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

Prepare for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete North Carolina reference package featuring highlighted and permanently tabbed books. This package combines the North Carolina NASCLA Business Book with the listed commercial construction codes, standards, manuals, and textbooks for organized business-law review and technical trade exam preparation.

The North Carolina NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set is designed for candidates who want an organized reference library for open-book study. Every book in the package is prepared with highlighting and permanent tabs to help candidates locate important chapters, definitions, code provisions, tables, construction procedures, safety requirements, and technical subjects more efficiently.

The included references address the broad knowledge required to supervise and manage commercial building projects. Topics include construction project management, jobsite administration, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast erection, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, excavation, masonry, gypsum construction, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, federal safety regulations, commercial building codes, stormwater planning, exterior insulation systems, sustainable construction, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The North Carolina NASCLA Business Book supports preparation involving contractor business and law topics. Candidates can use it to review licensing responsibilities, business organization, contracts, estimating, financial management, employment practices, insurance, safety, project administration, and other subjects involved in operating a contracting business.

Open-book testing requires more than bringing the correct publications into the testing room. Candidates must recognize the subject of each question, determine which reference is most likely to contain the answer, and locate the applicable information within the available testing period. A highlighted and tabbed library supports a consistent navigation method during study and practice.

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

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors accepts the NASCLA examination for the Building classification.

The examination evaluates knowledge used to plan, coordinate, supervise, and complete commercial building projects involving multiple construction trades. Its broad scope reflects the responsibilities of a commercial general building contractor rather than the work of one specialty contractor.

Major subject areas represented by this complete book set include project management, jobsite operations, contracts, estimating, scheduling, safety, concrete, reinforcing steel, structural metals, wood trusses, precast construction, post-tensioning, masonry, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, commercial building codes, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems.

The examination library includes both general construction textbooks and specialty technical references. Construction Jobsite Management and Construction Project Management support review of field supervision, project planning, documentation, scheduling, cost control, quality, communication, and closeout.

Concrete subjects are distributed across ACI 318-19, Placing Reinforcing Bars, and The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. Structural metal subjects are supported by the Steel Deck Institute manual and the technical digest covering steel joists and joist girders.

Additional specialty publications address wood-truss restraint and bracing, precast concrete erection, unbonded post-tensioning, masonry, gypsum systems, roofing, excavation, accessibility, stormwater controls, exterior insulation and finish systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

After passing the NASCLA examination, a candidate can use the NASCLA National Examination Database to send an official transcript to North Carolina or another participating licensing agency. Candidates must still apply directly to the state licensing agency and satisfy its licensing requirements.

A passing NASCLA result addresses the accepted technical examination requirement. It does not independently issue a North Carolina general contractor license, establish a license limitation, or authorize the candidate or business to perform regulated contracting work.

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 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 guides.

A productive open-book method 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 permanent tabs, index, table of contents, chapter headings, definitions, code sections, diagrams, or technical tables to locate the relevant information.

Structural concrete questions may require ACI 318-19, while reinforcing-bar placement questions may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars. Concrete field-practice questions involving preparation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, or quality control may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction.

Steel-deck questions may require the SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, while steel-joist questions may involve Technical Digest No. 9. Questions involving the handling, installation, restraint, and bracing of wood trusses may require the BCSI guide.

Precast erection questions may be located in the Erectors’ Manual, while unbonded post-tensioning questions may require the Level 1 Field Fundamentals publication. Masonry questions may involve Modern Masonry, and excavation or underground utility questions may require Pipe and Excavation Contracting.

Accessibility questions may involve ICC A117.1, while broader commercial building-code questions may require the International Building Code. Federal construction-safety questions may involve 29 CFR Part 1926, and stormwater questions may require Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

The highlighting and permanent tabs in this package support faster reference navigation, but candidates should practice with the prepared books before examination day. Repeated use helps students understand what each tab represents and how highlighted information fits within the surrounding chapter, standard, or code section.

