Virginia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package

Prepare for the Virginia contractor business examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with an all-in-one rental package designed for structured, reference-based study. This Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package combines a complete set of highlighted and tabbed reference books with business and trade exam-preparation courses, live classes, Application Service, and one full year of course access.

The included rental library covers the Virginia Business and Law material and the wide range of commercial construction subjects addressed by the NASCLA examination. Your books arrive highlighted and tabbed to help you identify major chapters, technical subjects, code provisions, tables, definitions, and commonly reviewed sections. This preparation can make a large reference library easier to organize during study sessions and more efficient to navigate during an open-book examination.

You also receive online business and trade courses with live classes. The courses provide an organized study path for candidates who need help reviewing business law, project management, safety, building codes, construction methods, contracts, and the major technical divisions of commercial construction. Live instruction adds another opportunity to review important concepts, ask questions, and reinforce material covered through independent study.

The Ultimate package price is $2,495. A $1,500 refundable book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $3,995. The deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned within one year in similar condition. Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

Exam Details

This package supports preparation for two distinct examination areas. The Virginia contractor business examination focuses on the legal, regulatory, financial, and administrative responsibilities involved in operating a contracting business in Virginia. The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors addresses the trade knowledge needed to manage and perform commercial building work.

The Virginia contractor examination requirements vary according to the license class being pursued. Class A and Class B contractor businesses must designate an individual who satisfies the applicable business examination requirements. The examination portions may address Virginia regulations, general business knowledge, and advanced business subjects, depending on the license class.

The NASCLA commercial building examination contains 125 questions, including 115 scored questions and up to 10 unscored pretest questions. Candidates receive 330 minutes to complete the examination. The exam covers general construction requirements, site work, concrete, masonry, metals, wood, thermal and moisture protection, openings, finishes, mechanical systems, plumbing, electrical systems, project management, safety, procurement, and contracting.

Passing the NASCLA examination may allow a candidate to submit an examination transcript to participating licensing agencies. Passing the examination does not automatically create a contractor license. Each state maintains its own application, experience, business, financial, education, and regulatory requirements.

Open Book Test

The Virginia contractor business examination and the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination are open-book tests. Candidates must bring their own approved references and follow the testing provider’s current rules for books, tabs, markings, bindings, notes, and supplemental materials.

An open-book format rewards preparation, but it does not eliminate the need to study. The reference set is extensive, and candidates may not have enough time to search every book from the beginning. Effective preparation includes learning which reference applies to each subject, becoming familiar with indexes and tables of contents, recognizing common construction terminology, and practicing how to locate information under time limits.

The included books are highlighted and tabbed to create a more organized navigation system. Tabs can identify major topics and divisions, while highlighting can draw attention to useful language, definitions, procedures, and code provisions. Candidates should work with the books throughout the course-access period so the location and organization of important material become familiar before test day.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the Virginia contractor license class. Determine whether the business will apply for a Class A, Class B, or Class C contractor license based on the scope and value of the work it intends to perform.
2. Select the appropriate classification or specialty. The business must apply for the classification that corresponds to the construction services it plans to offer.
3. Establish the applying business entity. Virginia contractor licenses are issued to business entities. The application must identify the legal business structure and responsible management.
4. Complete required pre-license education. New contractor applicants must complete the Virginia Board-approved eight-hour pre-license education requirement. This is separate from examination preparation.
5. Identify the Designated Employee. Class A and Class B applicants must identify the individual responsible for completing the required contractor business examination portions.
6. Identify the Qualified Individual. The applicant must designate a Qualified Individual for each requested classification or specialty and document the applicable experience.
7. Prepare for the Virginia business examination. Review Virginia contractor rules, business practices, project administration, financial responsibilities, and the applicable business references.
8. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the examination application and receive authorization before scheduling the testing appointment.
9. Pass the required examinations. Complete the Virginia business examination portions required for the selected class and the applicable trade examination requirement.
10. Submit the contractor license application. File the completed application with the required documentation and state fees.
11. Complete local registrations. Review local business-license, tax, permit, and registration requirements before beginning work.

State Requirements

The Virginia Board for Contractors licenses businesses in Class A, Class B, and Class C. The class establishes the monetary level of work the business may undertake, while the classification or specialty identifies the type of construction work it is authorized to perform.

Virginia requires all new contractor license applicants to complete eight hours of approved pre-license education. For a Class A or Class B application, the course must be completed by a member of responsible management or the Designated Employee. For a Class C application, a member of responsible management must complete the course.

A Qualified Individual must be listed for each classification or specialty requested. The individual must be a full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week for the business or a member of responsible management. The general experience requirements are one year for Class C, three years for Class B, and five years for Class A.

Class A and Class B applicants must also satisfy the applicable Designated Employee examination requirements. The NASCLA examination may satisfy an accepted trade examination requirement, but it does not replace the Virginia business examination, pre-license education, experience documentation, business information, or application review.

