Video Overviews

Learn visually, not just by reading. Watch our brief videos to grasp core concepts instantly, then skim the notes to lock in your knowledge. The fastest way to study.

Annotated Drawings

Complex plans, made clear. Our color-coded, annotated drawings break down complex blueprints into clear, easy-to-follow visuals. We highlight exactly what you need to know, making plan reading intuitive and stress-free.

Helpful Resources

Bridge code and reality. Don't just study for the exam—prepare for the field. We’ve curated top-tier field videos and real-world examples so you can see exactly how construction happens on-site.

Exam Overview

ECC – Soils Codes Exam: A 2-hour, open-book test consisting of 60 questions that evaluates your ability to locate and apply information within the IBC and various ASTM standards. ECP – Soils Plans Exam: A 1.5-hour, completely closed-book test that consists of 30 questions. This exam is heavily weighted (73%) toward your practical ability to interpret 2D grading plans, slopes, and survey stakes, along with analyzing site-specific soils reports.

Course Structure

The ICC Soils course is split into two parts: Written (Code): Master the exam outline through quick overview videos, concise reviews, and targeted quizzes. Concludes with a realistic final exam testing your speed and calculation skills. Plan Reading (Blueprints): Learn to navigate soils plans fast using color-coded annotated drawings, instructional videos, 4 practice quizzes, and 2 simulated exams using multi-tab drawing sets.

Question Types

Types of Questions from Each Topic

Quizzes

Practice Problem Questions

Exams

Simulate the Real Exam

References

Required References: - Soils, Earthwork and Foundations: A Practical Approach -2021 International Building Code® (Soft Cover) Chapters 17 & 19 External References: - ASTMs: D698, D1556, D1557, D2487, D2488, D4318, D6938, D75, D4718, D4959 The Required References will be needed to answer questions. Borrow the books from a colleague, or purchase from ICC.

Certification Requirements

1. Pass the GR - Special Inspector General Requirements Exam OR hold an Active ICC Special Inspector Certification 2. Pass the ECC – Soils Codes Exam 3. Pass the ECP – Soils Plans Exam

Curriculum

21 Chapters · 165 Lessons

  1. 1

    Course Introduction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Exam Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Breakdown

  2. 2

    1 - Introduction to Soils

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      1 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      The Role and Purpose of Soil in Construction

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Types of Soil

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Geotechnical Engineering

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Earthwork Construction

  3. 3

    2 - Classification

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      2 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      USCS

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. The "Big Divide"

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Coarse-Grained Soils

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Fine-Grained Soils

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Highly Organic Soils

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      How is it Tested?

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D2487(USCS Classification) and D2488(Visual-Manual Procedure)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      1. ASTM D2488: The Field Method (Visual-Manual Procedure)

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      2. ASTM D2487: The Laboratory Method (Precise Classification)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      The Output: The USCS Group Symbol

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      2 - Question Types

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      2 - Quiz

  4. 4

    3 - Sampling

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Sampling Soil

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Standard Penetration Test

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D75 - Sampling Aggregates

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3 - Question Types

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      3 - Quiz

  5. 5

    4 - Lab Test Results

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Fill Material Compliance

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Material Qualification

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. The Proctor Test

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Field Verification

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. The Critical Match

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D6913 (Sieve Analysis)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D4318 (Atterberg Limits)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D698[Standard Proctor] & D1557[Modified Proctor]

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D1556 (Sand-Cone Method)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D4718 (Correction for Oversize Particles)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D4959 (Moisture Content by Direct Heating)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Master Reference

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      4 - Question Types

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      4 - Quiz

  6. 6

    5 - Grading Plans and Staking

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plans

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Contour Lines

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Spot Elevations

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Cut and Fill

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Understanding Slopes

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Drainage Features

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      6. Other Common Earthwork Features

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Staking

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      1. The Language of the Stakes

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Key Abbreviations

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Reading the Lines and Symbols

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Station Numbers

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Specialty Stakes

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      5 - Question Types

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      5 - Quiz

  7. 7

    6 - Site Preparation

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      6 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Clearing and Grubbing

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Clearing

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Grubbing

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Hidden Dangers

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Reaching the Subgrade

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Subgrade

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Preparing and Inspecting the Subgrade

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Fixing a Weak Subgrade

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      The Final Sign-Off

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Over-Excavation

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      6 - Question Types

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      6 - Quiz

  8. 8

    7 - Fill Placement Monitoring

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      7 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Soil Placement Process

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Transport and Placement

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Moisture Conditioning

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Working in "Lifts"

