Mississippi NASCLA Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors Complete Book Set

Prepare for the Mississippi Business and Law examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete collection of contractor business, project-management, code, safety, and commercial construction references.

This Mississippi NASCLA complete book set combines the Mississippi Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors with the listed technical references used to prepare for the NASCLA commercial building examination. The collection supports focused study across contractor business operations, project administration, structural systems, site work, building codes, accessibility, safety, concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The Mississippi business guide is required for the Mississippi Business and Law examination. It addresses the legal, financial, and administrative responsibilities involved in operating a contracting company in the state. Candidates can use it to review licensing, business organization, estimating, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, safety, financial management, and project administration.

The remaining books address the technical knowledge associated with commercial general building construction. Subjects include jobsite supervision, construction project management, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast erection, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, excavation, gypsum systems, masonry, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, stormwater planning, exterior insulation systems, green building, and building-service systems.

The NASCLA examination uses an extensive reference library, making familiarity with the books an important part of preparation. Candidates should understand which publication applies to a particular question and know how to locate information through indexes, tables of contents, chapters, definitions, code provisions, diagrams, and technical tables.

Studying from a complete reference set allows candidates to organize the library into manageable subject groups and practice the same navigation process repeatedly. This approach can help reduce unnecessary searching and support more confident time management during an open-book examination.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies, including the Mississippi State Board of Contractors for the Building Construction major classification.

Mississippi applicants pursuing the Building Construction classification may choose the NASCLA accredited examination instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination. The NASCLA result addresses the accepted technical trade-examination component, but candidates must still complete the Mississippi licensing application and all other applicable state requirements.

The NASCLA examination measures knowledge used to plan, supervise, coordinate, and complete commercial building projects. It covers a wide range of construction subjects rather than focusing on one specialty trade.

The listed reference books represent major examination areas involving project management, jobsite administration, estimating, contracts, safety, building codes, accessibility, concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, roofing, excavation, environmental responsibilities, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems.

The Mississippi Business and Law examination is separate from the NASCLA technical examination. It focuses on contractor business practices and state-specific responsibilities. The Mississippi Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors is the required reference for this examination.

Mississippi contractor examinations are administered through PSI. Applicants must first submit the appropriate licensing application and receive examination eligibility before scheduling the required state examination. Candidates are responsible for registering for the correct examination after receiving approval.

Passing examination results are only one part of the licensing process. A complete application must also satisfy the Mississippi State Board of Contractors’ business, financial, qualifying-party, insurance, classification, and supporting-document requirements before a license is issued.

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 location. The examination center does not supply the complete technical library.

The Mississippi Business and Law examination also uses its designated reference material under the applicable examination rules. Candidates should prepare directly from the required Mississippi business guide and become familiar with its organization before test day.

Open-book testing requires more than owning the correct books. The NASCLA library includes thousands of pages across textbooks, codes, standards, manuals, and specialty construction guides. Candidates must be able to identify a question’s subject and choose the reference most likely to contain the answer.

A structural concrete question may require ACI 318, while a reinforcing-bar placement question may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars. Questions about concrete field practices may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction.

Steel construction questions may require the Steel Deck Institute manual or Technical Digest No. 9. Wood-truss questions may involve the BCSI guide, while precast concrete 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 federal construction safety questions may be answered through 29 CFR Part 1926.

Candidates should practice using the listed editions because page numbers, terminology, code sections, tables, and technical requirements may change between editions. Working directly with the correct books helps build familiarity with the organization expected during the examination.

All references brought into the examination room must comply with current testing rules. Candidates should review the applicable candidate bulletin and avoid loose papers, removable notes, unauthorized 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 business must designate the person who will satisfy the examination requirement for the requested classification.
3. Complete the commercial contractor application. Submit the required business, ownership, classification, qualifying-party, and contact information to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
4. Provide supporting documentation. The application must include the financial, insurance, business, and other materials required for the requested license.
5. Receive examination eligibility. The Board reviews the application and notifies PSI when the candidate is approved to schedule the required examinations.
6. Prepare for Mississippi Business and Law. Study the Mississippi Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors.
7. Choose the accepted trade-examination option. Building Construction applicants may take the Mississippi trade examination or the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.
8. Apply for and schedule the NASCLA examination. Follow the applicable NASCLA and testing-provider registration procedures.
9. Pass the required examinations. Complete the Mississippi Business and Law examination and the accepted technical trade examination.
10. Submit the NASCLA result when applicable. Candidates may transmit their NASCLA transcript through the National Examination Database for use with the Mississippi licensing application.
11. Complete the Board’s final review. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors reviews the completed application, examination results, and supporting documents.
12. Receive the license before contracting. The company must obtain the appropriate Mississippi license before performing work that requires state contractor licensure.

