National vs. Local ICC Contractor Exams: What’s the Difference?

When registering for an ICC contractor exam, you may find several exams with similar names but different identification numbers.

For example, a contractor pursuing a Class A license in Johnson County, Kansas, may see:

550 or KGA — Standard General Building Contractor
G11 or G11-N — General Building Contractor (A)

Those exams may relate to the same general license classification, but that does not mean they are automatically interchangeable.

The jurisdiction where you plan to work decides which exam it requires and which other exam results it may accept. Before registering, always confirm the exact exam identification number with the city, county, or state responsible for issuing your contractor license.

ICC Does Not Issue Contractor Licenses

The International Code Council develops and administers contractor and trade examinations, but ICC does not grant your contractor license.

ICC describes its Contractor/Trades program as an independent testing program that provides licensing agencies with information about a candidate’s qualifications. Passing an ICC exam may satisfy the testing portion of a jurisdiction’s requirements, but it does not guarantee that the jurisdiction will issue a license.

Your local licensing authority may also require:

A license application
Proof of experience
Insurance or bonding
Business registration
Additional fees
Other local qualifications

This is why ICC advises candidates to contact the jurisdiction where they intend to work before choosing an exam.

What Is a National ICC Contractor Exam?

A national ICC contractor exam is part of ICC’s National Contractor/Trades examination program rather than an examination listed for one particular licensing jurisdiction.

Examples based on the 2018 International Codes include:

G11 — General Building Contractor (A)
G12 — General Building Contractor (B)
G13 — Residential Building Contractor (C)
G14 — Roofing Contractor

Depending on the Pearson VUE registration screen, these may also be displayed with an “-N” suffix, such as G11-N or G13-N, to identify the national listing.

The current ICC National Contractor/Trades Bulletin identifies G11 through G14 as open-book national exams based on 2018 code references. The bulletin also lists F11 through F14 as versions based on 2015 code references.

That code-year difference matters. Two examinations can have similar titles but use different editions of the code books.

What Is a Local or Jurisdiction-Specific ICC Exam?

A local ICC contractor exam is associated with the requirements of a particular state or local licensing program.

For contractors in our primary service area, Johnson County recognizes its own Kansas–Johnson County ICC exam listings.

The contractor exams we commonly work with are:

License type	Johnson County exam	Related national classification
A	550, KGA — Standard General Building Contractor	G11/G11-N — General Building Contractor (A)
B	551, KGB — Standard Building Contractor	G12/G12-N — General Building Contractor (B)
C	552, KGC — Standard Residential Building Contractor	G13/G13-N — Residential Building Contractor (C)
DR	553, KGP — Roofing Contractor/Subcontractor	G14/G14-N — Roofing Contractor
DW	846, KGJ — Framing Contractor	The current national bulletin lists F46, a national framing exam based on 2015 references; do not assume it substitutes for 846/KGJ

Johnson County currently lists 550/KGA, 551/KGB, 552/KGC, 553/KGP, and 846/KGJ as the applicable local examinations for these classifications.

The national exams shown in the final column are related national classifications, not guaranteed equivalents.

Similar Does Not Mean Automatically Accepted

This is the most important point in the article:

Never assume that a national ICC exam will automatically satisfy a local licensing requirement.

Johnson County states that it will consider and may recognize an ICC National exam when a score of at least 75 percent can be verified. It does not say that every national result is automatically accepted.

That wording matters.

“May be able to recognize” is different from:

Automatically accepts
Guarantees reciprocity
Treats every similarly named exam as interchangeable

Before choosing a national version instead of the listed Johnson County exam, contact Johnson County Contractor Licensing and verify that your specific exam ID, code year, and result will qualify.

The same rule applies outside Johnson County. A Kansas City-area contractor may work in several cities, counties, or states, and each licensing authority may have different requirements.

Why Do the Exam Numbers Differ?

Exam numbers can differ for several reasons.

The exam may belong to a different program

A jurisdiction-specific exam may have a three-digit code, such as 550, while a national exam may have an alphanumeric code, such as G11.

The exam may use a different code year

The current ICC National Contractor/Trades Bulletin lists:

F11–F14 with 2015 code references
G11–G14 with 2018 code references

The exam title alone does not tell you everything. You also need to know which code editions and reference materials the exam uses.

The content outline may be different

Exams with similar names may differ in:

Number of questions
Time limit
Approved reference books
Code editions
Percentage devoted to each content area
Passing or recognition requirements

ICC’s Exam Catalog provides the exam ID, code year, approved references, content outline, testing method, question count, and time limit for each listing.

Why the Correct Code Year Matters

Suppose you prepare with the 2018 International Building Code because you intend to take G11.

If you accidentally register for F11 instead, the exam will use 2015 code references.

Even when much of the material is similar, section locations, wording, tables, and requirements can change between editions. Always prepare with the exact books listed for the specific exam you are taking.

Do not purchase books or begin studying based only on the license name.

Confirm:

The exam identification number
The code year
The approved reference books
The content outline

What Should You Ask the Licensing Office?

Before registering, contact the jurisdiction where you want to become licensed and ask:

Which license classification do I need for the work I plan to perform?
What exact exam ID should I register for?
Do you require the jurisdiction-specific exam?
Will you accept a national ICC exam instead?
If so, which national exam ID and code year will you accept?
Is there a minimum score required for recognition?
Do I need authorization before scheduling the exam?
What additional requirements apply after I pass?

When possible, get the answer in writing or save the link to the jurisdiction’s current exam requirements.

Verify the Exam Again Before Paying

Once the jurisdiction gives you the correct exam ID, look it up in the current ICC Exam Catalog.

Check the:

Full exam title
Exam ID
Code year
Approved references
Number of questions
Time limit
Available testing method

ICC’s scheduling instructions specifically tell Contractor/Trades candidates to confirm the three-digit exam code with their local jurisdiction before choosing and purchasing an examination through Pearson VUE.

Before submitting payment, compare the registration screen with the information your licensing office provided.

What About Class B in the Kansas City Metro?

Although the Class B exam is available, we generally don’t recommend it for most Kansas City-area students.

In many cases, a contractor is better served by choosing:

Class A for broader commercial contracting authority, or
Class C for residential work

Class B may still be appropriate for a particular contractor or jurisdiction. The correct choice depends on the work you intend to perform and the license classifications recognized where you will work.

Always confirm that decision with the licensing jurisdiction before registering.

For a fuller comparison, read How to Choose the Correct ICC Contractor Exam.

National Exams Do Not Create Automatic Reciprocity

The word national can be misleading.

It does not mean:

Every state accepts the exam
Every city accepts the exam
Every county treats it as equivalent
Passing it automatically gives you a license anywhere

A national exam may be useful in more than one jurisdiction, but each jurisdiction still decides whether and how it will recognize the result.

If you plan to seek licenses in several jurisdictions, contact each one before selecting your exam. Do not assume Johnson County requirements apply throughout Kansas, Missouri, or the rest of the country.

Final Takeaway

National and local ICC contractor exams may cover related license classifications, but the exam IDs, code editions, reference books, and acceptance rules can differ.

Before registering:

Confirm your intended license classification
Ask your jurisdiction for the exact exam ID
Verify whether a national exam will be accepted
Confirm the required score
Check the code year and reference books
Review the examination in ICC’s current Exam Catalog

Taking a few minutes to verify the details can prevent you from studying for—or paying to take—the wrong exam.

For more help, read:

You can also visit our Contractor Licensing Guides page for exam selection, registration, study, and test-day resources.

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