All books brought into the testing room must comply with current examination rules. Candidates should review the current candidate bulletin and avoid loose pages, removable notes, unauthorized inserts, or other materials that are not permitted.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate classification. Applicants pursuing broad building authority should review the North Carolina Building classification and make sure it corresponds with the work the business intends to perform.
2. Choose the requested license limitation. North Carolina licenses are issued with financial limitations that affect the value of projects the contractor may undertake.
3. Identify the qualifier. The applicant must designate an individual whose approved examination supports the requested classification.
4. Prepare for the NASCLA examination. Review the technical construction subjects and practice locating information throughout the highlighted and tabbed reference library.
5. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the current NASCLA application and examination-registration process.
6. Pass the NASCLA examination. A passing result may be used toward the examination requirement for North Carolina’s Building classification.
7. Transmit the examination result. Send the official NASCLA transcript to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors through the National Examination Database.
8. Complete the North Carolina application. Submit the requested business, ownership, qualifier, classification, limitation, and contact information.
9. Provide financial documentation. Submit the financial information required for the license limitation requested on the application.
10. Complete required disclosures. Provide accurate background and business information and complete any authorization required by the Board.
11. Submit fees and supporting records. Make sure the application contains all documents requested for the business structure and license limitation.
12. Receive the license before contracting. The applicant must receive the applicable North Carolina general contractor license before undertaking work that requires state licensure.

State Requirements

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors regulates general contractor licensing in the state. A North Carolina general contractor license is required when the total value of a construction project is $40,000 or more.

The licensing requirement applies to individuals and business entities that bid, contract, or undertake covered construction projects. Applicants should obtain the correct license before offering or performing work that meets the state licensing threshold.

The Building classification covers qualifying building construction activity, including commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential building work within the classification’s authorized scope. Applicants should select the classification that accurately represents their intended projects.

North Carolina licenses are issued with financial limitations. The limitation affects the size of project the licensed contractor may undertake. Applicants must provide the financial information associated with the limitation they request.

A qualifier supports the license through an examination approved for the requested classification. The qualifier must be properly connected with the licensed entity and remain associated with the business according to the Board’s requirements.

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors for the Building classification. The NASCLA examination is administered through the NASCLA examination program rather than by the North Carolina Board.

Applicants using a passing NASCLA result must still submit a complete North Carolina license application. The examination transcript does not replace the business, qualifier, financial, disclosure, fee, or supporting-document requirements.

Changes involving the qualifier, legal business name, ownership, organization, or contact information should be handled through the procedures established by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Passing the examination and purchasing this complete book set do not guarantee license approval. The Board reviews the full application and determines whether the applicant has satisfied the requirements for the requested classification and limitation.

Reference Books

• North Carolina NASCLA Business Book
  Supports preparation involving contractor business and law topics, including licensing, business organization, finance, estimating, contracts, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety, and project administration.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, productivity, quality control, safety, 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 practices 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 systems, fire-resistant assemblies, 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, construction 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 commercial construction.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by separating the North Carolina business reference from the NASCLA technical library. This creates a focused plan for business-law review while allowing the construction references to be organized by trade subject.

Divide the technical 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 coordination.

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

Timed navigation exercises help candidates build a repeatable open-book process. The objective is to recognize the subject, select the correct reference, find the supporting information, and evaluate the answer choices without searching unrelated books.

Review missed questions carefully. An incorrect response may reveal a technical knowledge gap, an incorrect reference choice, misunderstood terminology, or an inefficient search method. Identifying the cause helps candidates use future study sessions more effectively.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps North Carolina 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 study.

Trade-focused review becomes more manageable when the references are grouped 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 encourages candidates to use the books actively. Students can work through questions, identify important terms, choose the appropriate publication, and use the prepared tabs to locate code provisions, definitions, diagrams, tables, and technical requirements.

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

The included North Carolina business reference also supports review of contractor licensing, financial management, contracts, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety, and project administration.

1 Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete highlighted and tabbed package 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 North Carolina NASCLA Business Book and all 24 listed technical references for the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. The books are highlighted and permanently tabbed.

How long does preparation of the package take?

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

Does North Carolina accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors for the Building classification.

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 complete book library.

Does passing NASCLA automatically issue a North Carolina license?

No. Applicants must complete the North Carolina licensing process and satisfy the applicable qualifier, financial, classification, limitation, fee, and application requirements.

When is a North Carolina general contractor license required?

A North Carolina general contractor license is required when the total value of the construction project is $40,000 or more.

Why are the books highlighted and tabbed?

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

Should I study with the prepared books before test day?

Yes. Practice helps candidates learn which publication 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 reference books to the examination location.

Can I add loose notes to the references?

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

Does purchasing this package guarantee a passing score?

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