Important licensing distinction: NASCLA is an examination, not a contractor license. New Mexico can use a passing NASCLA general construction result to waive the applicable state-specific written trade examination for a Qualifying Party who satisfies all remaining New Mexico requirements.
What Is the New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam?
The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized commercial construction trade exam used by participating contractor licensing agencies.
Instead of repeating a similar general building trade examination every time you apply in another participating jurisdiction, you can pass one NASCLA commercial examination and request that NASCLA electronically send your transcript to an accepting licensing agency.
New Mexico's Construction Industries Division is one of the participating agencies. For an applicable New Mexico general construction Qualifying Party, current state rules allow the bureau chief to waive the state-specific written trade examination when the applicant has passed the NASCLA general construction examination and successfully completes the other Qualifying Party requirements.
NASCLA is not a national contractor license. Passing the exam does not automatically authorize you to bid, contract or perform construction work in New Mexico.
New Mexico controls the license. The applicant still needs the proper classification, qualifying experience, Qualifying Party certification, Business and Law requirement, company license and other state requirements.
Common New Mexico path: commercial general building contractors should review the GB-98 General Building classification and confirm that it matches the work the business intends to perform.
Use the New Mexico NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Online Exam Prep Course to organize the large exam outline and practice navigating the commercial construction reference library.
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Licensing Path
The NASCLA exam can satisfy an applicable trade-exam requirement, but New Mexico licensing still happens through the Construction Industries Division.
| Stage | Requirement | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Classification | Review GB-98 General Building | Make sure the classification matches the work your company intends to perform |
| GB-98 Experience | Four years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience | At least two years must be commercial experience |
| Qualifying Party | Meet New Mexico QP requirements | Experience documentation, application and required certifications |
| NASCLA Application | Apply through the NASCLA National Examination Database | NASCLA approval before PSI scheduling |
| NASCLA Exam | 115 scored questions + 10 pretest questions | 330 minutes, open book and 81 correct scored answers required |
| New Mexico Business & Law | Separate state requirement | PSI Business and Law examination or an approved Business and Law course |
| NASCLA Transcript | Send electronic transcript through NED | Select the New Mexico Construction Industries Division as the receiving agency |
| Company License | Complete New Mexico contractor business licensing | Bond, tax registration, business documents, QP certificate and other required material |
Research Authority and Verification Snapshot
NASCLA exam requirements, New Mexico contractor rules and 1 Exam Prep study products were checked separately so the exam is not mistaken for an automatic contractor license.
| Verified Point | Authority | Current Result |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico participation | NASCLA | New Mexico Construction Industries Division is a participating Commercial General Building agency |
| NASCLA trade-exam waiver | 14.6.3 NMAC | Bureau chief may waive the applicable state-specific written trade exam for a QP who passes the NASCLA accredited exam and meets all other requirements |
| GB-98 experience | 14.6.6 NMAC | Four years of foreman-level practical or related experience, including at least two commercial years |
| NASCLA exam format | NASCLA / PSI | 115 scored questions, 10 additional pretest questions, 330 minutes and 81 correct scored answers |
| NASCLA exam type | NASCLA | Open-book commercial construction trade examination |
| NASCLA eligibility | NASCLA NED | Approval is valid for one year with up to three exam attempts |
| New Mexico Business & Law | New Mexico PSI bulletin / RLD | Separate Business and Law requirement remains part of contractor licensing |
| 1 Exam Prep course | Direct 1 Exam Prep product listing | Online NASCLA commercial building course with open-book reference-navigation preparation |
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Breakdown
The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors currently contains 115 scored questions. PSI also administers 10 additional non-scored pretest questions, so candidates can see 125 questions during the testing session.
You receive 330 minutes, or 5 hours and 30 minutes. You need at least 81 correct answers among the 115 scored questions to pass.
The largest category is Procurement and Contracting Requirements with 31 scored questions. General Requirements follows with 25, and Site Construction contains 15.
Those three areas total 71 of the 115 scored questions. That makes project administration, contracts, procurement, general construction management and site work especially important, but the smaller specialty subjects still matter when you are trying to get past 81 correct answers.
Exam pacing: 125 displayed questions in 330 minutes works out to about 2 minutes and 38 seconds per displayed question.
