NASCLA Commercial Contractor Exam FAQ

The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is designed to help participating states by providing one trades licensing examination that is accepted by all participating jurisdictions.

The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is NOT a nationally recognized license. Contractors will still have to meet additional state licensure requirements within each participating state to obtain their licenses.

The NASCLA Accredited exam benefits contractors who need licenses in multiple states. If your business will expand into any of the participating states, you will save time and money by passing the NASCLA exam.

By passing the NASCLA exam, you will avoid having to take multiple trades exams in other states. You will still need to pass a Business & Law exam in each of the States (except Arkansas).  Arkansas will accept the NASCLA Accredited exam as both the Trades and Business/Law.

The NASCLA exam is accepted in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, US Virgin Islands, VA, & WV. For your convenience, we have included links below to our FAQ pages for each of these states to help you find further information.

• Alabama Builder FAQs
• Arizona Contractor FAQs
• Arkansas Contractor FAQs
• Florida Contractor FAQs
• Georgia Contractor FAQs
• Louisiana Contractor FAQs
• Mississippi Contractor FAQs
• Nevada Contractor FAQs
• North Carolina Contractor FAQs
• Oregon Contractor FAQs
• South Carolina Contractor FAQs
• Tennessee Contractor FAQs
• Utah Contractor FAQs
• Virginia Contractor FAQs
• West Virginia Contractor FAQS

Yes. Effective November 1, 2016, applicants must get pre-approval from the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) to take the NASCLA exam.

Applicants can apply for approval online at ned.nascla.org. Once approved, the individual’s name will be forwarded from NASCLA to PSI. PSI will then send the applicant an email with information about how to schedule their exam.

All of these books can be found in our book store. Click Here to take a look!

• ICC A117.1 - 2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2013 or 2018 Edition
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Edition
• Code of Federal Regulations -29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with latest available amendments
• Construction Jobsite Management, 4th Edition, 2017
• Construction Project Management, 4th Edition, 2014
• NASCLA Contractors' Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic, 12th or 13th Edition
• Erectors' Manual - Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Pre-Cast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
• Green Building Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, 2011
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
• Technical Digest No. 9 –Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
• International Building Code, 2015 or 2018 Edition
• ACI 318-14 (2014): Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning -Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
• Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, 8th Edition, 2015
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011 Edition
• Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 9th Edition, 2014
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, 1995 Edition
• Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 2011
• SDI (Steel Deck Institute) Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition, 2016
• The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, 2018

For more information, view the PSI Candidate Bulletin

References may be highlighted, underlined, and/or indexed (tabbed with permanent stick tabs), however they may NOT otherwise be written in or marked in any way. Temporary tabs, such as Post-It notes, are not allowed and must be removed from the reference before the exam will begin.

There are 115 questions and you must get 81 answers correct. You will have 330 minutes to complete the exam. The subjects covered in the exam are listed below, however, the questions are taken at random from a large pool of questions making sure that all contractors are taking a different exam.

Subject Areas and # of Questions:

• General Requirements: 25 questions
• Site Construction: 15 questions
• Concrete: 6 questions
• Masonry: 4 questions
• Metals: 6 questions
• Wood: 5 questions
• Thermal and Moisture Protection: 5 questions
• Doors, Windows, and Glazing: 4 questions
• Finishes: 5 questions
• Mechanical and Plumbing Systems: 6 questions
• Electrical Systems: 3 questions
• Procurement and Contracting Requirements: 31 questions

The exam is based on information found in the reference materials we have listed above as well as trade knowledge or general industry practices. Except for Code books, you may base your answers on later editions of references as they become available. For Code questions, the examinations will be based only on the edition of the Code book listed on the candidate bulletin.

The NASCLA exam is an open book exam. All of the books listed on the candidate bulletin may be brought into and used during the exam. Books will not be provided to you at the exam center. If you are in need of books, we offer all of the references listed on the Candidate Bulletin for sale in our Bookstore, or in our complete NASCLA Prep Package.

Our NASCLA Exam Prep course is designed to help you maximize your study time.

The remainder of the lessons are devoted to each book on the Candidate Bulletin. Each of these lessons help you get to know the layout of the books and key information that can be found within. Each book has a quiz dedicated solely to the material in that book.

Finally, you will find the practice test at the end of the course. This practice test consists of a pool of over 1,000 questions, to help you practice taking an exam as well as determine which areas you need to brush up on further.

That question is almost entirely up to you!

There are 16 hours of videos, which walk you through each reference allowed in the exam. There are also over 1,000 practice questions, to help you gauge your knowledge and practice using your references in an exam-like setting.

