Online Building Code Class: ICC B1 Exam Prep (Code Book Bootcamp)
Live, practical building code training and ICC B1 exam prep for exam candidates, designers, inspectors, contractors, and owner-builders.
C3 helps people learn the code the way it's used on the job. C3's principal, Dennis Cherenkov, has been an ICC building code instructor at Contractor State License Schools since 2018. He is an ICC-certified instructor with 22 ICC certifications. His classes focus on how the code book is organized, how to find answers quickly, and how to apply them correctly on real projects and on exam day.
A California Building Code Class You Can Take From Anywhere
The B1 Code Book Bootcamp is a live online building code course for anyone working toward residential building inspector certification. Over eight weeks we work through the IRC section by section and learn to find answers fast, which is the skill the ICC B1 exam rewards. Think of it as an IRC class online, taught live on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30 to 8:30 PM PT, from Oct 20 to Dec 15. Every session is recorded.
Your instructor, Dennis Cherenkov, holds 22 ICC certifications and has taught building code training since 2018. The class covers the California amendments that matter in the field, so it also works as a practical California building code class for permit techs, contractors and designers. Tuition is $675 and includes a C3 certificate of completion.
Building Inspector Classes and ICC Exam Prep Online
Looking for building inspector classes, ICC exam prep online, or an IRC code class you can join from home? The Code Book Bootcamp is residential code training built for aspiring inspectors, permit technicians, contractors, designers and anyone starting plans examiner training. It is a live building code course from California, open to students anywhere, focused on the 2024 IRC and the ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector exam.
Two ways to train with C3
2024 IRC B1 exam-prep course
A live course for people preparing for the ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector exam, including aspiring inspectors and plans examiners, permit techs, career changers from the trades, contractors, and project managers. The current cohort is the founding cohort. Every class is taught live by Dennis Cherenkov, an ICC-certified instructor with 22 ICC certifications. It isn't pre-recorded video or an AI tutor.
Live online and open to students anywhere in the US. Founding cohort: 16 live evening sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 20 through December 15, 2026 (no class on Thanksgiving), 5:30 to 8:30 PM Pacific (8:30 to 11:30 PM Eastern). Can't make it live? Every session is recorded, and the recordings stay available until at least June 15, 2027.
Ask your questions in class and get answers from someone who applies the code every day.
Live online building code training for contractor teams
Live online building code training built around the questions your team actually runs into. Tell C3 what your crew or office staff are struggling with, and C3 will put together a session that fits.
B1 Code Book Bootcamp - Fall 2026 Live Cohort
Schedule, price, and what's included
- Exam: ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector
- Code book: 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapters 1 to 10
- Format: live online, open nationwide
- Schedule: 16 live sessions, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 8:30 PM Pacific, October 20 through December 15, 2026 (no class on Thanksgiving)
- Recordings: every session is recorded, and the recordings stay available until at least June 15, 2027. Students receive class recordings only.
- Price: founding cohort price $675. The regular price starting with the next cohort is $900.
- Certificate: Finish the bootcamp and receive a C3 certificate of completion for 48 hours of training, which you may submit as non-preferred-provider CEU hours.
Every class is taught live by a real person, not pre-recorded video or an AI tutor.
Founding cohort price: $675. Regular price starting with the next cohort: $900.
What the ICC B1 exam covers
The B1 exam has 60 multiple-choice questions, a 2-hour time limit, and is open book. ICC's outline weights the content like this: wall construction and coverings 27%, public safety and special construction 17%, footings and foundations 16%, floor construction 14%, roof/ceiling construction 14%, building planning 8%, and code administration 4%. The course works through the IRC chapters behind those topics and spends a lot of time on finding answers in the code book fast, because on an open-book exam, speed in the book matters.
Training a team? Save 20%.
Enroll 3 or more people from the same agency and each seat drops from $675 to $540. Pay by card with your agency's group code, or send us a purchase order and we'll invoice your agency.
Who this B1 course is for
People preparing for the ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector exam: Build your confidence with the IRC and practice finding answers for exam day.
Career changers from the trades: Turn years of field experience into a path toward residential building inspection.
Entry-level residential designers and drafters who are not architects yet: Learn the IRC from an ICC-certified instructor with 22 ICC certifications so your plans get fewer corrections at plan check. You don't need to take the exam.
Permit technicians and new inspectors moving up: Build a stronger code foundation as you learn the work and take the next step.
Contractors and superintendents: Learn what the code requires so you can help prevent failed inspections and reduce rework.
Owner-builders: Understand what the inspector will look for as you plan and build your project.
Not taking the exam? This class is still for you.
Contractors, designers, and owner-builders: you don't need a certification to get real value here. You need to pass inspections the first time.
This is the same live online class. You'll learn to find answers in the code fast and read them the way inspectors do. That means fewer corrections, fewer tear-outs, and the ability to talk to your inspector in their language, with the provision open in front of you.
