| ABOUT US
Our Charlotte seminars are conducted in our training center in our offices located at:
4428 Taggart Creek Road, Suite 112 (Greenbrier Office Park)
U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Blvd.) and Billy Graham Parkway
Charlotte NC 28208
Phone: 704-393-1553
We are the only seminar providers whose staff are all licenced North Carolina General Contractors with the "Unclassified" status.
We teach the Residential and Building classifications separately -- we do not combine them into one seminar. We use separate study materials to teach each classification. We will be glad to discuss the differences in the classifications if you will give our office a call or send us an e-mail. While we encourage you to attend as many seminars as you feel is necessary either at our Charlotte or Wilmington location (within one year of your initial registration), there is an additional charge to switch seminar classifications.
Seminar Times:
Seminars are conducted as one-day seminars from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. We do ask that you arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire day even if we run past 5:00 p.m.
Seminar Schedule by Classification:
DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
BUILDING CLASSIFICATION:
March 27, 2010
April 10, 2010
April 23, 2010
May 8, 2010
May 21, 2010
June 12, 2010
June 30, 2010
July 24, 2010
August 14, 2010
August 25, 2010
September 8, 2010
September 25, 2010
October 6, 2010
October 23, 2010
November 3, 2010
November 20, 2010
December 1, 2010
December 18, 2010
RESIDENTIAL CLASSIFICATION:
April 17, 2010
May 15, 2010
June 19, 2010
July 17, 2010
August 21, 2010
September 18, 2010
October 16, 2010
November 13, 2010
December 11, 2010
HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATION:
March 17, 2010
April 21, 2010
May 19, 2010
June 16, 2010
July 21, 2010
August 18, 2010
September 22, 2010
October 20, 2010
November 17, 2010
December 15, 2010
PUBLIC UTILITY CLASSIFICATION:
April 14, 2010
May 12, 2010
June 9, 2010
July 14, 2010
August 11, 2010
September 15, 2010
October 13 2010
November 10, 2010
December 8, 2010
Updated March 15, 2010
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WHAT SETS US APART
OUR PERSONAL APPROACH WITH CLIENTS
We are in the business to get people licensed, not to sell you a lot of unnecessary reference books or waste your time presenting information that is not current on the exam. Ben Aldridge and George Fossett provide direct, personal attention to each of their clients. They are available to them for questions before, during and after the seminar and exam. Our seminar classes are small with usually 15-20 attendees (limit is 30) so they can provide the direct attention necessary to ensure that each person is successful with the exam.
OUR SEMINARS
Our seminars have been developed as a result of over eighteen years of presenting licensing seminars and Community College License exam preparation classes. The seminars include an intensive review of the NC Building Codes and other reference sources listed by PSI for the exam. The seminar is presented in an informal manner to encourage questions about areas of concern. We receive daily feedback on new test areas from students who have taken the exam. Our study materials are continuously updated to include the new information by providing supplemental information to the manuals at the time they are ordered as well as up-to-date information during our seminars. We also train you in using a proven test-taking strategy that will assist you in completing the exam successfully within the allotted time.
OUR COMPETITIVE RATES
Residential Seminar: $350/person
Building Seminar: $375/person
Highway Seminar: $450/person
Public Utility Seminar: $475/person
The cost of Study Manuals purchased in advance may be applied to Seminar fee.
SEMINAR RESERVATION AND RESCHEDULING POLICY
We will be glad to accept your reservation for one of our Seminars. If you would like to pay by check, we must receive the check at least 7 days prior to the date you plan to attend. We will gladly accept debit cards or credit cards as late as 9 p.m. the night prior to the seminar. If there are seats available, we will accept cash the morning of the seminar. Please call no later than 9 p.m. the day before to ensure that we will have a seat available. Please have the correct change as we do not keep cash on our premises. If you find it necessary to reschedule a Seminar once you have paid your registration fee, we will gladly reschedule at no charge with a minimum 72 hour notice prior to the Seminar. "No shows" will be charged an additional seat cost to reschedule if the Seminar is sold out.
RESCHEDULE DUE TO ILLNESS: IF YOU ARE ILL, EVEN ON THE DAY OF THE SEMINAR, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND! WE WILL GLADLY RESCHEDULE YOU TO ANOTHER DATE!
SEMINAR RETURN POLICY
Our return policy allows you to come back free of charge for a refresher course anytime within ONE YEAR of your initial registration.
OUR STUDY MATERIALS
Our study manuals are up-to-date with the current Codes and information based on the pertinent information from the numerous reference sources listed for the exam and are the most comprehensive study guides available. The Study Manuals INCLUDE A FREE CD with sample questions typical of those used on the exam. The CD also includes a diagnostic tool to review and score your answers when you take the practice exam. The diagnostic tool will provide complete explanations on how the correct answer was derived along with specific references to the source of the question. The manuals are set up in a workbook format that may be used for self-study or in conjunction with classes or seminars.
FAQ'S ABOUT THE NC GENERAL CONTRACTORS LICENSE EXAM
Q: How current are your study materials and seminars?
