- Estimating, Plan Reading and General Building Code Requirements is the largest domain at 14 of 90 questions (15.6%).
- Concrete (14.4%) and Metals (13.3%) combine with Estimating for nearly half the scored exam.
- Passing requires 70% on 90 scored open-book questions within 200 minutes; extra unscored items don't count against your time.
- Six domains - One Call, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Licensing, Liens, Associated Trades, and Sports Fields - total under 40% combined but still require...
Exam Overview: Format, Fee, and Scoring
The NCGC-B - the North Carolina General Contractor License Exam (Building Contractor) - is administered by PSI on behalf of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. It's a computer-based, open-book exam consisting of 90 scored multiple-choice questions delivered in 200 minutes, with a passing threshold of 70%. PSI may also slip in 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions, but the response time for those doesn't count against your 200-minute clock, so you don't need to worry about pacing differently because of them.
The examination fee is $79, and your eligibility notice from PSI is valid for 120 days, permitting one scheduled appointment. If you need to retest, you can do so within your 12-month application period. For the full mechanics of fees and renewal costs, see our NCGC-B Certification Cost breakdown, and for eligibility rules like age, moral character, and the qualifier requirement, check NCGC-B Requirements.
Understanding the exam's structure is only half the battle - the other half is knowing exactly how the 90 questions are distributed across content areas. That's what this guide covers domain by domain.
The 15 NCGC-B Domains: Full Weighting Breakdown
The NCGC-B Building Contractor exam covers 15 distinct content areas. Below is the complete percentage breakdown as tested on the exam.
| Domain | Weight | Approx. Questions (of 90) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Site Work | 6.7% | ~6 |
| 2. Concrete | 14.4% | ~13 |
| 3. Masonry | 6.7% | ~6 |
| 4. Metals | 13.3% | ~12 |
| 5. Carpentry | 7.8% | ~7 |
| 6. Roofing | 6.7% | ~6 |
| 7. Associated Trades | 3.3% | ~3 |
| 8. Business and Law | 7.8% | ~7 |
| 9. Safety | 4.4% | ~4 |
| 10. Estimating, Plan Reading and General Building Code Requirements | 15.6% | 14 |
| 11. One Call | 2.2% | ~2 |
| 12. Erosion and Sedimentation Control | 2.2% | ~2 |
| 13. Licensing | 2.2% | ~2 |
| 14. Liens | 1.1% | ~1 |
| 15. Sports Fields | 5.6% | ~5 |
This same list appears in the official PSI candidate bulletin (last updated November 19, 2025), and it's the backbone of every study plan we recommend in the NCGC-B Study Guide. If you're still deciding whether this credential fits your career path, our overview of what NCGC-B is and what the designation actually means can help set context before you dive into content review.
The Three Highest-Weighted Domains
Three domains - Estimating/Plan Reading/Code Requirements, Concrete, and Metals - together account for roughly 43.3% of the scored exam. Mastering these three is non-negotiable.
Domain 10: Estimating, Plan Reading and General Building Code Requirements (15.6%)
This is the single largest domain on the exam at 14 of 90 questions. It blends quantity takeoffs, blueprint interpretation, and applied knowledge of general building code provisions that a Building Contractor qualifier must apply daily.
- Reading plan sets, elevations, and details for material quantities
- Calculating material and labor estimates from specifications
- Applying general building code requirements to project scenarios
- Cross-referencing code sections during open-book questions
Domain 2: Concrete (14.4%)
Concrete is the second-largest domain, covering formwork, reinforcement, curing, and placement practices relevant to foundations, slabs, and structural elements on building projects.
- Formwork design and bracing requirements
- Reinforcing steel placement and coverage
- Mix design considerations and curing conditions
- Common defects and corrective actions
Domain 4: Metals (13.3%)
Metals questions test knowledge of structural steel, light-gauge framing, fasteners, and connections used in building construction.
- Structural steel and metal framing systems
- Fastener selection and connection details
- Corrosion protection and material handling
- Coordination between metal components and other trades
Key Takeaway
Allocate your first and heaviest study blocks to Domains 10, 2, and 4 - together they determine nearly half your score, so weak recall here is the fastest way to fall short of the 70% passing mark.
Mid-Weight Domains You Cannot Skip
A second tier of domains - Carpentry, Business and Law, Site Work, Masonry, Roofing, and Sports Fields - each carry between roughly 5.6% and 7.8% of the exam. Individually they're smaller, but combined they represent well over a third of your score.
Domain 5: Carpentry (7.8%)
Covers framing systems, rough and finish carpentry practices, and structural wood connections used in residential and commercial building work.
- Wall, floor, and roof framing methods
- Wood connectors and fastening schedules
- Sheathing and structural panel applications
Domain 8: Business and Law (7.8%)
Tests the business, contract, and legal knowledge a licensed qualifier needs to run a compliant contracting operation in North Carolina.
