Virginia 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 Virginia reference package featuring highlighted and permanently tabbed books. This set combines the Virginia NASCLA Business Book with the listed construction textbooks, codes, standards, manuals, and technical guides used for organized business-law study and commercial general building exam preparation.

The Virginia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set is designed for candidates who want a prepared open-book reference library. Each book is highlighted and permanently tabbed to help students locate important chapters, definitions, code provisions, technical tables, construction procedures, safety requirements, project-management concepts, and trade-specific information more efficiently.

The complete package covers the broad range of subjects associated with commercial general building work. Candidates can review construction project management, jobsite supervision, estimating, scheduling, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast erection, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, excavation, masonry, gypsum systems, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, federal construction safety, commercial building codes, stormwater planning, exterior insulation systems, sustainable construction, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The included Virginia NASCLA Business Book supports preparation for the Virginia Business Law examination. It helps candidates review contractor licensing responsibilities, business organization, contracts, estimating, financial management, insurance, employment practices, safety, project administration, and other responsibilities associated with operating a contracting business in Virginia.

Open-book testing requires more than bringing the correct books into the testing room. Candidates must recognize the subject of a question, identify the reference most likely to contain the answer, and locate the relevant information efficiently. Highlighting and permanent tabs support a consistent navigation routine during study sessions and timed 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, highlighted, permanently tabbed, reviewed, and organized before shipment.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies. Virginia accepts the examination for use with the Commercial Building Contractor classification.

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

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

Construction Jobsite Management and Construction Project Management support preparation involving field supervision, project organization, communication, documentation, scheduling, cost control, quality management, safety, risk, and project closeout.

Concrete subjects are distributed across ACI 318-19, Placing Reinforcing Bars, and The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. These references address structural concrete requirements, reinforcing-bar placement, concrete preparation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, durability, inspection, and quality control.

Specialty structural references cover precast concrete erection, unbonded post-tensioning, steel deck installation, steel joist handling, and metal plate connected wood-truss restraint and bracing. Additional publications address masonry, gypsum construction, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, stormwater planning, exterior insulation and finish systems, and building-service coordination.

The International Building Code supports review of commercial building requirements involving occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, structural provisions, and coordinated building systems. ICC A117.1 provides technical accessibility criteria for buildings and facilities.

After passing the NASCLA examination, candidates may send an official examination transcript to the Virginia Board for Contractors through the NASCLA National Examination Database. The Board reviews the transcript with the contractor license application and supporting records.

A passing NASCLA result addresses the accepted technical examination component for the comparable Virginia classification. It does not independently issue a Virginia contractor license or replace the state’s pre-license education, business examination, designated employee, qualified individual, experience, financial, classification, and application requirements.

Virginia contractor licenses are issued in Class A, Class B, and Class C. The license class determines the applicable project and financial limits, while the classification or specialty identifies the type of work the licensed business may perform.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for obtaining and bringing permitted references to the testing location. The testing center does not provide the complete technical library.

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

A productive open-book method begins with identifying the primary subject of the question. The candidate should then choose the publication most likely to contain the answer and use the permanent tabs, index, table of contents, chapter headings, definitions, diagrams, code sections, or technical tables to locate the applicable material.

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 and joist-girder questions may involve Technical Digest No. 9. Questions involving wood-truss handling, installation, restraint, and bracing may require the BCSI guide.

Precast concrete 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-planning questions may require Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

The highlighting and permanent tabs in this package support faster 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 references brought into the testing room must comply with current examination rules. Candidates should avoid unauthorized loose pages, removable notes, unapproved inserts, or other prohibited materials.

Licensing Steps

1. Select the appropriate Virginia license class. Review Class A, Class B, and Class C requirements and choose the class that matches the company’s intended contracting activity.
2. Select the Commercial Building Contractor classification. Confirm that the classification corresponds with the commercial construction work the business intends to perform.
3. Choose the business structure. Determine whether the contractor will operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or another eligible entity.
4. Identify responsible management. List the owners, officers, managers, members, or other individuals who meet Virginia’s responsible-management requirements.
5. Complete pre-license education. An eligible member of the applicant organization must complete the Board-approved contractor pre-license education requirement.
6. Identify the designated employee when required. Class A and Class B applicants must designate the individual responsible for completing the applicable Virginia contractor business examinations.
7. Identify the qualified individual. The business must designate a qualified individual for the Commercial Building Contractor classification.
8. Prepare for the Virginia Business Law examination. Study the included Virginia NASCLA Business Book and review state contractor business responsibilities.
9. Prepare for the NASCLA examination. Study the technical construction subjects and practice locating information throughout the highlighted and tabbed reference library.
10. Apply for and pass the NASCLA examination. Complete the current application, scheduling, and testing process for the Commercial General Building Contractor examination.
11. Transmit the examination result. Send the official NASCLA transcript to the Virginia Board for Contractors through the National Examination Database.
12. Submit the contractor license application. Provide the requested business, ownership, class, classification, designated employee, qualified individual, financial, and supporting information.

