ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) exam tests the rules and the reference books behind the work. This guide lays out the job: the key facts from the official bulletin, what the exam covers, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and how to get ready. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
The ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 50 questions |
| Time limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- The exam consists of multiple-choice questions in four-option format with one scored correct answer.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2015)
- International Residential Code (2015)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Requirements, Code Definitions and Terms | 13 | 26% |
| Foundations, Floor Framing and Floor Load Design | 11 | 22% |
| Wall Framing, Load Bearing, General Framing | 16 | 32% |
| Roof Framing and Roof Load Design | 10 | 20% |
How to Get Ready for the ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Exam
Treat your reference books like your tools. On an open-book exam you don't need every rule memorized. You need to know which book holds it and where to find it.
Buy the books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names. An older or newer edition can put the answer on a different page, or change it.
Learn your way around each book before you study anything else. The table of contents and the index are your layout.
Highlight what you look up most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Do the big jobs first. Wall Framing, Load Bearing, General Framing and General Requirements, Code Definitions and Terms make up 58% of the exam.
Put in the reps with timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question.
Measure twice. When you miss a practice question, find the section in your book, read it and mark it. Keep at it until you pass practice exams consistently.
The Books for the ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Exam
The listed references for this exam are the 2015 International Building Code and the 2015 International Residential Code.
Where to get them:
Working the Exam on Test Day
Work the exam in two passes. On the first pass, answer everything you know and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions. On the second pass, go back to your bookmarks and take them one at a time.
Don't get hung up on one question. You have 150 minutes for 50 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Study Tips
Only select answers that directly respond to the question asked—not ones that merely sound correct or seem true. After choosing, verify your answer against the question to confirm you didn't misread it and that your selection genuinely addresses what was asked.
Don't be distracted by an answer that is merely factually true—focus on whether it actually answers the question. Always return to the question and verify that your chosen answer directly addresses what's being asked, not just that it's a true statement. Also, when two answers seem equally correct, read all choices carefully and select the one that best answers the question.
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Be alert to hedging words like likely, may, can, sometimes, usually, generally, and rarely—question writers use them to account for exceptions. An answer choice is often wrong simply because it allows no exceptions. Similarly, avoid choices containing absolute terms like exactly and always.
Sample ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — Roof Framing and Roof Load Design
Question: A residence is being framed with cold-formed steel roof rafters under the prescriptive provisions. Measured horizontally, eave overhangs shall not exceed what dimension?
- A. 18 inches
- B. 24 inches
- C. 16 inches
- D. 12 inches
Correct Answer: B
IRC 2015 Section R804.3.2.1.1 limits eave overhangs in cold-formed steel roof framing to 24 inches measured horizontally; Section R804.3.2.1.2 limits rake overhangs to 12 inches measured horizontally.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R804.3.2.1.1
Sample 2 — Wall Framing, Load Bearing, General Framing
Question: A portion of a wall along a designated braced wall line angles out of plane. What is the maximum diagonal length of that angled wall before it must be considered a separate braced wall line?
- A. 12 feet
- B. 8 feet
- C. 4 feet
- D. 6 feet
Correct Answer: B
IRC 2015 Section R602.10.1.4 permits any portion of a wall along a braced wall line to angle out of plane for a maximum diagonal length of 8 feet. Where the diagonal length exceeds 8 feet, it shall be considered a separate braced wall line and braced accordingly.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R602.10.1.4
Sample 3 — General Requirements, Code Definitions and Terms
Question: You are framing a dwelling on a wooded, suburban lot that otherwise meets the description of Exposure B terrain. One quadrant of the site, however, faces open grassland typical of Exposure C terrain. The site must be assessed as Exposure C where that adjacent open area extends for a distance of more than how many feet?
- A. 5,000 feet
- B. 1,500 feet
- C. 300 feet
- D. 600 feet
Correct Answer: D
Per IRC 2015 Section R301.2.1.4, Item 2, Exposure C applies to any building located within Exposure B type terrain where the building is directly adjacent to open areas of Exposure C type terrain in any quadrant for a distance of more than 600 feet. The 1,500-foot figure is the extent of scattered obstructions described for Exposure C, and 5,000 feet is the open-water distance used to establish Exposure D.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R301.2.1.4
Sample 4 — Foundations, Floor Framing and Floor Load Design
Question: Precast concrete foundation panels are being delivered to your jobsite, and you are verifying the manufacturer's material certifications. What is the minimum 28-day compressive strength required for the concrete used to manufacture these panels?
- A. 3,000 psi
- B. 4,000 psi
- C. 2,500 psi
- D. 5,000 psi
Correct Answer: D
Per 2015 IRC Section R402.3.1, Item 1, all concrete used in the manufacture of precast concrete foundations shall have a minimum compressive strength of 5,000 psi at 28 days, and concrete exposed to a freezing and thawing environment shall be air entrained with a minimum total air content of 5 percent. The 2,500 psi and 3,000 psi values apply to cast-in-place foundation concrete under Section R404.1.3.3.1.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R402.3.1
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF is like reading about a job instead of doing it. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break your score down by topic so you know where to put in more work.
Get Started
Take the free ICC F46 Framing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC) practice exam to see where you stand, then put your time into the topics that need it. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.