Florida NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Books & Courses Rental

Prepare for the Florida Business and Finance examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete rental package designed for organized, open-book study. This package combines the Florida Business and Finance Book Set with a comprehensive collection of highlighted and tabbed NASCLA trade references, plus business and trade courses with 6 months of course access.

The package supports candidates preparing for the business, financial, administrative, and commercial construction knowledge connected with Florida contractor licensing. The reference library covers project management, jobsite operations, contracts, estimating, concrete, masonry, structural systems, wood construction, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, building codes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, stormwater management, and other major commercial building subjects.

Each rental reference is highlighted and tabbed to make a large technical library easier to organize and navigate. Open-book contractor examinations still require focused preparation. Candidates must recognize the topic being tested, select the correct reference, locate the applicable chapter or code section, interpret the information, and manage their testing time effectively.

The included business and trade courses provide a structured preparation path. Candidates can use the courses to review important concepts, work through practice-oriented material, develop reference-navigation skills, and identify subjects that need additional study. The six-month access period provides time to build a consistent schedule and become familiar with the books before test day.

The package price is $3,156. A $1,000 refundable rental-book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $4,156. The deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned within six months in similar condition. Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

Exam Details

This package supports preparation for the Florida Business and Finance examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. Florida contractor licensing is regulated by the Construction Industry Licensing Board within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The NASCLA examination is a standardized trade examination accepted by participating licensing agencies. Florida accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination through its certification-by-endorsement pathway for qualifying applicants seeking certification as a general, building, or residential contractor.

An applicant using the NASCLA endorsement pathway must also pass the Florida Business and Finance examination and attest to having passed an examination covering the Florida Building Code. Passing NASCLA by itself does not create a Florida contractor license or replace the additional requirements imposed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board.

The NASCLA examination addresses the trade portion of commercial general building knowledge. The included reference set covers project management, jobsite management, general construction requirements, site work, concrete, masonry, metals, wood construction, thermal and moisture protection, roofing, openings, finishes, accessibility, mechanical systems, electrical systems, safety, procurement, and contracting.

The Florida Business and Finance examination focuses on the business side of operating a contracting company. Preparation may involve business organization, financial management, accounting, contracts, estimating, payroll, taxes, insurance, workers’ compensation, project administration, lien responsibilities, and other contractor business subjects.

Florida candidates pursuing the regular certified general contractor examination route generally complete the Business and Finance, Contract Administration, and Project Management examination parts. Candidates using NASCLA for endorsement follow the requirements established for that application pathway rather than assuming that a NASCLA result automatically replaces every Florida examination component.

Open Book Test

The Florida construction licensing examinations and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors use approved reference materials. Candidates are responsible for bringing permitted books and following the current rules for references, tabs, highlighting, bindings, markings, and supplemental materials.

Open-book testing does not remove the need to understand the material. The combined Florida and NASCLA library contains thousands of pages. Candidates cannot depend on reading full chapters during an examination. They need to identify the subject, choose the right book, locate the supporting section, and interpret the information efficiently.

The highlighted and tabbed rental books are prepared to support reference navigation. Tabs can make major chapters, construction divisions, business subjects, and code sections easier to find. Highlighting can draw attention to selected definitions, procedures, formulas, tables, requirements, and technical concepts.

Candidates should work with the books throughout the six-month course-access period. When completing practice questions, locate the supporting information in the applicable reference and review the surrounding section. This approach builds subject knowledge while helping candidates remember where information is located.

Testing policies may restrict loose paper, removable notes, handwritten inserts, temporary tabs, or other materials. Candidates should review the current examination instructions before test day and inspect every reference to confirm that it complies with the applicable testing rules.

Licensing Steps

1. Choose the appropriate Florida contractor license type. Determine whether certified general contractor licensure or another contractor category matches the work you intend to perform.
2. Choose the applicable licensing pathway. Review the regular examination pathway and the certification-by-endorsement pathway to determine which process applies to your qualifications.
3. Review the NASCLA endorsement requirements. Applicants relying on NASCLA must satisfy Florida’s conditions for using that examination through endorsement.
4. Prepare for the Florida Business and Finance examination. Study contractor accounting, finance, contracts, taxes, insurance, project administration, employment responsibilities, and business operations.
5. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the NASCLA application and receive authorization before scheduling the commercial general building examination.
6. Study the approved trade references. Use the highlighted and tabbed rental books with the trade course to review the major commercial building subjects.
7. Pass the required examinations. Complete the NASCLA examination, Florida Business and Finance examination, and any additional examination requirement connected with the selected licensing pathway.
8. Meet the Florida Building Code condition. Applicants using NASCLA through endorsement must satisfy Florida’s requirement concerning an examination that covers the Florida Building Code.
9. Document experience and education. Prepare records showing the experience or approved combination of education and experience required for certified contractor licensure.
10. Complete the background requirements. Submit fingerprints and other background information required for the contractor application.
11. Demonstrate financial responsibility. Provide the credit, financial, and supporting information required for the application.
12. Obtain required insurance. Arrange workers’ compensation coverage or an applicable exemption and obtain the required liability and property-damage insurance.
13. Submit the Florida license application. File the correct application with the required examination, business, experience, background, financial, and insurance documentation.
14. Receive approval before contracting. Do not offer or perform work requiring Florida certification until the license has been approved and issued.

State Requirements

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board regulates certified and registered construction contractors. A certified contractor may work throughout Florida within the scope of the approved license, while a registered contractor operates within the local jurisdictions recognized by the registration.

A certified general contractor license permits work within the scope established by Florida law and Board rules. Applicants should select the correct license category based on the construction services they intend to offer.

