Tennessee BC-b Small Commercial Contractor

Tennessee BC-b Small Commercial Contractor Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've got the experience. You've done the work. Now you need the license to prove it — and land the commercial jobs that come with it. Tennessee's BC-b Small Commercial Contractor license opens the door to commercial projects valued at $25,000 or more (up to $1,500,000 per project), and it starts with passing the Tennessee BC-b exam. That means two tests: the Trade Exam and the Business and Law Exam. This guide covers everything you need to know about the trade portion — what's on it, what to study, and how to pass it on the first try. Ready to get started? Take our free practice exam and see where you stand today.

Tennessee BC-b Exam Overview

The Tennessee small commercial contractor exam is administered by PSI at testing centers across the state. Here's the quick breakdown:

• Questions: 70 scored questions
• Time limit: 200 minutes (3 hours, 20 minutes)
• Passing score: 73% — that's 52 out of 70 questions correct
• Format: Multiple choice, open book
• Cost: $57 per exam portion (non-refundable)

One important thing: this is an open-book exam, which sounds like a relief — but don't let that fool you. There's no time to flip through an unmarked book looking for an answer. The candidates who pass are the ones who know their references cold and have them tabbed, highlighted, and ready to go. The official exam bulletin has the full candidate information, including the approved reference list.

Topics Covered on the Tennessee BC-b Trade Exam

Nine topic areas make up the exam. Here's how they break down by the number of scored questions — this is where your study time should go:

General Code, Plan Reading, and Estimating carries the most weight at 15 questions. Expect occupancy classifications, construction types, fire-resistance ratings, and practical estimating math. If you can read a set of plans quickly and do takeoff calculations under pressure, this section rewards you.

Metals is the second-heaviest topic at 12 questions. Steel joist types (K-Series, LH-Series, DLH-Series, joist girders, CJ-Series composite joists), steel deck profiles, erection bridging, and OSHA Subpart R steel erection safety are all fair game.

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement (8 questions) covers mixture proportioning, field control testing, formwork, placement, and consolidation — practical, hands-on knowledge.

Roofing, Sitework, Masonry, and Carpentry each carry 6–7 questions. Associated Construction Trades and OSHA Safety round out the exam at 5 questions each.

Study in proportion to the weight. Fifteen questions on code and estimating means that topic alone is worth more than a third of what you need to pass.

Sample Tennessee BC-b Practice Questions

Here's a taste of what the TN small commercial building contractor test actually looks like. These reflect real question styles — no trick formatting, just applied knowledge under time pressure.

Question 1 — General Code, Plan Reading, and Estimating (Medium)

Using the printed factors, what is the total actual length of the two valleys? (Figure IG-5)
- A) 42 lin ft
- B) 24.6 lin ft
- C) 33 lin ft
- D) 31.1 lin ft

Question 2 — Roofing (Medium)

A 7,200 sq ft roof requires synthetic underlayment (10 squares per roll), with 7% waste factor. How many rolls?
- A) 8
- B) 9
- C) 10
- D) 11

Question 3 — Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement (Medium)

You are a residential builder overseeing a foundation pour. The testing technician takes composite samples from the concrete delivery truck. Within how many minutes after taking the final portion of the composite sample must the test specimens be molded?
- A) 10 minutes
- B) 20 minutes
- C) 15 minutes
- D) 30 minutes

Question 4 — Sitework, Footings, and Foundation (Medium)

What is the process called when determining differences in elevation between points that are remote from each other and require one or more additional intermediate instrument setups?
- A) Differential leveling
- B) Bench marking
- C) Profile surveying
- D) Grade leveling

Question 5 — General Code, Plan Reading, and Estimating (Medium)

How many bundles of 3-tab shingles should be ordered, allowing 5% waste and using the printed coverage? (Figure GR-1)
- A) 28 bundles
- B) 31 bundles
- C) 33 bundles
- D) 43 bundles

Think you know the answers? Try our free practice exam and find out. The free version gives you 10 questions and is a solid way to gauge where you stand before committing to a full study plan.

What Types of Questions to Expect by Topic

Here's a closer look at the kinds of problems and skills each topic tests — and how many practice questions we've built for each area:

• General Code, Plan Reading, and Estimating (136 practice questions): Occupancy classification, building use groups, construction types, fire-resistance ratings, reading architectural drawings, and estimating takeoffs with waste factors. Expect math-heavy questions that require you to reference the IBC and use figures provided in the exam booklet.
• Metals (57 practice questions): Identifying joist series, reading steel deck profiles, bridging and erection sequence requirements, jobsite storage procedures, and OSHA Subpart R compliance for steel erection.
• Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement (78 practice questions): Mixture proportioning, field testing timelines, formwork design and safety, placement and consolidation methods, and concrete finishing techniques.
• Roofing (65 practice questions): Slope calculation, rafter and ridge terminology, sheathing requirements, underlayment selection by slope, and asphalt shingle installation including fastening and pattern requirements.
• Sitework, Footings, and Foundation (55 practice questions): Differential leveling, soil classification, bearing capacity, geotechnical investigation methods, footing sizing, and foundation wall requirements.
• Masonry (64 practice questions): Mortar types under ASTM C270 (M, S, N, O, K), wall system types (solid, hollow, cavity, composite, reinforced, veneer), brick and block coursing, bond patterns, and masonry footings.
• Carpentry (60 practice questions): Wall framing components, floor system design, rafter layout calculations for gable/hip/shed roofs, hip and valley rafter math, and engineered wood products including LVL, OSB, I-joists, and glulam.
• Associated Construction Trades (50 practice questions): Gypsum board product types, drywall installation and fastening, levels of finish and joint treatment, veneer plaster applications, and suspended ceiling system design.
• OSHA Safety (36 practice questions): Fall protection systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest), scaffolding capacity and setup, ladder and stairway requirements, PPE selection, and excavation/trenching protective systems.

