How to Pass the Kansas Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Kansas Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) 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 Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 75 |
| 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 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 Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 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 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.
Your Kansas Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) 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 70% 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 3 minutes 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 Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) Exam
The listed references are the 2018 International Residential 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:
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 80 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. 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.
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.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
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.
Try These Kansas Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Building Envelope
Question: You are supervising installation of anchored brick veneer on a wood-framed building and the mason asks how to lay out the weepholes in the outside wythe. What is the maximum permitted spacing of the weepholes?
- A. 24 inches on center
- B. 33 inches on center
- C. 36 inches on center
- D. 48 inches on center
Correct Answer: B
IRC Section R703.8.6 requires weepholes in the outside wythe at a maximum spacing of 33 inches on center, not less than 3/16 inch in diameter, and located immediately above the flashing.
Reference: IRC 2018 Chapter 7 — Section R703.8.6 Weepholes
Sample 2 — Structural Systems
Question: A high water table at the site requires the exterior basement walls to be waterproofed rather than merely dampproofed. If roll roofing is selected as the waterproofing material, it shall weigh not less than how many pounds?
- A. 45 pounds
- B. 30 pounds
- C. 55 pounds
- D. 90 pounds
Correct Answer: C
IRC R406.2, Item 2, lists fifty-five-pound (25 kg) roll roofing as an acceptable waterproofing method for foundation walls in areas with a high water table or other severe soil-water conditions. All joints in membrane waterproofing must be lapped and sealed with a compatible adhesive.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R406.2
Sample 3 — 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
Sample 4 — Permits and General Regulations
Question: Roof sheathing, framing, firestopping, draftstopping and bracing are all in place on your project. In addition to that work being complete, what must occur before the frame and masonry inspection can be made?
- A. Backfilling of the foundation
- B. Taping of gypsum board joints
- C. Approval of the rough-in inspections
- D. Installation of wall insulation
Correct Answer: C
IRC Section R109.1.4 requires that inspection of framing and masonry construction be made after the roof, masonry, framing, firestopping, draftstopping and bracing are in place AND after the plumbing, mechanical and electrical rough inspections are approved. Section R109.1.2 likewise requires rough inspections prior to the framing inspection.
Reference: IRC 2018 Sections R109.1.2 and R109.1.4
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 Residential Building Contractor (C) (ICC KGC, 2018 IRC) 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.