Georgia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set - Highlighted & Tabbed

Prepare for the Georgia Business and Law examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete set of highlighted and permanently tabbed reference books. This package combines the Georgia-specific contractor business book with the commercial construction references used to study the technical NASCLA examination.

The Georgia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set is designed for candidates who want an organized reference library for both parts of the Georgia general contractor examination process. The collection covers contractor business practices, project management, jobsite supervision, safety, building codes, accessibility, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, excavation, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Every book in the package is prepared with highlighting and permanent tabs. Highlighting draws attention to useful definitions, requirements, tables, and concepts, while tabs create convenient navigation points throughout the references. This preparation helps candidates spend less time setting up the books and more time learning how the reference library is organized.

The NASCLA examination is open book, but the size of its reference library makes preparation essential. Candidates must be able to identify the subject of a question, select the appropriate book, and locate the relevant chapter, index entry, code section, table, definition, or technical illustration efficiently. An organized set of highlighted and tabbed references supports this process.

The included Georgia NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management supports preparation for the Georgia Business and Law examination. Georgia general contractor and general contractor limited-tier applicants must complete the NASCLA trade examination and the Georgia Business and Law examination as part of the examination pathway for licensure.

Please allow 15 business days for preparation of highlighted and tabbed book package orders. This preparation period allows the complete set to be assembled, inspected, highlighted, permanently tabbed, and organized before shipment.

Exam Details

This complete reference package supports preparation for two separate examinations associated with Georgia commercial general contractor licensing: the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Georgia Business and Law examination.

The NASCLA examination addresses the technical knowledge used to plan, manage, supervise, and complete commercial building projects. Its broad subject coverage reflects the responsibilities of a commercial general contractor coordinating multiple construction trades and project phases.

The listed references address construction jobsite management, project management, estimating, contracts, safety, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast concrete, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, masonry, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, commercial building codes, stormwater controls, green building, gypsum construction, exterior insulation systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The Georgia Business and Law examination focuses on the legal, financial, administrative, and operational responsibilities involved in conducting a contracting business in Georgia. Study areas include contractor licensing, business organization, financial management, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, bonding, safety, liens, project administration, and other state-specific business requirements.

Georgia uses PSI to administer its contractor examination program. Eligibility to take the Georgia licensing examinations is determined through the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. Candidates must follow the Board’s application and examination-approval procedures before scheduling.

General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier candidates must pass both the Georgia Business and Law examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors within the eligibility period provided after approval. Passing the examinations does not independently issue a contractor license. Applicants must complete the licensing application and satisfy all other Georgia requirements.

Candidates who have previously passed the NASCLA examination may transmit their results to Georgia through the NASCLA National Examination Database. The transcript is paired with the applicant’s Georgia licensing materials, but it does not replace the state Business and Law examination or the remaining application requirements.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book examination. Candidates are responsible for obtaining and bringing permitted references to the testing center. The examination site does not provide the complete book library.

The open-book format allows candidates to consult approved publications, but it does not eliminate the need for detailed study. The reference set contains thousands of pages across codes, textbooks, manuals, standards, and technical guides. Candidates who are unfamiliar with the books may spend too much time searching for information during the examination.

A reliable open-book strategy starts with recognizing the subject of the question. The candidate should then select the publication most likely to contain the answer and use the index, table of contents, chapter headings, definitions, code sections, or technical tables to locate the relevant material.

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

Accessibility questions may rely on ICC A117.1, while broader commercial code questions may require 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.

The highlighting and permanent tabs in this package support faster reference navigation. Candidates should still practice with the books before test day so they understand what each tab represents and how the highlighted material fits within the surrounding chapter or code section.

