DC General Contractor study guide
DC General Contractor · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The DC General Contractor credential is a District of Columbia occupational/professional license administered by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the agency whose site states: "Welcome to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection." It is intended for construction professionals who want to hold themselves out as general contractors on projects in the District, and for the businesses that employ them. Candidates typically reach it through DLCP's Professional Licensing (OPL) channel, which handles professional license applications, renewals, and verification. This study page organizes preparation around two content domains: Business and Law, and Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices. Business and Law covers the regulatory and commercial side of contracting - licensing obligations, business structure and registration, contracts, estimating and bidding, employment and safety responsibilities, lien and payment issues, and consumer protection. Topics on this exam: Business and Law and Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices. The DC General Contractor study guide has 2 sections and about 847 words.
01Business and Law
The Business and Law domain tests the legal and administrative side of operating a DC general contracting business: licensing, contracts, liens, insurance, employment obligations, consumer protection, and permit responsibility. Questions here reward precise knowledge of DC-specific thresholds and procedures rather than general business intuition. A DC General Contractor license is issued through the Board of Industrial Trades, while the business itself needs a Basic Business License from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The license is tied to a qualifying party and is not transferable.
437 words, about 2 min02Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices
The Trade Knowledge and Construction Practices domain tests field competence: code compliance, materials, sequencing, structural and MEP basics, inspections, and jobsite safety. DC enforces the ICC family of construction codes with local amendments, so answers must reflect both standard practice and DC's inspection model. DC's construction codes are published in Title 12 DCMR and adopt the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Existing Building Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and NFPA 70. The Department of Buildings issues permits and conducts inspections.
410 words, about 2 min