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

Prepare for the New Mexico NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam with a complete reference library designed for organized open-book study. This highlighted and tabbed book set brings together the commercial construction references listed for NASCLA exam preparation so you can spend less time assembling materials and more time becoming familiar with the books, standards, codes, and construction topics associated with the examination.

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a comprehensive trade examination covering multiple areas of commercial construction. New Mexico Construction Industries Division is a participating agency that accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. Passing the NASCLA exam can satisfy an applicable trade examination requirement, while New Mexico applicants must still satisfy the licensing requirements associated with their specific classification and application.

The NASCLA exam is broad by design. Candidates may encounter questions involving project management, construction safety, site work, concrete, masonry, steel, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, mechanical and electrical systems, building codes, stormwater planning, and other commercial building topics. Working from a complete reference set can help you build the familiarity needed to identify which book contains information relevant to a particular question.

This package is especially useful for candidates preparing for an open-book examination because reference navigation is a skill that improves through repetition. The books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation, creating an organized starting point for study. Candidates should use the books regularly while preparing so indexes, chapter structures, technical tables, standards, and important subject areas become increasingly familiar.

Order Processing: Please allow up to 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

What You Get

• Complete NASCLA Reference Book Set: The commercial construction references listed below for exam preparation.
• Highlighted Books: The references are highlighted to support exam-focused study and navigation.
• Tabbed Books: The books are tabbed to help organize important areas and improve navigation during preparation.
• Broad Commercial Construction Coverage: References cover building codes, accessibility, project management, OSHA safety, concrete, masonry, carpentry, steel construction, roofing, excavation, mechanical and electrical systems, and additional commercial building subjects.
• Exam-Focused Organization: A coordinated reference library that can be used repeatedly while practicing open-book navigation.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized commercial construction trade exam accepted by participating licensing agencies. New Mexico Construction Industries Division is included among the agencies that accept the NASCLA commercial examination.

• Number of Questions: 115
• Minimum Passing Score: 70%, or 81 correct answers
• Time Allowed: 330 minutes
• Exam Type: Commercial General Building Contractor trade examination

The current NASCLA examination content outline distributes questions among General Requirements, Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors, Windows and Glazing, Finishes, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems, Electrical Systems, and Procurement and Contracting Requirements.

This broad content structure means candidates should prepare across multiple construction disciplines rather than relying exclusively on experience in one specialty. A contractor who is very comfortable with field operations may still need additional review in building codes, project administration, accessibility, safety standards, concrete requirements, or another area represented on the examination.

Pacing is also important. With 115 questions in 330 minutes, candidates need to balance construction knowledge with efficient reference use. Spending too long searching for a single answer can reduce the time available for the rest of the examination.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination is an Open Book Test. Approved references may be used during testing according to the applicable examination rules.

An open-book format makes reference familiarity valuable, but it does not replace studying. Candidates who approach every question by searching several books from the beginning can quickly lose time. A more efficient approach is to understand the construction concept first, determine which reference is most likely to contain the supporting information, and perform a focused lookup when confirmation is necessary.

Your highlighted and tabbed reference books can help support this process. Highlighting can draw attention to significant areas, while tabs can help organize sections and make navigation more deliberate. Regular practice with these books allows you to become familiar with the terminology and organization used by each publication.

During preparation, practice using tables of contents, indexes, definitions, chapter headings, code sections, technical tables, and standards. Associate common subjects with their primary references. For example, learn which book you would reach for when a question involves accessibility, structural concrete, OSHA safety, steel deck construction, masonry, roofing, or commercial project management.

The goal is not to memorize the location of every answer. The goal is to build enough familiarity that you know where to begin searching when a reference lookup is required.

Licensing Steps

1. Determine your New Mexico contractor classification. New Mexico contractor licenses are issued according to classifications and scopes of work administered by the Construction Industries Division.
2. Identify the appropriate Qualifying Party. New Mexico contractor businesses must have an appropriately qualified individual associated with the classification being requested.
3. Complete the applicable application process. Submit the forms, experience information, and other documentation required for the requested classification.
4. Receive approval for applicable testing. Candidates must follow New Mexico's qualification and testing process before completing the required examinations.
5. Complete the accepted trade examination requirement. New Mexico Construction Industries Division accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors for applicable commercial building licensing purposes.
6. Complete additional New Mexico requirements. Passing NASCLA does not by itself create a New Mexico contractor license. Applicants must complete the remaining requirements that apply to their classification and business.
7. Use the reference library throughout preparation. Work with the books regularly so you can strengthen commercial construction knowledge and improve open-book navigation.

State Requirements

Contractor licensing in New Mexico is administered through the Construction Industries Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. The Construction Industries Division licenses and regulates contractors across multiple license classifications.

New Mexico Construction Industries Division participates in the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination program. The NASCLA examination is a trade examination rather than a national contractor license. Passing it can satisfy the trade examination requirement for a participating licensing agency, but candidates must still apply for the applicable state license and meet that agency's remaining requirements.

New Mexico regulates general building work through classification-specific licensing. Candidates should determine the classification that corresponds with the construction work they intend to perform and follow the qualification, experience, examination, and business licensing requirements associated with that classification.

The book set is designed to support the exam preparation portion of that process by giving candidates access to the listed commercial construction references in one organized package.

