Florida NASCLA Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors Complete Book Set

Prepare for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Florida Business and Finance examination with a complete reference package created for contractors pursuing commercial general building licensure in Florida.

This complete book set combines the Florida Business and Finance Book Set with the listed NASCLA commercial building references. Together, the materials support study in contractor business operations, project management, jobsite supervision, safety, accessibility, building codes, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, excavation, exterior systems, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors in place of the applicable Division I trade-knowledge examination through its endorsement process. Applicants using a NASCLA result must still pass the Florida Business and Finance examination and satisfy Florida’s remaining licensing requirements. They must also affirm that they have taken an examination covering the Florida Building Code.

The NASCLA examination uses a large reference library containing thousands of pages. Candidates must understand commercial construction principles while also knowing which publication applies to each type of question. A complete book set allows candidates to study directly from the listed references and develop the navigation skills needed for an open-book examination.

Effective preparation includes learning how each book is organized. Candidates should become familiar with indexes, tables of contents, chapter headings, code sections, definitions, diagrams, and technical tables. Repeated practice with the reference library can help reduce unnecessary searching and improve time management on examination day.

The included Florida Business and Finance Book Set supports preparation for the state-required business examination. That examination is separate from the NASCLA commercial building trade examination and addresses the financial, administrative, legal, and operational responsibilities involved in running a contracting business in Florida.

Exam Details

This complete reference package supports two important parts of the Florida licensing pathway: the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Florida Business and Finance examination.

The NASCLA examination is a standardized commercial construction trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies. It measures knowledge used to plan, manage, supervise, and complete commercial general building projects.

Its broad content is represented by the references in this package. Candidates may encounter questions involving project management, jobsite administration, estimating, contracts, safety, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast construction, post-tensioning, wood trusses, steel decking, steel joists, masonry, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, building codes, stormwater controls, exterior insulation systems, green building, and mechanical and electrical systems.

After passing the NASCLA examination, candidates may use the NASCLA National Examination Database to send an official examination transcript to participating licensing agencies. Each agency maintains its own application, experience, financial, business, and licensing requirements.

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA commercial building examination in lieu of the applicable Florida Division I trade examination through the endorsement process. The NASCLA examination is considered substantially similar to Florida Division I trade-knowledge examinations, including General Contractor, Building Contractor, and Residential Contractor classifications and related specialties.

A NASCLA examination result does not replace the Florida Business and Finance examination. Applicants using the NASCLA endorsement pathway must pass the Florida Business and Finance examination and affirm that they have completed an examination covering the Florida Building Code.

Florida construction examinations are administered through the state’s approved examination process. Professional Testing, Inc. handles candidate registration, development, and scoring for Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board examinations, while Pearson VUE provides computer-based examination scheduling and administration.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book examination. Candidates must obtain and bring the permitted references to the testing location. The testing center does not supply the complete NASCLA book library.

The open-book format allows candidates to consult approved publications, but it does not eliminate the need for study. The size of the reference library makes it impractical to research every question from the beginning during the examination. Candidates should know which book covers each major subject and practice locating information efficiently.

A structural concrete question may require ACI 318, while a question involving reinforcing-bar placement may rely on Placing Reinforcing Bars. A concrete quality question may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. Steel construction questions may involve the Steel Deck Institute manual or the technical digest covering steel joists and joist girders.

Accessibility questions may require ICC A117.1, while broader commercial building-code questions may rely on the International Building Code. Excavation and underground utility questions may involve Pipe and Excavation Contracting, and jobsite safety questions may require 29 CFR Part 1926.

Florida’s Business and Finance examination also permits approved bound references under the current examination rules. Permitted reference materials may contain highlighting and underlining, but handwritten or typewritten notes are not allowed. Candidates should review the current Florida candidate information booklet and reference list before preparing books for the examination.

All materials brought to either examination must comply with the current testing rules. Candidates should avoid loose pages, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, or materials that are not securely bound when binding is required.