All references brought into the testing room must comply with the current examination rules. Candidates should review the applicable candidate bulletin before test day and avoid adding loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, or other prohibited materials.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate Georgia license type. Determine whether the applicant is seeking a General Contractor or General Contractor Limited Tier license and whether the license will be held by an individual or through a qualifying agent.
2. Review the application requirements. Applicants should understand the experience, financial, insurance, qualifying-party, examination, and supporting-document requirements for the selected license.
3. Complete the Georgia application. Submit the required business, personal, ownership, qualifying-agent, and classification information through the Georgia licensing process.
4. Provide supporting documentation. The application may require experience verification, financial information, insurance documentation, references, affidavits, and other materials.
5. Receive examination approval. The Georgia Board determines eligibility before the candidate may schedule the required examinations.
6. Prepare for the Georgia Business and Law examination. Study the Georgia-specific NASCLA business book and practice locating information efficiently.
7. Prepare for the NASCLA trade examination. Use the complete technical reference set to review construction subjects and practice open-book navigation.
8. Schedule the examinations through PSI. Approved candidates follow PSI’s registration and scheduling procedures.
9. Pass both required examinations. General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier candidates must complete the Georgia Business and Law and NASCLA trade examinations.
10. Submit or transmit examination results. Previously earned NASCLA results may be transmitted through the NASCLA National Examination Database when applicable.
11. Complete the licensing review. The Georgia Board reviews the application, examination results, experience, financial documents, insurance information, and other required materials.
12. Receive the license before contracting. Applicants must obtain the appropriate Georgia license before offering or performing covered commercial general contractor services for compensation.

State Requirements

The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors regulates commercial general contractor licensing. A person or business offering or performing covered general contractor services for compensation must hold the appropriate state license unless the work falls within a recognized exemption.

Georgia offers General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier licenses. The unlimited General Contractor license and the Limited Tier license have different scopes and financial requirements. Applicants should choose the license category that matches the size and nature of the projects they intend to perform.

A license may be issued to an individual or connected with a business through a qualifying agent. The application type should reflect how the applicant intends to conduct business. Qualifying-agent applicants must satisfy the requirements associated with representing and qualifying the business entity.

Georgia candidates applying by examination must pass the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Georgia Business and Law examination. The Business and Law requirement also applies in situations where an applicant uses a previously earned NASCLA result.

Applicants must demonstrate the experience required for the selected license. The documentation should accurately describe the applicant’s responsibilities, project involvement, supervisory duties, and commercial construction background.

Financial responsibility is part of the licensing process. The required financial information depends on the license type and application category. Applicants should submit current, complete documents that meet the Board’s instructions.

Insurance and business documentation may also be required. Applicants should review the current checklist for their exact application type and provide every requested item. Missing forms, incomplete affidavits, unresolved qualifying-agent information, or insufficient financial materials can delay the licensing review.

Georgia contractor licenses must be renewed according to the state’s renewal schedule. Commercial general contractor licenses are renewed by June 30 of even-numbered years. License holders are responsible for maintaining the required status and completing renewal before the applicable deadline.

