Kansas General Building Contractor (A) Exam (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC)

How to Pass the Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Exam

You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) exam. This guide lays it out: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics on the test, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and a study plan you can follow. Pearson VUE gives the exam.

Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Exam Basics

Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:

On exam day

• Questions are four-option multiple choice with one correct answer.

References you may bring

• International Building Code® (2018)
• Concrete Manual: Based on the 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19
• Concrete Manual: Based on the 2015 IBC and ACI 318-14 (2015 IBC / ACI 318-14)

Scheduling, changes and retakes

• Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at https://www.pearsonvue.com/icc.
• Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after completion of the examination.
• You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
• After passing, contact the jurisdiction for any other requirements needed to become licensed.

Source: State of Kansas Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED August 20, 2026 (page headers read "December 9, 2025"). Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.

What's on the Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Exam

The official content outline splits the exam into 4 topics:

Your Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Study Plan

Your books are your best friend on this exam. It's open book, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll use on test day. Get your own copies in the editions the bulletin names.

Get to know them early. Spend time with each book's table of contents and index until you can find any major subject quickly. On an open-book exam, finding answers fast is the skill that counts.

Make the books yours. Highlight the sections you keep coming back to. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.

Put your energy where the points are. Structural Systems and Building Planning and Life Safety make up 73% of the exam, so start there.

Practice with the clock running. Our timed practice exams help you build the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question. Every attempt is another rep.

Keep going until you pass practice exams consistently. One good score is a great start. A few passing scores in a row is how you know you're ready.

Books You'll Need for the Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Exam

The listed references are the 2018 International Building Code® and either the Concrete Manual based on the 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19 or the Concrete Manual based on the 2015 IBC and ACI 318-14.

Where to get them:

• IBC 2018
• Concrete Manual 2015

Test Day Tips

Start with a quick pass through the whole exam. Answer every question you're sure about and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions, so nothing is lost by moving on. One catch: some exams lock the questions you've already seen once you take a break, so clear your bookmarks before any break.

Then come back to your bookmarks and work through them one at a time. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 4 hours for 90 questions, which is about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. A blank can't earn a point.

Study Tips

Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.

You're given plenty of time, so use as much of it as you need. Don't get rattled when other people finish early — finishing first isn't a prize. Work at your own steady pace and review your answers before you submit.

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.

On tough multiple-choice questions, rule out the options you know are wrong before choosing. Narrowing to two choices sharply improves your odds even when you're unsure.

Try These Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) Practice Questions

Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Building Envelope

Question: Roof assemblies and roof coverings required to be listed and identified as Class A, B or C must be tested in accordance with which standards?

• A. ASTM E108 or UL 790
• B. NFPA 285 or NFPA 268
• C. ASTM E84 or UL 723
• D. ASTM E119 or UL 263

Correct Answer: A

IBC Section 1505.1 requires Class A, B and C roof assemblies and roof coverings to be tested in accordance with ASTM E108 or UL 790; fire-retardant-treated wood roof coverings are additionally tested to ASTM D2898. ASTM E119/UL 263 are fire-resistance-rating tests, ASTM E84/UL 723 are surface-burning (flame spread) tests, and NFPA 285/268 apply to exterior wall assemblies and wall coverings.

Reference: IBC 2018 Chapter 15 — Section 1505.1

Sample 2 — Structural Systems

Question: You are reviewing the structural construction documents for a new commercial warehouse. Which of the following pieces of information must be indicated on the documents regardless of whether wind loads govern the lateral force-resisting system design?

• A. Partition load distribution layout
• B. Crane hook loads and impact factors
• C. Basic design wind speed and risk category
• D. Tributary area for live load reduction

Correct Answer: C

Per IBC Section 1603.1.4, wind design data including basic design wind speed (V), allowable stress design wind speed (Vasd), risk category, wind exposure, applicable internal pressure coefficient, and design wind pressures for exterior components must be shown on construction documents regardless of whether wind loads govern the design of the lateral force-resisting system.

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1603.1.4

Sample 3 — Building Planning and Life Safety

Question: A commercial tenant space will be lighted artificially rather than by exterior glazed openings. What average illumination level must the artificial lighting provide, and at what height above the floor is that level measured?

• A. 1 footcandle at 30 inches above the floor
• B. 5 footcandles at 48 inches above the floor
• C. 10 footcandles at 30 inches above the floor
• D. 20 footcandles at 48 inches above the floor

Correct Answer: C

Per 2018 IBC Section 1204.3, artificial light shall be provided that is adequate to give an average illumination of 10 footcandles (107 lux) over the area of the room at a height of 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor level. (Separately, Section 1204.4 sets 1 footcandle on dwelling-unit stairway tread runs, and Section 1204.5 points means of egress illumination to Section 1008.1.)

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1204.3

Sample 4 — Permits and General Regulations

Question: While evaluating a structure for a commercial renovation bid, you need to determine whether it qualifies as an existing building under the code definitions. Which of the following meets that definition?

• A. A building that has received a certificate of occupancy
• B. A building constructed before zoning was adopted
• C. Any building more than five years of age
• D. A building with a legal building permit issued

Correct Answer: D

The Chapter 2 definition of EXISTING BUILDING is a building erected prior to the date of adoption of the appropriate code, or one for which a legal building permit has been issued. Age alone, issuance of a certificate of occupancy, or the date of zoning adoption are not the criteria stated in the definition.

Reference: IBC 2018 Chapter 2 (Definitions), 'Existing Building'

Why Practice Online?

Reading questions in a PDF is a start, but it doesn't prepare you for the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you build speed along with knowledge. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic so you know where to focus next.

Ready to Start?

Take the free Kansas General Building Contractor (A) (ICC KGA, 2018 IBC) practice exam and see where you stand today. Then focus on the topics that need the most work. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.