Virginia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package

Prepare for the Virginia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor licensing pathway with a comprehensive Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package that combines Virginia-specific contractor references, the listed NASCLA commercial construction books, highlighted and tabbed rental materials, structured online exam preparation, and Application Service in one organized solution.

This Ultimate package is designed for contractor candidates who want a complete preparation system for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors while also working toward Virginia contractor licensure. Virginia participates in the NASCLA Commercial Exam Program through the Virginia Board for Contractors, allowing the NASCLA commercial examination to be used for the comparable Virginia Commercial Building classification.

The package includes 1 year of course access, giving candidates an extended preparation period for reviewing commercial construction subjects, completing practice-oriented study, and developing efficient reference-navigation habits. All rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation so candidates can work with an organized reference library throughout their study period.

The included references cover project management, construction safety, mechanical and electrical systems, accessibility, structural concrete, masonry, carpentry, steel construction, roofing, excavation, building codes, stormwater planning, contractor business, law, and other commercial construction topics. Virginia-specific materials include NASCLA Virginia, 11th Edition and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018.

Passing the NASCLA examination does not automatically issue a Virginia contractor license. Virginia licenses contractor businesses and requires applicants to satisfy the applicable license-class, Qualified Individual, Designated Employee, pre-license education, examination, and application requirements.

Package Price: $3,109

Refundable Book Deposit: $1,000 when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Total Initial Payment: $4,109

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

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized commercial construction trade examination accepted by participating licensing agencies. The Virginia Board for Contractors is a participating state agency and accepts the NASCLA commercial examination for the comparable Virginia Commercial Building classification.

• Exam: NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors
• Number of Questions: 115
• Time Allowed: 330 minutes
• Minimum Passing Score: 70%, requiring 81 correct answers
• Virginia Application: Accepted for the comparable Commercial Building classification

The NASCLA examination covers a wide commercial construction scope. Candidates should prepare for General Requirements, Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors, Windows and Glazing, Finishes, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems, Electrical Systems, and Procurement and Contracting Requirements.

Because these subjects span both technical construction knowledge and project-management responsibilities, preparation should not be limited to one trade. A candidate with extensive experience in concrete, carpentry, roofing, supervision, or another specialty may still need additional preparation in accessibility, building codes, structural systems, OSHA requirements, contracting, project administration, or other areas represented by the examination.

Time management is also an important part of preparation. With 115 questions and 330 minutes, candidates should learn when they can answer from existing knowledge and when a reference lookup is necessary. A focused navigation strategy can help prevent one difficult question from consuming too much testing time.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an Open Book Test. Approved reference materials may be used according to the applicable examination and testing-provider requirements.

Open-book testing makes familiarity with the reference library especially valuable. Simply having access to a large number of books does not make the test easy. Candidates who are unfamiliar with the references may lose time determining which book to use or searching through several books for a single answer.

The rental books in this Ultimate package are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation. These navigation aids provide an organized starting point, but candidates should still work directly with the references throughout the study period. Learn the indexes, tables of contents, chapter structures, technical tables, standards, definitions, and terminology used in each major publication.

A practical strategy is to identify the construction subject, choose the reference most likely to contain the information, locate the relevant section, confirm the answer, and move forward. Accessibility questions should direct you toward ICC A117.1-2017. OSHA construction safety questions should point toward 29 CFR Part 1926. Structural concrete questions may require ACI 318-19, while broader commercial building-code questions may require the International Building Code.

The goal is not to memorize every book. The goal is to develop enough familiarity that you know where to begin when a technical lookup is necessary.

Licensing Steps

1. Determine the Virginia contractor license class. Virginia contractor businesses are licensed as Class A, Class B, or Class C according to the applicable licensing requirements.
2. Select the applicable classification or specialty. The applicant must identify the classification or specialty corresponding to the construction work the business intends to perform.
3. Identify the Qualified Individual. Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty on the contractor license.
4. Meet the Qualified Individual experience requirement. The amount of experience required depends on the license class. Current Virginia requirements call for one year for Class C, three years for Class B, and five years for Class A.
5. Satisfy the applicable trade examination requirement. For the comparable Commercial Building classification, the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors may be used.
6. Identify the Designated Employee for Class A or Class B. Class A and Class B applicants must designate an eligible individual who satisfies the applicable business examination requirement.
7. Complete the Designated Employee examination. Class B applicants require the General and Virginia examination portions. Class A applicants require the General, Virginia, and Advanced portions.
8. Complete the required pre-license education. New contractor applicants must have the applicable individual complete an approved eight-hour contractor pre-license business course.
9. Prepare and submit the contractor license application. Provide the required business, examination, qualifying-individual, financial, and supporting documentation to the Virginia Board for Contractors.

