Mississippi NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor - Online Exam Prep Course

Prepare for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with an online exam prep course designed for Mississippi contractor candidates. This course provides structured study guidance, commercial construction review, practice-oriented preparation, and open-book reference navigation for one of the industry’s most comprehensive contractor examinations.

The Mississippi NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Online Exam Prep Course helps candidates organize the broad range of subjects associated with commercial building construction. Instead of approaching the examination as one overwhelming body of information, students can review individual knowledge areas such as project management, jobsite operations, safety, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, masonry, carpentry, roofing, excavation, accessibility, building codes, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

Because the NASCLA examination is open book, successful preparation involves both technical knowledge and reference familiarity. Candidates must recognize the subject of a question, determine which publication is most likely to contain the answer, and locate the applicable definition, table, code provision, construction method, or technical requirement efficiently.

The course supports this process by helping students connect commercial construction topics with the appropriate reference books. Practice-oriented study encourages candidates to use the examination library actively instead of relying only on memorization. This approach can strengthen subject recognition, reference selection, time management, and confidence when working through open-book questions.

Mississippi accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors as an alternative to the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination for the Building Construction major classification. Applicants must still complete the Mississippi licensing process and pass the required Mississippi Law and Business Management examination.

This product is an online exam prep course. The reference books listed below are not included unless the selected package specifically states that books are included.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies. It is designed to evaluate the knowledge used to plan, supervise, coordinate, and complete commercial general building projects.

Mississippi recognizes the NASCLA examination for the trade-examination component of the Building Construction major classification. A Mississippi general building contractor candidate may select the NASCLA examination instead of taking the Mississippi-specific Building Construction trade examination.

The NASCLA examination covers multiple construction disciplines rather than one specialty. Candidates should be prepared to review project management, jobsite supervision, estimating, scheduling, contracts, safety, concrete construction, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning, precast erection, structural metals, wood trusses, masonry, excavation, gypsum systems, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, building codes, stormwater controls, exterior insulation systems, and building-service systems.

The extensive scope of the examination is reflected in the reference library. Some publications provide broad commercial construction knowledge, while others address specialty materials, installation methods, safety rules, structural requirements, or code provisions.

Mississippi contractor examinations are administered through PSI. Eligibility for Mississippi examinations is determined through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors application process. Candidates should complete the applicable application requirements and receive authorization before scheduling state examinations.

The Mississippi Law and Business Management examination is separate from the NASCLA technical examination. All Mississippi contractor applicants are required to satisfy the state law-and-business examination requirement, including candidates who use a passing NASCLA result for the trade portion.

After a candidate passes the NASCLA examination, the result is stored in the NASCLA National Examination Database. The candidate can electronically send an examination transcript to Mississippi or another participating licensing agency.

A passing transcript does not automatically create a contractor license. The applicant must follow the Mississippi State Board of Contractors’ application procedures and satisfy the applicable qualifying-party, business, financial, insurance, classification, and documentation 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 the permitted references to the testing location. The testing center does not provide the complete examination library.

Open-book testing allows candidates to consult approved publications, but it does not eliminate the need for preparation. The reference library contains thousands of pages across construction textbooks, codes, standards, manuals, and specialty technical guides.

Searching unfamiliar books without a clear method can use valuable testing time. Candidates should learn the purpose and organization of each reference before examination day. They should also practice identifying the primary subject of a question and selecting the book most likely to contain the answer.

For example, structural concrete questions may require ACI 318, while reinforcing-bar placement questions may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars. Questions involving concrete materials, placement, curing, or quality practices may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction.

Steel construction questions may involve the Steel Deck Institute manual or Technical Digest No. 9. Wood-truss questions may require the BCSI guide. Precast erection and unbonded post-tensioning questions are addressed in their respective specialty references.

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 federal construction-safety questions may involve 29 CFR Part 1926.

The online exam prep course helps candidates practice connecting these subjects with the correct publications. Students can develop a repeatable process: read the question, identify the subject, select the reference, locate the applicable section, and evaluate the available answers.

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 unauthorized loose papers, removable notes, inserts, or other prohibited materials.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate Mississippi classification. Applicants seeking commercial general building authority should review the Building Construction major classification and confirm that it matches their intended scope of work.
2. Identify the qualifying party. The applicant business must designate the individual who will qualify the company by completing the required examinations.
3. Complete the Mississippi contractor application. Submit the requested company, ownership, classification, qualifying-party, and contact information.
4. Provide qualifying-party documentation. Submit the records required to establish the qualifying party’s connection with the applicant business.
5. Submit supporting business materials. Provide the applicable financial, insurance, organizational, and application documents required by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
6. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the application and determines which examinations the candidate is approved to schedule.
7. Prepare for Mississippi Law and Business Management. Study the required Mississippi business reference and become familiar with state contractor responsibilities.
8. Select the approved Building Construction exam option. Eligible candidates may choose the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination.
9. Prepare for the NASCLA examination. Use the online course with the listed references to review technical subjects and practice open-book navigation.
10. Schedule and complete the required examinations. Follow the applicable PSI and NASCLA registration procedures for the examinations the candidate is authorized to take.
11. Transmit the NASCLA result. After passing, send the official transcript to Mississippi through the NASCLA National Examination Database.
12. Complete the licensing review. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors reviews the application, examination results, qualifying-party records, and supporting materials before issuing a license.

State Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors regulates commercial and residential contractor licensing. A contractor performing regulated work must obtain the appropriate license and classification before offering, bidding, or completing work that requires state licensure.

Building Construction is a major Mississippi commercial classification. It applies to qualifying building-construction activities and requires an approved trade examination. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors accepts either the state Building Construction examination or the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.

The license is issued to the applicant business. A qualifying party takes the required examinations on behalf of the individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity seeking the license.

Mississippi allows more than one qualifying party to be associated with a license. One person may qualify the business for the technical classification while another person completes the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination, subject to the Board’s requirements.

All applicants must complete Mississippi Law and Business Management. Passing the NASCLA examination does not waive this state requirement because NASCLA addresses the accepted technical trade portion rather than Mississippi-specific contractor business law.

The application process may include business-entity records, qualifying-party information, proof of employment or affiliation, financial documentation, insurance records, classification details, and other supporting materials requested by the Board.

Candidates should schedule only the examinations for which they have received eligibility. PSI administers Mississippi contractor examinations after the Board completes the applicable application review and provides testing authorization.

Passing the required examinations does not automatically issue a Mississippi contractor license. The entire application must be complete and approved before the business may operate under the requested classification.

Reference Books

The following publications support preparation for the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. These books are separate from the online course unless a selected package specifically states that references are included.

• 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, design, 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 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 practices 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, 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, materials, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and common building 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 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, material selection, 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 construction.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by dividing the examination outline into manageable subject groups. Project management, safety, codes, accessibility, site work, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems can each be reviewed separately.

Pair each course topic with the relevant reference book. After studying a lesson, locate the same subject in the appropriate publication and review how the information is organized. This helps connect course instruction with the physical books used during testing.

Practice questions should be used as navigation exercises as well as knowledge checks. Before answering, identify the main subject, select the likely reference, and locate the supporting information. Avoid relying only on memory when the answer can be confirmed through an approved publication.

Review missed questions carefully. An incorrect answer may reveal a weak technical area, an incorrect book choice, a misunderstood term, or an inefficient search method. Understanding the cause helps candidates use their remaining study time more effectively.

Mississippi candidates should prepare separately for the state Law and Business Management examination. The NASCLA technical course does not replace the Mississippi-specific business examination or its required study material.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Mississippi contractor candidates transform a broad commercial construction examination outline into an organized study plan. The online course provides structured guidance across the major subjects associated with the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination.

Trade-focused review helps students connect construction concepts with the appropriate references. Candidates can study concrete, masonry, structural metals, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project management, and building systems in focused sections.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages active learning. Students can answer questions, identify weak areas, revisit difficult material, and practice finding supporting information within the approved reference library.

Reference-navigation guidance helps candidates develop a consistent open-book process. Students practice identifying key terms, selecting the correct publication, and using indexes, chapter headings, code sections, definitions, diagrams, and technical tables.

The online format supports flexible preparation for candidates balancing employment, construction projects, family responsibilities, and the Mississippi licensing process. Organized lessons make it easier to maintain progress and return to topics that require additional review.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination score, licensing approval, or license issuance. The course provides organized study guidance, trade-focused review, reference-navigation practice, and a confidence-building preparation structure.

FAQ Section

What examination does this course cover?

The course supports preparation for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA commercial building examination?

Yes. Mississippi accepts the NASCLA examination as an alternative to the state Building Construction trade examination for the Building Construction major classification.

Is Mississippi Law and Business Management still required?

Yes. Mississippi contractor applicants must satisfy the state Law and Business Management examination requirement even when using the NASCLA examination for the trade portion.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

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

Are the reference books included with this course?

The listed references are separate unless the selected package specifically states that books are included.

How does the course support open-book preparation?

The course helps candidates connect examination topics with the appropriate books and practice using indexes, chapters, code sections, definitions, and technical tables.

Does passing NASCLA automatically provide a Mississippi license?

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

Who administers Mississippi contractor examinations?

PSI administers Mississippi contractor examinations after the candidate receives eligibility through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

Should I study directly from the listed books?

Yes. Candidates should combine the online course with regular practice using the listed references so the examination library becomes familiar before test day.

Does completing the course guarantee a passing result?

No. Examination results depend on the candidate’s preparation, construction knowledge, reference familiarity, time management, and performance on test day.