We recommend going through the entire course at least once. After that it is up to you. Some may want to go through the whole course multiple times. You might also find yourself taking note of particular topics you would like to devote more time to, and just going back later to study those areas.

We recommend for you to spend as much time with the course as is necessary to really get to know your reference materials, and be comfortable finding answers with the texts--this will ensure your success on the exam!

The following states allow NASCLA accreditation for residential contractors: AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, Virgin Islands, WV.

You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you’ve entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!

Our courses are available online 24/7 and you are able to log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10-15 minutes, simply log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.

Each course lists the total amount of hours for the course. However, we cover materials quickly and many contractors like to re-watch materials. In other words, this question really depends on your learning style. We recommend that you go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!

We allow up to 6 months for you to complete the courses. During the six months you have unlimited, 24/7 access. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).

This varies depending on whether the course is continuing education or exam prep.

There are no quizzes for continuing education courses in Michigan. All other states with continuing education require quizzes to check completion progress.

In exam prep courses there will be a short quiz at the end of each lesson and there is also a longer practice test at the end of each course. These quizzes and tests will help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to study more.

Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.

You are able to review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you’ll have access to the courses.

Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395
Fax: (850) 488-8040
As of March 1, 2019
Accepting the Accredited Examination in lieu of the Florida Trade Examination. A Florida Business/Finance portion and Florida Building Code portion are still required.

Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
600 North Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 765-2301
Fax: (225) 765-2431
As of September 2, 2016, accepted for both the Commercial Building Construction and the Residential Building Contractor Classifications

Nevada State Contractors Board
2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200
Henderson, Nevada 89074
Phone: (702) 486-1100
Fax: (702) 486-1190
As of December 2013

North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
Post Office Box 17187
Raleigh, North Carolina 27619
Phone: (919) 571-4183
Fax: (919) 571-4703
Accepted for both the Commercial Building Construction and the Residential Building Contractor Classifications

Oregon Construction Contractors Board
201 High Street SE, Suite 600
Post Office Box 14140
Salem, Oregon 97309
Phone: (503) 378-4621
Fax: (503) 373-2007
As of July 1, 2016

South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
110 Centerview Drive
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
Phone: (803) 896-8307
Fax: (803) 896-4814
Please note, this Commission has reciprocity with the South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37273
Phone: (615) 741-8307
Fax: (615) 532-2868

Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing, Construction Trades Bureau
Post Office Box 146741
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Phone: (866) 275-3675
Fax: (801) 530-6511
**As of May 2019, Utah no longer requires trade exams, but will accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors to satisfy the 2 year experience requirements for general contractors.

Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Licensing
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, Virginia 23233
Phone: (804) 367-8511
Fax: (804) 527-4401
As of January 1, 2016 (Comparable to the Commercial Building Classification)

West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board, Division of Labor
State Capitol Complex
Building 6, Room B-749
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
Phone: (304) 558-7890
Fax: (304) 558-5174
As of September 1, 2013
Please note, the Board will not accept examination scores or transcripts prior to September 1, 2013

Note: Administering state agencies are also considered to be accepting state agencies as they both offer the examination for candidates and accept the examination in lieu of their state specific trade portion. Some of the states below offer an either/or option for candidates regarding their state specific trade examination or utilizing the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
2525 Fairlane Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36116
Phone: (334) 272-5030
Fax: (334) 395-5336
As of September 2009

Arizona Registrar of Contractors
1700 W. Washington St. Suite 105
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-1525
Fax: (602) 542-1599
As of November 1, 2017, Arizona began administering this examination as an option in lieu of the state specific trade examinations for the B-1 and B-2 General Commercial Contracting Classifications. Exam Date for transcripts must be within the past two (2) years.

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
4100 Richards Road
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661
Fax: (501) 372-2247
Administering the examination in lieu of candidates providing appropriate experience on application

Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors 237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440
Fax: (866) 888-9718
As of November 2010

Mississippi State Board of Contractors
215 Woodline Drive, Suite B
Jackson, Mississippi 39232
Phone: (800) 880-6161
Fax: (601) 354-6715
As of May 2010

South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board
Post Office Box 11329
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Phone: (803) 896-4686
Fax: (803) 896-4814
As of May 2010

Virgin Islands Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs
3000 Golden Rock Shopping Center, Suite 9
Christiansted, Virgin Islands 00800
Phone: (340) 713-3522
Fax: (340) 718-6982
As of February 2013

Contact PSI for information regarding the Nevada Contractors exams
PSI Services
3210 East Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
https://psiexams.com/