Your Guide to the NASCLA Exam and Simplifying Multi-State Contractor Licensing

January 26, 2025
Amy Thayer

What is the NASCLA Exam?

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a nationally recognized open-book exam designed to simplify the licensing process for contractors who work across multiple states. By passing this exam, contractors can satisfy the trade examination requirement in participating states, eliminating the need to take a separate trade exam for each state. While the exam fulfills the trade exam requirement, contractors must still meet additional state-specific licensure requirements, such as taking the business and law/business and finance exam or other administrative criteria, to obtain their licenses


States Participating in the NASCLA Program

The NASCLA exam is either administered as a state’s trade exam or accepted as a waiver for the trade exam portion:

Administering States

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.

Accepting States

These states accept the NASCLA exam as a trade exam waiver:

  • Florida: Accepting the Accredited Examination in lieu of the Florida Trade Examination. A Florida Business/Finance exam and Florida Building Code exam are still required.

  • Louisiana

  • Nevada

  • New Mexico: Candidates must also provide a letter of good standing from another state agency that they have been licensed one (1) year. Accepted in lieu of the trade exam for the GB98 License.

  • North Carolina: Accepted for both the Commercial Building Construction and the Residential Building Contractor Classifications. 

  • Oregon: Accepted in lieu of the 16 hour pre-licensure training requirement.

  • South Carolina -  Residential Board: The SC Residential  Builder’s Commission has reciprocity with the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board. *Has passed the NASCLA National Contractors Exam within the past 3 years.

  • Utah: 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: Comparable to the Commercial Building Classification.

  • West Virginia: The Board will not accept examination scores or transcripts prior to September 1, 2013. 

NASCLA Exam Process

Study, apply for, and take the exam by following these steps:

Step 1: Acquire Books and Study

  • Familiarize yourself with the reference books. The books may be highlighted, underlined, and/or tabbed with permanent tabs. They must otherwise not be written in.

  • The exam is open-book and consists of 115 questions* across the following topics:

    • 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) 

  • To pass the exam, you must achieve a minimum passing score of 81 out of 115. You will have 330 minutes (5.5 hours) to complete the exam

* Note: In addition to the number of examination items specified, 10 non-scored “pretest” questions will be administered to candidates during the examinations. These questions will not be scored, and the time taken to answer them has been added to the time allowed.

Step 2: Examination Application Submission

To take the NASCLA exam, candidates must:

  • Submit an application through the NASCLA National Examination Database (NED) at ned.nascla.org.

  • Pay a $35 application fee.

  • Meet the exam qualifications as reviewed by NASCLA.

  • Applications are valid for one (1) year after approval.

  • If an application is incomplete or qualifications are not met, candidates will receive an email detailing deficiencies.

Step 3: Exam Scheduling

  • Once approved, candidates will receive an email with a Candidate ID and instructions to schedule the exam via PSI Services.

  • The exam costs $130.

  • Candidates can choose any PSI testing center that offers the NASCLA exam.

  • Candidates are allowed three (3) attempts to pass the exam within one (1) year from the application approval date.

  • If the candidate has not passed the exam within these three (3) attempts, he/she can reapply to take the exam once their one (1) year of eligibility from the application approval date has expired. 

Step 4: Taking the Exam

  • On the day of the examination, you should arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. This extra time is for sign-in, identification, and familiarizing you with the examination process. 

  • You must provide 1 form of identification. This must be a VALID form of government-issued identification (Driver's License, State ID, Passport) which bears your signature and has your photograph. 

  • The examination will be administered via computer. You will be using a mouse and computer keyboard.

  • One question appears on the screen at a time. During the examination, minutes remaining will be displayed at the top of the screen and updated as you record your answers. After you have entered your responses, you will later be able to return to any question(s) and change your response, provided the examination time has not run out.

  • Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center.

  • After passing, candidates will receive a score report. This report serves as proof of completion but does not provide a detailed breakdown of incorrect answers.

Step 5: Linking Scores to Transcripts

  • Create a user account on ned.nascla.org to link your exam results.

  • Once linked, you can purchase electronic transcripts for $30 per state. Transcripts are valid for two years and are sent directly to state licensing agencies.

Step 6: Fulfill State-Specific Requirements

Passing the NASCLA exam only satisfies the trade exam portion of the licensing process. Candidates must complete additional steps to meet state-specific licensure requirements:

  • Take the Business Exam*

    • Study for and pass the required open-book Business and Law/Business and Finance exam mandated by the state you are applying for licensure in.

    • Florida applicants must also pass the Florida Building Code exam in addition to the Business and Finance exam.

  • Apply for Licensure

    • Gather all required documents to verify qualifications, such as proof of relevant work experience, financial statements, or other administrative verifications and submit a complete application to the state licensing agency where you intend to work.

*Note: Some states require you to submit your application for licensure before you are eligible to take the business exam. These states include:

    • Alabama

    • Arkansas

    • Louisiana

    • Nevada

    • North Carolina

    • Mississippi

    • South Carolina

    • Virginia

Simplify Your NASCLA Exam Preparation with 1 Exam Prep

Preparing for the NASCLA exam doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At 1 Exam Prep, we offer everything you need to succeed:

  • Books: Complete set of reference books required for the NASCLA exam and business exam.

  • Online Courses: Study at your own pace with expert-curated materials.

  • Book Rentals: Save money by renting the books instead of purchasing them.

  • Virtual Classes: Learn in a live, interactive online environment.

  • Private One-on-One Tutoring: Get personalized guidance tailored to your needs.

  • Application Assistance: Ensure your application is complete and meets all requirements.

With 1 Exam Prep, you’ll have the tools and support to not only pass the NASCLA exam but also navigate state-specific licensure requirements confidently.