Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts 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 | $115 |
On exam day
- Questions are four-option multiple choice with one correct answer.
References you may bring
- International Residential Code (2018)
- Concrete Manual: Based on the 2015 IBC and ACI 318-14 (2015 IBC / ACI 318-14)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through Pearson VUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC.
- Results for electronically administered examinations are available immediately after the exam is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction for any other requirements needed to become licensed.
Source: Kansas City, Missouri Examination Information Bulletin (ICC Contractor/Trades), PUBLISHED November 10, 2025. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Permits and General Regulations | 14 | 18% |
| Building Planning and Life Safety | 19 | 24% |
| Structural Systems | 37 | 46% |
| Building Envelopes | 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 Prepare for the Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Structural Systems and Building Planning and Life Safety make up 70% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Exam
The references listed for this open-book exam are the 2018 International Residential Code and the ICC Concrete Manual (2015).
Where to get them:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the questions you've seen once you take a break, so work your bookmarks before any break.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 4 hours for 80 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
Take this practice exam several times. The goal is to consistently clear your exam's passing score — often around 70–75% — so passing feels routine before you walk into the real test.
Skim the answer choices before you commit. You're hunting for the key term or vocabulary word that signals the right concept. The more you've practiced, the faster the right wording jumps out at you.
On technical questions, don't get bogged down in unfamiliar terminology. If you don't recognize a term, you're unlikely to figure it out on the spot—acknowledge it quickly and move on. Use the surrounding context, answer choices, and familiar terms to guide your reasoning, but don't linger on any single difficult question.
Don't overlook any information in the question—every detail may be essential to finding the correct answer. Unlike the answer choices, nothing in the question is a red herring. If two seemingly unrelated topics appear, assume they are connected; finding that connection is likely the key to solving the problem.
Read the explanation for every question — right or wrong. Understanding the underlying rule lets you answer reworded questions you've never seen, instead of memorizing specific answers.
Sample Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Building Envelopes
Question: How many fasteners per shingle are required when attaching wood shingles to a roof?
- A. Four
- B. Two
- C. One
- D. Three
Correct Answer: B
Per R905.7.5, wood shingles shall be attached to the roof with two fasteners per shingle, positioned in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R905.7.5, Chapter 9
Sample 2 — Structural Systems
Question: Floor girders are set to bear directly on a cast-in-place concrete foundation wall without joist hangers. What is the minimum required bearing length on the concrete?
- A. 2 inches
- B. 1-1/2 inches
- C. 3 inches
- D. 1 inch
Correct Answer: C
Per IRC Section R502.6, the ends of each joist, beam or girder shall have not less than 1-1/2 inches of bearing on wood or metal and not less than 3 inches of bearing on masonry or concrete, or be supported by approved joist hangers.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R502.6
Sample 3 — Building Planning and Life Safety
Question: The required side-hinged egress door for a dwelling unit must provide a clear width, measured between the face of the door and the stop with the door open 90 degrees, of not less than:
- A. 34 inches
- B. 36 inches
- C. 32 inches
- D. 30 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per IRC 2018 Section R311.2, the required egress door shall be side-hinged and provide a clear width of not less than 32 inches measured between the face of the door and the stop with the door open 90 degrees; clear height shall be not less than 78 inches.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R311.2
Sample 4 — Permits and General Regulations
Question: You are assembling a permit package for a new two-family dwelling. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents and other data must accompany each permit application in how many sets?
- A. Four or more sets
- B. Two or more sets
- C. Three or more sets
- D. One set
Correct Answer: B
Per IRC Section R106.1, submittal documents consisting of construction documents and other data shall be submitted in two or more sets with each application for a permit. The building official may require additional documents prepared by a registered design professional where special conditions exist, and may waive documents not required to be prepared by a registered design professional.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R106.1
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free Kansas City, MO Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC G13, 2018 IRC) practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.