Pennsylvania Business Management & Law General Construction Contractor License Exam ExamFOCUS Study

Book updated Jul 2026. In Pennsylvania, licensing for General Contractor is administered at the city and county level. Some cities require you to pass an exam (as of the time of this writing the cities include Allentown, Bethlehem, Erie, Reading, and Scranton). There are two exam parts, one being the Business Management & Law test and the other being the Trade specific test. The former covers a wide range of fundamental topics. There is no way you can pass the exam without having solid real world experience.

Passing the Contractor Business and Law Examination takes far more than just field experience. Whether you are a journey-level tradesperson stepping up to run your own licensed business, an entrepreneur, or an established professional adding a new credential, this exam is designed to test your mastery of construction law, business finance, and regulatory compliance, rather than just your trade skills. Industry statistics show that a surprisingly high number of candidates do not pass this critical test on their first attempt. The reason is simple: the exam is not just about memorizing rules, but rather understanding how to apply complicated legal and financial scenarios to real-world contracting situations.

Take advantage of this book to build your confidence and refine your exam prep effort. Study with a plan, walk into the testing center prepared, and take that final step toward building a successful and fully licensed contracting business. Let's get to work!

Our notes give you knowledge, principles and concepts. To master the topics, you must be "in the field" - you need to go through the real world plans, the various contract documents and the various administrative paperworks all by yourself. And you need to know how the experts get things done. To succeed in the exam, you also need to read as many reference books as possible. There is no single book that can cover everything!