Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide
Preparing for the Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor exam is easier one step at a time. This guide starts with the key facts from the official bulletin, then covers the topics on the exam, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a simple way to prepare. Prov gives the exam.
Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Exam Overview
Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 73 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $53 |
On exam day
- 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.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2021)
- International Residential Code (2018)
- Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor (2024)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
- Residential Home Builder Study Guide
- Carpentry and Building Construction (2016)
- Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th)
- Roofing Construction and Estimating (2022)
- Modern Masonry (9th Edition, 2020)
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting (2011)
- Gypsum Construction Handbook (7th 2014)
- Technical Digest No. 9 - Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders (3rd Edition, 2008)
- SDI (Steel Deck Institute) Manual of Construction with Steel Deck (2016)
- ACI 530 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures 2013
- ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete 2019
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.
Topics on the Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Exam
Next, the content. The official content outline has 16 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating, Plan Reading | 12 | 12% |
| General Code | 8 | 8% |
| Sitework | 5 | 5% |
| Footings and Foundations | 5 | 5% |
| Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement | 10 | 10% |
| Masonry | 7 | 7% |
| Carpentry | 12 | 12% |
| Doors, Windows, and Stairs | 2 | 2% |
| Interior Finish | 2 | 2% |
| Structural Steel | 6 | 6% |
| Roofing, Siding, and Insulation | 10 | 10% |
| Plumbing Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| HVAC Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical Concepts | 3 | 3% |
| OSHA Safety | 8 | 8% |
| Exterior Finish | 4 | 4% |
A Simple Plan to Prepare for the Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Exam
Step one is the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll work from, while you study and in the exam room. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Step two is learning your way around them. Go through each book's table of contents and index until you know where the major subjects are. You don't need to memorize the books. You need to find things in them.
Step three is marking them up. Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Step four is timed practice. Our practice exams run on a clock, so you get used to the real exam's pace: about 3 minutes per question.
Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Estimating, Plan Reading and Carpentry make up 24% of the exam.
The last step is consistency. Keep practicing until you pass several practice exams in a row. That's the signal you're ready.
Reference Books for the Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Exam
The bulletin lists five Prov references for the BC-A,b(sm) exam plus PSI-approved alternate references that may be used through January 1, 2027.
Where to get them:
Alternate references, allowed only through January 1, 2027:
- Carpentry and Building Construction
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction
- 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
- ACI 530 Masonry Building Code
- ACI 318 Structural Concrete Building Code
On Test Day
Go through the exam at a steady pace. On your first pass, answer the questions you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the ones you've seen once you take a break, so finish your bookmarks first.
On your second pass, return to your bookmarks one at a time. You have 5 hours for 100 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question, so keep moving and don't let one question hold you up. Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
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 (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor Practice Questions
Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Roofing, Siding, and Insulation
Question: When scuppers are used for secondary (emergency overflow) roof drainage, what is the minimum opening dimension required for each scupper?
- A. 4 inches
- B. 2 inches
- C. 6 inches
- D. 3 inches
Correct Answer: A
Per Section 1502.3, scuppers shall not have an opening dimension of less than 4 inches (102 mm).
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 1502.3
Sample 2 — OSHA Safety
Question: You are a carpenter working on a renovation project that involves stripping old paint from walls. Your employer has determined that the dust generated may contain hazardous substances. What must the employer first implement to reduce your exposure to airborne contaminants before resorting to respirators or other protective measures?
- A. Medical surveillance programs
- B. Administrative or engineering controls
- C. Employee rotation schedules
- D. Hazard communication training
Correct Answer: B
Per 29 CFR 1926.55(b), to achieve compliance with permissible exposure limits, administrative or engineering controls must first be implemented whenever feasible. Only when such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance shall protective equipment or other protective measures be used to keep employee exposures within prescribed limits.
Reference: 29 CFR 1926, §1926.55(b)
Sample 3 — General Code
Question: You are designing a one-story Group B building that will qualify as an unlimited area building. What is the minimum width of public ways or yards that must surround and adjoin the building?
- A. 40 feet
- B. 30 feet
- C. 20 feet
- D. 60 feet
Correct Answer: D
Per IBC Section 507.4, the area of a Group B, F, M, or S building no more than one story above grade plane shall not be limited where the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet in width. Section 507.2.1 does permit reduction to 40 feet under specific conditions, but the base requirement is 60 feet.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 507.4
Sample 4 — Masonry
Question: A commercial building is constructed with autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry designed by the strength design method. In addition to Chapters 1 through 7 of TMS 402, the design must comply with which chapter?
- A. Chapter 12
- B. Chapter 9
- C. Chapter 11
- D. Chapter 8
Correct Answer: C
IBC 2021 Section 2108.1 requires strength design of masonry to comply with Chapters 1 through 7 and Chapter 9 of TMS 402; the Exception states that AAC masonry shall instead comply with Chapters 1 through 7 and Chapter 11 of TMS 402.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 2108.1 Exception
Practicing Online vs. With a PDF
A PDF lets you read questions at your own pace. The real exam runs on a clock. 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 show your score by topic, so you always know what to study next.
Your Next Step
Take the free Tennessee BC-A, b (sm) Combined Residential/Small Commercial Contractor practice exam to see where you stand. Then study the topics that need the most attention, one at a time. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.