- Contract types and required contract provisions
- Insurance and bonding basics
- Employment and subcontracting obligations
- General legal responsibilities of a licensed qualifier
Domain 1: Site Work (6.7%) & Domain 6: Roofing (6.7%)
Site Work covers earthwork, grading, excavation support, and site utilities preparation. Roofing covers steep- and low-slope systems, flashing details, and moisture protection.
- Excavation, backfill, and compaction basics
- Grading and drainage planning
- Roofing material selection and flashing at penetrations
Domain 3: Masonry (6.7%) & Domain 15: Sports Fields (5.6%)
Masonry addresses unit masonry construction, mortar, and reinforcement in walls and veneers. Sports Fields - a domain specific to North Carolina's Building Contractor scope - covers construction methods for athletic surfaces and associated site elements.
- Masonry unit types, bonding patterns, and reinforcement
- Mortar joint types and weather considerations
- Sports field grading, drainage, and surfacing basics
The Small but High-Stakes Domains
The remaining domains - Safety, Associated Trades, One Call, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Licensing, and Liens - carry the smallest individual weights, from 1.1% to 4.4%. Because each domain typically contributes only one to four questions, they're easy to under-prepare for, but skipping them entirely still risks losing points you could have banked with a short, focused review.
Domain 9: Safety (4.4%)
General jobsite safety practices and hazard awareness relevant to building construction sites.
Domain 7: Associated Trades (3.3%)
Coordination knowledge for trades outside the core scope - such as mechanical, electrical, or plumbing touchpoints - that a general building contractor must understand at a supervisory level.
Domains 11-14: One Call (2.2%), Erosion and Sedimentation Control (2.2%), Licensing (2.2%), and Liens (1.1%)
These four domains are narrow but procedural, covering utility notification requirements, erosion control compliance, North Carolina licensing structure, and lien law basics that affect how contractors get paid and stay compliant.
- One Call / utility locate notification procedures
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan basics
- License classifications and qualifier responsibilities
- Mechanics lien filing and notice requirements
Mapping Domains to a Study Schedule
Rather than studying domains in numerical order, sequence your review by weight so your strongest recall lands on exam day for the questions that matter most. A four-week structure built around the domain percentages above looks like this:
Highest-Weight Domains
- Estimating, Plan Reading and General Building Code Requirements (15.6%)
- Concrete (14.4%)
- Metals (13.3%)
Mid-Weight Domains
- Carpentry, Business and Law (7.8% each)
- Site Work, Roofing, Masonry (6.7% each)
- Sports Fields (5.6%)
Smaller Domains & Reference Tabbing
- Safety, Associated Trades
- One Call, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Licensing, Liens
- Tab approved references by domain since tabs are permanent for exam day
Full-Length Practice & Timing
- Simulate 90 questions within the 200-minute limit
- Drill weak domains identified from practice results
- Review contract, license classification, and code-application scenarios
This weighting-first approach is expanded in detail in the NCGC-B Study Guide, and if you want a gauge of how demanding the exam feels once you factor in the open-book format and time pressure, see How Hard Is the NCGC-B Exam. For a one-page condensed reference of formulas, thresholds, and domain facts to review the night before your test, the NCGC-B Cheat Sheet is built specifically for that purpose.
Registration, References, and Test-Day Mechanics
Because the NCGC-B is open-book, how you organize your references matters almost as much as what you know. Approved references may be permanently tabbed, so building a tab system that mirrors the 15 domains - rather than tabbing randomly - lets you jump straight to the Concrete or Estimating sections instead of flipping pages under time pressure. You're also permitted a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator, which is essential for the estimating and takeoff calculations in Domain 10.
On the administrative side, remember that your PSI eligibility notice is valid for 120 days and allows one exam appointment; if you don't pass, retesting is available within your 12-month application period. Before you get to that stage, you'll also need to designate a qualifier who passes a Board-approved examination, consent to a background check if required, and meet the Board's standards for good moral character and financial responsibility. Our NCGC-B Requirements guide walks through each of these eligibility steps in order, and NCGC-B Exam Dates covers scheduling windows and deadlines in more detail.
If you're weighing whether the license and its ongoing 8-hour annual continuing education requirement (including the mandatory 2-hour course and 6 elective hours) fit your career plans, our ROI analysis and salary guide provide additional context. You can also start testing your domain knowledge right now with practice questions on the main site before committing to a study schedule.
Key Takeaway
Domain-organized reference tabs plus a calculator ready for estimating math are two of the most overlooked test-day advantages on an open-book exam like the NCGC-B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimating, Plan Reading and General Building Code Requirements is the largest domain, making up 14 of the 90 scored questions, or 15.6% of the exam.
There are 15 content domains, ranging from large areas like Estimating (15.6%) and Concrete (14.4%) down to smaller domains like Liens (1.1%) and Licensing (2.2%).
Yes. Candidates may use approved references, which can be permanently tabbed, along with a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator during the 200-minute test session.
No. PSI may include 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions, but the response time for these does not count against your 200-minute exam clock.
You need 70% overall across the 90 scored questions; there is no separate passing requirement per domain, so strong performance on high-weight domains can offset weaker areas in smaller domains.