State Requirements

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

Building Construction is a major commercial classification. Mississippi accepts either its state Building Construction examination or the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors for the trade-examination component of this classification.

Applicants using the NASCLA examination must still complete Mississippi Business and Law. The NASCLA transcript does not replace the state business examination, contractor application, financial review, insurance requirements, or other licensing documents.

The license is issued to the business entity. The application identifies the person responsible for qualifying the company through the required examinations. Applicants should make sure the company name, ownership information, qualifying-party information, and requested classifications are complete and consistent throughout the application.

The Board reviews the applicant’s financial information and other supporting materials as part of the licensing process. Applicants should submit current documents in the form requested by the Board and respond promptly to requests for missing or corrected information.

Commercial applicants must also provide the insurance documentation required for licensing. The policy and certificate information should correspond with the business entity shown on the application.

Examinations are scheduled only after the Board confirms eligibility with PSI. Candidates should not register for an examination until they have received the appropriate approval notice and should make sure they select only the examination for which they were approved.

Passing an examination does not automatically create a contractor license. The Board must receive and approve the complete application before the license is issued. Contractors are responsible for maintaining the license and completing future renewal requirements.

Reference Books

• Mississippi Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management, Commercial Contractors
  Required for the Mississippi Business and Law examination and focused on licensing, business organization, contracts, finance, 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 requirements and commentary involving structural concrete 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.
• 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 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, production, 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, 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, construction materials, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and 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, flashing, drainage, quantities, 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 performance.
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition, 2023
  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 and Law reference from the NASCLA technical library. This creates a focused plan for the state examination while allowing the technical references to be studied by construction subject.

Organize the NASCLA books into categories 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 reference 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 index or table of contents to locate the relevant section.

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

Review missed questions carefully. An incorrect response may reveal a knowledge gap, incorrect reference choice, misunderstood term, or inefficient navigation. Identifying the reason helps create a more focused study plan.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Mississippi contractor candidates organize a large business and technical library into a practical exam-preparation structure. The complete set places the state business reference and the NASCLA commercial building books together for coordinated study.

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

Practice-oriented preparation helps students develop an active study routine. Candidates can work through questions, identify key terms, select the appropriate publication, and practice locating code provisions, tables, definitions, and technical requirements.

Reference-navigation practice is especially important for the open-book NASCLA examination. Familiarity with indexes, chapters, code sections, and technical tables can support more efficient use of examination time.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete book set provides organized study materials, trade-focused references, navigation practice, and a confidence-building foundation for pursuing a Mississippi commercial contractor license.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Mississippi Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors and the 24 listed NASCLA commercial building technical references.

Is the Mississippi Business and Law book included?

Yes. The Mississippi commercial contractors business guide required for Business and Law examination preparation is included.

Does Mississippi accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. Applicants seeking the Mississippi Building Construction major classification may choose the NASCLA accredited examination instead of the Mississippi Building Construction trade examination.

Does passing NASCLA automatically issue a Mississippi license?

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

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.

Is Mississippi Business and Law still required?

Yes. The NASCLA result addresses the accepted trade-examination component and does not replace the Mississippi Business and Law examination.

Who administers Mississippi contractor examinations?

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

Are books provided at the examination center?

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

Should I use the listed editions?

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

How should I study the complete set?

Group the books by construction subject, learn which publication applies to each topic, and practice locating information through indexes, chapters, code sections, and technical tables under timed conditions.

Does purchasing the set guarantee licensing approval?

No. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors makes licensing decisions after reviewing the applicant’s complete application, examination results, and supporting documents.