ICC R3 exam outline: eight areas and weights
The ICC R3 Residential Plans Examiner exam is the International Code Council's certification exam for reviewing residential construction documents against the code. ICC's R3 outline gives 60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, open book, and splits them across eight areas, each with a weight. Study the heavy areas first, and use your free check to see where your own score trails the weight.
- Questions
- 60
- Time
- 120 minutes
- Exam fee (paid to ICC, not us)
- 320 (the ICC Store R3 page shows $320.00
- Where
- see format.delivery (unconfirmed for R3)
The eight areas
- Architectural and life safety (25%) and structural (25%): half the exam between them.
- Site (10%), mechanical (10%), plumbing (10%) and electrical (10%).
- Administrative (5%) and energy efficiency (5%).
The exam in brief
- Length: 60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, about 2 minutes a question.
- Book: open book.
- Code years: ICC offers the R3 on the 2021 and 2024 International Codes, and you choose the code year.
- Fee: ICC's store page for the R3 showed $320.00 when we read it. It does not make clear whether that is the member or non-member price.
- What to confirm with ICC: the books allowed in the exam, the passing score and how the exam is delivered. Our saved copies of ICC's pages do not state them, so we do not name them here. Check ICC's current exam information before you book or buy references.
Also inspecting in the field? The ICC B1 exam outline covers the residential inspector exam, and the free B1 check scores you on it.
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Architectural and Life Safety
A fictional plan shows a new bathroom with a tub and shower, no operable window and no fan symbol. What should the examiner require?
Press A-D or 1-4 to choose an answer while this question is on screen.
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Sources
Show the list
- R3 Residential Plans Examiner content outline, International Code Council, read 21 October 2026.
- Current certification exams, national exams, International Code Council, read 21 October 2026.
- Residential Plans Examiner on the ICC Store, International Code Council, read 21 October 2026.
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Exam facts
| Questions | 60 |
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Book | open |
| Question types | multiple choice |
| Passing | unconfirmed: no saved R3 source states a pass score |
| Where you test | see format.delivery (unconfirmed for R3) |
| Exam fee (paid to ICC, not us) | 320 (the ICC Store R3 page shows $320.00 |
Fee details
320 (the ICC Store R3 page shows $320.00; whether this is the nonmember or the member price is unconfirmed, because the page also shows a placeholder 'Member Price: $---.--')
What the exam covers
| Administrative | 5% |
| Site | 10% |
| Architectural and Life Safety | 25% |
| Structural | 25% |
| Energy Efficiency | 5% |
| Mechanical | 10% |
| Plumbing | 10% |
| Electrical | 10% |
Sources
Show the 3 sources
- iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/r3_content.pdf (checked 2026-10-21)
- iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/Current-Certification-Exams-National-Exams.pdf (checked 2026-10-21)
- shop.iccsafe.org/residential-plans-examiner.html (checked 2026-10-21)
Facts come from International Code Council's own documents (sources above); the latest source retrieval was . If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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