Tennessee BC-C Industrial Contractor Practice Exam
Free Practice Exam
Test your knowledge with 10 questions from our pool of 20 free questions.
- 10 questions per attempt
- 30 minute time limit
- Unlimited attempts
- A new mix each time
- Instant results
Full Practice Exam
Complete exam simulation matching the real Prov test format.
- 70 questions (same as real exam)
- 210 minute time limit
- 13 topic areas covered
- 650 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Texts preferred · 9am–9pm Central
Tennessee BC-C Industrial Contractor Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 70This practice exam follows the official content outline for the Tennessee BC-C Industrial Contractor exam: Estimating, Plan Reading, General Code, Sitework, Footings and Foundations, Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement, Masonry, Carpentry, Structural Steel, Roofing, Siding, and Insulation, Plumbing Concepts, HVAC Concepts, Electrical Concepts, OSHA Safety.
- Free practice exam: 10 questions per attempt, retake as often as you like.
- Full practice exam: 70 questions on a 210 minutes clock, a new draw from our bank every attempt.
Estimating, Plan Reading 8 items
Our study plan for this topic: Reading and interpreting civil drawings (site plans, plan and profile sheets, cross-sections); Contour lines, grading plans, and cut-and-fill maps; Excavation volume calculations (rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and cylindrical shapes); Unit conversions and material weight calculations for excavation; Construction specifications format (CSI MasterFormat Division 31 Earthwork); Slope and grade control using stakes, benchmarks, and layout methods.
General Code 5 items
Our study plan for this topic: Occupancy classification and use group assignments (Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U); Building height and area limitations by occupancy and type of construction; Types of construction (Types I–V) and fire-resistance rating requirements for building elements; Fire-resistance-rated assemblies: fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions; Means of egress requirements: occupant load, exit capacity, number and separation of exits, egress illumination; Automatic sprinkler system requirements by occupancy, building height, and fire area; Accessibility requirements: accessible routes, entrances, parking, and means of egress; Scope, administration, and authority of the building official; permits, inspections, and certificates.
Sitework 2 items
Our study plan for this topic: Excavation safety requirements and competent person responsibilities (OSHA 1926 Subpart P); Trench protective systems: sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding; Soil classification for excavation (Type A, B, C, Stable Rock); Grading operations: cuts, fills, compaction, and slope requirements (IBC Appendix J); Earthmoving equipment selection and site excavation methods; Drainage and water control on construction sites; Underground pipe installation: trench preparation, bedding, and thrust blocks; Paving operations: concrete and hot-mix asphalt methods, equipment, and quality control.
Footings and Foundations 3 items
Our study plan for this topic: Soil classification and presumptive load-bearing values; Footing minimum dimensions, depth, and frost protection; Concrete and masonry foundation wall design and reinforcement; Foundation dampproofing and waterproofing; Geotechnical investigations and soil testing requirements; Footings and foundations on or adjacent to slopes; Deep foundation elements and pile design requirements.
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement 17 items
Our study plan for this topic: Concrete; Concrete Reinforcement; Concrete mix design and proportioning; Concrete batching, mixing, and transporting; Concrete placement, consolidation, and finishing; Curing methods and requirements; Concrete durability and exposure categories; Formwork design and removal.
Masonry 6 items
Our study plan for this topic: Masonry materials: clay brick types, grades, and manufacturing processes; Concrete masonry unit (CMU) types, grades, and properties; Mortar types, proportions, and mixing requirements; Masonry wall systems: solid, cavity, composite, hollow, and veneer walls; Laying brick and block techniques: mortar placement, coursing, leads, and mason's line; Masonry reinforcement, anchors, ties, and joint reinforcement; Masonry structural design: allowable stress, strength design, and empirical design methods; OSHA safety requirements and jobsite safety for masonry construction.
Carpentry 3 items
Our study plan for this topic: Wood wall framing components (studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs); Wall bracing methods and braced wall panel requirements; Header sizing and span tables for wall openings; Fastening schedules for wood wall and roof framing connections; Drilling and notching limitations for studs and top plates; Cold-formed steel wall framing materials, member identification, and installation; Wood floor framing: joist spans, bridging, blocking, and cantilevers; Wood roof framing: rafter spans, ridge boards, collar ties, and ceiling joists.
Structural Steel 14 items
Our study plan for this topic: Pre-erection activities and site readiness verification; Structural steel erection sequence (columns, horizontal members, bracing and bridging); Column anchorage requirements and anchor bolt tolerances; Bolted and welded field connections (framed-beam, seated-beam, end-plate, single-plate shear); Erection tolerances for columns and structural members; Temporary supports, bracing, and plumbing-up during erection; Steel erection safety requirements under OSHA Subpart R (fall protection, hoisting, open web steel joists, metal decking); Pre-engineered metal building erection and IBC Chapter 22 steel design standards.
