart
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
Add to cart
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
North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018

Bookstore

Table Of Contents 1. General Requirements2. Earthwork 3. Materials4. Pipe Culverts 5. Work Zone Traffic Control 6. Major…

$59.00
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
Placing Reinforcing Bars 10th, 2019

Bookstore

Published by the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI), this book is unique and popular resource that presents the…

$109.00
Add to cart
Practical Guide to Railway Engineering-PDF

Bookstore

SPECIAL ORDER usually ships 7-10 business days Written by a group of over 50 railroad professionals, representing over…

$428.00
Add to cart
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
Add to cart
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
Add to cart

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 Highway classification covers all types of highway construction activity including but not limited to: grading, paving of all types, installation of exterior artificial athletic surfaces, relocation of public and private utility lines ancillary to the principal project, bridge construction and repair, parking decks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and storm drainage.

It includes installation and erection of guard rails, fencing, signage and ancillary highway hardware. It covers paving and grading of airport and airfield runways, taxiways, and aprons including the installation of signage, runway lighting and marking. The license also covers work done under the specialty classifications of Boring and Tunneling, Concrete, Marine, and Railroad construction.

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 needed, that information is incorporated into the Highway exam.
A license is required for projects that are $30,000 or more.
There is no minimum experience requirement.
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 does not have a reciprocity agreement for this license.

Continuing Education

As of this time, there is no continuing education for this license.

The Exam

The fee for the exam is $60 and a score of at least 70% is required to pass the exams.
The exam is open book, multiple-choice, and timed.
There are 90 questions on the exam with a 4 1/2 -hour time limit. Not all reference books are allowed into the exam.
Topics covered on the exam are excavation and grading, One Call, safety, licensing, paving-asphalt, piles, business and law, concrete paving, marine construction, railroad construction, tunneling, traffic control, erosion and sedimentation control, concrete, metals including concrete reinforcement, and liens.
Once you are approved you will receive an eligibility letter to schedule your testing. The eligibility letter is valid for 120 days from the date on the letter and allows the candidate to take 1 exam within that time frame.
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 a 2-day seminar to prepare for the North Carolina Highway 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.

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

Applications are cleared for approval to take the exam as soon as they are received. However, 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 (ex. 1st week of June for July approval).

The board meets once per month in every month except December. Therefore, processing time would be 1 to 2 months depending on the date submitted to the board.

All general contractors licenses expire December 31 each calendar year and normally are not issued during the month of 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	Select
Nov 9, 2026	Web Seminar (with an Instructor)	Webinar	View details ACES Webinar online Nashville, TN 37211 800-992-1910 8am to 5pm both Days 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 Highway Contractor

What Is Included in Your Seminar

Required Books

CAMA Handbook for Coastal Development

Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods 9th ed.

Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th

Hot Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook, pdf

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

North Carolina OSHA 1926

North Carolina Standard Specifications for Roads and Structures, 2018

Permanent Tabs for the North Carolina Business & Project Management book

Pipe & Excavation Contracting

Placing Reinforcing Bars 10th, 2019

Practical Guide to Railway Engineering-PDF

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

Training & Certification of Field Personnel For Unbonded Post-Tension

Additional Services

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

NC HVAC Application Processing

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

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

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

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

North Carolina Application for Certificate of Authority

North Carolina Application Processing

North Carolina Renewal Processing Fee

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