Arkansas NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Books & Courses Rental

Prepare for the Arkansas NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor licensing process with a comprehensive rental package that combines the reference library used for exam preparation with structured online study support. The Arkansas NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Books & Courses Rental package is designed for candidates who want access to the extensive NASCLA construction reference collection without purchasing every book individually.

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors covers a wide range of commercial construction knowledge, including project management, contracting, site construction, safety, concrete, masonry, structural metals, wood construction, building codes, accessibility, roofing, mechanical and electrical systems, finishes, and specialty construction topics. Because the examination is open book, candidates must develop both trade knowledge and efficient reference-navigation skills.

This package provides the listed rental books prepared with highlighting and tabs for exam preparation, along with 6 months of course access. Candidates can study from the physical references while using the course to develop a more organized understanding of the examination subjects, practice locating information, and build a repeatable study routine.

The package also includes the NASCLA Arkansas, 8th Edition, supporting preparation for Arkansas-specific contractor Business and Law requirements in addition to the national NASCLA commercial building trade examination materials.

Package Price: $2,539.

Refundable Deposit: $1,000. The deposit qualifies for a refund when the rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

Total Initial Payment: $3,539.

All rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation. Please allow up to 15 business days for book and course rental package orders.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized commercial contractor trade examination accepted by participating licensing agencies. Arkansas participates in the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination program for applicable contractor licensing purposes.

The current NASCLA examination contains 115 scored questions. Candidates must answer at least 81 questions correctly, equivalent to a 70% passing score. Candidates are allowed 330 minutes, or 5 hours and 30 minutes, to complete the examination.

The current NASCLA examination content outline includes:

• 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

This distribution demonstrates why the NASCLA exam requires preparation across both technical construction and contractor-management subjects. Procurement and Contracting Requirements and General Requirements account for a substantial portion of the examination, while candidates must also be prepared for code, structural, sitework, building-system, and trade-specific questions.

Questions can require candidates to interpret construction practices, technical standards, codes, tables, definitions, management concepts, and safety requirements. Field experience is useful, but candidates should also practice working with the specific types of written references used by the examination.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open book test. Approved reference materials may be taken into the examination center under the testing provider's current reference-material rules.

The open-book format makes efficient navigation particularly important. With 115 scored questions and 330 minutes available, candidates need to know how to identify the likely reference for a question and locate relevant information without spending excessive time searching multiple books.

During study sessions, candidates should become familiar with each reference's table of contents, index, chapters, terminology, tables, and subject organization. Practice questions can then be used to develop a consistent process: identify the subject, select the likely book, locate the applicable section, and compare the information with the available answers.

Highlighting and permanent-style tab organization can support this process by making important sections easier to locate during preparation. The books included with this rental package are highlighted and tabbed so candidates can focus on building familiarity with the reference library during their six-month study period.

Licensing Steps

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board regulates commercial contractor licensing in Arkansas. Passing the NASCLA commercial examination does not automatically issue an Arkansas contractor license. Applicants must complete the state licensing process and satisfy the requirements associated with the classification they are pursuing.

1. Determine the appropriate Arkansas contractor classification. Select the classification that corresponds with the commercial construction work the business intends to perform.
2. Prepare for the required examination process. Candidates pursuing an applicable commercial building classification may use the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors to satisfy the accepted trade examination requirement.
3. Complete Arkansas Business and Law requirements. Arkansas requires a Business and Law test for new commercial contractor licensing applicants unless an applicable accepted alternative applies.
4. Identify the qualifying party. Arkansas contractor license applications must be supported by a qualifying party who has satisfactorily completed examinations required by the Board.
5. Prepare the commercial contractor application. Complete the application for the appropriate license type and provide the requested business and qualifying-party information.
6. Provide required financial documentation. Arkansas commercial contractor licensing includes financial qualification requirements based on the requested license and classification.
7. Submit the application for Board review. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board reviews the application and supporting documentation before issuing the applicable contractor license.

NASCLA examination portability can reduce the need to repeat the same commercial trade examination when pursuing licenses in multiple participating jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction still maintains its own licensing application, state-specific testing, financial, business, and classification requirements.

State Requirements

An Arkansas commercial contractor license is generally required when a contractor performs covered work valued at $50,000 or more, including labor and materials, on a commercial project. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board identifies projects other than single-family residences as commercial projects for this licensing requirement.

Arkansas requires a Business and Law test for new commercial contractor license applicants. The state-specific business and law component is separate from the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor trade examination. The NASCLA Arkansas, 8th Edition included in this rental package supports Arkansas Business and Law preparation.

Arkansas applications may be filed under recognized business structures including an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or another business organization recognized by the Arkansas Secretary of State. Each license application must be supported by a qualifying party who has completed the examinations required by the Board.

Financial requirements also apply. For example, current Arkansas commercial contractor rules establish minimum business-related net worth requirements by classification and distinguish between restricted and unrestricted commercial licenses. Candidates should plan for examination preparation and the financial qualification portion of the licensing process as separate requirements.

A NASCLA passing score is an examination credential rather than a contractor license. Candidates must still obtain the appropriate Arkansas license before performing work for which state contractor licensing is required.