Reference Books

• Included Rental Book: Virginia NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management
  Virginia-focused reference covering contractor business, law, regulation, financial management, contracts, and project administration.
• Included Rental Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part 1 Summary, 2018
  Virginia building-code material used with the state business examination references.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, safety, quality control, and construction coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project planning, scheduling, estimating, cost control, contracts, procurement, and construction administration.
• Included Rental Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Contains code provisions and commentary addressing structural concrete materials, design, construction, and inspection.
• Included Rental Book: BCSI Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Provides practices for safely handling, installing, restraining, and bracing wood trusses.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic 14th Edition
  Covers business planning, licensing, estimating, contracts, project management, safety, labor, insurance, and financial administration.
• Included Rental Book: Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Addresses planning, handling, erection, stability, safety, and accepted practices for precast concrete components.
• Included Rental Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
  Introduces materials, installation procedures, safety practices, and inspection concepts for unbonded post-tensioning.
• Included Rental Book: SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition
  Explains steel-deck storage, handling, placement, attachment, construction practices, and jobsite coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011, Dave Roberts
  Reviews excavation, trenching, grading, underground piping, equipment, safety, productivity, and estimating.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Covers gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, installation, finishing, fire resistance, and sound-control assemblies.
• Included Rental Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Provides guidance for reinforcing-bar placement, supports, splices, tolerances, drawings, handling, and field practices.
• Included Rental Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  Addresses erection, bridging, stability, handling, storage, and jobsite safety for steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Rental Book: Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 9th or 10th Edition, Clois E. Kicklighter
  Reviews masonry materials, tools, layout, installation methods, estimating, reinforcement, and construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction systems, materials, methods, drawings, specifications, and coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926, with Latest Available Amendments
  Contains federal OSHA construction safety and health regulations for construction workplaces.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Student Edition, John L. Feirer and Mark D. Feirer
  Covers layout, framing, structural components, exterior construction, interior finishes, and carpentry techniques.
• Included Rental Book: ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2017
  Provides technical accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, spaces, fixtures, building elements, and facilities.
• Included Rental Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, measurements, flashing, drainage, repair, and estimating.
• Included Rental Book: The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  Explains practical methods for concrete preparation, placement, finishing, curing, quality control, and troubleshooting.
• Included Rental Book: Green Building Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, 2011, Michael Montoya
  Introduces sustainable sites, energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, and indoor environmental quality.
• Included Rental Book: International Building Code, 2021 Edition
  Covers occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, structural provisions, accessibility, and building safety.
• Included Rental Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites
  Explains construction stormwater planning, erosion controls, pollution prevention, inspections, maintenance, and documentation.
• Included Rental Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems and EIFS with Drainage
  Covers materials, installation, application, performance, and drainage practices for exterior insulation and finish systems.
• Included Rental Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition, 2023
  Introduces mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire-protection, control, and building-service systems for construction managers.

Test Information and Study Materials

A productive study plan should separate Virginia business preparation from NASCLA trade preparation. For the Virginia examination, candidates should focus on contractor regulations, business structures, contracts, financial management, employment responsibilities, risk management, project administration, and the Virginia code material identified for the exam.

For the NASCLA examination, organize the books by construction division and learn which reference applies to each topic. Complete timed practice sessions that require you to select the correct book, locate the supporting section, and answer the question without spending too much time on a single search.

Use live classes to reinforce difficult concepts and clarify how different construction subjects connect. After each class, review the corresponding book sections and complete practice questions while the material is fresh. Record frequently used chapters and continue practicing until you can move between references comfortably.

Pay particular attention to jobsite management, project management, building codes, safety, concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, mechanical systems, electrical systems, contracts, and procurement. Consistent study across the full one-year access period can help candidates avoid relying on last-minute review.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Virginia contractor candidates with an organized combination of reference materials, guided coursework, live instruction, practice-oriented preparation, and application support. The highlighted and tabbed rental library helps turn a large collection of construction books into a more manageable study system.

The business course provides structured review of Virginia contractor responsibilities, business law, regulations, project administration, and reference navigation. The trade course addresses the broad commercial construction knowledge represented on the NASCLA examination. Live classes add guided review and help students remain engaged with a consistent preparation schedule.

Reference-navigation practice is a central part of the program because both examinations require candidates to work effectively with approved books. Students can practice identifying the right reference, finding relevant sections, interpreting technical language, and managing the time spent on each question.

Application Service is included to provide support with the licensing application process. Final licensing decisions remain with the appropriate regulatory authorities, and examination preparation does not guarantee a passing score or license approval. The package is designed to provide a clear study structure, reliable preparation tools, and greater confidence when approaching the required examinations.

What is included in the Ultimate rental package?

The package includes the complete highlighted and tabbed rental-book set, Virginia business course, NASCLA trade course, live classes, Application Service, and 1 year of course access.

How much does the package cost?

The package price is $2,495. A refundable $1,500 book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $3,995.

When is the book deposit refunded?

The $1,500 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned within one year in similar condition. Books should be returned without missing pages, water damage, excessive wear, or other significant damage.

How long is course access available?

The Ultimate package includes 1 year of course access for the business and trade preparation program.

Are live classes included?

Yes. Live classes are included with the Virginia business and NASCLA trade exam-preparation courses.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The rental books are highlighted and tabbed to support organized study and faster reference navigation.

Are the examinations open book?

Yes. The Virginia contractor business examination and NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination are open book. Candidates must follow the current testing rules governing permitted references, tabs, markings, and materials.

How long does order processing take?

Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

Does passing the NASCLA exam automatically provide a Virginia license?

No. Candidates must still satisfy Virginia’s application, business, experience, education, examination, documentation, and regulatory requirements.

Does this package guarantee a passing score?

No exam-preparation package can guarantee a passing score or licensing approval. The program provides organized books, instruction, practice guidance, live classes, and study support to help candidates prepare effectively.