Kansas Framing Contractor Exam (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC)

How to Pass the Kansas Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC) Exam

You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Kansas Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/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 Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC) 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)
• International Residential Code (2018)

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 Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC) Exam

The official content outline splits the exam into 4 topics:

Your Kansas Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/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. Wall Framing and General Trade Knowledge make up 58% 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 Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC) Exam

The listed references are the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code.

Where to get them:

• IBC 2018
• IRC 2018

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 150 minutes for 50 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

Your license won't show your exam score. Whether you ace it or squeak by, you walk out licensed either way — as we like to say, C's get licenses. Aim to pass, not to be perfect, and don't tally your score as you go; that pressure only drags your performance down.

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.

After each practice test, note the topics you miss most and spend your next session there. Re-testing weak areas yields far more score gain than re-reading what you already know.

Try These Kansas Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC) Practice Questions

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

Sample 1 — Roof Framing

Question: You are building in a mountainous area that is designated "CS" on the ground snow load map, so no mapped ground snow load is available for the roof design. The site-specific ground snow load must be based on an extreme value statistical analysis of data available in the vicinity of the site, using a value with which probability of being exceeded?

• A. 0.5-percent annual probability (200-year mean recurrence interval)
• B. 1-percent annual probability (100-year mean recurrence interval)
• C. 4-percent annual probability (25-year mean recurrence interval)
• D. 2-percent annual probability (50-year mean recurrence interval)

Correct Answer: D

Per IBC 1608.2, in areas designated "CS" on Figure 1608.2 (and for sites above the elevation limits shown), the ground snow load must be approved and determined from an extreme value statistical analysis of nearby data using a value with a 2-percent annual probability of being exceeded, which is a 50-year mean recurrence interval.

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1608.2

Sample 2 — Wall Framing

Question: Approved end-jointed lumber used as studs in a wall assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating must carry what additional designation in its grade mark?

• A. "Exterior" or "EXT"
• B. "Fire Retardant" or "FRT"
• C. "Heat Resistant Adhesive" or "HRA"
• D. "Kiln Dried After Treatment" or "KDAT"

Correct Answer: C

IBC 2303.1.1.2 permits approved end-jointed lumber to be used interchangeably with solid-sawn members of the same species and grade, but end-jointed lumber used in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating must include the designation "Heat Resistant Adhesive" or "HRA" in its grade mark.

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 2303.1.1.2

Sample 3 — General Trade Knowledge

Question: You are setting a fixed (non-decorative) window in a living room wall. The pane has an exposed area of 10 square feet, the bottom edge is 20 inches above the finished floor, the top edge is 72 inches above the floor, and a walking surface runs 24 inches from the glass. Is this a hazardous location requiring safety glazing?

• A. Yes — the pane exceeds 9 square feet
• B. No — the bottom edge is 18 inches or more above the floor
• C. Yes — a walking surface is within 36 inches
• D. No — the top edge is less than 78 inches above the floor

Correct Answer: B

Per IRC R308.4.3, glazing in a fixed or operable window panel is a hazardous location only where ALL four conditions occur: pane larger than 9 square feet, bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor, top edge more than 36 inches above the floor, and a walking surface within 36 inches. Because the bottom edge here is 20 inches, the condition set is not met and safety glazing is not required by this section.

Reference: IRC 2018 Page 67

Sample 4 — Foundation and Floor Framing

Question: You are forming plain (unreinforced) concrete foundation walls that support light-frame walls on a dwelling assigned to Seismic Design Category D2. The walls will be 8 feet high and will retain 4 feet of unbalanced backfill. What is the minimum permitted wall thickness for this condition?

• A. 10 inches
• B. 6 inches
• C. 8 inches
• D. 7.5 inches

Correct Answer: D

Per IRC R404.1.4.2, plain concrete foundation walls supporting light-frame walls in Seismic Design Category D0, D1 or D2 are limited to 8 feet in height with not more than 4 feet of unbalanced backfill, and the minimum thickness is 7.5 inches. The 6-inch thickness is permitted only where the maximum wall height is 4 feet 6 inches.

Reference: IRC 2018 Section R404.1.4.2

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 Framing Contractor (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/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.