The B1 exam is completely optional. Everyone who completes the program receives a C3 certificate of completion listing class hours.
Course books
These books are used in class. They aren't included with enrollment and must be bought separately.
ICC B1 exam takers: also get the 2024 IRC Study Companion and the Fast Tabs, and use the free book marking guide.
As an Amazon Associate, C3's owner earns from qualifying purchases.
Meet your instructor
Dennis Cherenkov is an ICC-certified instructor with 20 years in construction, from the field to plan check. He holds 22 ICC certifications, including B1 Residential Building Inspector, B2, B3, B5, R5, C8 Combination Inspector, C3 Combination Plans Examiner, the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical series, Accessibility, and Residential Fire Sprinkler. He also holds the California HCD Factory-Built Housing QA Inspector credential and is a former ICC NTA quality auditor.
He has taught building codes at Contractor State License Schools since 2018 and has helped many professionals understand complex regulations and prepare for ICC certification exams.
His approach is practical, straightforward, and rooted in real-world application, not just memorizing code sections. From hands-on construction work to public-sector inspection and service as an infantry veteran, Dennis brings a well-rounded view to the classroom. He enjoys teaching people how to navigate the code, avoid costly mistakes, and move their careers forward.
How to become a building inspector in California
Most California cities and counties hire building inspectors who hold, or can quickly earn, an ICC certification. The ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector certification is the usual first step, and many agencies list it as a requirement or a promotion path.
Building inspection is a stable public-sector career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about 14,800 openings a year nationwide and a median pay of $74,690.
This live online course prepares you for the ICC B1 exam step by step, taught by an ICC-certified instructor with 22 ICC certifications who has helped students pass for years.
How do I tab and highlight my IRC code book?
Tabs and highlighting turn your IRC into a map. On an open-book exam, you win by opening straight to the right page, so the goal is to find answers fast, not to memorize sections.
Here is the simple version of the approach Dennis teaches:
- Tab the start of each chapter first, then the tables and sections you reach for most often. A few well-chosen tabs beat a book bristling with them.
- Write short labels on your tabs in your own words, so you can spot the right one at a glance.
- Choose one highlighter color for each kind of information, such as exceptions, and use it the same way every time.
- Follow ICC's rules: references must be bound, notes must be in ink or highlighter, and tabs must be permanently attached. Check ICC's current rules for your testing method before exam day.
In the live course, you build your own marking system in class and practice using it to find answers quickly. Want a head start? Get the free IRC bookmarking guide at the bottom of this page.
ICC B1 exam and building inspector FAQ
How do I become a building inspector in California?
California doesn't issue a state building inspector license. Under Health and Safety Code §18949.28, local building inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials must complete one year of verifiable experience and then, within one year after that, get certified by a recognized state, national, or international association, as determined by the local agency. ICC certifications such as the B1 Residential Building Inspector are a common way to meet this, and many agencies want them at hire, so check each job posting. Once in the job, California requires 45 hours of continuing education every three years, including at least 8 hours on disability access (§18949.29).
Do I need inspection experience to take the ICC B1 exam?
No. ICC says it doesn't require prerequisites to take its certification exams. ICC also says it's “highly unlikely” that someone with little knowledge of the codes will pass, which is why structured prep helps.
Is the ICC B1 exam open book?
Yes. ICC lists the B1 as open book. Under ICC's rules, references must be bound (original book, three-ring binder, or stapled). Notes must be in ink or highlighter, and tabs must be permanently attached. Photocopies of copyrighted material aren't allowed. Candidates taking the exam online through ICC's PRONTO system use an on-screen notepad. Read ICC's current rules for your testing method before exam day.
What code book is used for the B1 exam?
The International Residential Code (IRC), in the edition that matches the exam you buy (ICC sells the B1 by code year). C3's course uses the 2024 IRC. California jobs work from the California Residential Code, which is based on the IRC, but the national B1 exam tests the IRC itself.
How many questions are on the B1 exam, and how long is it?
60 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. For national certification exams, ICC sets the passing scale score at 75.
How much does the B1 exam cost, and where do I take it?
ICC's store lists the B1 at $320 per attempt (as of Oct 2026). You take it through ICC PRONTO, either online with a live remote proctor or at a Meazure Learning test center. For national exams, ICC allows six attempts in six months, and each attempt is paid separately. The exam fee is separate from C3's course.
What if I can't make every live class?
Every session is recorded, and the recordings stay available until at least June 15, 2027.
Can I still join after October 20?
Yes. Enrollment stays open through November 5. Every class is recorded, so you can catch up on anything you missed and jump right in.
From the blog
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Online Building Code Classes: What to Look For
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Not ready to enroll yet?
Get the free IRC bookmarking guide: the method Dennis teaches his students for organizing and navigating the IRC quickly, during inspections and on the ICC B1 exam.