Your Need-to-Know About the NASCLA Exam

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What is the NASCLA Exam?

The NASCLA is short for the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies. This is the leading association for contractors and is composed of states agencies that have come together and enacted laws that regulate contractors and the business that they conduct.

The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) accredited examination program was developed to help streamline the process of becoming a licensed contractor in one or more states. The NASCLA Exam is offered for commercial general building and electrical contractors and is valid in 16 states and the US Virgin Islands. 

This makes it easier for contractors to obtain the requirements to practice contracting work in participating states and provides a basis for education for contractors all over the country. If you have decided that you want to pursue contracting work, then taking and passing the NASCLA is your next step! 

This examination has been designed to aid contractors that need to be licensed within multiple jurisdictions. The contractors that choose to take this accredited examination will be able to access NASCLA’s Examination Database, or NED for short, and request for their results to be sent over to any other jurisdictions that accept the examination.

Here is the information you need about the NASCLA Exams, study tips, and what Contractor Training Center offers to help you successfully pass your exam on the first try! 

What is the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies? 

The NASCLA is a nonprofit organization composed of state agencies working together to promote best practices and uniformity in the construction industry. The association developed the accreditation examination, NASCLA Exam, to simplify the process of becoming licensed in multiple states.  

Currently, the NASCLA Exam is accepted in 16 states. 

The following states both accept and administer the NASCLA general building contractor exam: 

• Alabama 
• Arizona 
• Arkansas 
• Georgia 
• Mississippi 
• South Carolina 
• US Virgin Islands 

The other NASCLA states do not administer the exam but do accept it: 

• Florida  
• Louisiana 
• Nevada 
• New Mexico 
• North Carolina 
• Oregon 
• Tennessee 
• Utah 
• Virginia 
• West Virginia 

It’s worth noting that there are other education and/or experience requirements need to be met before earning your contracting license in most states. You can check with your state’s licensing board to make sure you meet all the relevant criteria. 

The NASCLA offers four different exams:  

• NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractors 
• Electrical Contractors 
• Journeyman Electricians 
• Residential Electrical Contractors 

Who needs to take the NASCLA exam?

Before you sign up for the exam and spend a lot of time preparing to pass it, it is important to first understand why you are taking the exam. If you think that you are going to sign up for the NASCLA, pass it, and then be able to start taking on home improvement projects, then you might need to think again. 

While you still may be required to take a Business and Law Exam in some of those states, ultimately, having passed the NASCLA Exam will save considerable time and money during the licensing process, instead of needing to pass a commercial trades exam in each state.  

Your NASCLA Accredited Examination will only eliminate your need to complete a trade examination if you live in a participating state. Otherwise, you will still need to complete any additional license requirements imposed by the state you wish to conduct contracting work in.

N.B. We also offer each state separate Business Law Exam Prep Courses and Practice Tests too!

Just because your state may allow you to jump straight into contracting work after passing the NASCLA exam doesn’t mean you necessarily should. It is best to prepare yourself and make arrangements to fulfill all of the requirements for licensing in your state before beginning work.

How Difficult is the NASCLA Exam?

The NASCLA exam is a challenging test. You will need to spend a reasonable amount of time studying and becoming familiar with the material to pass the exam. This license will allow you to work in various accepting jurisdictions, opening up your potential to earn business and make money. Therefore, the exam is worthwhile, and you should prioritize taking the time to study so that you can pass on your first attempt!

The NASCLA’s Commercial General Building Contractor Exam has 115 questions and must be completed within 5.5 hours. The electrical contractor exams have 100 questions each with a 4.5-hour time limit. 

Preparing for the NASCLA

Before applying to take the exam, check with the state agency where you intend to work to confirm whether they will accept the NASCLA exam. If it’s accepted, you must be pre-approved to take the exam, which simply means you need to apply and pay the $35 application fee. 

The NASCLA will process your application within seven (7) business days and issue you an ID number that you will use to register with PSI, the proctor of the exam. Your application is active for one year and allows three attempts to pass the examination.  

If you do pass after three tries, you must wait until your year of eligibility expires before re-applying. 

The NASCLA is a rigorous exam and requires you to understand the material you are being tested on in order to be successful. To help you be fully prepared for the exam, we recommend taking a NASCLA Commercial Builder or NASCLA Electrical exam prep class.