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Compaction

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Placement & Compaction Equipment

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      7 - Question Types

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      7 - Quiz

  9. 9

    8 - Testing of Compacted Fill

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      8 - Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Quality Control and Testing of Compacted Fill

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1. The Laboratory Tests

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Field Density Testing

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Percent Compaction

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Visual Checks and Practical Tests

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Additional Quality Control Methods

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      ASTM D6938 (Nuclear Density Gauge)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      8 - Question Types

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      8 - Quiz

  10. 10

    Role and Responsibilities of a Soils Special Inspector

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Role

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Reporting and Documentation Requirements

  11. 11

    Soils Code Exam

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Soils Code Exam 1

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Soils Code Exam 2

  12. 12

    Grading Plans Concepts

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Topography and Contour Lines

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Contour Lines

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Contour Intervals and Index Contours

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Reading Slopes from Contours

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Landform Signatures

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Contours as "2D Visual Clay"

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Spot Elevations and Important Callouts

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Slopes, Gradients, and Flow Directions

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Drainage and Stormwater Management Features

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Earthwork: Cuts, Fills, and Over Excavation

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Survey and Grade Stakes

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Utilizing Cross-Sections

  13. 13

    Related Civil Plans

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Site Plan / Plot Plan

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Grading Plan

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Drainage / Utility Plan

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Landscaping Plan

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Erosion & Sediment Control Plan

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      6. Site Protection and Preservation Plans

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      7. Stormwater Management Plan

  14. 14

    Purpose of Site Grading

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Site Grading

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Practical Considerations

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Aesthetic Considerations

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Problems

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      The Collaborative Enterprise

  15. 15

    (OPTIONAL) How to Read Construction Drawings

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Getting Started: The Blueprint's Command Center

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2. How the Plan Set is Organized

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      3. The Title Block: The Sheet’s ID Card

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Dimensions and Scale

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Understanding the Views

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      6. Callouts and Schedules

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      7. Symbolic Language: Icons, Abbreviations, and Legends

  16. 16

    Soils-Plan Reading

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Soils & Grading Notes

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Legend

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plan

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Section Views

  17. 17

    Soils Plans Types of Questions

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Question Types

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Question Topics and Categories

  18. 18

    Annotated Drawing Sets

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Annotated Drawing Set 1

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Annotated Drawing Set 2

  19. 19

    Plans Practice Problems

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Plans Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Civil Drawings

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Civil Drawings Questions

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plan

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plan Questions

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Paving, Grading and Drainage Plan

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Paving, Grading and Drainage Plan Questions

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Plan

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Plan Questions

  20. 20

    Plans Quiz

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Plans Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading and Drainage Plan

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading and Drainage Plan

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plan

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plan

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Grading Plan 1

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Grading Plan 1

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Grading Plan

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Site Grading Plan

  21. 21

    Plans Exam

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Plans Overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Geotechnical Notes with Boring Logs

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Notes, Plans and Sections

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plans and Details

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Exam 1

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Geotechnical Requirements

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Grading Plans

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Exam 2

About the course

We know your time is valuable. Between work/school, family, and your busy schedule, you don’t have time to get bogged down in dense, confusing textbooks. That’s why we’ve built this course to be the simplest, fastest, and most direct route to passing your ICC Soils Exam. Why choose this course? No Fluff, Just Facts: We’ve stripped away the noise and focused exclusively on the essential code requirements and plan-reading concepts you need to pass. Learn Faster: Our curriculum is designed for busy professionals. With high-impact overview videos followed by concise, practical reading, you’ll grasp core concepts in a fraction of the time. Hands-On Mastery: Don't just read about it—see it. We use color-coded, annotated drawings and real-world shop drawings to ensure you can navigate plans with the speed and confidence required on the job and the exam. Exam-Ready Preparation: From practice quizzes for every chapter to full-scale simulated exams, you will train your brain to identify the right answers, locate information quickly, and master the question types you'll face on test day. Stop overthinking and start passing. We provide the roadmap, the tools, and the shortcuts so you can spend less time studying and more time building your career.

Mohsan Khan, P.E.

As a Professional Engineer working with dozens of special inspectors daily, I’ve worked on major infrastructure projects like JFK Airport, the George Washington and Verrazzano Bridges. My goal is simple: I don’t just want you to pass the exam—I want you to walk onto the job site with the confidence to lead. I want to cut your study time in half, giving you a straightforward, efficient path to certification.

Pass your exam, advance your career.

Stop wasting time on dense manuals and start learning the efficient way. Join hundreds of other inspectors and get exam-ready in record time.

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