Your Need-to-Know About the NASCLA Exam

What is the NASCLA Exam?

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

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Each state mandates that prospective contractors must take its Business and Law Exam, but passing the NASCLA exam means you don't have to take a trade exam in any state that accepts NASCLA.

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.

In brief, the NASCLA exam is:

• A multiple-choice, open-book exam
• Accepted in 16 US states and the US Virgin Islands
• Designed for commercial general builders and electrical contractors
• Requires a minimal passing score of 70%, or 81 our of 115 questions

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. 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 their results be sent to any other jurisdictions that accept the examination. 

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

What is the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies?

NASCLA is a nonprofit organization comprised 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 and the US Virgin Islands.

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?

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.

CTC also offers each state's separate Business Law Exam Prep Courses and Practice Tests too!

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.

NASCLA Exam Details

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’s Commercial General Building Contractor Exam has 115 questions and must be completed within 5.5 hours. There are 125 questions on the exam in total, but there are 10 extra questions used to evaluate potential future exam questions. To pass, you must score at least 70%, or get 81 correct responses.

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)

NASCLA Electrical Exams

All three electrical exams have 100 questions with a 4.5-hour time limit. 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)

The NASCLA electrical examinations are also open-book. You will have 270 minutes to complete them.

Preparing for the NASCLA

Before applying to take the exam, make sure the state in which you intend to work accepts 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.

NASCLA will process your application within seven 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 exam is rigorous 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.

By taking such a course, you can review material to make sure that you are up to par with what will be covered on the exam.

Reference Books for the NASCLA Exam

Again, the NASCLA exam is open-book, so you are permitted to take particular reference books into the test center. However, there are multiple NASCLA books available to use, so if you are unfamiliar with them, you could end up wasting time fumbling through them to find the answer you're looking for.

The most important books for the NASCLA exam are:

• International Building Code (IBC)
• International Residential Code (IRC)
• International Mechanical Code (IMC)
• International Plumbing Code (IPC)
• National Electrical Code (NEC)
• OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry
• State-specific codes or amendments

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. 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. Let us help you today! 

Contact us today to find how we can help. Call us at 888-585-7350 or email us at support@contractortrainingcenter.com and we will get you started!