Arizona NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Book Rental

The Arizona NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Book Rental is designed for contractors preparing for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors while pursuing contractor licensing in Arizona. This rental package gives students access to the listed exam reference books in one organized option, helping reduce the need to purchase the full reference library outright before test day.

The NASCLA commercial general building exam is broad because commercial general building work touches many parts of a construction project. Students may need to review building code, accessibility, OSHA safety, concrete, masonry, steel, wood framing, trusses, roofing, gypsum construction, mechanical and electrical systems, project management, business law, stormwater pollution prevention, excavation, steel deck, precast erection, EIFS, and commercial construction practices. This rental package brings the listed references together so students can study with the books connected to the exam content and practice navigating them efficiently.

This package is a book rental option. It is ideal for students who want access to the required reference materials for exam preparation and exam-day book navigation without purchasing every book individually. The package price is $1,699. A refundable deposit of $1,400 is collected with the rental package, bringing the total collected at checkout to $3,099. The refundable deposit is tied to the rental book return process.

What You Get

Commercial building exam preparation requires more than reading one trade manual. The reference list covers the project from planning through closeout, including safety, code compliance, structural systems, building envelope details, project supervision, scheduling, business responsibilities, and construction quality. A student preparing for this exam should build familiarity with each reference, understand what topics it supports, and practice locating information quickly.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a contractor trade examination used by participating licensing agencies for commercial general building contractor qualification. Arizona contractor applicants may use the NASCLA commercial building exam as part of the licensing process when it applies to the Arizona classification being pursued.

The exam is based on construction knowledge and approved reference materials. Students should prepare for questions involving commercial building code, accessibility, construction safety, concrete, reinforcing steel, masonry, wood construction, trusses, steel joists, steel deck, roofing, excavation, stormwater controls, precast concrete, gypsum construction, EIFS, project management, jobsite supervision, business law, and general commercial construction practices.

Because the exam covers many construction disciplines, preparation should include both subject review and reference navigation. Students should know which book applies to each major topic. A safety question may point to OSHA. A building code question may point to the International Building Code. A concrete question may involve ACI 318, Placing Reinforcing Bars, post-tensioning material, or the concrete construction guide. A masonry question may point to Modern Masonry. A roofing question may point to Roofing Construction and Estimating. A project management question may point to the NASCLA Contractors Guide, Construction Jobsite Management, or Construction Project Management.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA commercial general building contractor exam is an open-book style exam using approved references. Open-book testing gives candidates access to reference materials during the exam, but it still requires strong preparation. Students need to understand construction concepts, recognize which reference applies to a question, and locate information efficiently while working under timed conditions.

Open-book preparation should focus on speed and organization. The full NASCLA book list is large, and a student can lose valuable time searching in the wrong reference. Before test day, students should learn the table of contents, index, chapter structure, major tables, figures, definitions, and subject areas of each book. When permitted by exam rules, permanent tabs can help organize important sections. A clean tabbing system is usually more effective than over-labeling every possible topic.

Book rental students should use the rental period to practice with the books as a working exam library. This means studying topics, locating answers, building familiarity with the organization of each reference, and practicing exam-style questions with the books nearby. The goal is not to memorize every page. The goal is to understand the trade areas and know where to find the information when a question points to a specific construction subject.

Licensing Steps

The Arizona licensing path begins with selecting the correct contractor classification for the work being performed. Commercial general building contractors should confirm the Arizona classification they are pursuing and determine whether the NASCLA commercial general building exam applies to that license path.

After identifying the correct classification, the qualifying party prepares for the required examination path. This may include the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and any Arizona-specific business, law, statutes, rules, or application requirements that apply to the license. Candidates should follow the approved testing and application process for the classification they are pursuing.

Once examination requirements are completed, the applicant moves forward with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors application process. The application may require business information, qualifying party information, financial responsibility requirements, bonding, background-related requirements, fees, and other supporting documentation required by the state. Passing the exam does not automatically issue a license. The applicant must still complete the licensing process and satisfy the applicable state requirements.

State Requirements

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors issues commercial, residential, and dual contractor licenses. A commercial general building applicant should make sure the exam being taken matches the classification being requested. The NASCLA commercial general building exam is commonly used as a trade examination option for commercial general building qualification in participating jurisdictions, including Arizona when accepted for the applicable classification.

Arizona licensing approval is separate from exam preparation. The state determines whether the applicant qualifies for the license, whether the qualifying party requirements have been met, and whether the application is complete. This book rental package supports exam preparation by providing access to the listed references, but applicants must still follow the Arizona licensing process.