State Requirements

Contractor licensing in Virginia is administered by the Virginia Board for Contractors within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietors rather than simply to the individual who passes an examination.

Every contractor business must identify a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty listed on the application. The Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee or a member of Responsible Management and must meet the applicable experience and prerequisite requirements for the requested classification.

Virginia's current contractor requirements specify minimum experience based on the license class. A Class C Qualified Individual must generally demonstrate at least one year of experience, Class B requires at least three years, and Class A requires at least five years in the applicable classification or specialty.

Class A and Class B applicants must also identify a Designated Employee. The Designated Employee must be at least 18 years old and must be a full-time employee or a member of Responsible Management. The individual must complete the business examination required for the applicable license class.

For Class B, the Designated Employee examination consists of the Virginia and General portions. For Class A, the examination includes the Virginia, General, and Advanced portions. These business examinations are separate from the trade examination used for the contractor classification.

Virginia also requires pre-license education for new contractor licenses. The required eight-hour business course must be completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee for a Class A or Class B applicant. For a Class C applicant, a member of Responsible Management completes the course.

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination can satisfy the applicable trade-exam requirement for the comparable Commercial Building classification, but passing NASCLA alone does not issue a Virginia contractor license. The business must still satisfy the license-class, Qualified Individual, Designated Employee, business examination, pre-license education, financial, and application requirements that apply.

Reference Books

• Included Book: NASCLA Virginia, 11th Edition
  Virginia-focused contractor reference covering business, law, project management, and subjects relevant to contractor licensing preparation.
• Included Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018
  Contains Virginia statewide building-code provisions applicable to building construction and regulatory requirements.
• Included Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition
  Reviews mechanical and electrical building systems and coordination considerations relevant to commercial construction management.
• Included Book: ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  Addresses accessibility and usability requirements for buildings, facilities, spaces, and related construction elements.
• Included Book: BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Covers handling, installation, restraint, and bracing practices associated with metal plate connected wood trusses.
• Included Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  Reviews carpentry, framing, construction materials, tools, and general building methods.
• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Contains federal occupational safety and health requirements applicable to construction work and jobsites.
• Included Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, communication, documentation, scheduling, coordination, and jobsite-management responsibilities.
• Included Book: Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Addresses project planning, scheduling, cost management, administration, project controls, and construction coordination.
• Included Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
  Reviews contractor business operations, contracts, financial management, project management, and construction administration principles.
• Included Book: Erectors' Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of PreCast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Provides standards and guidance associated with the handling and erection of precast concrete products.
• Included Book: Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2011, 2nd Edition
  Introduces sustainable building practices, green construction concepts, materials, and environmental considerations.
• Included Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  Covers gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, assemblies, installation methods, and related construction applications.
• Included Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
  Provides technical guidance associated with handling and erecting steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Book: International Building Code, 2021
  Provides commercial building requirements involving occupancy, construction types, means of egress, fire and life safety, and other building provisions.
• Included Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Contains structural concrete requirements and supporting commentary applicable to reinforced concrete construction.
• Included Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  Reviews field fundamentals associated with unbonded post-tensioning construction systems.
• Included Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Covers masonry materials, tools, construction methods, techniques, and brick, block, and stone applications.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Addresses excavation, trenching, underground piping, site operations, and related construction practices.
• Included Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, building systems, methods, sequencing, and project execution.
• Included Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, construction practices, and estimating concepts.
• Included Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Provides guidance concerning reinforcing steel placement, handling, detailing, and reinforced concrete field practices.
• Included Book: SDI Steel Deck Institute Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  Covers steel deck construction, installation, handling, and related field procedures.
• Included Book: The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  Reviews concrete planning, placement, finishing, quality practices, and practical construction procedures.
• Included Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage, 2017
  Provides standards addressing exterior insulation and finish systems, including systems incorporating drainage.
• Included Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites, United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Provides guidance for developing and implementing stormwater pollution prevention plans for construction sites.

Test Information and Study Materials

This Ultimate package includes 1 year of course access, giving candidates an extended period to combine organized online preparation with regular use of the commercial construction reference library.

Separate NASCLA preparation from Virginia business-exam preparation. The NASCLA commercial examination focuses on construction trade knowledge. Virginia Class A and Class B applicants also have separate Designated Employee business examination requirements. Build dedicated study time for each requirement.