Licensing Steps

1. Choose the appropriate Florida contractor classification. Applicants should determine whether they are seeking a Certified General Contractor, Certified Building Contractor, Certified Residential Contractor, or another applicable Division I classification.
2. Determine whether the NASCLA endorsement pathway applies. The applicant must have passed the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and meet Florida’s endorsement requirements.
3. Prepare for the NASCLA examination. Study the listed commercial construction references and practice locating information under timed, open-book conditions.
4. Pass the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. A passing result can be stored and transmitted through the NASCLA National Examination Database.
5. Prepare for the Florida Business and Finance examination. Use the Florida Business and Finance Book Set to review the financial, legal, administrative, and business responsibilities tested by Florida.
6. Pass the Florida Business and Finance examination. NASCLA endorsement applicants must complete this Florida-specific examination.
7. Confirm Florida Building Code coverage. Applicants using the NASCLA pathway must affirm that they have taken an examination covering the Florida Building Code.
8. Complete the appropriate endorsement application. Submit the required application for the requested Florida contractor classification.
9. Send the NASCLA transcript to Florida. Use the NASCLA examination database to transmit the official result to the Florida licensing authority.
10. Provide financial and credit documentation. Florida applicants must demonstrate financial stability and responsibility through the required personal and business credit reports and related documents.
11. Document qualifying experience. The applicant must satisfy the experience or education-and-experience requirements for the requested Florida contractor license.
12. Complete the remaining licensing requirements. These may include fingerprints, insurance, business-entity qualification, application fees, and other documentation required by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.

State Requirements

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board regulates certified and registered construction contractors in the state. A contractor must hold the appropriate Florida license before performing work that requires state licensure.

A Florida Certified General Contractor has an unlimited scope regarding the type of contracting work the license holder may perform, subject to applicable laws, codes, permits, and local requirements. A Certified Building Contractor has a more limited scope involving commercial and residential buildings within the restrictions established for that classification.

Florida accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination through the endorsement process. The NASCLA result may satisfy the applicable Division I trade-knowledge examination requirement, but it does not independently issue a Florida license.

Applicants using the NASCLA endorsement pathway must pass the Florida Business and Finance examination. They must also affirm that they have taken an examination covering the Florida Building Code. The state may require supporting documentation as part of the endorsement review.

Florida applicants must demonstrate financial stability and responsibility. Required materials may include credit reports for the applicant and the qualifying business entity. Additional documentation may be necessary when a credit report does not satisfy the Board’s standards.

Applicants must also meet the experience requirements for the requested license. Florida generally requires four years of qualifying experience or an approved combination of education and experience for certified contractor applicants.

The licensing process may also require electronic fingerprints, public liability and property-damage insurance, workers’ compensation coverage or an applicable exemption, business-entity qualification, and payment of application and licensing fees.

Passing the NASCLA examination and purchasing this book set do not guarantee endorsement or license approval. The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board reviews each application and determines whether the applicant has met all legal and administrative requirements.