Reference Books

• Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, fire-protection, electrical, lighting, communication, and building-control systems coordinated during commercial construction.
• ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  Provides accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, spaces, fixtures, controls, communication elements, and building features.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses recommended procedures for handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  Covers construction materials, carpentry tools, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and common building procedures.
• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926
  Contains federal occupational safety and health requirements involving construction operations, fall protection, excavation, scaffolding, equipment, and electrical safety.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, documentation, communication, safety, productivity, quality control, and daily operations.
• Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project organization, estimating, scheduling, contracts, cost control, risk management, communication, quality, and closeout.
• NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
  Explains contractor business practices, financial management, contracts, insurance, employment responsibilities, project administration, safety, and risk.
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Covers precast erection planning, handling, rigging, bracing, alignment, connections, field procedures, and safety.
• Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2nd Edition, 2011
  Introduces sustainable construction, energy efficiency, water conservation, materials, building performance, and indoor environmental quality.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  Provides information about gypsum products, wall and ceiling assemblies, fire-resistant systems, installation methods, finishing, and construction details.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
  Provides guidance for receiving, storing, handling, placing, bridging, and erecting steel joists and joist girders.
• International Building Code, 2021 Edition
  Contains commercial building requirements involving occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, structural provisions, and building systems.
• ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Provides requirements and commentary involving structural concrete design, reinforcement, materials, durability, construction, and inspection.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  Reviews field procedures for handling, installing, stressing, inspecting, and protecting unbonded post-tensioning systems.
• Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Reviews masonry materials, mortar, tools, layout, brick, concrete block, stone, estimating, construction methods, and safety.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Covers excavation, grading, trenching, underground utilities, pipe installation, equipment, estimating, productivity, and site safety.
• Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, methods, structural systems, building components, sequencing, and field practices.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, measurements, flashing, drainage, quantities, estimating, and planning.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Covers reinforcing-bar identification, supports, placement, splices, tolerances, detailing, handling, and field installation.
• SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  Explains steel-deck receiving, storage, placement, fastening, construction loading, field modifications, and installation safety.
• The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  Explains concrete materials, preparation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, quality control, and problem prevention.
• Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites
  Explains stormwater planning, erosion and sediment controls, pollution prevention, inspections, documentation, and construction-site responsibilities.
• Georgia NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, 3rd Edition
  Supports preparation for the Georgia Business and Law examination with state-focused material involving licensing, contracts, finance, insurance, employment, safety, liens, and project administration.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by separating the Georgia Business and Law reference from the NASCLA technical library. This makes it easier to create a focused study plan for each required examination.

For Business and Law preparation, review the Georgia guide’s chapter structure and index. Practice locating information involving licensing, contracts, financial management, insurance, workers’ compensation, liens, employment responsibilities, safety, and project administration.

For the NASCLA examination, organize the technical books into manageable groups. Create separate groups for project management, safety, building codes, accessibility, concrete, structural systems, masonry, carpentry, roofing, excavation, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Practice identifying the correct book before searching for the answer. Read a sample question, isolate the main subject, select the publication most likely to contain the information, and then use the tabs, index, or table of contents to locate the applicable section.

Timed exercises help candidates develop a repeatable open-book process. The goal is to recognize the topic, select the correct reference, find the supporting material, and evaluate the answers without spending unnecessary time searching unrelated books.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Georgia contractor candidates turn a large business and technical reference library into an organized preparation system. Highlighting and permanent tabs reduce the initial setup work and give candidates a consistent structure for studying.

Trade-focused review becomes more manageable when the references are divided by subject. Candidates can connect concrete, masonry, steel, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project-management, and building-system questions with the publications most likely to contain the answers.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to use the books actively. Students can work through questions, recognize important terms, choose the correct publication, and use the prepared tabs to locate technical information.

Reference-navigation practice is especially important for an open-book examination with a large library. Becoming familiar with the highlighting, indexes, chapters, code sections, and technical tables helps candidates develop a more efficient exam-day method.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete highlighted and tabbed book set provides organized study support, trade-focused preparation, reference-navigation practice, and a stronger foundation for pursuing a Georgia commercial general contractor license.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Georgia Business and Law reference and all listed NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination books. The complete set is highlighted and permanently tabbed.

How long does book preparation take?

Please allow 15 business days for the highlighted and tabbed package to be prepared before shipment.

Is the Georgia Business and Law book included?

Yes. The Georgia NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 3rd Edition, is included for Georgia Business and Law examination preparation.

Which examinations are required for Georgia general contractors?

General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier applicants using the examination pathway must pass the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination and the Georgia Business and Law examination.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

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

Does passing NASCLA automatically issue a Georgia license?

No. Candidates must complete the Georgia application process, pass the required Georgia Business and Law examination, and satisfy the applicable experience, financial, insurance, and licensing requirements.

Why are highlighting and tabs useful?

Highlighting identifies useful material, while permanent tabs help candidates reach major chapters, code sections, tables, and construction subjects more efficiently.

Should I study with the prepared books before test day?

Yes. Repeated practice helps candidates understand the tabbing system, learn which reference applies to each subject, and improve open-book navigation.

Are the books supplied at the examination center?

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

Can loose notes be added to the books?

Books must comply with current testing rules. Candidates should avoid loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, and other prohibited materials.