North Carolina requires a state exam for this license, and passvana has a practice track for it: North Carolina General Contractor Business and Law Exam. Here is what the exam looks like, from the official candidate bulletin and the state's own rules.
North Carolina General Contractor Business and Law Exam
- The exam: The "Business and Law" examination of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, given by PSI Services LLC. Under 21 NCAC 12A .0303(c) it is taken by applicants licensed by reciprocity and by those who passed a NASCLA exam. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025); 21 NCAC 12A .0303(c))
- Questions: 40. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Business and Law)
- Time: 90 minutes. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Business and Law)
- Passing score: At least 70%, which is 28 of 40. The Board's rule sets the passing score at 70. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Score Reporting; 21 NCAC 12A .0404)
- Open book: Yes. Candidates bring their own approved references, which may be highlighted, underlined or indexed with permanent tabs only. Post-It flags are not acceptable, and nothing may be written on tabs or in the references during the exam. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Business and Law)
- Fee: $79 per examination, whether taking it for the first time or repeating. Registration fees are not refundable or transferable and are good only for the duration of the eligibility. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Examination Registration and Scheduling)
- Results and retakes: Your score appears on screen right after the exam. Failing candidates may retake as many times as they choose in a 12-month period while the application information stays valid. (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (11/19/2025), Score Reporting; Examination Registration and Scheduling)
How to pass on your first try
- Learn the deadlines and dollar figures exactly. Lien notice deadlines, licensing thresholds and contract rules are tested as numbers, and a near miss is a wrong answer.
- Check whether your exam is open book. The format above says. If it is, tab your approved references so you can find a rule quickly instead of reading for it.
- Practice any math the outline lists. Estimating, payroll and financial questions give you the figures and expect a worked answer.
- Take full timed mock exams before test day, so the length and pace of the real exam hold no surprises.
Free practice questions
The track page has free sample questions and a topic breakdown matched to the official outline: North Carolina General Contractor Business and Law Exam. The Resources tab also has quick-reference tables built from checked facts; see what is in the North Carolina General Contractor Business and Law Key Facts Digest.