Open book is helpful, but a giant stack of references can also become a very expensive paper maze if you do not practice with the books before test day.
Exam NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors
Program Authority National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies
Testing Provider PSI
Scored Questions 115
Additional Pretest Questions 10 non-scored and unidentified
Possible Questions Displayed 125 total
Passing Requirement 81 correct scored answers
Time Allowed 330 minutes / 5.5 hours
Format Computer-based and open book
Largest Topic Procurement and Contracting Requirements • 31 questions
New Mexico Agency Construction Industries Division
Common NM Classification GB-98 General Building
GB-98 Experience 4 years total with at least 2 years commercial
Business & Law Separate New Mexico requirement
Exam Prep View New Mexico NASCLA Exam Prep
How to Study for the New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam
The NASCLA commercial exam is too broad for a “read one book and hope for the best” strategy. Your goal is to connect every major subject with the reference most likely to contain the answer.
Prioritize the top three categories. Procurement and Contracting, General Requirements and Site Construction account for 71 scored questions.
Build book recognition. You should know whether a question points toward the IBC, OSHA, ACI, project-management books, masonry book, roofing reference or another specialty source.
Practice find-and-confirm lookups. Answer from your knowledge when possible, then use the correct book to confirm difficult or highly specific questions.
Use realistic timing. Train around the actual 330-minute testing window instead of practicing with unlimited lookup time.
The New Mexico NASCLA Highlighted and Tabbed Complete Book Set can help candidates who want the commercial reference library organized for exam preparation.
Your New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Licensing Roadmap
Pass NASCLA, satisfy New Mexico's Qualifying Party requirements and then complete the contractor company license process.
1
Confirm the New Mexico classification
Review GB-98 General Building and verify that its scope matches the residential and commercial building work your business plans to perform.
2
Document qualifying experience
For GB-98, document four years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience, including at least two years of commercial experience.
3
Apply for the NASCLA examination
Submit your NASCLA exam application through the National Examination Database and wait for approval before scheduling with PSI.
4
Prepare the NASCLA reference library
Verify every approved book edition, organize your permanent tabs and practice locating information across the full commercial construction reference set.
5
Pass the NASCLA Commercial General Building exam
Complete the 330-minute open-book examination and earn at least 81 correct answers among the 115 scored questions.
6
Satisfy New Mexico Business and Law
Pass the New Mexico PSI Business and Law examination or complete an approved Business and Law course under the current state process.
7
Complete the New Mexico contractor license
Send the required NASCLA transcript and complete the QP and business licensing process, including applicable bond, tax and business documentation.
NASCLA Commercial General Building Exam Topic Weighting
These are the official scored-question counts. Bar lengths are normalized against the largest 31-question Procurement and Contracting Requirements category.
Procurement and Contracting Requirements 31 questions • 27.0%
General Requirements 25 questions • 21.7%
Site Construction 15 questions • 13.0%
Concrete 6 questions • 5.2%
Masonry 4 questions • 3.5%
Metals 6 questions • 5.2%
Wood 5 questions • 4.3%
Thermal and Moisture Protection 5 questions • 4.3%
Doors, Windows and Glazing 4 questions • 3.5%
Finishes 5 questions • 4.3%
Mechanical and Plumbing Systems 6 questions • 5.2%
Electrical Systems 3 questions • 2.6%
High-value study fact: Procurement and Contracting Requirements, General Requirements and Site Construction combine for 71 of the 115 scored questions, or about 61.7 percent of the scored exam.
Current NASCLA Commercial General Building Reference Areas
The NASCLA exam uses a large commercial construction reference library. Verify the live PSI/NASCLA Candidate Information Bulletin immediately before purchasing or preparing books because accepted editions can change.