Roofing, Siding, and Insulation 4 items
Our study plan for this topic: Roof covering types and minimum slope requirements (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, metal panels, wood shingles/shakes, built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply); Underlayment selection, application, and attachment requirements by roof covering type and wind speed; Roof flashing requirements (valleys, drip edges, base/cap flashing, crickets and saddles, parapet walls); Fire classification of roof assemblies (Class A, B, C ratings and applicable construction types); Insulation types, R-values, and installation methods (flexible, loose-fill, rigid/semirigid, reflective, spray foam); Vapor retarders and moisture control (perm ratings, vapor barrier classes, placement relative to building thermal envelope by climate zone); Exterior wall weather protection and water-resistive barriers (building wrap/house wrap installation, flashing at openings, drainage requirements); Reroofing requirements (roof recover vs. roof replacement, conditions prohibiting recover, reinstallation of materials).
Plumbing Concepts 1 item
Our study plan for this topic: Minimum plumbing fixture counts by occupancy type (IBC Table 2902.1); Sanitary drainage system design: pipe sizing, slope, and fixture unit values; Backflow prevention devices and cross-connection control; Venting methods and vent pipe sizing requirements; Water supply system design: pressure, flow rates, and pipe sizing; Fixture trap requirements: seal depth, size, and prohibited trap types; Water heater installation: relief valves, pan requirements, and prohibited locations; Storm drainage and subsoil drain systems.
HVAC Concepts 1 item
Our study plan for this topic: Combustion air requirements and sizing methods for fuel-gas appliances; Fuel gas piping materials, sizing, and installation; Venting systems and chimney types for gas appliances (Type B, BW, L, single-wall, factory-built); Duct system construction, materials, insulation, and sealing; Heating and cooling equipment installation, sizing, and clearances to combustibles; Condensate disposal and auxiliary drain pan requirements; Boiler and water heater installation, safety controls, and pressure relief; Exhaust systems for dryers, cooking equipment, and mechanical ventilation.
Electrical Concepts 1 item
Our study plan for this topic: GFCI and AFCI protection requirements by location; Service entrance sizing, conductors, and disconnecting means; Grounding and bonding systems (electrodes, conductors, jumpers); Branch circuit ratings, loading, and overcurrent protection; Receptacle outlet placement and spacing requirements; Wiring methods, raceways, and conduit fill; Panelboard installation, ratings, and working space clearances; Emergency and standby power systems (IBC requirements).
OSHA Safety 5 items
Our study plan for this topic: Fall protection requirements and systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest); Scaffold safety requirements and load capacity; Excavation and trenching safety (cave-in protection, sloping, shoring); Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and employer responsibilities; Electrical safety in construction (grounding, GFCI, lockout/tagout, working clearances); Hazardous and toxic substances (asbestos, silica, permissible exposure limits); Fire protection and prevention on construction sites; Stairway and ladder safety requirements.
Sample 1 — Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
Question: Which standard test method is used to evaluate a concrete mixture's resistance to rapid freezing and thawing cycles?
- A. ASTM C157
- B. ASTM C666
- C. ASTM C403
- D. ASTM C231
Correct Answer: B
Section 3.2.0 identifies ASTM C666, Standard Test Method for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing, for freeze-thaw durability. ASTM C157 covers volume (length) change, C231 covers air content by the pressure method, and C403 covers time of setting by penetration resistance.
Reference: Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 23212 Properties of Concrete, Section 3.2.0
Sample 2 — Structural Steel
Question: Your erection crew is landing solid web structural members that serve as diagonal bracing in the frame. Before the hoisting line is released, each such bracing member must be secured at each connection with at least how many bolts drawn up wrench-tight (or the equivalent specified by the project structural engineer of record)?
- A. Four bolts
- B. Two bolts
- C. One bolt
- D. Three bolts
Correct Answer: C
Per 29 CFR 1926.756(b), solid web structural members used as diagonal bracing must be secured by at least one bolt per connection drawn up wrench-tight or the equivalent as specified by the project structural engineer of record. The general two-bolt rule of §1926.756(a)(1) applies to other solid web members during final placing.
Reference: 29 CFR 1926, Subpart R, §1926.756(b)
Sample 3 — Estimating, Plan Reading
Question: When estimating a site preparation project, how many days of chainsaw usage should be estimated for clearing and grubbing 1.5 acres of light sagebrush?
- A. 3 days
- B. 1 day
- C. 4 days
- D. 2 days
Correct Answer: D
According to the sample estimate in the Pipe & Excavation Contracting text, clearing and grubbing 1.5 acres of light sagebrush requires two days of chainsaw usage at $50 per day, with two men operating the chainsaws for those two days (4 man-days of labor at $240 per day).
Reference: Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 31-38 (alternate reference, allowed only through January 1, 2027)
- Your results break the score down by outline topic.
- The real exam's passing score: 73% correct.
- Keep practicing until you pass consistently, not just once.
- Answer what you know first and bookmark the rest. Our practice exams let you bookmark and come back.
- Work your bookmarks on the second pass, before any break. On the real exam, a break freezes every question you've already seen, and the clock keeps running.
- Real exam pace: about 3 minutes per question.
- After each attempt, look up every miss in your book.
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time limit | 210 minutes |
| Passing score | 73% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $53 |
- 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.
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.