Florida’s NASCLA pathway is an endorsement process rather than an automatic trade-exam substitution for every applicant. Applicants seeking endorsement with a NASCLA result must satisfy Florida’s conditions, including passing the Florida Business and Finance examination and meeting the Florida Building Code examination requirement.

Applicants for certified contractor licensure are generally required to demonstrate four years of qualifying experience or an accepted combination of education and experience. The application must document the type, duration, and level of construction responsibility required for the selected license.

Applicants must also satisfy background-screening, financial-responsibility, insurance, and application requirements. The Board reviews the complete application before issuing a license. Passing examinations alone does not guarantee approval.

A licensed contractor may qualify a business organization when the applicable qualifying-agent requirements are satisfied. The contractor and business remain responsible for compliance with Florida licensing laws, permits, building codes, supervision requirements, and financial obligations.

Local governments may impose business-tax, permit, zoning, inspection, and registration requirements. State certification does not replace permits or approvals required for an individual project.

Reference Books

• Included Rental Book: Florida Business and Finance Book Set
  A coordinated set of Florida references used to prepare for contractor business, finance, accounting, contracts, administration, and licensing-related subjects.
• 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, procurement, contracts, and construction administration.
• Included Rental Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Contains code requirements and commentary for structural concrete materials, design, construction, durability, 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 handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal-plate-connected wood trusses.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic 14th Edition
  Covers business organization, estimating, contracts, project management, labor, safety, 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, temporary stability, and safety for precast concrete construction.
• Included Rental Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
  Introduces materials, installation procedures, field practices, safety, 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 field coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011, Dave Roberts
  Reviews excavation, trenching, grading, underground piping, equipment, safety, estimating, and production practices.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Covers gypsum products, wall and ceiling assemblies, installation, finishing, fire resistance, and sound control.
• Included Rental Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Provides guidance for reinforcing-bar handling, placement, supports, splices, tolerances, drawings, and field practices.
• Included Rental Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  Addresses handling, erection, bridging, stability, and 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, reinforcement, estimating, and construction practices.
• Included Rental Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, building systems, drawings, specifications, and field methods.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926, with Latest Available Amendments
  Contains federal OSHA construction safety and health requirements applicable to construction workplaces.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Student Edition, John L. Feirer and Mark D. Feirer
  Covers building layout, framing, structural components, exterior construction, interior finishes, and carpentry methods.
• 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 concrete preparation, placement, finishing, curing, quality control, and troubleshooting practices.
• 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 control, 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, controls, and building-service systems for construction managers.

Test Information and Study Materials

Separate your preparation into Florida Business and Finance study and NASCLA trade study. For the Florida examination, focus on accounting, financial management, contracts, estimating, payroll, taxes, insurance, workers’ compensation, project administration, business organization, and contractor responsibilities.

For NASCLA preparation, organize the references by construction discipline. Before opening a book, identify which publication is most likely to contain the answer. This habit reduces unnecessary searching and creates a more consistent open-book testing strategy.

Use the rental books while completing the courses. When a topic is introduced, locate the related chapter, code provision, table, formula, or illustration. Review the surrounding material so the subject is understood in context.

Complete timed practice sessions with the books open. Confirm each answer in the appropriate reference and track the subjects that require additional review. Practice selecting the right book quickly rather than searching several unrelated references.

Study across the full range of commercial construction subjects, including project management, jobsite operations, concrete, masonry, steel systems, wood framing, roofing, accessibility, excavation, safety, building codes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, stormwater controls, procurement, and contracting.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Florida contractor candidates with organized study guidance, highlighted and tabbed rental references, business-focused review, trade preparation, and a practical structure for open-book study.

The Florida Business and Finance course helps candidates review contractor accounting, financial responsibilities, contracts, insurance, taxes, payroll, and project administration. The NASCLA trade course provides structured preparation across the major commercial construction subjects represented by the reference library.

The highlighted and tabbed books help turn a large collection of technical publications into a more manageable study system. Candidates can use the prepared references during lessons, independent review, and timed practice to become familiar with each book’s organization.

Practice-oriented preparation can reveal weaker areas before test day. Candidates can adjust their study schedule, revisit difficult references, and spend additional time on unfamiliar business or construction topics.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing score, endorsement approval, application approval, or contractor license. The package provides organized references, structured courses, reference-navigation practice, and focused study support to help candidates approach their Florida licensing goals with greater confidence.

What is included in this rental package?

The package includes the Florida Business and Finance Book Set, the listed highlighted and tabbed NASCLA rental references, a Florida Business and Finance course, a NASCLA trade course, and 6 months of course access.

How much does the package cost?

The package price is $3,156. A refundable $1,000 rental-book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $4,156.

How does the refundable deposit work?

The $1,000 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned within six months 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 package includes 6 months of access to the Florida Business and Finance course and the NASCLA commercial general building trade course.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The rental references are highlighted and tabbed to support organized study and efficient open-book reference navigation.

Does Florida accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. Florida accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination through the certification-by-endorsement pathway for qualifying general, building, and residential contractor applicants.

Is the Florida Business and Finance examination still required?

Yes. Applicants using the NASCLA endorsement pathway must pass the Florida Business and Finance examination.

Is a Florida Building Code examination required?

Applicants using the NASCLA endorsement pathway must attest to having passed an examination covering the Florida Building Code.

Does passing NASCLA automatically provide a Florida license?

No. Applicants must complete the applicable Florida endorsement and licensing process and satisfy all experience, examination, financial, background, insurance, and application requirements.

How long does order processing take?

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

Does this package guarantee a passing score?

No exam-preparation package can guarantee a passing score or license approval. This package provides organized references, business and trade courses, study guidance, and practice-oriented preparation.