General · Building · Residential Contractor
The book list, straight from the state
Florida publishes exactly which references the examination is written from. The list has two halves — and the second half is where book packages quietly get cheaper.
Eighteen references in total. Thirteen you carry into the testing room. Five you study at home and may not bring in. Questions come from all eighteen.
Half one — you may bring these in
Thirteen references, permitted in the testing room.
| Ref # | Title | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| R5 | AIA A201 — General Conditions of the Contract for Construction | 2017 |
| R6 | AIA A401 — Standard Form of Agreement between Contractor and Subcontractor | 2017 |
| R7 | AIA A701 — Instructions to Bidders | 2018 |
| R46 | Code of Federal Regulations (OSHA) 29 Part 1926 | July 1, 2025 |
| R50 | Contractors Manual | 2025 Edition |
| R85 | Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction | 11th Edition, 2024 |
| R140 | Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida | 2024 |
| R247 | BCSI-ED2-D — Guide to Good Practices for Handling, Installing and Bracing of Metal Connected Wood Trusses | 2025 Edition |
| R200 | Florida Building Code — Building | 2023 |
| R203 | Florida Building Code — Accessibility | 2023 |
| R250 | Florida Building Code — Residential | 2023 |
| R251 | Florida Building Code — Existing Building | 2023 |
| R252 | Florida Building Code — Energy Conservation | 2023 |
Half two — you may not bring these in
“The following references are suggested study for the examination only and MAY NOT be brought into the testing room or facility for the examination.” Florida DBPR · Bureau of Education & Testing · Examination Reference List, valid January 2026 – December 2026
| Ref # | Title | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| R37 | Builder's Guide to Accounting | 2001 |
| R38 | Building Estimator's Reference Book (Walker's) | 32nd Edition, 2024 |
| R52 | Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures | 17th Edition, 2021 |
| R83 | Placing Reinforcing Bars | 10th Edition, 2019 |
| R87 | Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, GA-216 | 2018 |
Why these five catch people out
You cannot carry them into the exam, so it is easy to assume they do not matter. The examination is still written from them. What you take in on the day is your reference; what you learn from these beforehand is what lets you answer without one.
Where the price difference comes from
A school can advertise a lower book price simply by leaving the second half out. The five study-only titles are commonly sold as a separate add-on — often several hundred dollars on top of the advertised package price.
So compare the title list before you compare the price.
How to check any school in two minutes
- Ask for the full list of titles in their package — not a description, the actual titles.
- Count them against the eighteen above.
- Look specifically for the five in half two. That is where the gaps are.
- Ask whether anything is sold separately as “supplemental”.
Our packages contain all eighteen — both halves, current editions, with Quick Location tabs already printed and placed. Nothing is held back and sold to you afterwards.
The exam-room rules
Also from the state's list, and worth knowing before you tab anything.
- Only one copy of each reference may be brought in.
- References must be bound, and must stay bound during the exam.
- Highlighting and underlining in pen or highlighter are allowed.
- Hand-written and typed notes are NOT allowed. Existing notes must be blacked out or removed completely.
- Moveable tabs — sticky flags and the like — are NOT allowed. Printed tabs that are attached are fine.
- You may not write in your references during the exam.
- Only original editions are allowed, except where the list specifically says a PDF is acceptable.
- PDF copies must be bound with a ring binder, brads, snap binder, spiral or screw posts — not staples.
- Writing tablets and electronic tablets are not allowed.
Not sure which books you already have?
Call and read us your shelf. We will tell you what is missing — whether or not you buy the rest from us.
Call (888) 405-7849Source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Bureau of Education & Testing — General, Building and Residential Contractor Examination Reference List, valid January 2026 – December 2026. Checked 13 August 2026. Read the state's list yourself. The state republishes this list periodically — always confirm against the current version.