NASCLA Exam Prep: Free Practice Questions and 6-Week Study Plan
Free, unofficial prep for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, the open-book trade exam that PSI delivers for NASCLA. The practice set starts right below; the 6-week plan comes after it.
NASCLA practice questions (25)
These are original Castleport questions, not official or recalled exam items. Answer them with your references open, the way the real test works. Every answer shows its math or links to the rule it's based on.
Question 1 · Fall protection: guardrail height
NAS-01 · General Requirements
A guardrail system is going up along a mezzanine edge. Which measured top-rail height meets OSHA's construction standard?
Answer and explanation, NAS-01
Answer: C. 44 inches
The top edge of a top rail must be 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches. That makes the legal range 39 to 45 inches. 44 inches is inside it.
Why not the others: 36 and 38 inches are below the 39-inch minimum. 48 inches is above the 45-inch maximum.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(1)
Question 2 · Fall protection: guardrail strength
NAS-02 · General Requirements
What force must a guardrail's top rail withstand without failure when it's applied within 2 inches of the top edge, outward or downward?
Answer and explanation, NAS-02
Answer: C. 200 pounds
The top rail must hold at least 200 pounds applied within 2 inches of its top edge.
Why not the others: 50 pounds is the toeboard requirement in the same section, which is why it's a tempting wrong answer. 150 and 250 pounds aren't the figure in the rule.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(3); toeboard force: 1926.502(j)(2)
Question 3 · Fall protection: toeboards
NAS-03 · General Requirements
What is the minimum vertical height of a toeboard, measured from its top edge to the walking/working surface?
Answer and explanation, NAS-03
Answer: B. 3½ inches
Toeboards must be at least 3½ inches high.
Why not the others: 2 inches is too short. 4½ and 6 inches would comply, but they aren't the minimum the question asks for.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.502(j)(3)
Question 4 · Fall protection: trigger height
NAS-04 · General Requirements
A crew is working next to an unprotected floor edge in a building under construction. Under OSHA's general construction rule for unprotected sides and edges, at what height above the lower level is fall protection required?
Answer and explanation, NAS-04
Answer: B. 6 feet or more
The general construction rule for unprotected sides and edges kicks in at 6 feet or more above a lower level.
Why not the others: More than 10 feet is the scaffold rule, which lives in a different subpart. 4 feet is the trench depth that triggers an egress requirement, a different rule entirely. 15 feet isn't the threshold here.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
Question 5 · Scaffolds: fall protection
NAS-05 · General Requirements
A worker will stand on a supported scaffold platform. At what height must that worker be protected from falling to the lower level?
Answer and explanation, NAS-05
Answer: B. More than 10 feet
Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling.
Why not the others: 6 feet is the general edge rule, not the scaffold rule. 15 and 20 feet are too high.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)
Question 6 · Scaffolds: tipping (with math)
NAS-06 · General Requirements
A supported scaffold has a base width of 5 feet, including outriggers, and will be built to 24 feet high. What does OSHA require?
Answer and explanation, NAS-06
Answer: B. It must be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, bracing, or an equivalent means
Divide height by base width: 24 ÷ 5 = 4.8. That's more than the 4:1 ratio, so the scaffold must be restrained from tipping.
Why not the others: There's no 25-foot exemption. Doubling outriggers and adding a toeboard aren't what the rule requires.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.451(c)(1)
Question 7 · Ladders: extension above landing
NAS-07 · General Requirements
A portable ladder gives access to a roof. What's the minimum distance its side rails must extend above the upper landing surface?
Answer and explanation, NAS-07
Answer: C. 3 feet
Side rails must extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing, so the worker has something to hold while stepping on and off.
Why not the others: 1 and 2 feet are short of the minimum. 4 feet would comply, but 3 feet is the requirement.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1)
Question 8 · Ladders: setup angle (with math)
NAS-08 · General Requirements
An extension ladder has a working length of 20 feet from its foot to its top support. About how far from the wall should the foot be set?
Answer and explanation, NAS-08
Answer: B. 5 feet
The horizontal distance from the top support to the foot should be about one-quarter of the working length. 20 ÷ 4 = 5 feet.
Why not the others: 2 feet is too steep. 8 and 10 feet are too shallow, and a ladder that flat is more likely to kick out at the base.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(5)(i)
Question 9 · Trenches: means of egress (with math)
NAS-09 · Site Construction
A straight trench is 120 feet long and 6 feet deep. Ladders are the only way out. What is the minimum number of ladders so no worker has more than 25 feet of lateral travel to reach one?
Answer and explanation, NAS-09
Answer: B. 3
Trenches 4 feet deep or more need egress within 25 feet of lateral travel. One ladder covers 25 feet each way, or 50 feet of trench. Two ladders cover 100 feet, so 120 feet needs three. For example, place them at 25, 75, and 110 feet. (120 ÷ 50 = 2.4, which rounds up to 3.)
