National NASCLA Exam Contractor License Courses, Classes & Exam Prep

We offer everything you need to prepare for the National NASCLA exam, accepted in 16 states to cover commercial construction.

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Overview & Benefits

NASCLA Exam Prep Services & Materials

The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program was designed to assist contractors who must be licensed in multiple jurisdictions. Contractors who take the accredited examination can access NASCLA’s Examination Database (NED) and request that their exam transcripts be sent to any accepting jurisdiction when applying for licensure, reducing redundant licensing requirements. 

NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam Transcripts are accepted in 16 States and the USVI for Commercial (and 11 states for Residential) Construction! We offer everything you need to prepare for the National NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam.

To prepare for the NASCLA exam, you will need books and tabs as well as our exam prep course. We also offer exam-ready pre-tabbed and highlighted books, saving you from spending up to 40 valuable hours highlighting the information within the books yourself.

The NASCLA Accredited Commercial Builder Exam is an accepted technical licensing exam for commercial construction in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia & the US Virgin Islands. Applicants may supply NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam transcripts to qualify for exemption from completing the state technical licensing exam. 

In Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, the US Virgin Islands, Utah, and West Virginia, the equivalent license for the NASCLA Commercial Builder exam also covers residential construction work.

What's on the Exam?

Get a strong start in building your career

# of Questions Minimum Passing Score Time Allowed
115 81 (70%) 330 minutes
Subject Area # of Questions
General Requirements 25
Site Construction 15
Concrete 6
Masonry 4
Metals 6
Wood 5
Thermal and Moisture Protection 5
Doors, Windows, and Glazing 4
Finishes 5
Mechanical and Plumbing Systems 6
Electrical Systems 3
Procurement and Contracting Requirements    31

You can also refer to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin here for more information on testing policies.

Exam Preparation

What you'll need to prepare for the exam

NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam Prep Course

Our NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam Prep Course includes online access to our learning platform with videos discussing exam-taking strategies, book highlighting guides, practice quizzes by book and by content area, and simulation practice exams.

This course is available as an intensive one-day live class as well as an online self-paced course. All live class purchases also receive access to our online self-paced learning content.

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Book Bundle

Our suggested NASCLA exam prep book bundle linked here uses books allowed into the exam. Part of our exam prep curriculum is tabbing and highlighting these books for use during the timed, open-book exam.

Don't have time to tab and highlight your own books? We offer a pre-tabbed and highlighted version of the bundle ready for the exam, saving you countless hours of tabbing and highlighting the books yourself!

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Tabs

Our NASCLA exam prep tabs help mark the commonly referenced sections of the books used in the exam. Don't waste time flipping through your books in the timed exam - our tabs help you to be able to quickly reference important material in your books and move on to the next question without wasting valuable time.

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License Requirements

Steps to obtaining your license

Effective 11/1/2016 you will need to be pre-approved by NASCLA before you may take the examination. An application must be filed with NASCLA and they must approve the application. Once an individual is approved, the individual's name is forwarded from NASCLA to PSI. PSI will then send the applicant an email confirmation with information to register to take the examination.

The eligibility will be valid for one (1) year. You may take the examination 3 times within that one (1) year period. If you do not pass within the one (1) year period, you will need to reapply with NASCLA. To apply online, visit NASCLA's website here.

All NASCLA license applicants are still required to meet other state licensing regulations in order to obtain a license in any accepting state.

These requirements include taking the State Business Law Exam and submitting a State Board Contractor License Application.

We offer exam prep courses and materials for many state business law exams here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the licensing process

What states accept the NASCLA exam?

The NASCLA Accredited Commercial Builder Exam is an accepted technical licensing exam for commercial construction in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia & the US Virgin Islands. Applicants may supply NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam transcripts to qualify for exemption from completing the state technical licensing exam. 

In Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, the US Virgin Islands, Utah, and West Virginia, the equivalent license for the NASCLA Commercial Builder exam also covers residential construction work.

What can I do with a NASCLA Accreditation?

​​​​​​The National NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam is a licensing exam - you are not licensed until you apply for licensure in your state(s) and meet all other licensing requirements.

When you pass the NASCLA exam, you have NASCLA Test Transcripts, available in the National Education Database at ned.nascla.org, that can be supplied in lieu of taking a state commercial/general contractor licensing exam in the accepting states.

In most states, this includes passing a state business law exam, submitting a license application, meeting necessary requirements for your license type, and paying any applicable fees.