| Reference | Primary Study Use | Current Prep Note |
|---|---|---|
| International Building Code | Occupancy, construction type, egress, fire protection, general building requirements and structural provisions | Current 2026 information permits the 2021 or 2024 edition |
| NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic | Procurement, contracts, management, finance, administration and contractor responsibilities | Basic 14th Edition is in the current reference set |
| Construction Jobsite Management | Field supervision, safety, scheduling, quality and jobsite coordination | Current bulletin permits specified 4th or 5th edition options |
| Construction Project Management | Contracts, project controls, estimating, scheduling, cost and administration | Current bulletin permits specified 4th or 5th edition options |
| ICC A117.1-2017 | Accessible and usable buildings and facilities | Important accessibility reference |
| ACI 318 | Structural concrete requirements | Verify the accepted edition option in the live PSI bulletin |
| 29 CFR Part 1926 / Approved OSHA Reference | Construction safety, fall protection, excavation, scaffolding and jobsite hazards | Use the exact OSHA option accepted by the current bulletin |
| Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction | Broad commercial construction materials, systems, sequencing and methods | Current reference library includes the modern commercial construction edition |
| Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers | Mechanical, plumbing and electrical coordination | Current reference list uses the modern 4th Edition |
| Modern Masonry | Brick, block, stone, mortar, layout and masonry methods | Verify current permitted edition |
| Carpentry and Building Construction | Wood construction, framing, roofs, floors and carpentry | 2016 edition remains a core study reference |
| Roofing Construction and Estimating | Roofing, moisture protection and estimating | Part of the commercial specialty reference library |
| Gypsum Construction Handbook | Walls, ceilings, gypsum systems, finishing and fire-resistant assemblies | Key finishes reference |
| BCSI Wood Truss Guide | Handling, installing, restraining and bracing metal-plate-connected wood trusses | Current list permits specified accepted edition options |
| Steel / Concrete Specialty Manuals | Steel deck, steel joists, precast, reinforcing bars and post-tensioning | Multiple specialized publications appear in the approved library |
How to Prepare for the Open-Book NASCLA Exam
Do this
- Verify the current PSI reference list before buying books
- Practice with the exact permitted editions
- Highlight and underline approved references before testing
- Use permanent tabs and indexing where permitted
- Learn which book covers each major topic
- Practice mixed-reference questions under a timer
- Use a silent non-printing non-programmable calculator
Avoid these mistakes
- Writing handwritten notes in approved references
- Adding loose or attached papers to books
- Using temporary Post-it-style tabs
- Assuming the biggest book contains every answer
- Trying to look up every question from scratch
- Using an outdated reference list without checking PSI
- Studying only construction methods and ignoring contracts
Open-book reality: the reference library is large enough that organization becomes part of the exam. Practice recognizing the subject before opening a book. That simple habit can save minutes instead of seconds.
NASCLA Exam vs New Mexico GB-98 Contractor License
These are connected, but they are not the same thing.
The NASCLA Commercial General Building exam is a standardized trade examination. A passing result can be transmitted to participating licensing agencies and used in place of an applicable state-specific trade examination.
The New Mexico GB-98 General Building license is a state contractor classification issued through the New Mexico Construction Industries Division to a qualified business entity supported by an appropriately certified Qualifying Party.
NASCLA: proves that you passed the standardized commercial general building examination.
Qualifying Party: must meet New Mexico's experience and other certification requirements.
Contractor business: must complete New Mexico's company licensing requirements before performing regulated contracting work.
Business and Law: remains a separate New Mexico requirement.
NASCLA vs New Mexico State Requirements
Use the right exam for the right part of the licensing process.
| Requirement | Current Format | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| NASCLA Commercial General Building | 115 scored + 10 pretest • 330 minutes • 81 correct | Standardized commercial construction trade examination |
| New Mexico GB-98 Trade Exam | State-specific route when applicable | New Mexico general building trade qualification |
| NASCLA Waiver Path | Subject to CID/QP approval | Can waive the applicable New Mexico state-specific written trade exam when state requirements are satisfied |
| New Mexico Business & Law | 50 questions • 130 minutes • 75% / 38 points if taking PSI exam | New Mexico licensing, bidding, contracts, finance, labor, tax, lien and project-management law |
| Approved Business & Law Course | Alternative permitted by current New Mexico process | Can satisfy the separate Business and Law requirement when approved |
| GB-98 Experience | 4 years total • minimum 2 commercial | Qualifying Party experience requirement |
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor License Requirements
GB-98 Experience
Four-Year General Building Foundation
- Four years foreman-level practical or related trade experience
- At least two years commercial experience
- Experience documentation for the Qualifying Party
- Work related to the requested classification
- New Mexico application requirements still apply
NASCLA Examination
Commercial Trade Exam Path
- 115 scored questions
- 10 additional pretest questions
- 330 minutes
- 81 correct scored answers required
- Open-book examination
- Large commercial reference library
- Three attempts during one-year NASCLA eligibility
New Mexico Licensing
State Requirements Still Apply
- Qualifying Party certification
- Business and Law requirement
- Company license application
- Required license bond
- Tax registration
- Business entity documentation
- Workers Compensation compliance where applicable
Six-Week New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Prep Plan
Use the first half of the plan for the three biggest categories, then rotate through the technical references and finish with realistic open-book simulations.