Reference Books

• Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition
  Covers mechanical and electrical building systems and the coordination concepts construction managers encounter on commercial projects.
• ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  Provides standards addressing accessibility and usability within buildings, facilities, and related construction elements.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Covers recommended practices for handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  Reviews carpentry principles, framing, materials, building techniques, tools, and general construction practices.
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Contains federal occupational safety and health standards applicable to construction work and jobsite operations.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Addresses jobsite supervision, field coordination, documentation, communication, scheduling, and construction operations.
• Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Covers construction planning, scheduling, cost control, project administration, coordination, and management practices.
• NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
  Reviews contractor business operations, financial management, project management, contracts, and related professional practices.
• Erectors' Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of PreCast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Provides guidance concerning handling and erection practices for precast concrete products.
• Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2011, 2nd Edition
  Introduces green building principles, sustainability concepts, construction materials, and environmentally responsible building practices.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  Covers gypsum materials, assemblies, wall systems, ceiling systems, installation methods, and related applications.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
  Addresses handling and erection procedures for steel joists and joist girders.
• International Building Code, 2021
  Provides commercial building code requirements involving occupancy, construction types, egress, fire and life safety, and other building provisions.
• ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Contains structural concrete requirements and commentary relevant to reinforced concrete construction.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  Reviews fundamental field practices associated with unbonded post-tensioning construction systems.
• Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Covers masonry materials, tools, construction methods, techniques, and brick, block, and stone applications.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Addresses excavation, trenching, underground piping, site preparation, and related construction practices.
• Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, building systems, methods, sequencing, and project execution.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, construction practices, and estimating concepts.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Provides guidance concerning reinforcing steel placement, handling, detailing, and reinforced concrete field practices.
• SDI Steel Deck Institute Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  Covers steel deck handling, installation, construction, and related field procedures.
• The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  Reviews concrete planning, placement, finishing, quality practices, and practical construction procedures.
• ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage, 2017
  Provides standards addressing exterior insulation and finish systems and EIFS with drainage.
• Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites, United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Provides construction-site guidance for developing and implementing stormwater pollution prevention plans.

Test Information and Study Materials

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination currently contains 115 questions, requires a minimum score of 70%, and provides 330 minutes for completion. The current content outline includes 25 General Requirements questions and 31 Procurement and Contracting Requirements questions, along with questions covering Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors, Windows and Glazing, Finishes, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems, and Electrical Systems.

Study by exam topic. Organize the books by subject and connect each major examination area to the reference that supports it. This is often more manageable than simply reading every book from the first page to the last.

Build reference associations. When you see an accessibility question, you should know which reference is likely to help. The same principle applies to OSHA safety, concrete, masonry, steel deck, carpentry, roofing, and project management.

Practice find-and-confirm lookups. Try answering a practice question from your knowledge first. When you need confirmation, identify the relevant reference and locate the specific information. This develops practical open-book habits.

Use the highlighting and tabs. The books are prepared to support exam-focused navigation. Spend time learning what each tab represents and how highlighted material relates to the surrounding chapter or standard.

Practice with a clock. Timed practice helps you learn when to continue searching and when to move to another question. Efficient pacing is an important part of a 115-question examination.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps candidates approach contractor examination preparation with more organization and structure. The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam requires knowledge across a large number of commercial construction disciplines, making a coordinated study plan especially valuable.

Organized study guidance helps candidates connect major knowledge areas to the appropriate reference materials. Instead of seeing the book set as one large stack, you can begin associating each title with the construction topics it covers.

Trade-focused review supports preparation across building codes, project management, jobsite safety, structural concrete, masonry, carpentry, steel construction, roofing, accessibility, excavation, and additional commercial construction subjects.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages active learning. Working through construction questions and realistic scenarios can strengthen your ability to identify what is being tested and determine whether you already know the answer or need to confirm a detail in a reference.

Reference-navigation preparation is particularly useful for an open-book examination. Highlighted and tabbed books give you an organized starting point, while repeated practice helps develop familiarity with indexes, chapters, technical standards, and code sections.

Confidence-building study structure develops through repetition. Working consistently with the same reference library can make the exam material feel more manageable and help you build a clearer strategy for approaching questions under timed conditions.

What Is Included in This New Mexico NASCLA Complete Book Set?

The package includes the commercial construction references listed above. The books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation and organized to support study and open-book navigation.

Are the Books Highlighted and Tabbed?

Yes. The books in this package are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation.

Does New Mexico Accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam?

Yes. New Mexico Construction Industries Division is a participating agency that accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.

How Many Questions Are on the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam?

The exam contains 115 questions.

How Much Time Is Allowed for the NASCLA Exam?

Candidates are allowed 330 minutes to complete the examination.

What Score Is Required to Pass?

The minimum passing score is 70%, which requires 81 correct answers out of 115 questions.

Is the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Open Book?

Yes. The examination is open book and uses approved references subject to the applicable examination rules.

Why Are Highlighting and Tabs Helpful?

Highlighting and tabs can make important sections easier to identify during study and reference-navigation practice. Their greatest value comes from repeatedly working with the books so you become familiar with what each section contains.

Does Passing NASCLA Automatically Give Me a New Mexico Contractor License?

No. The NASCLA exam is a trade examination, not a contractor license. Candidates must still meet the licensing, classification, application, and other requirements established by New Mexico.

How Long Should I Allow for My Highlighted and Tabbed Book Package Order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

Does This Book Set Guarantee a Passing Score?

No. This book package provides reference materials and an organized study library to support preparation. Exam results depend on the candidate's construction knowledge, study habits, reference-navigation skills, preparation, and performance on test day.