Total: 601 practice questions across all nine topics.

Required Study Materials for the Tennessee BC-b Exam

This is an open-book test, which means your references are your lifeline — but only if they're organized. Here's what you'll need:

Required References:
- IBC 2021 — The International Building Code is your anchor for the 15-question General Code section. This is the one book to know cold.
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction — Covers formwork, testing, placement, and finishing. Essential for the concrete topic.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — Required for both the OSHA Safety questions and the Metals section's Subpart R steel erection requirements.
- Roofing Construction and Estimating — Covers slope, materials, underlayment, and estimating for the roofing topic.
- Modern Masonry — Brick, block, and stone; mortar types; and wall systems.
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting — Supports the sitework, soil classification, and excavation content.
- Gypsum Construction Handbook — Drywall, plaster, and ceiling systems for Associated Construction Trades.
- Technical Digest No. 9 — Handling and erection of steel joists and joist girders.
- SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck — Steel deck profiles, installation, and specs.
- Carpentry and Building Construction — Framing components, rafter layout, and engineered wood products.

Recommended Organization Tools:
- Redi-Tag Permanent Colored Tabs — 100 laser tabs in five colors. Color-code each book by topic so you can find answers in seconds, not minutes.
- Sharpie Highlighters — 12-pack in assorted fluorescent colors. Mark key tables, formulas, and definitions before test day. The exam allows highlighted books; use that to your advantage.

Study Tips for the Tennessee BC-b Exam

Organize before you study. Tab and highlight every book before you start drilling practice questions. Use a consistent color system: one color for definitions, another for code tables, another for formulas. On test day, you need to locate information in under 30 seconds.

Simulate real test conditions. PDF study guides are useful for learning material, but they don't prepare you for the clock. Our full practice exam matches the real Tennessee BC-b exam — 70 questions, 200-minute time limit, same topic breakdown. That pressure is part of the preparation.

Read every answer choice before committing. Work through choices in order. If option A looks correct, hold it as your current best. Keep going — each subsequent choice must actively beat the previous one to replace it. After you've read all four, verify your final answer actually addresses what the question asked.

Don't bleed time on hard questions. If a problem has you stuck, eliminate the obviously wrong choices first — even cutting two options significantly improves your odds — then make your best guess and move on. Flag it and come back if time allows.

Focus proportionally. Fifteen questions on General Code and Estimating. Twelve on Metals. Eight on Concrete. Study in that order of priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Tennessee BC-b Small Commercial Contractor exam and how long do I have?
The trade exam has 70 scored questions and a 200-minute time limit — a little over three hours. That's roughly 2 minutes and 50 seconds per question on average, which is workable if you don't let a few hard questions drain your clock.

What is the passing score for the Tennessee BC-b exam?
You need to answer 73% correctly, which works out to 52 out of 70 questions. That means you can miss up to 18 and still pass — but don't plan your strategy around misses.

How much does the exam cost?
Each portion (Trade and Business and Law) is $57. Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so schedule only when you're ready.

How do I register for the Tennessee BC-b exam?
Register online at the exam registration page or call PSI at (855) 868-1882. Phone registration is available Monday–Friday 6:30 am–9:00 pm CT and Saturday–Sunday 8:00 am–4:30 pm CT.

Is the Tennessee BC-b exam open book?
Yes. Bring your approved references, already tabbed and highlighted. Books may not be written in, but permanent tabs and highlighting are allowed. Unmarked books are almost useless under time pressure — organize them before test day.

What reference books are allowed?
The approved list includes the IBC 2021, The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Roofing Construction and Estimating, Modern Masonry, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, the Gypsum Construction Handbook, Technical Digest No. 9, the SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, Carpentry and Building Construction, and ACI 530/530.1 and ACI 318, among others. Check the official exam bulletin for the complete list.

Can I use a calculator?
Yes — a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator is allowed, including construction calculators. Programmable calculators, those with alphabet keyboards, and paper-tape printing calculators are not permitted.

What ID do I need?
One valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID that also contains your signature — a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, Alien Registration Card, or Canadian government-issued ID. It must be a permanent physical card; temporary or paper versions are not accepted.

What happens if I fail? How soon can I retest?
You cannot schedule a retest appointment on the same day you tested. If you test on a Monday, you can call Tuesday and potentially retest as early as Wednesday, depending on seat availability. Review your weak areas before rescheduling.

How long is my exam fee valid?
Your fee is forfeited if you don't test within one year of the date PSI receives it. Don't pay and wait — schedule and study.

Ready to Pass the Tennessee BC-b Exam?

The BC-b license puts real commercial work within reach — projects up to $1.5 million, with the credential to back it up. The exam is challenging, but it's very passable with the right preparation. Get your books organized, study proportionally by topic weight, and test yourself under real conditions.

Start with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account required, and a quick way to see where your knowledge stands right now. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam matches the real BC-b format exactly: 70 questions, 200-minute timer, and detailed score breakdowns by topic so you know exactly where to focus. For full licensing details, visit the state licensing website. You've got this.