State Requirements

The Virginia Board for Contractors, operating through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, licenses contractor businesses and regulates contracting classifications and specialties within the Commonwealth.

Virginia contractor licenses contain two primary elements: the license class and the classification or specialty. The class determines the applicable limits on contract and project activity, while the classification determines the type of work the contractor may perform.

Class A, Class B, and Class C licenses have different application, financial, examination, and experience requirements. Applicants should select the class that accurately reflects the size and nature of the projects the company intends to undertake.

The Commercial Building Contractor classification applies to qualifying work involving commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory-use buildings or structures. Contractors should review the official classification scope before selecting it for the application.

New contractor applicants must complete the Board-approved pre-license education requirement. The course addresses contractor laws, regulations, and basic business responsibilities and is separate from the NASCLA technical examination.

Class A and Class B applicants must identify a designated employee who completes the applicable contractor business examination. The business must also identify a qualified individual for every classification or specialty shown on the license.

The qualified individual must satisfy the applicable experience and examination requirements and remain properly associated with the licensed entity. Virginia applies different minimum experience periods based on the requested license class.

Virginia accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination as comparable to the Commercial Building Contractor classification. The NASCLA transcript supports the technical qualification but does not replace the remaining Virginia licensing requirements.

The application process may include business-entity records, financial documentation, responsible-management information, designated-employee records, qualified-individual information, examination results, fees, and other supporting materials requested by the Board.

Passing the examination or purchasing this highlighted and tabbed complete book set does not independently authorize contracting work. The business must complete the Virginia licensing process and receive the appropriate license before performing work that requires contractor licensure.

Reference Books

• Virginia NASCLA Business Book
  Supports preparation for the Virginia Business Law examination with material involving contractor 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, 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 concrete 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 Virginia business reference from the NASCLA technical library. This creates a focused plan for reviewing Virginia contractor responsibilities while allowing the commercial construction references to be grouped by trade subject.

Organize the technical books into 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 develop a repeatable open-book method. The objective is to recognize the subject, select the correct reference, locate the supporting material, and evaluate the available answers without spending unnecessary time in unrelated books.

Review incorrect responses carefully. A missed question may reveal a technical knowledge gap, an incorrect book choice, misunderstood terminology, or an inefficient search process. Identifying the cause helps candidates focus future study more effectively.

Candidates should study highlighted material in context. Reading the surrounding chapter, code section, or standard helps explain how a definition, technical table, procedure, or requirement applies to the question.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Virginia 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 concrete, masonry, steel, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project-management, and building-system questions 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, select the correct 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, chapter headings, code sections, illustrations, and technical tables helps candidates develop a clearer and more efficient testing routine.

The included Virginia business reference also supports review of contractor licensing, business organization, 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 Virginia 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 preparation of the package take?

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

Does Virginia accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. Virginia accepts the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination as comparable to the Virginia Commercial Building Contractor classification.

Does passing NASCLA automatically issue a Virginia contractor license?

No. Applicants must complete the Virginia application process and satisfy the applicable class, classification, pre-license education, designated employee, qualified individual, experience, financial, and documentation 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 complete technical library.

Why are the books highlighted and tabbed?

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

Should I study with the prepared books before test day?

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

Is the Virginia Business Law book included?

Yes. The Virginia NASCLA Business Book used for Virginia Business Law preparation is included in the package.

Are the books provided at the testing center?

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

What is a Virginia qualified individual?

The qualified individual is the person whose experience and examination qualifications support a classification or specialty shown on the contractor license.

Does purchasing this package guarantee a passing score or Virginia license?

No. Examination and licensing outcomes depend on the candidate’s preparation, reference familiarity, application, experience, and completion of all applicable Virginia requirements.