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

Prepare for the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete reference package featuring highlighted and permanently tabbed books.

This Mississippi NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set combines the Mississippi NASCLA Business Book with the listed commercial construction references used to study the NASCLA trade examination. The package supports preparation across contractor business practices, project management, jobsite operations, safety, building codes, accessibility, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, excavation, exterior systems, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

Every book in the package is prepared with highlighting and permanent tabs. Highlighting helps direct attention to useful definitions, code provisions, tables, construction methods, and business concepts. Permanent tabs create clear navigation points throughout the reference library, helping candidates move more efficiently between important chapters and subject areas.

The NASCLA examination is open book, but the size of the approved reference library makes advance preparation essential. Candidates must understand the commercial construction subjects while also learning which book applies to each question. A prepared library helps candidates practice identifying the correct reference and locating supporting information through indexes, tables of contents, code sections, definitions, diagrams, and technical tables.

The Mississippi NASCLA Business Book supports preparation for the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination. All Mississippi contractor applicants are required to complete the state law-and-business examination, even when the NASCLA examination is selected for the Building Construction trade component.

Please allow an additional 15 business days for 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 examinations connected with Mississippi commercial contractor licensing: the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.

The Mississippi Law and Business Management examination focuses on the responsibilities involved in operating a contracting company in the state. Candidates should be prepared to review contractor licensing, business organization, financial management, estimating, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, safety, project administration, and other business subjects addressed in the Mississippi NASCLA Business Book.

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination addresses the technical knowledge used to plan, supervise, coordinate, and complete commercial building projects. The examination covers a broad range of subjects rather than concentrating on one construction specialty.

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

Mississippi Building Construction applicants may choose between the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors determines the examinations for which an applicant is eligible.

Mississippi contractor examinations are administered through PSI after the candidate applies to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors and receives examination eligibility. Candidates should register only for the examinations approved by the Board.

Passing the NASCLA examination does not automatically issue a Mississippi contractor license. The applicant must also pass the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination and complete the applicable business, qualifying-party, financial, insurance, classification, and 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 reference books to the testing location. The testing center does not supply the complete technical library.

Open-book testing requires more than having the books available. The library contains thousands of pages across codes, textbooks, standards, manuals, and specialty construction guides. Candidates who are unfamiliar with the books may spend too much time searching unrelated references.

A practical exam strategy begins with identifying the primary 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 reinforcing-bar placement may be found in Placing Reinforcing Bars. Concrete field practices 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. Wood-truss questions may require the BCSI guide, while precast and post-tensioning questions rely on their respective specialty publications.

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

The highlighting and permanent tabs in this package support faster navigation, but candidates should still study with the books before test day. Repeated practice helps candidates understand what each tab represents and how the highlighted information fits within the surrounding chapter or code provision.

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

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate Mississippi classification. Applicants pursuing commercial general building authority should review the Building Construction classification and confirm that it matches their intended work.
2. Identify the qualifying party. Each company applying for a Certificate of Responsibility must designate the individual responsible for completing the required examinations.
3. Complete the Mississippi contractor application. Submit the requested business, ownership, classification, qualifying-party, and contact information to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
4. Provide qualifying-party documentation. The company must provide the employment documentation required to connect the qualifying party with the applicant business.
5. Submit supporting business documents. Supply the financial, insurance, and other materials required for the requested commercial license.
6. Receive examination eligibility. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors reviews the application and notifies PSI of the examinations the candidate is approved to take.
7. Prepare for Mississippi Law and Business Management. Study the Mississippi NASCLA Business Book and practice locating state business information efficiently.
8. Select the approved trade examination. Building Construction applicants may choose the NASCLA examination or the Mississippi-specific Building Construction examination when approved.
9. Schedule the examinations through PSI. Register only for the examinations listed in the candidate’s eligibility notice.
10. Pass the required examinations. Complete the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination and the approved Building Construction trade examination.
11. Transmit the NASCLA result when applicable. A passing NASCLA examination result may be sent to Mississippi through the NASCLA National Examination Database.
12. Complete the Board’s licensing review. The Board evaluates the application, examination results, qualifying-party information, financial documents, insurance records, and other required materials.

State Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors regulates commercial and residential contractor licensing in the state. Contractors performing work that falls within Mississippi licensing laws must obtain the appropriate license and classification before offering or performing regulated services.

Building Construction is a major Mississippi commercial classification. Candidates applying for this classification may choose the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination.

