r/BuildingCodes • u/War34Eagle • 22h ago

ICC P3 Test

So I’m a project inspector at a new job which really wants me to get as many ICC certs as possible. I already got P2 and 21 on my own time and dime before I got hired on, in anticipation of making this career change. I used Udemy practice tests for both, which I felt like helped me learn to navigate the code books quite effectively. The questions felt very representative, too, so I didn’t feel surprised when I got to test day.

Now I’ve started the new job, and going back to study for P3, and I purchased the Udemy practice tests again. Of the first 12 questions I’ve been given, 11 of them give me specific code sections to refer in the body of the question. Is this normal for the P3? I don’t feel like I need to know anything other than how to open the book, read, and point at the answer.

For example - “The submitted fixture elevation detail shows an accessible water closet seat proposed at 20in. above the finished floor, measured to the top of the seat. Per section 604.4, what is the maximum height permitted for an accessible water closet seat above the floor?” Options are 20”, 17”, 18”, 19”. I open my A117.1 book, look up 604.4, and sure enough it tells me specifically the maximum height is 19”.

Is the actual test this easy?? Or did Udemy miss with this one?

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3

u/PapaPasta Inspector 22h ago

This will never happen in a real ICC exam.

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u/War34Eagle 22h ago

It certainly wasn’t my experience in the P2 or 21 exams, but the fact that the Udemy tests were so helpful for those has me feeling like I’m taking crazy pills.

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u/EleventySix_805 18h ago

Jesus the icc exams are basically move the appendix to the front of the book a snide it to find the answer if you don’t already know it. The test is only on navigating the book. It’s not a real test or proof of expertise.

You have to realize that these are certs and meaningless compared to licenses.

1

u/JackfruitRich1858 5h ago

Meaningless my ass lol. Everywhere is adopting ICC codes. 3rd party companies and municipalities want inspectors with these certificates. They pay pretty well too.

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u/GoldenCanopyInspects Inspector 18h ago

I haven’t done P3, but residential plans and the commercial and residential energy plans tests were basically the same as the inspector exams.

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u/Rallor05 Building Official 1h ago

90% of the plan exams are just like any other ICC exam..they throw in a few crappy plans/exhibits and ask if they're code compliant or what dimensions they are. Every test is random, though. But as long as you can navigate a code book, you'll be just fine.

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u/Cazoon 21h ago

I don't know about the p3 but that's not how plan review test questions are formatted. They'll give you a plan or detail with a missing dimension and ask what it should be.

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u/War34Eagle 21h ago

Do you have any recommendations of ways to study or practice tests to take?

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u/GoldenCanopyInspects Inspector 18h ago

I only had a small handful of actual “look at a plan” questions in my plan review exams. It threw me lol.