ATHENA

Florida CGC Exam Reference Books 2026

The Florida General Contractor examination is open book, but candidates must use the references approved for the applicable examination. Use the official DBPR reference list as the source of truth before buying books or preparing your exam-day materials.

Start Your 72-Hour Free Trial

Start with the official DBPR reference list

Florida DBPR publishes construction examination reference lists by examination format and specialty. The current DBPR page identifies reference lists effective January 1, 2026 and separates references by Computer Based Testing and Pencil & Paper examinations.

Edition warning: Reference editions can change. Check the DBPR list that applies to your examination date before purchasing, tabbing, or bringing a book to the testing center.

View the current DBPR Construction Examination Reference Lists

Core references for Florida General Contractor candidates

For Division I General, Building, and Residential contractor examinations, the published reference lists include a combination of business, contract, construction, safety, code, and project-management materials. The exact list depends on the examination part and current DBPR edition requirements.

Reference	Why it matters	Exam-day status
AIA A201 — General Conditions of the Contract for Construction	Contract and general-condition provisions used in applicable examination content.	Check current DBPR list
AIA A401 — Standard Form of Agreement Between Contractor and Subcontractor	Contractor/subcontractor agreement provisions.	Check current DBPR list
AIA A701 — Instructions to Bidders	Bidding and procurement provisions.	Check current DBPR list
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926	Construction safety standards relevant to applicable examination content.	Check current DBPR list
Florida Contractors Manual	Contractor licensing, business, legal, and administrative material.	Edition depends on exam date
Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction	Construction methods and project-management concepts.	Check current DBPR list
Florida Building Code volumes	Building, accessibility, residential, existing-building, and energy-code material as applicable.	Check current DBPR list

Approved references vs. study references

Do not assume that every book associated with exam preparation can be taken into the testing room. DBPR states that candidates are strongly encouraged to bring approved reference materials and that no other references are allowed at the examination site.

Some publications may appear as suggested study references rather than exam-room references. A study reference can be useful during preparation while still being prohibited in the testing room. Always classify a book using the current DBPR list rather than a retailer or prep-school description.

Why the exact edition matters

Reference lists identify specific editions or effective dates. When an edition changes, page numbers, organization, terminology, and referenced requirements can change with it. Build your study and tabbing system around the edition DBPR identifies for your examination date.

DBPR's current 2026 reference-list page distinguishes the 2026 reference period from earlier lists. The current list is the authoritative place to confirm which version applies.

How ATHENA fits with your reference books

Practice: Work through questions organized around the CGC examination areas.
Learn: Review explanations after answering instead of memorizing answer letters.
Reference: Use supporting reference information to connect questions with study materials.
Reinforce: Save difficult questions and return to concepts that need more practice.
Prepare: Build familiarity with the materials you expect to use during an open-book examination.

Practice with ATHENA

Official Florida resources

DBPR Construction Examination Reference Lists — approved references and effective dates.
DBPR Construction Examinations — examination information and preparation guidance.

Source note: Reference-list information on this page was checked against the DBPR reference-list page on September 24, 2026.

Ready to practice?

Once your reference materials are organized, use ATHENA to turn the published examination areas into active practice across Business & Finance, Contract Administration, and Project Management.

Start Your 72-Hour Free Trial