Reference Books

• Included Rental Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th
  This reference supports study of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and building system coordination topics used by construction managers and commercial building contractors.
• Included Rental Book: ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  This accessibility reference supports review of accessible routes, clearances, reach ranges, plumbing elements, entrances, doors, and usability requirements for buildings and facilities.
• Included Rental Book: BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  This truss reference supports study of handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses during construction.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  This building construction reference supports review of framing, materials, layout, foundations, floors, walls, roofs, finishes, and general carpentry construction methods.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This reference covers federal construction safety standards, including fall protection, excavation, scaffolds, ladders, personal protective equipment, hazard communication, and jobsite safety requirements.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th edition
  This reference supports jobsite supervision, coordination, scheduling, field communication, safety management, documentation, quality control, and project administration.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Project Management, 5th edition
  This project management reference supports study of planning, scheduling, cost control, contracts, procurement, documentation, project delivery, and management responsibilities.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th
  This reference supports review of contractor business practices, law, project management, contracts, estimating, safety, financial management, and administrative responsibilities.
• Included Rental Book: Erectors' Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of PreCast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  This precast reference supports study of handling, rigging, erection, bracing, safety, tolerances, and field coordination for precast concrete products.
• Included Rental Book: Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2011, 2nd edition
  This reference supports review of green building concepts, energy efficiency, sustainable materials, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th edition
  This reference supports study of gypsum products, gypsum board systems, wall and ceiling assemblies, finishing, installation methods, and construction details.
• Included Rental Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  This steel joist reference supports review of handling, erection, bridging, stability, coordination, and safety practices for steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Rental Book: International Building Code, 2021
  This code reference supports review of commercial building code requirements, occupancy, construction types, fire-resistance, means of egress, accessibility-related provisions, structural concepts, and building safety requirements.
• Included Rental Book: ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  This concrete code reference supports study of structural concrete requirements, design concepts, reinforcement, strength, durability, placement coordination, and concrete construction provisions.
• Included Rental Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  This reference supports study of unbonded post-tensioning terminology, tendon handling, stressing procedures, field safety, anchorage concepts, and installation fundamentals.
• Included Rental Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th edition
  This masonry reference supports review of brick, block, stone, mortar, reinforcement, flashing, walls, materials, tools, layout, and masonry construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  This reference supports study of excavation, trenching, underground piping, bedding, backfill, sitework, pipe installation, and jobsite safety topics.
• Included Rental Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  This commercial construction reference supports study of construction systems, materials, methods, sequencing, building assemblies, project coordination, and commercial building practices.
• Included Rental Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  This roofing reference supports review of roof systems, materials, measurements, estimating, flashing, installation methods, roof layout, and roofing construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  This reinforcing steel reference supports study of bar placement, supports, tying, spacing, lap splices, clear cover, handling, storage, and field installation practices.
• Included Rental Book: SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  This steel deck reference supports review of steel deck installation, fastening, supports, openings, construction practices, safety, and field coordination.
• Included Rental Book: The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction - 4th Edition
  This concrete reference supports review of concrete quality, placement planning, curing, consolidation, tolerances, field coordination, construction practices, and quality control.
• Included Rental Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites, United States Environmental Protection Agency
  This stormwater reference supports review of construction site pollution prevention planning, erosion control, sediment control, site inspections, documentation, and environmental protection practices.
• Included Rental Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage, 2017
  This EIFS reference supports study of exterior insulation and finish systems, drainage details, materials, installation practices, performance requirements, and exterior wall system concepts.

Test Information and Study Materials

Effective NASCLA exam preparation should combine topic review, code study, safety review, management review, and book-navigation practice. The exam covers a wide range of commercial construction knowledge, so students should avoid studying only the topics they already know from the field. A general contractor must understand how multiple trades and systems work together on a commercial building project.

For code topics, spend time with the International Building Code and ICC A117.1 accessibility standard. Students should practice locating definitions, occupancy provisions, construction types, fire-resistance requirements, egress information, accessibility requirements, and building safety provisions. Code books are dense, so familiarity with the index and chapter structure is important.

For safety topics, review OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926. Commercial building work involves fall hazards, excavation, scaffolds, ladders, cranes, materials, tools, personal protective equipment, and jobsite coordination. Safety questions can be direct, and students should know how to move through OSHA quickly.

For structural and building system topics, review concrete, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning, steel joists, steel deck, precast concrete, masonry, wood framing, trusses, gypsum systems, roofing, EIFS, and excavation references. These topics often require recognizing the correct system before opening the book.

For management topics, review project management, jobsite management, business law, contracts, scheduling, estimating, documentation, quality control, and contractor responsibilities. Commercial general building exams often test both field knowledge and management judgment.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps students prepare for the Arizona NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam by providing access to the listed references through a rental package that supports organized study and exam-day readiness. A large reference library can feel overwhelming, especially for students preparing for a broad commercial general building exam. Having the books together helps students build a clearer study system.

This rental package supports practical preparation by allowing students to work directly with the references connected to the exam. Students can review trade topics, study code sections, practice locating answers, organize their books when permitted, and become more comfortable using the reference library before test day.

1 Exam Prep focuses on realistic exam preparation. This package does not guarantee a passing score, licensing approval, or a specific business outcome. It is designed to support preparation through access to the required books, organized study habits, reference navigation, and confidence-building practice with the materials.

FAQ: What is included in this Arizona NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Book Rental?

This package includes rental access to the listed NASCLA commercial general building exam reference books. The rental library includes code, safety, project management, concrete, masonry, steel, wood, roofing, gypsum, stormwater, EIFS, and commercial construction references.

FAQ: How much does the NASCLA book rental package cost?

The package price is $1,699. A refundable deposit of $1,400 is collected with the rental package, bringing the total collected at checkout to $3,099.

FAQ: Is the $1,400 deposit refundable?

Yes. The $1,400 deposit is refundable and is tied to the rental book return process. Rental books should be returned according to the rental terms provided with the order.

FAQ: Is the NASCLA commercial general building exam open book?

Yes. The NASCLA commercial general building contractor exam is an open-book style exam using approved references. Students should prepare by studying the content and practicing how to locate information quickly in the books.

FAQ: Does this package include course access?

This product is an exam book rental package. It includes rental access to the listed books and does not include course access.

FAQ: Who should choose this NASCLA book rental package?

This rental package is a good fit for contractors preparing for the NASCLA commercial general building contractor exam who want access to the listed reference books without purchasing the entire library outright.

FAQ: Does passing the NASCLA exam automatically give me an Arizona contractor license?

No. Passing the exam is part of the licensing process when accepted for the classification being pursued, but the applicant must still complete the Arizona Registrar of Contractors application process and satisfy the state requirements for the license.