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.

We offer everything you need to prepare for the National NASCLA Contractor exam, accepted in Tennessee to cover general construction.

The NASCLA Accredited General Contractor exam is currently accepted as a trade exam for construction license applicants 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. 

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

To register for the NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam, you'll need to:

• Apply to take the exam with NASCLA by visiting ned.nascla.org. 
• Submit your application and the $35 application fee (Applications are typically processed within 7 business days and valid for one year from the date of approval).    
• Schedule your exam with PSI. Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with a candidate ID number and a link to schedule your exam. 
• Pass the five-hour, open-book test consisting of 115 questions. A 70% score is required to pass.

Once you’ve taken and passed the exam, you will receive a score report validating your results. Then:

• Return to the NASCLA National Examination Database (NED) at ned.nascla.org and create a user account. 
• Link your score to your profile.  
• Purchase a transcript to send to the Tennessee State Department of Commerce and Insurance. The transcript fee is $30 per state.

Important Notes:

• You must be pre-approved by NASCLA before you can take the exam. 
• Once approved, you are eligible to take the exam for one year and may attempt the exam up to three times within that year. 
• Transcripts are valid for two years. 
• Passing the NASCLA exam is just one step in the Tennessee licensing process. You will also need to meet other state requirements, such as pre-license education and passing the Tennessee Business Law Exam. (See How to Get Licensed as a Contractor in Tennesee for more details.)