Have you ever desired to become a Certified Residential Building Inspector?
Maybe your a contractor seeking to know what those building inspectors know, or maybe you already do home inspections and are looking to get certified as a building inspector.
Or you could just be trying to test your code knowledge or add a few more certifications under your belt. Whatever the reason may be, your first step is to know a little bit about the exam itself and what you should be studying for.
The B1 Residential Building Inspector Certification Exam administered by the International Code Council (ICC) tests an individuals knowledge of the International Residential Code (IRC).
As a Certified Residential Building Inspector you will be responsible for performing inspections of structures to determine compliance with the International Residential Code and Standards.
This level of certification gives the inspector the ability to inspect one-and-two family dwellings, townhomes not more than three stories in height, and accessory structures.
Residential Building Inspector Exam Specifications
The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You have a time limit of 2 hours to complete the exam and it is open book meaning you can only use the code book referenced. For this exam it is the International Residential Code (IRC). The code edition of the reference used should reflect the code edition of the exam you are taking. No work experience is required to take the exam and you must be at least 18 years of age.
You can take the exam via CBT (Computer-Based Training) or through PRONTO (depending on what exam edition you take). PRONTO is a new way of taking your testing exam from the comfort of your home or office. PRONTO stands for Proctored Remote Online Testing Option. For more information about the PRONTO online testing option, click here.
So what does the B1 Residential Building Inspector exam cover?
The following exam content outline is a guide to help you study for the exam and to understand what the exam will cover:

Here is the Exam Content Area Expanded to include the Subcategories:
CONTENT AREA | % |
Code Administration | 4% |
Project Administration | 2% |
Public Information and Legal | 2% |
Building Planning | 8% |
Unit Separation | 3% |
Building Location | 3% |
Room and Opening Dimensions | 2% |
Footings and Foundations | 16% |
Footings | 5% |
Stepped Footings and Special Foundations | 3% |
Columns and Piers | 3% |
Site Preparations, Foundation, and Basement Walls | 5% |
Floor Construction | 14% |
Lumber Quality - Floors | 3% |
Floor Joist Framing | 3% |
Concrete Slab Inspection | 2% |
Subflooring and Decking | 2% |
Crawl Spaces | 2% |
Draftstops | 2% |
Wall Construction and Coverings | 27% |
Lumber Quality - Walls | 4% |
Wood Framing - Walls | 4% |
Header Spans | 2% |
Steel Framing | 2% |
Fireblocking | 2% |
Masonry Materials and Placement | 2% |
Concrete Wall Inspection | 2% |
Braced Wall Panels | 2% |
Interior Coverings | 2% |
Exterior Sheathing, Veneers, and Weather-Resistant Coverings | 3% |
Exterior Plaster, Stucco, and Lath | 2% |
Roof/Ceiling Construction | 14% |
Roof/Ceiling Insulation and Vapor Barriers | 2% |
Attics/Ceiling | 2% |
Roof Framing | 4% |
Roof Sheathing | 2% |
Roofs and Roof Coverings and Reroofing | 2% |
Fireplaces and Chimneys | 2% |
Public Safety and Special Construction | 17% |
Means of Egress | 4% |
Exit Stairways and Ramps | 3% |
Exterior Construction | 3% |
Smoke Detectors | 2% |
Flamespread of Insulation and Finishes | 2% |
Safety Glazing | 3% |
What do I get when I pass the B1 Residential Building Inspector exam?
Bragging rights! Well actually you will receive a pass letter the same day right after your exam. In addition to being a Certified Residential Building Inspector (Yayyy!) you will receive a wall certification that looks like this…

You will have a certification number assigned to you so that if someone were to search for a certified professional within the ICC website, your name will come up!
Are you ready to take the B1 Residential Building Inspector Exam? Need Practice?
Want to test your knowledge of how well you know the code? Or maybe just get a feel for the exam?
Try out our Practice Exam for the B1 Residential Building Inspector Certification Exam!
This practice exam is designed for those who are looking to take the 2015 or 2018 version of the B1 Residential Building Inspector Certification Exam through the International Code Council (ICC). These practice exams are intended to help you prepare for the actual exam by helping you navigate through the code book to familiarize yourself with the specific code sections. They will test your knowledge on the exam content areas covered to improve your chances of passing the certification exam.
This is a great way to prepare yourself for the actual exam administered by ICC. Every building code professional knows that the key to passing the ICC exams is to do practice problems. Don’t just take the exam purely on experience alone. Let this resource get you focused on realistic problems built around the exam content being covered.

$34.99
Residential Building Inspector Practice Exam - Screenshots