All Mississippi applicants must complete the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination. A passing NASCLA result addresses the accepted technical trade-examination component but does not replace the state business examination.

The contractor license is issued to the business entity. Each company applying for a Certificate of Responsibility must designate a qualifying individual to complete the applicable examinations. The qualifying individual must remain associated with the company for the license to continue in good standing.

Applicants must submit proof connecting the qualifying party with the business. The Board may accept employment or company records identified in the current application instructions.

New applicants receive a limited eligibility period in which to complete the approved examinations. Candidates who do not complete the required examinations during that period may need to reapply with the Board before receiving new examination eligibility.

The application process also includes financial and insurance requirements. Applicants should submit current documents in the form requested by the Board and make sure the business name is consistent across the application, insurance records, and financial materials.

Passing an examination and purchasing this book set do not create a contractor license. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors must approve the complete application before the business may operate under the requested classification.

Reference Books

• Mississippi NASCLA Business Book
  Used for Mississippi Law and Business Management examination preparation and focused on contractor licensing, business organization, finance, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, safety, and project administration.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, safety, productivity, quality control, coordination, and daily construction operations.
• Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project organization, estimating, scheduling, contracts, cost control, risk management, communication, quality, and project closeout.
• ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Provides structural concrete requirements and commentary involving materials, reinforcement, design, durability, construction, and inspection.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses recommended procedures 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, project management, finance, contracts, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety, and risk management.
• 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.
• 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, productivity, and site safety.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Provides information about gypsum products, wall and ceiling assemblies, fire-resistant systems, installation methods, finishing, and construction details.
• 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, concrete 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, structural systems, building components, sequencing, construction methods, 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, construction materials, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and common building procedures.
• ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2017
  Provides technical accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, rooms, fixtures, controls, communication elements, and building features.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, measurements, quantities, flashing, drainage, estimating, and project 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 requirements involving occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, structural provisions, and building systems.
• 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.
• ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems and EIFS with Drainage
  Provides requirements involving exterior insulation and finish systems, materials, installation, drainage, flashing, joints, and system performance.
• 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.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by separating the Mississippi business reference from the NASCLA technical library. This creates a focused plan for the state examination while allowing the commercial trade books to be studied by subject.

Organize the technical references into groups such as project management, safety, codes, accessibility, site work, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Practice selecting the correct book before searching for an answer. Read a sample question, identify the central topic, choose the publication most likely to contain the information, and use the permanent tabs, index, or table of contents to locate the relevant section.

Timed navigation exercises help candidates develop a consistent open-book method. The objective is to recognize the subject, select the correct reference, locate the supporting information, and evaluate the available answers without searching unrelated books.

Review incorrect answers carefully. A missed question may reveal a knowledge gap, an incorrect reference choice, a misunderstood term, or inefficient navigation. Identifying the reason can help create a more focused study plan.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Mississippi contractor candidates turn a large business and technical reference library into an organized exam-preparation system. The highlighted and permanently tabbed books reduce the initial setup work and provide a consistent structure for studying.

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

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to use the books actively. Students can work through questions, identify important terms, select the correct publication, and use the prepared tabs to locate applicable construction information.

Reference-navigation practice is especially important for the open-book NASCLA examination. Familiarity with the highlighting, indexes, chapters, code provisions, and technical tables helps candidates develop a clearer and more efficient testing method.

The included Mississippi business reference also helps candidates review the responsibilities involved in operating a contracting company. This supports preparation in licensing, contracts, finance, employment, insurance, safety, and project administration.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete highlighted and tabbed set provides organized study support, trade-focused references, navigation practice, and a confidence-building preparation structure.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Mississippi NASCLA Business Book and all 24 listed technical references for the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. The complete set is highlighted and permanently tabbed.

How long does book preparation take?

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

Is the Mississippi Business Book included?

Yes. The Mississippi NASCLA Business Book used for Mississippi Law and Business Management examination preparation is included.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. Building Construction applicants may choose the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination.

Is Mississippi Law and Business still required?

Yes. All Mississippi contractor applicants must complete the Mississippi Law and Business Management 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 Mississippi license?

No. Applicants must complete the Mississippi licensing process and satisfy all applicable business, qualifying-party, financial, insurance, classification, and application requirements.

Why are highlighting and tabs helpful?

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

Should I study with the prepared books before the examination?

Yes. Repeated practice helps candidates learn which reference applies to each subject and become familiar with the highlighting and tabbing system.

Are the books provided at the testing center?

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

Can I add loose notes to the books?

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