Week 1
Procurement and Contracting
- Bidding and procurement
- Contract documents
- Project administration
- Subcontracting
- NASCLA Basic guide navigation
Week 2
General Requirements
- Jobsite management
- Project management
- Safety
- Accessibility
- Quality and scheduling
Week 3
Site Construction
- Excavation
- Earthwork
- Utilities
- Stormwater
- Site planning and grading
Week 4
Structural Construction
- Concrete
- Reinforcing
- Masonry
- Structural steel
- Wood and trusses
Week 5
Envelope, Finishes and Systems
- Roofing and moisture protection
- Doors, windows and glazing
- Gypsum and finishes
- Mechanical and plumbing
- Electrical coordination
Week 6
Full Open-Book Simulation
- 125-question mixed simulation
- 330-minute timing
- Book-selection drills
- Review missed topics
- Final reference compliance check
How Hard Is the New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam?
The NASCLA Commercial General Building exam is challenging because it tests a general contractor across many construction disciplines instead of letting you stay comfortably inside one trade.
You can move from project contracts to excavation, then concrete, then glazing, then electrical coordination and back to jobsite management before your coffee has emotionally recovered.
The exam is open book, but that creates its own challenge. The reference library contains thousands of pages. Success depends on knowing enough about the subject to recognize the correct book quickly.
The top three categories account for 71 scored questions, but you still need coverage of concrete, masonry, metals, wood, roofing and moisture protection, openings, finishes and building systems to build a safe margin above 81 correct answers.
NASCLA General Contractor Exam Day Checklist
Do this
- Confirm your PSI appointment and NASCLA candidate information
- Bring required identification
- Bring the exact currently approved reference library
- Check every book for prohibited notes or loose material
- Use only compliant permanent tabs
- Bring an approved silent non-programmable calculator
- Use the 330-minute clock strategically
Do not do this
- Use handwritten notes inside approved books
- Insert loose sheets or extra attached papers
- Use temporary Post-it tabs
- Bring an outdated code edition without checking PSI
- Search several books before identifying the subject
- Spend ten minutes trying to rescue one question
- Assume passing NASCLA automatically gives you a New Mexico license
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Prep Options
New Mexico NASCLA Online Course
Structured Open-Book Preparation
- Commercial construction review
- Reference-navigation strategy
- Practice-oriented preparation
- Project-management subjects
- Technical trade review
- Timed exam strategy
Highlighted & Tabbed Book Set
Organized Reference Library
- Commercial construction references
- Exam-focused highlighting
- Permanent reference tabs
- Building-code materials
- Project management books
- Specialty construction references
NASCLA Book Rental
Reference Access Option
- NASCLA commercial references
- New Mexico study support
- Reference-navigation practice
- Commercial building books
- Flexible preparation option
- Check current package contents before ordering
Need the complete licensing path? The New Mexico NASCLA All-Inclusive Contractor Package combines NASCLA preparation with additional licensing and business-support resources.
For the separate state requirement, review the New Mexico Business and Law Online Course .
One NASCLA Trade Exam, Separate New Mexico License
The NASCLA Commercial General Building examination can simplify the trade-testing side of contractor licensing, but New Mexico still controls who receives a contractor license.
• 115 scored NASCLA questions
• 10 additional non-scored pretest questions
• 330-minute time limit
• 81 correct scored answers required
• Open-book exam with a large commercial reference library
• New Mexico is a participating NASCLA Commercial General Building jurisdiction
• GB-98 requires four years of qualifying experience
• At least two GB-98 experience years must be commercial
• New Mexico Business and Law remains a separate licensing requirement
Pass the exam, send the transcript and finish the state licensing process. NASCLA can remove duplicate trade testing, but it does not remove New Mexico's licensing requirements.
