Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor 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. Prov gives the exam.
The Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | 73% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $53 |
On exam day
- The exam is multiple choice with four answer options.
- A current, valid, government-issued photo ID is required, and candidates must also sign the log and be photographed.
- Candidates should arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment.
- References are inspected before entry, any edition of a listed reference may be used, and books with handwritten notes, moveable tabs, Post-its, photocopies, or test-prep guides are not allowed.
- Highlighting and permanent tabs are allowed; handwritten notes and moveable tabs are not.
- Simple 4-function calculators are permitted and a simple calculator is built into the test.
- Communication devices and other personal items are prohibited in the testing room, while approved references and a simple calculator are allowed.
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Candidates register and schedule online at Prov's website or by calling Prov at 866-720-7768.
- Only the CMC and CMC-A examinations require Board approval before a candidate may schedule.
- Changes or cancellations must be made at least three business days before the test date, and rescheduling by that deadline is free.
- Late arrivals are turned away and forfeit their fees, as do candidates who fail to appear.
- Results are reported immediately by email with a numerical score and pass/fail result, plus a diagnostic report for candidates who fail.
- Failed exams may be retaken an unlimited number of times with no waiting period, at $53 per attempt.
- Passing candidates must submit a license application to the Board, which decides whether they qualify for licensure.
Source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Candidate Information Bulletin, TNCONT_CIB 2026.08.18. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 15 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating, Plan Reading | 15 | 15% |
| General Code | 12 | 12% |
| Sitework | 5 | 5% |
| Footings and Foundations | 5 | 5% |
| Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement | 15 | 15% |
| Masonry | 10 | 10% |
| Carpentry | 4 | 4% |
| Doors, Windows, and Stairs | 2 | 2% |
| Interior Finish | 1 | 1% |
| Structural Steel | 10 | 10% |
| Roofing, Siding, and Insulation | 6 | 6% |
| Plumbing Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| HVAC Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| OSHA Safety | 6 | 6% |
How to Get Ready for the Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Do the big jobs first. Estimating, Plan Reading and Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement make up 30% of the exam.
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 Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor Exam
Where to get them:
Alternate references, allowed only through January 1, 2027:
- Carpentry and Building Construction
- Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices
- Roofing Construction and Estimating
- Modern Masonry
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting
- Gypsum Construction Handbook
- SJI Technical Digest 9: Steel Joist Erection
- SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
- Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures
- PTI Unbonded Post-Tensioning Level 1
- PCI Erectors' Manual MNL-127
- ACI 530 Masonry Building Code
- ACI 318 Structural Concrete Building Code
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction
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, though some lock the ones you've seen once you take a break. 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 5 hours for 100 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Study Tips
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sample Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — Masonry
Question: Adhered manufactured stone masonry veneer units are required to conform to which ASTM standard?
- A. ASTM C946
- B. ASTM C887
- C. ASTM C1670
- D. ASTM C1364
Correct Answer: C
Per IBC Section 2103.1, adhered manufactured stone masonry veneer units shall conform to ASTM C1670. ASTM C1364 applies to architectural cast stone, ASTM C887 applies to surface-bonding mortar, and ASTM C946 applies to surface bonding of concrete masonry units.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 2103.1
Sample 2 — Structural Steel
Question: A commercial project includes cold-formed stainless-steel structural members. The design of those members must be in accordance with which standard?
- A. AISC 360
- B. ASCE 8
- C. AISI S100
- D. AISI S240
Correct Answer: B
Per IBC 2021, Section 2210.1, the design of cold-formed stainless-steel structural members shall be in accordance with ASCE 8. AISI S100 governs cold-formed carbon and low-alloy steel members, AISI S240 applies to cold-formed steel light-frame construction, and AISC 360 governs structural steel.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 2210.1
Sample 3 — Roofing, Siding, and Insulation
Question: A low-slope porch roof on a residence is to be covered with roll roofing installed by the concealed-nail method. What is the lowest roof slope on which this application may be used?
- A. 4 in 12
- B. 1 in 12
- C. 2 in 12
- D. 3 in 12
Correct Answer: B
Per the Roll Roofing section (3.2.0) of Module 27202-13, roll roofing is recommended for slopes less than 4 in 12; it can be used on slopes of 2 in 12 with the nails revealed (exposed-nail method), or on slopes as low as 1 in 12 with the nails concealed.
Reference: Residential Home Builder Study Guide, Module 27202-13 Roofing Applications, Section 3.2.0
Sample 4 — OSHA Safety
Question: What is the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for airborne lead on a construction site, averaged over an 8-hour period?
- A. 40 μg/m³
- B. 50 μg/m³
- C. 30 μg/m³
- D. 25 μg/m³
Correct Answer: B
Per 29 CFR 1926.62(c)(1), the employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 μg/m³) averaged over an 8-hour period. The 30 μg/m³ value is the action level, not the PEL.
Reference: 29 CFR 1926, §1926.62(c)(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 Tennessee BC-A, B Combined Residential/Commercial Contractor 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.