A: Our study materials are updated on a weekly basis as a result of continuous feedback from students who have taken the exam. We provide supplemental information for the study manuals and cover new testing areas during our seminars. WE HAVE JUST UPDATED AND REPUBLISHED ALL STUDY MANUALS .
Q: What is your success rate?
A: While no one can guarantee a 100% success rate on the first taking of the exam, we have been very successful in increasing the success rate of our students by providing current information on the test. New focus areas on the test are constantly being added and we have found that our policy of providing up-to-date information to our students just before they take the exam to be very effective.
Q: How do I sign up to take the exam?
A: First you must obtain an application from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. You can download the application package and instructions on their website: www.nclbgc.org. Click on the Forms icon, then click on the link for the Application/Instruction Booklet document. Be sure and follow the rules for printing and completing the application. Or you can send a check or money order for $15 along with a request for an application package to: NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, PO Box 17187, Raleigh NC 27619. Once the Board has approved your application, you will receive a letter of eligibility. Once you have received this letter with your ID number, you will need to pay for your exam and schedule your date and time with PSI Exams.
Q: Do I need to purchase all of the reference books listed by PSI for the exam?
A: While you do need to have the appropriate code books, it is not necessary to purchase the additional $600-$700 in reference books to prepare for the exam or attend our seminars. Our study manuals contain all the pertinent information from the reference sources in a condensed format that is easy to read and retain for the exam.
Q: What code books do I need and where can I get them?
A: For the commercial building exam, you will need the North Carolina Building Code 2009 Edition. The Volume 1A, Administration and Enforcement, and the Volume 1C, Accessibility, are optional. All three code books may be taken into the exam.
Please contact CP Textbooks at 704-348-1440 to purchase your reference books, including the current Code Books.
Q: I have purchased a 2006 Edition of the North Carolina Residential Code Book. Can I still take this Code Book into the exam?
A: No. You must have the 2009 Edition of the North Carolina Residential Code Book.
Q: Is the Building Exam easier than the Residential Exam?
A: No. Many of our competitors say the Building Exam is easier simply because they do not teach a Residential Seminar. The Building Exam does contain a large area (fifteen questions) on structural metals that is taken from two different reference sources not allowed into the exam. The information on metals is in an area that can only be memorized which causes difficulty for many people taking this exam. There is also a significant additional area on concrete that is not contained in the code book, therefore it must also be memorized. We can prepare you with equal success for EITHER classification.
Q: I need an additional qualifier for my company. Do I have to submit an application package to the Licensing Board?
A: No. You only need to submit a two-page Exam Request Form to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. You can contact the Licensing Board and they will send you the appropriate form.
Q: What about the "blueprint" portion of the exam and how do I prepare for it?
A: The plan-reading questions tend to be ambiguous, complicated and time-consuming with great potential for error. We show you how to deal with these questions quickly without spending valuable exam time. It is not necessary to take a blueprint reading course to prepare for this portion of the exam.
Q: I have extensive experience in the construction industry. Why should I attend a seminar to prepare for the exam?
A: The exam is based on the information contained in the listed reference sources and not everyday construction practices. We provide the information you need to know to pass the exam.
Q: Will I pass the exam if I have limited construction experience?
A: YES! We have prepared persons with all ranges of experience to successfully complete the exam the first time.
Q: How soon after the exam will I know my score?
A: Once you complete the exam, you will know immediately if you passed or failed. Your official score will arrive by US Mail from the Licensing Board several days after you take the exam.
Q: Am I licensed immediately upon passing the exam?
A: No. The exam results will be forwarded to the Licensing Board for approval and licensing can take 3-6 weeks depending when the exam is taken.
Q: What if I need a license in South Carolina or Tennessee?
A: North Carolina has an exam waiver agreement with both South Carolina and Tennessee. Once you get your license in North Carolina, you can contact the Licensing Board in those states for further instructions on application and reciprocity with your North Carolina exam results.
Q: How can I obtain answers to other questions I have about the exam?
A: Contact us at any time. We will be happy to answer your questions. By phoning us, you will reach Ben or Molly Aldridge or George Fossett. All three hold unclassified general contractors licenses, and can answer any of your questions about licensing or the exams.
Q: I have received numerous brochures offering seminars for the exam. Why should I consider Aldridge Consulting seminars?
A: We are genuinely interested in assisting you with passing the exam and will spend the time necessary to assure your success. Our registration fee is competitive with no other fees or requirements to purchase additional reference materials other than the required Code Books and necessary reference books.
BIOGRAPHY
Ben Aldridge has presented License exam preparation classes for the last eighteen years and has personally assisted well over a thousand firms in becoming licensed. He holds an Unclassified North Carolina General Contractors license, has over thirty-five years experience in the construction industry and is an accomplished instructor and facilitator. He is a regular lecturer on construction industry practices for both state and national organizations. Ben is the President of Aldridge Consulting, Inc which provides project management, consulting and training services to public and private clients.
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