ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector Exam: Format, Passing Score & Study Plan
The B1 certifies residential building inspectors who check one- and two-family homes against the International Residential Code. Here is ICC's format, content outline, passing score, fee, open-book rules and retake policy, plus a six-week plan and three sample questions from our video.
The ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector exam has 60 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours and is open book, using the International Residential Code (IRC). It is offered in the 2021 and 2024 code editions. The passing score is a scaled 75, and the national exam costs $320. Wall construction and coverings is the largest content area at 27%.
ICC B1 facts at a glance
| Questions | 60: multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 2 hours: about 2 minutes per question |
| Passing score | 75 (scaled): not a percentage; a passing report says PASS with no number |
| Exam fee | $320: national exam; valid 365 days from purchase, purchases final |
| Book policy | Open book: International Residential Code (IRC) |
| Code editions | 2021 and 2024: you choose the code cycle when you buy the exam |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE or PRONTO: test center, or ICC's remote proctoring |
| Certification valid | 3 years: renew with continuing education |
Checked against the official ICC page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: ICC B1 video
ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector Exam 2026: Study Plan, Format & Passing Score
ICC B1 content outline
ICC's outline weights seven areas. Walls, public safety, and foundations together are 60% of the exam.
| Content area | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Wall Construction and Coverings | 27% |
| Public Safety and Special Construction | 17% |
| Footings and Foundations | 16% |
| Floor Construction | 14% |
| Roof/Ceiling Construction | 14% |
| Building Planning | 8% |
| Code Administration | 4% |
Source: ICC: B1 Residential Building Inspector content outline (PDF)
What the B1 exam covers
The residential building inspector inspects one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and accessory structures for compliance with the building code the jurisdiction has adopted. The exam is an ICC certification, separate from any state license, although many jurisdictions ask for it.
Questions are written from the International Residential Code, so the IRC is your textbook. Within the outline, public safety includes means of egress, stairways, smoke alarms and safety glazing; wall construction covers framing, headers, fireblocking, braced wall panels and masonry; footings and foundations covers frost depth, piers, anchor bolts and backfill.
Passing score: what a scaled 75 means
ICC reports national certification exams on a scaled score with 75 as the passing point. A scaled score is not a percentage or a count of correct answers, and the raw cut can sit at a different number of correct answers on different forms. If you pass, the report says PASS without a number; if you fail, it shows your scaled score.
ICC does not publish a B1 pass rate. Because you can look things up, the skill being tested is finding the right IRC section quickly and reading it precisely.
Open-book rules: tabs, highlighting and notes
ICC's rules require bound references: the original bound book, a three-ring binder, or stapled pages. Notes must be written in ink or highlighted, tabs must be permanently attached, and photocopies of copyrighted material are not allowed.
Tab your IRC while you study, not the night before, and practice lookups against a timer so a section takes well under a minute to find.
Fee, editions and how to test
ICC's store lists the national B1 exam at $320. An exam purchase is valid for 365 days and is final. When you buy, choose the code cycle: ICC currently offers the national B1 in both the 2021 and the 2024 IRC editions, so match the edition your jurisdiction or employer expects, and buy that edition of the code.
You can test at a Pearson VUE center or remotely through ICC's PRONTO proctoring. PRONTO needs a system check before you book and does not support multiple monitors.
A six-week B1 study plan
This is our planning estimate for someone who already works in construction, not an ICC timeline.
- Weeks 1 and 2: IRC footings, foundations and floors, then wall construction.
- Weeks 3 and 4: roof and ceiling construction, then egress, stairs, guards, smoke alarms and glazing (public safety).
- Week 5: tab and highlight your code book within ICC's rules, then practice timed lookups.
- Week 6: timed practice sets, reviewing every miss against the code text.
Retakes and renewal
ICC's rules for national certification exams allow six attempts within six months, with the exam fee due at every attempt. After six attempts you wait six months from the first attempt. Local jurisdictions may have their own rules.
ICC certifications are valid for three years. Renewing a single certification takes 1.5 CEUs in the three-year period, at least 0.8 of them from ICC or an ICC Preferred Provider.
Three B1-style sample questions
These are the original sample questions from our ICC B1 video, based on IRC requirements that are the same in the 2021 and 2024 editions. They are not from a real ICC exam.
A new stairway in a one-family home has been measured. What is the maximum riser height the IRC allows?
- 7¾ inches
- 8¼ inches
- 9 inches
- 7 inches
Show answer
A. 7¾ inches
The IRC limits risers to 7¾ inches, and the tread depth must be at least 10 inches. 8¼ inches is a tempting but incorrect figure.
A second-story bedroom has an emergency escape window. What is the minimum net clear opening area for that window?
- 4.5 square feet
- 5.7 square feet
- 6.5 square feet
- 7 square feet
Show answer
B. 5.7 square feet
Openings above grade need at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, with a net clear height of at least 24 inches and width of at least 20 inches. Grade-floor openings may be 5 square feet.
A new two-story house has a basement, a finished second floor and an uninhabitable attic. Where is a smoke alarm not required?
- Inside each bedroom
- In the hallway outside the bedrooms
- In the basement
- In the uninhabitable attic
Show answer
D. In the uninhabitable attic
Smoke alarms go in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on each additional story including basements, but not in crawl spaces or uninhabitable attics.
ICC B1 FAQ
How many questions are on the ICC B1 exam?
60 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. The exam is open book, using the International Residential Code.
What is the ICC B1 passing score?
75 on ICC's scaled score for national certification exams. It is not a percentage, and a passing report shows PASS without a number.
Which code edition is the B1 based on?
ICC currently offers the national B1 in both the 2021 and 2024 International Residential Code editions. You pick the code cycle when you buy the exam, so match it to the edition you need.
How much does the ICC B1 exam cost?
ICC's store lists the national B1 exam at $320. The purchase is valid for 365 days and is non-refundable.
How many times can I retake the B1?
Six attempts within six months, paying the fee each time. After six attempts you wait six months from your first attempt.
Can I write in my code book for the B1?
Yes, within ICC's rules: notes in ink or highlighting, tabs permanently attached, and the reference bound (original binding, three-ring binder or stapled). Photocopies of copyrighted material are not allowed.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
- ICC: B1 Residential Building Inspector content outline (PDF)
- ICC Store: B1 - Residential Building Inspector
- ICC: Current Certification Exams - National (PDF)
- ICC Support: What score do I need to pass?
- ICC: Credentialing administrative rules and policies
- ICC: Maintain and renew certifications
- ICC: Preferred Provider Program manual (CEU requirements)
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the International Code Council. ICC and International Residential Code are trademarks of the International Code Council. The sample questions are original, not from a real exam. Formats, fees, editions, and policies are set by ICC and can change; confirm them in ICC's current exam catalog before you buy.