Reference Books

• Florida Business and Finance Book Set
  Supports preparation for Florida’s required Business and Finance examination, including contractor finance, accounting, business administration, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, and related state requirements.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers jobsite supervision, field planning, communication, documentation, safety, productivity, quality control, coordination, and daily operations.
• Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project organization, estimating, scheduling, contracts, cost control, risk management, communication, quality, and closeout.
• ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Provides requirements and commentary involving structural concrete design, materials, reinforcement, durability, construction, and inspection.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses recommended practices for receiving, handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.
• NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic 14th Edition
  Explains contractor business practices, contracts, project management, finance, insurance, employment, safety, and risk.
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Covers precast erection planning, rigging, handling, bracing, alignment, connections, field procedures, and safety.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
  Reviews field procedures for handling, installing, stressing, inspecting, and protecting unbonded post-tensioning systems.
• SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition, 2016
  Explains steel-deck receiving, storage, placement, fastening, construction loading, field modifications, and installation safety.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Dave Roberts, 2011
  Covers excavation, grading, trenching, underground utilities, pipe installation, equipment, estimating, production, and site safety.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Provides information about gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, fire-resistant assemblies, installation, and finishing.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars: Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Covers reinforcing-bar identification, supports, placement, splices, tolerances, detailing, handling, and field installation.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  Provides guidance for receiving, storing, handling, placing, bridging, and erecting steel joists and joist girders.
• Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Reviews masonry materials, mortar, tools, layout, brick, block, stone, estimating, construction methods, and safety.
• Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition, Cameron K. Andres and Ronald C. Smith
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, systems, methods, building components, sequencing, and field practices.
• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926, with Latest Available Amendments
  Contains federal construction safety requirements involving jobsite operations, fall protection, excavation, scaffolding, equipment, and electrical safety.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Student Edition, John L. Feirer and Mark D. Feirer
  Covers carpentry tools, materials, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and construction procedures.
• ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2017
  Provides accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, rooms, fixtures, controls, communication elements, and building features.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation, measurements, flashing, drainage, quantities, estimating, and planning.
• The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, 2018
  Explains concrete materials, preparation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, quality control, and problem prevention.
• Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2nd Edition, 2011
  Introduces sustainable construction, energy efficiency, water conservation, materials, building performance, and indoor environmental quality.
• International Building Code, 2021 Edition
  Contains commercial building provisions involving occupancy, construction types, fire protection, egress, accessibility, structural requirements, and building systems.
• Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites
  Explains stormwater planning, erosion controls, pollution prevention, inspections, documentation, and construction-site responsibilities.
• ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems and EIFS with Drainage
  Provides requirements for EIFS materials, installation, drainage, flashing, joints, and system performance.
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition, 2023
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, fire-protection, electrical, lighting, communications, and building-control systems coordinated during construction.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by separating the Florida Business and Finance materials from the NASCLA technical library. Study the Florida materials for the state examination while organizing the NASCLA books by construction subject.

Create groups for project management, safety, codes, accessibility, concrete, structural systems, masonry, carpentry, roofing, excavation, exterior systems, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical systems. This makes the library easier to study and helps connect question topics with the correct publication.

Practice locating answers under timed conditions. Read a sample question, identify its primary subject, select the likely reference, use the index or table of contents, and locate the supporting information.

Review incorrect answers carefully. A missed question may indicate a knowledge gap, a misunderstood term, an incorrect reference choice, or inefficient navigation. Identifying the cause can help improve future study sessions.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Florida contractor candidates organize the state Business and Finance materials and the extensive NASCLA technical library into a focused preparation system.

Trade-focused review connects commercial construction subjects with the references most likely to contain the applicable information. Candidates can study concrete, masonry, metals, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project management, and building systems in manageable groups.

Reference-navigation practice helps students recognize key terms, select the correct publication, and locate code sections, definitions, technical tables, and construction requirements more efficiently.

An organized study structure can make preparation more manageable for contractors balancing examination study with current projects, employment, and business responsibilities.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee an examination result, endorsement approval, or Florida license issuance. The complete book set provides the references and study foundation needed for organized business and trade preparation.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Florida Business and Finance Book Set and the listed NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination references.

Does Florida accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. Florida accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination in lieu of the applicable Division I trade examination through the endorsement process.

Does passing NASCLA automatically provide a Florida license?

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

Must I take the Florida Business and Finance examination?

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

Is Florida Building Code coverage required?

NASCLA endorsement applicants must affirm that they have taken an examination covering the Florida Building Code.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may use approved references that comply with the current examination rules. The testing center does not provide the books.

Are the NASCLA books supplied at the test center?

No. Candidates are responsible for obtaining and bringing all permitted references to the testing location.

Should I use the listed book editions?

Yes. Code provisions, page numbers, technical requirements, and book organization may differ between editions.

Does this set guarantee endorsement approval?

No. Florida reviews each applicant’s examination history, experience, financial responsibility, business information, and supporting documentation before issuing a license.

How should I organize my study plan?

Study the Florida Business and Finance materials separately, group the NASCLA references by trade subject, and practice timed reference searches with the listed books.