NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE
CONTRACTOR EXAM 2026/2027 |
300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES
| NCLCLB ALIGNED (CH. 89D & 21
NCAC 28B)
1. Under North Carolina General Statute Chapter 89D, what is the primary
purpose of requiring landscape contractors to obtain a state license?
A. To generate revenue for the state through application and renewal fees
B. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring minimum competency
C. To limit the number of landscape contractors operating within North Carolina
D. To standardize pricing structures across the landscape industry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The licensing law is explicitly designed to protect the public by ensuring that
landscape contractors meet minimum standards of competence and responsibility
before performing regulated work. Revenue generation and competition limitation are
not legislative purposes of the licensing program .
2. According to the NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board, the licensing
exam consists of three distinct sections. Which of the following is NOT one of
those sections?
A. Landscape Design Section
B. General Knowledge Section
,C. Plant Identification Section
D. Business Financial Audit Section
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The official three sections are the Landscape Design Section (interpreting
plans), the General Knowledge Section (horticulture, construction, business law), and
the Plant Identification Section (identifying plants and pests by photograph). There is
no "Business Financial Audit" section on the licensing exam .
3. A landscape contractor is preparing a site for a new residential installation.
To ensure proper drainage away from the foundation, what is the minimum
recommended positive slope away from the structure?
A. 1%
B. 2%
C. 5%
D. 10%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive drainage slope of at least 2% (approximately ¼ inch per foot) is
generally required to direct surface water away from foundations and prevent water
pooling or structural damage. A 1% slope is often insufficient for reliable drainage on
typical landscape soils .
4. When interpreting a soil test report for a landscape bed, which soil particle
size is the largest and contributes to rapid drainage and low water-holding
capacity?
A. Clay
B. Silt
,C. Sand
D. Humus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sand particles are the largest of the three primary soil minerals (sand > silt
> clay). Because of their large size, sandy soils have large pore spaces that allow water
to drain rapidly, which also means they have a low capacity to retain moisture and
nutrients compared to clay or loam .
5. A contractor is installing a retaining wall on a slope. Proper evaluation of
which factor is most critical to prevent wall failure and ensure long-term
stability?
A. The color and texture of the wall material
B. Soil type and subsurface drainage conditions
C. The species of plants located uphill from the wall
D. The lighting design for the landscape at night
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Retaining walls must resist lateral earth pressure and hydrostatic pressure
from water trapped in the soil behind them. Evaluating soil type (e.g., clay vs. gravel)
and installing proper drainage (such as weep holes or a French drain) is essential;
failure to manage water pressure is a leading cause of retaining wall collapse .
6. Under NC law, a landscape contractor's license must be renewed annually. By
what date must the renewal application and fee be submitted to the Board?
A. June 1
B. August 1
, C. October 1
D. December 31
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board requires licensees to submit
their renewal application on or before August 1 each year. Continuing education hours
must also be earned between August 1 and July 31 of the licensing cycle .
7. Which irrigation method is generally considered the most water-efficient for
delivering moisture directly to the root zone of individual shrubs and trees in a
landscape bed?
A. Overhead impact sprinklers
B. Flood irrigation
C. Drip irrigation
D. Manual watering with a hose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone of plants,
minimizing water loss through evaporation, wind drift, and runoff. It is significantly
more efficient than overhead sprinklers, which wet the foliage and surrounding non-
target areas .
8. A contractor is reviewing a landscape plan that specifies a rain garden in
compacted urban clay soil. The design requires a minimum infiltration rate of
0.5 inches per hour, but the site's native clay loam only percolates at 0.2 inches
per hour. Which strategy is most effective to meet the requirement?
A. Incorporating 3 inches of coarse sand into the top 6 inches
B. Tilling in 4 inches of compost and gypsum to a depth of 12 inches
CONTRACTOR EXAM 2026/2027 |
300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES
| NCLCLB ALIGNED (CH. 89D & 21
NCAC 28B)
1. Under North Carolina General Statute Chapter 89D, what is the primary
purpose of requiring landscape contractors to obtain a state license?
A. To generate revenue for the state through application and renewal fees
B. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring minimum competency
C. To limit the number of landscape contractors operating within North Carolina
D. To standardize pricing structures across the landscape industry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The licensing law is explicitly designed to protect the public by ensuring that
landscape contractors meet minimum standards of competence and responsibility
before performing regulated work. Revenue generation and competition limitation are
not legislative purposes of the licensing program .
2. According to the NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board, the licensing
exam consists of three distinct sections. Which of the following is NOT one of
those sections?
A. Landscape Design Section
B. General Knowledge Section
,C. Plant Identification Section
D. Business Financial Audit Section
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The official three sections are the Landscape Design Section (interpreting
plans), the General Knowledge Section (horticulture, construction, business law), and
the Plant Identification Section (identifying plants and pests by photograph). There is
no "Business Financial Audit" section on the licensing exam .
3. A landscape contractor is preparing a site for a new residential installation.
To ensure proper drainage away from the foundation, what is the minimum
recommended positive slope away from the structure?
A. 1%
B. 2%
C. 5%
D. 10%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive drainage slope of at least 2% (approximately ¼ inch per foot) is
generally required to direct surface water away from foundations and prevent water
pooling or structural damage. A 1% slope is often insufficient for reliable drainage on
typical landscape soils .
4. When interpreting a soil test report for a landscape bed, which soil particle
size is the largest and contributes to rapid drainage and low water-holding
capacity?
A. Clay
B. Silt
,C. Sand
D. Humus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sand particles are the largest of the three primary soil minerals (sand > silt
> clay). Because of their large size, sandy soils have large pore spaces that allow water
to drain rapidly, which also means they have a low capacity to retain moisture and
nutrients compared to clay or loam .
5. A contractor is installing a retaining wall on a slope. Proper evaluation of
which factor is most critical to prevent wall failure and ensure long-term
stability?
A. The color and texture of the wall material
B. Soil type and subsurface drainage conditions
C. The species of plants located uphill from the wall
D. The lighting design for the landscape at night
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Retaining walls must resist lateral earth pressure and hydrostatic pressure
from water trapped in the soil behind them. Evaluating soil type (e.g., clay vs. gravel)
and installing proper drainage (such as weep holes or a French drain) is essential;
failure to manage water pressure is a leading cause of retaining wall collapse .
6. Under NC law, a landscape contractor's license must be renewed annually. By
what date must the renewal application and fee be submitted to the Board?
A. June 1
B. August 1
, C. October 1
D. December 31
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board requires licensees to submit
their renewal application on or before August 1 each year. Continuing education hours
must also be earned between August 1 and July 31 of the licensing cycle .
7. Which irrigation method is generally considered the most water-efficient for
delivering moisture directly to the root zone of individual shrubs and trees in a
landscape bed?
A. Overhead impact sprinklers
B. Flood irrigation
C. Drip irrigation
D. Manual watering with a hose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone of plants,
minimizing water loss through evaporation, wind drift, and runoff. It is significantly
more efficient than overhead sprinklers, which wet the foliage and surrounding non-
target areas .
8. A contractor is reviewing a landscape plan that specifies a rain garden in
compacted urban clay soil. The design requires a minimum infiltration rate of
0.5 inches per hour, but the site's native clay loam only percolates at 0.2 inches
per hour. Which strategy is most effective to meet the requirement?
A. Incorporating 3 inches of coarse sand into the top 6 inches
B. Tilling in 4 inches of compost and gypsum to a depth of 12 inches