Reference Books

The following rental books are included in the Arkansas NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Books & Courses Rental package:

• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Arkansas, 8th Edition
  Arkansas-specific contractor material covering Business and Law topics associated with the state's licensing requirements.
• Included Rental Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and related building systems from a construction-management perspective.
• Included Rental Book: ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  Provides technical accessibility requirements for building elements, routes, spaces, facilities, and related features.
• Included Rental Book: BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses handling, installation, restraint, and bracing practices for metal plate connected wood trusses.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  Covers framing, carpentry, construction materials, building methods, layout, and structural components.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Contains federal construction-industry safety regulations covering workplace hazards and OSHA requirements.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Addresses field supervision, jobsite organization, personnel, planning, productivity, documentation, and coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Covers project planning, administration, scheduling, coordination, controls, and construction-management practices.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
  A contractor-focused reference covering business, contracts, financial management, project management, and construction administration.
• Included Rental Book: Erectors' Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of PreCast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Provides standards and field guidance associated with the erection of precast concrete products.
• Included Rental Book: Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2011, 2nd Edition
  Introduces sustainable construction principles and green building practices.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  Covers gypsum products, assemblies, wall and ceiling systems, and installation practices.
• Included Rental Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
  Addresses field practices for handling and erecting steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Rental Book: International Building Code, 2021
  A primary commercial building code addressing occupancy, construction types, means of egress, fire protection, structural provisions, and related requirements.
• Included Rental Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  A technical structural concrete standard addressing reinforced concrete construction requirements.
• Included Rental Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  Covers fundamental field concepts and practices associated with unbonded post-tensioning construction.
• Included Rental Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Covers masonry materials, tools, layout, brick, block, stone, and construction methods.
• Included Rental Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Addresses excavation, trenching, underground pipe installation, equipment, site conditions, and related construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  A comprehensive commercial construction reference covering building materials, methods, systems, and field practices.
• Included Rental Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  Covers roofing materials, systems, construction methods, measurements, quantities, and estimating concepts.
• Included Rental Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Provides technical guidance for reinforcing-steel placement in concrete construction.
• Included Rental Book: SDI (Steel Deck Institute) Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  Addresses steel deck handling, placement, installation, and related construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction - 4th Edition
  Covers concrete materials, preparation, placement, finishing, workmanship, and quality construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage, 2017
  Addresses exterior insulation and finish systems and EIFS assemblies incorporating drainage.
• Included Rental Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites, United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Provides construction-site guidance for developing and implementing stormwater pollution prevention plans.

Exam Room Approved Books

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination is open book and uses an approved reference list. The national commercial construction references included in this package support preparation for the NASCLA trade examination, while the Arkansas-specific NASCLA 8th Edition supports Arkansas Business and Law preparation.

Candidates should practice with the applicable reference materials throughout their course access period. Becoming familiar with code chapters, indexes, technical tables, definitions, and subject organization can make exam-day research more efficient.

The Arkansas Business and Law reference serves a different purpose from the national NASCLA commercial trade references, so candidates should organize their study according to the examination they are preparing to take.

Test Information and Study Materials

The most effective way to use a large NASCLA reference library is to connect each examination topic with the books that address it. For example, OSHA questions can direct candidates toward 29 CFR Part 1926, commercial building-code questions toward the International Building Code, and structural concrete questions toward ACI 318.

Construction-management questions may require familiarity with project-management, jobsite-management, and business references. Technical subjects such as masonry, steel deck, reinforcing steel, roofing, wood trusses, gypsum systems, excavation, accessibility, and mechanical or electrical systems each have dedicated references in the package.

The included 6 months of course access provides candidates with a structured period for studying these topics and practicing reference navigation. A productive routine can include content review, practice questions, book-navigation exercises, and timed study sessions.

When practicing, avoid immediately searching every question. Determine the subject first, select the most likely reference, and then use its index, table of contents, chapter structure, or tabs to locate the information. This approach can help candidates develop better time-management habits for the open-book examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Arkansas NASCLA candidates combine reference materials with an organized study structure. Instead of purchasing a large technical library and determining how to study it independently, candidates can use the rental books together with course-based preparation focused on the commercial contractor examination.

The highlighted and tabbed rental references support efficient navigation practice, while the course helps candidates work through trade-focused review and practice-oriented preparation. The objective is to build familiarity with both the construction subjects and the books used to research technical information.

With 6 months of course access and a six-month rental period, candidates can establish a consistent study schedule, work through major subject areas, practice navigating the books, and strengthen their familiarity with codes, construction standards, management concepts, and trade knowledge.

1 Exam Prep emphasizes organized study guidance, reference navigation, trade-focused review, practice, and confidence-building preparation without relying on shortcuts. For an extensive open-book examination such as NASCLA, that combination can provide a clearer path through a large amount of technical material.

Is the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam open book?

Yes. The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book examination using approved reference materials.

How many questions are on the NASCLA exam?

The examination contains 115 scored questions. Candidates must answer at least 81 questions correctly to pass.

How much time is allowed for the NASCLA exam?

Candidates receive 330 minutes, or 5 hours and 30 minutes, to complete the examination.

Does Arkansas accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination?

Yes. Arkansas participates in the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination program for applicable licensing purposes.

How long is course access included?

The package includes 6 months of course access.

Are the books purchased or rented?

The books included with this package are rental books. They must be returned within six months in similar condition for the refundable deposit to qualify for a refund.

What is the refundable deposit?

The refundable book deposit is $1,000. The package price is $2,539, making the total initial payment $3,539.

Are the rental books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. All rental books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation and organized reference navigation.

How long should I allow for the rental package order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for book and course rental package orders.

Does passing NASCLA automatically give me an Arkansas contractor license?

No. A passing NASCLA result can satisfy an applicable trade examination requirement, but candidates must still meet Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board requirements.

Does Arkansas require a Business and Law test?

Yes. Arkansas requires a Business and Law test for new commercial contractor license applicants unless an applicable accepted alternative applies.