Exam prep classes are designed to prepare people in your situation to pass the National NASCLA Accredited Exam, which many states will accept for your General Contractors License.

By taking such a course, you can review old material to make sure that you are up to par with what will be covered on the exam, and maybe even learn some new material too – just in time for exam day! 

What Does the NASCLA Exam Include?  

The NASCLA exams are open book. Reference material may be highlighted, underlined, or indexed, but it cannot contain any handwriting. Books can be tabbed or indexed using permanent tabs only. No Post-it® or sticky notes are permitted. The permitted reference materials are listed on the candidate information bulletins for the Commercial General Building Contractor and Electrical Contractor exams.  

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam includes 115 questions with a minimum passing score of 81 correct responses (70%).  

Exam content includes:  

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

All three electrical exams have 100 questions. The Electrical Contractor and Residential Electrical Contractors Exams require a 75% passing score. The Journeyman Electricians Exam requires 70% to pass.  

The NASCLA Electrical Contractor Exam tests your knowledge in the following:  

• Project Design and Management (8 items) 
• Safety (9 items) 
• Electrical Theory (11 items) 
• General Code Requirements (17 items) 
• Wiring and Protection (17 items) 
• Wiring Methods and Materials (16 items) 
• Equipment for General Use (13 items) 
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions (8 items) 
• Communication Systems (1 item) 
• The NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam includes: 
• Interpreting Plans and Specifications (8 items) 
• Basic Electrical Safety (9 items) 
• Electrical Theory and Principles (11 items) 
• Testing and Troubleshooting (17 items) 
• General Code Requirements (17 items) 
• Wiring and Protection (16 items) 
• Wiring Methods and Materials (13 items) 
• Equipment for General Use (8 items) 
• Special Occupancies and Equipment (1 item) 
• Special Conditions and Communication Systems (8 items) 
• The NASCLA Residential Electrical Contractor Exam includes: 
• Theory (9 items) 
• Personal/Jobsite Safety (OSHA, NFPA, 70E) (8 items) 
• Project Design, Estimating, and Management (8 items) 
• Grounding and Bonding (14 items) 
• Special System and Equipment Installations (7 items) 
• Tools and Test Equipment (7 items) 
• Circuit Protection and Installation (16 items) 
• Wiring Methods and Practices (17 items) 
• Equipment for General Use (13 items) 
• Energy Efficiency/Management (1 item) 

Study Tips to Pass the NASCLA Exam 

Here are some tips to help ensure your success when you're ready to schedule your exam: 

1. Create a realistic and effective study plan: Dedicate 1 to 2 hours of study time daily and aim to study consistently for 4 to 6 weeks before the exam. 
2. Prioritize key topics based on exam weight: Not all sections are equally weighted. Start by reviewing the topics you're most familiar with. Once you're confident in those areas, focus on topics that need more attention, based on their importance in the exam. 
3. Take practice tests frequently: Practice exams are a great way to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Take one early in your study process to pinpoint areas where you’re strong and others that require more effort. 
4. Manage test anxiety and improve time management: It's normal not to answer every question perfectly. Keep in mind, you don’t need to get everything right. Exam prep courses can help you manage anxiety and practice working within time limits. Simulate real test conditions with practice exams to get used to the pressure. 
5. Stay calm on exam day: Remember to breathe and stay focused. Find strategies that work for you to calm your nerves. If you're stuck on a question, move on to others you can answer easily and come back to the difficult ones later. 

Why Choose the Contractor Training Center?  

The NASCLA Exam is tough. It's also the easiest way to get licensed in multiple states in commercial general building or electrical contracting. The Contractor Training Center has a proven track record of helping candidates pass the exam on the first try.  

Our exam prep packages include a full set of reference materials, simulated exams, and real-world practice problems. With virtual instructor office hours, our instructors are here to help you pass, so you’ll always get the personal treatment you need to succeed.  

If you’re ready to get your NASCLA Commercial Building License or National NASCLA Electrical Contractor license exam prep, reach out to Contractor Training Center. We've helped more than 30,000 contractors expand their construction businesses and get licensed.

Contact us today to find how we can help. Call us at 804-556-5518 or email us at support@contractortrainingcenter.com and we will get you started!