ICC G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 IRC) Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The ICC G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 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 G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 IRC) Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| 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 Residential Code (2018)
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 G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 IRC) Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Permits and General Regulations | 15 | 19% |
| Building Planning and Life Safety | 15 | 19% |
| Structural Systems | 40 | 50% |
| Building Envelope | 10 | 12% |
Building Planning and Life Safety: Fire & Smoke Alarms & Fire Protect Sys; Occupancy Needs & Interior Environment; Exiting & Means of Egress; Fire-Resistant Construction & Separation Requirements; Fireblocking & Draftstopping; Guards & Window Fall Protection; Building Planning.
How to Get Ready for the ICC G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 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.
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 G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 IRC) Exam
The listed reference for this exam is the 2018 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 4 hours for 80 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Study Tips
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.
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
A little anxiety before an exam is completely normal — acknowledge it instead of fighting it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a question, pause and take a few slow breaths to reset. If your test center allows a short break, use it; just remember the clock usually keeps running.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Sample ICC G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 IRC) Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — Building Envelope
Question: When installing a drip edge on an asphalt shingle roof, the underlayment must be placed over the drip edge at eaves and under the drip edge at rake edges. What is the minimum distance the drip edge must extend back onto the roof deck?
- A. 1 inch
- B. 4 inches
- C. 2 inches
- D. 3 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per R905.2.8.5, drip edges shall extend not less than 1/4 inch below the roof sheathing and extend up back onto the roof deck not less than 2 inches. They shall be mechanically fastened at not more than 12 inches on center.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R905.2.8.5, Chapter 9
Sample 2 — Structural Systems
Question: Ductwork has required the top plate of an exterior wall to be cut more than 50 percent of its width. A galvanized metal tie 0.054 inch thick and 1-1/2 inches wide must be fastened across and to the plate at each side of the opening with not less than:
- A. eight 10d nails
- B. four 16d nails
- C. six 10d nails
- D. ten 8d nails
Correct Answer: A
IRC Section R602.6.1 requires a 16 gage (0.054 inch) galvanized metal tie not less than 1-1/2 inches wide fastened at each side of the opening with not less than eight 10d (0.148 inch diameter) nails, and the tie must extend not less than 6 inches past the opening. See Figure R602.6.1.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R602.6.1
Sample 3 — Permits and General Regulations
Question: Your crew finishes a detached accessory storage building that was constructed under a building permit on a residential lot. Which statement correctly describes the certificate of occupancy requirement for that structure?
- A. A certificate must be issued with the dwelling's certificate
- B. Certificates of occupancy are not required for accessory structures
- C. A temporary certificate must be issued pending final grading
- D. A certificate must be issued before the structure is used
Correct Answer: B
IRC R110.1 requires a certificate of occupancy before a building is used or occupied, but Exception 2 excludes accessory buildings or structures (Exception 1 excludes work exempt from permits under R105.2).
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R110.1 Exceptions
Sample 4 — Building Planning and Life Safety
Question: A residential building has habitable rooms that require natural ventilation through operable openings. What is the minimum openable area to the outdoors, expressed as a percentage of the floor area being ventilated?
- A. 8 percent
- B. 4 percent
- C. 2 percent
- D. 10 percent
Correct Answer: B
Per IRC Section R303.1, the openable area to the outdoors shall be not less than 4 percent of the floor area being ventilated. The aggregate glazing area requirement is a separate 8 percent minimum.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R303.1
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 G13 Residential Building Contractor (C) (2018 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.