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Prep FAQ
NASCLA Exam Basics
The current NASCLA Commercial General Building examination contains 115 scored questions.
Yes. PSI administers 10 additional non-scored pretest questions. They are mixed into the examination and are not identified to candidates.
Candidates can see 125 questions in total: 115 scored questions plus 10 unidentified pretest questions.
Candidates currently receive 330 minutes, or five hours and 30 minutes.
You need at least 81 correct answers among the 115 scored questions.
Yes. Candidates use the approved reference materials permitted under the current NASCLA and PSI testing rules.
New Mexico Licensing
Yes. New Mexico Construction Industries Division is a participating NASCLA agency. Current New Mexico rules allow the bureau chief to waive an applicable state-specific written trade examination for a Qualifying Party who passes the NASCLA accredited general construction exam and satisfies the other Qualifying Party requirements.
No. NASCLA is an examination, not a license or certification. You must still apply for the proper New Mexico contractor license and satisfy the state's classification, experience, Qualifying Party, Business and Law and company requirements.
Candidates seeking broad residential and commercial building authority should review New Mexico's GB-98 General Building classification and confirm with CID that the classification and NASCLA waiver path match their intended work.
The current GB-98 classification requires four years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience, of which at least two years must be commercial experience.
The current general NASCLA waiver language in New Mexico's contractor licensing rule does not state a general one-year out-of-state license requirement. The separate good-standing language in that rule applies to the expedited military-service certification process. Use current CID requirements for your individual application.
Yes. NASCLA addresses the applicable trade-examination component. New Mexico's separate Contractor Business and Law requirement still applies.
Current New Mexico PSI guidance states that contractors must either pass the Business and Law examination or take an approved Business and Law course.
NASCLA Applications and Transcripts
Candidates apply through the NASCLA National Examination Database. After NASCLA approves the application, PSI sends scheduling information.
A NASCLA exam application is currently valid for one year from the approval date.
Candidates currently receive up to three attempts during the one-year eligibility period.
After passing and linking your NASCLA National Examination Database account, you can purchase an electronic transcript for the New Mexico Construction Industries Division.
NASCLA currently states that the exam result itself does not expire. Purchased agency transcripts remain available to the receiving regulatory agency for the period specified by NASCLA, and an individual state may impose its own acceptance requirements.
Open-Book Rules and Study Strategy
Yes. Current NASCLA guidance permits approved reference materials to be highlighted, underlined and indexed before the examination.
Yes. Permanent tabs are permitted under the current reference rules. Temporary tabs such as Post-it notes are not allowed.
No. Current NASCLA rules state that references must otherwise be unmarked and may not contain writing.
No. Additional loose or attached papers are not permitted inside the examination references.
Procurement and Contracting Requirements has 31 scored questions, General Requirements has 25 and Site Construction has 15. Together they account for 71 of the 115 scored questions.
Current 2026 NASCLA exam information permits specified current options including the 2021 or 2024 International Building Code. Always verify the live PSI Candidate Information Bulletin before purchasing books.
The course provides structured commercial construction review, practice-oriented preparation and open-book reference-navigation training for the NASCLA Commercial General Building examination.
Watch: New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Prep
Watch this related 1 Exam Prep NASCLA contractor video for an overview of the commercial general building licensing path, NASCLA preparation and contractor exam strategy.
New Mexico licensing note: use the video for NASCLA contractor exam preparation and licensing guidance, but use the current NASCLA, PSI and New Mexico CID requirements as the final authority for your exam books, GB-98 experience, Qualifying Party certification and contractor company license.
New Mexico NASCLA General Contractor Exam Prep Resources
Use official NASCLA and New Mexico licensing information together with focused 1 Exam Prep NASCLA and Business and Law study resources.
New Mexico NASCLA Online Exam Prep New Mexico NASCLA Collection Highlighted & Tabbed NASCLA Book Set New Mexico NASCLA Book Rental Complete NASCLA Book Set New Mexico NASCLA All-Inclusive Package New Mexico Business & Law Course NASCLA General Contractor Flash Cards Official NASCLA Exam Application NASCLA Participating State Agencies Official NASCLA Exam FAQ New Mexico Construction Industries Licensing New Mexico Contractor License Requirements New Mexico Contractor Classifications Contact 1 Exam Prep
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