Exam Prep Course
Virginia Commercial Building Construction (CBC) Exam Prep Course
features:
- Course Duration: 7 Hours
- Course Type: In-Class/Webinar; Online Pre-Recorded
- Books Required: 13
Virginia Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) Exam Prep Course
A Virginia Commercial Building Contractor's contracts may include construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition on real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures. The CBC classification does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas fitting services and does not allow construction, repair, or improvement, of dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC.
The CBC contractor may act as a prime contractor and contract with subcontractors to perform work not permitted by the CBC license. The commercial building classification includes but is not limited to the functions carried out by the following specialties for contracts of commercial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures, including multi-family housing:
Billboard/sign contracting, Marine facility contracting, Commercial improvement contracting, Masonry contracting, Concrete contracting, Painting and wall covering contracting, Farm improvement contracting, Recreational facility contracting, Industrialized building contracting, Roofing contracting, Landscape service contracting, and Swimming pool contracting.

Exam Prep Class:
This class will prepare you to take the Virginia Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) exam at PSI. We cover all the pertinent material within the reference manuals you are allowed to bring into the exam. The pre-recorded content included with all class purchases also includes practice exam questions and answers to prepare you to take the timed exam.

Class Days and Times:
This prep course is available in three options: Pre-Recorded, Live In-Class, and Live-Streamed Webinar.
The online pre-recorded content is included with the purchase of any live course to serve as a follow-up study material. Pre-Recorded content includes highlighting instructions and practice exam questions for each book.
Pre-Recorded classes are available to you immediately upon purchase and can be completed at your own time and pace.
Live Classes are a one-day intensive prep course, held on:
every 1st, 3rd, and 5th (if applicable) Wednesday of each month
8:30 am ET – 5:30 pm ET

webinar access time
Online Content is available for 180 days after purchase. To extend content access an additional 180 days, a $50 course extension fee is required. If you have any questions, please contact our support team.
Additional Materials
The exam at PSI is open-book. You may bring the approved references into the exam, and reference manuals may be tabbed and highlighted. Tabs must be permanent adhesive tabs - removable tabs such as post-its are not allowed in the examination center.

Books
We offer a book bundle for the Virginia Commercial Building Contractor exam, available here. You may take the following references into the exam with you:
- International Building Code, 2015 edition
- Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone
- Gypsum Construction Handbook
- Carpentry and Building Construction
- Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2009
- 29 CFR Part 1926 and Related Standards (CTC Summary of the public domain document)
- Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girder
- Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting
- Roofing Construction and Estimating
- SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck

Additional Courses
All Virginia Contractor Applicants are still required to meet other state licensing regulations in order to obtain a license. This includes taking a mandatory 8-Hour Pre-License Course before applying for licensure as well as submitting a license application. All applicants must also take a technical exam specific to the type of work they perform. We offer exam prep courses and materials for nearly every exam in Virginia - check them out here!
Exams are administered by PSI and can be scheduled by registering at candidate.psiexams.com
Exam Subject Areas
What is on the Exam?
# of Questions | Minimum Passing Score | Time Allowed |
80 | 56 (70%) | 180 minutes |
Subject Area | # of questions |
---|---|
Site Work | 8 |
Concrete including Reinforcement | 9 |
Masonry | 9 |
Metals | 9 |
Carpentry | 9 |
Thermal and Moisture Protection | 8 |
Associated Trades Finishes including Drywall Metal Stud Framing Insulation and Moisture Control Doors, Windows, and Glazing |
7 |
Safety | 7 |
Estimating and Plan Reading | 8 |
General Building Code Requirements Life Safety and Egress Accessibility Fire Protection Requirements General Code Provisions |
6 |
You can also refer to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin here for more information on testing policies.