Organize NASCLA preparation by subject. Divide the exam into general requirements, site construction, concrete, masonry, metals, wood construction, thermal and moisture protection, finishes, mechanical and plumbing systems, electrical systems, procurement, and contracting.

Build strong subject-to-reference associations. Learn which reference should be your first choice when a question involves accessibility, OSHA safety, concrete, masonry, roofing, steel systems, building codes, or another major topic.

Use the highlighted and tabbed books consistently. Highlighting and tabs provide a useful navigation system, but regular practice is what develops familiarity. Work with indexes, technical tables, definitions, standards, chapters, and code provisions throughout your preparation.

Practice find-and-confirm navigation. Read the question, identify the construction issue, choose the appropriate reference, locate the specific information, confirm the answer, and move on. Avoid searching multiple books without first identifying what the question is testing.

Use the course and books together. Review a topic through the course, complete practice-oriented study, and then locate supporting information in the applicable reference. This helps reinforce both trade knowledge and open-book navigation skills.

Train under timed conditions. The NASCLA examination includes 115 questions and allows 330 minutes. Timed practice can help candidates develop pacing and recognize when a reference search is taking too long.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Virginia contractor candidates approach NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor preparation with an organized structure that combines trade-focused review, practice-oriented learning, reference navigation, and licensing application support.

Organized study guidance helps break a large commercial construction syllabus into manageable areas. Candidates can create a focused study sequence instead of moving randomly across a large reference library.

Trade-focused review supports preparation across project management, OSHA safety, concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, structural systems, accessibility, excavation, building codes, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Practice-oriented preparation helps candidates apply construction concepts through exam-style thinking. This can strengthen your ability to identify what a question is testing, compare possible answers, and decide when a reference lookup is appropriate.

Reference navigation is particularly important for an open-book examination. Working regularly with highlighted and tabbed references can help candidates become more comfortable with indexes, chapter structures, technical tables, standards, and code provisions.

Confidence-building study structure develops through consistent preparation. With 1 year of course access, candidates have additional time to review material, practice questions, and become familiar with the extensive reference library.

Application Service is included with this Ultimate package, bringing licensing application support together with the rental books and exam preparation resources.

FAQ Section

What Is Included in the Virginia NASCLA Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package?

The package includes the listed Virginia-specific and commercial construction rental reference books, highlighted and tabbed preparation, 1 year of course access, and Application Service.

What Is the Package Price?

The package price is $3,109. A refundable $1,000 book deposit is also required, bringing the total initial payment to $4,109.

Is the $1,000 Book Deposit Refundable?

Yes. The $1,000 book deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

How Long Is Course Access Included?

The Ultimate package includes 1 year of course access.

Does This Package Include Application Service?

Yes. Application Service is included with this Ultimate Exam Prep Rental Package.

Are the Rental Books Highlighted and Tabbed?

Yes. The rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation.

Does Virginia Accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam?

Yes. The Virginia Board for Contractors participates in the NASCLA Commercial Exam Program and accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination for the comparable Commercial Building classification.

How Many Questions Are on the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam?

The examination contains 115 questions. Candidates have 330 minutes to complete the exam and need at least 81 correct answers to achieve the 70% passing score.

Is the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Open Book?

Yes. The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination is an open-book test using approved reference materials according to applicable testing requirements.

Does Passing NASCLA Automatically Give Me a Virginia Contractor License?

No. Passing NASCLA can satisfy the applicable trade examination requirement, but the contractor business must still complete Virginia's applicable license-class, Qualified Individual, Designated Employee, pre-license education, business examination, financial, and application requirements.

How Much Experience Does a Virginia Qualified Individual Need?

The minimum experience requirement depends on the license class. Current Virginia requirements generally call for one year for Class C, three years for Class B, and five years for Class A in the applicable classification or specialty.

Do Virginia Class A and Class B Applicants Need a Designated Employee?

Yes. Class A and Class B contractor applicants must identify an eligible Designated Employee who satisfies the applicable Virginia business examination requirements.

How Long Should I Allow for My Ultimate Rental Package Order?

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

Does This Package Guarantee a Passing Score or Virginia Contractor License?

No. The package provides rental references, 1 year of course access, Application Service, highlighted and tabbed preparation, and structured study support. Exam results and licensing decisions depend on the candidate's preparation and successful completion of Virginia's applicable licensing requirements.