Why not the others: Two ladders leave the last 20 feet uncovered. Four or five would comply but aren't the minimum.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)
Question 10 · Excavations: spoil piles
NAS-10 · Site Construction
Excavated soil is being stockpiled next to a trench, and no retaining device is in use. What's the minimum distance it must be kept from the edge?
Answer and explanation, NAS-10
Answer: B. At least 2 feet
Materials and equipment must stay at least 2 feet from the edge, or be held back by retaining devices, or both.
Why not the others: 1 foot is too close. 4 feet and the trench depth would keep you compliant, but neither is the minimum the standard sets.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2)
Question 11 · Excavations: when a protective system isn't required
NAS-11 · Site Construction
An excavation in soil (not stable rock) is 4½ feet deep. A competent person examines the ground and finds no indication of a potential cave-in. Is a cave-in protective system required?
Answer and explanation, NAS-11
Answer: B. No, because it's under 5 feet and a competent person found no indication of a cave-in
A protective system isn't required in stable rock, or when the excavation is less than 5 feet deep and a competent person finds no indication of a potential cave-in. Both conditions are met here.
Why not the others: 4 feet is the egress trigger from NAS-09, a different rule. There's no 6-foot starting point. Groundwater isn't the test in this exception.
Verify: 29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1)(ii)
Question 12 · Takeoff: slab volume
NAS-12 · Concrete
A slab on grade is 60 feet × 40 feet × 6 inches thick. What's its volume before waste?
Answer and explanation, NAS-12
Answer: A. 44.4 cubic yards
Convert thickness to feet first: 6 inches = 0.5 foot. 60 × 40 × 0.5 = 1,200 cubic feet. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so 1,200 ÷ 27 = 44.4 cubic yards.
Why not the others: 88.9 uses 1 foot of thickness instead of 0.5. 400 divides by 3 instead of 27. 1,200 is the cubic-foot figure, not cubic yards.
Verify: Arithmetic shown (27 ft³ = 1 yd³)
Question 13 · Takeoff: continuous footing
NAS-13 · Concrete
A continuous footing is 200 linear feet long, 24 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. What's its volume before waste?
Answer and explanation, NAS-13
Answer: B. 14.8 cubic yards
24 inches = 2 feet and 12 inches = 1 foot. 200 × 2 × 1 = 400 cubic feet. 400 ÷ 27 = 14.8 cubic yards.
Why not the others: 7.4 uses half the width. 29.6 doubles the depth. 400 is cubic feet.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 14 · Takeoff: concrete masonry units
NAS-14 · Masonry
A wall is 100 feet long and 10 feet high with no openings. It's built of 8 × 8 × 16-inch nominal concrete masonry units (CMU). How many block are needed before waste?
Answer and explanation, NAS-14
Answer: C. 1,125
Each block's nominal face is 16 × 8 = 128 square inches, or 0.889 square foot. So each square foot of wall takes 1 ÷ 0.889 = 1.125 block. The wall is 100 × 10 = 1,000 square feet, and 1,000 × 1.125 = 1,125 block.
Why not the others: 889 multiplies by the face area instead of dividing by it. 1,000 assumes one block per square foot. 1,500 has no basis in the dimensions.
Verify: Arithmetic shown (144 in² = 1 ft²)
Question 15 · Takeoff: gypsum board
NAS-15 · Finishes
How many 4 × 8-foot sheets of gypsum board cover 2,400 square feet of wall before waste?
Answer and explanation, NAS-15
Answer: B. 75
Each sheet covers 4 × 8 = 32 square feet. 2,400 ÷ 32 = 75 sheets.
Why not the others: 60 assumes 40-square-foot sheets. 96 and 300 come from using the wrong sheet area.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 16 · Takeoff: roofing squares
NAS-16 · Thermal and Moisture Protection
A roof measures 3,250 square feet. You add 10% for waste. How many whole squares do you order?
Answer and explanation, NAS-16
Answer: B. 36
One roofing square is 100 square feet. 3,250 × 1.10 = 3,575 square feet = 35.75 squares. You can't order three-quarters of a square, so round up to 36.
Why not the others: 33 ignores the waste. 325 and 358 forget to convert square feet into squares.
Verify: Arithmetic shown (1 square = 100 ft²)
Question 17 · Scheduling: labor productivity
NAS-17 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
A 4-person crew installs 1,200 square feet of a finish in one 8-hour day. At the same rate, how many 8-hour days will the crew need for 6,000 square feet?
Answer and explanation, NAS-17
Answer: B. 5
Find the rate per labor-hour: 1,200 ÷ (4 × 8) = 37.5 square feet per labor-hour. 6,000 ÷ 37.5 = 160 labor-hours. The crew puts in 32 labor-hours a day, so 160 ÷ 32 = 5 days.
Why not the others: 20 is the number of days for one worker alone. 4 and 6.25 come from mixing crew-days with labor-hours.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 18 · Payment: retainage
NAS-18 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Your contract is $500,000 with 10% retainage. This pay application covers $80,000 of completed work. How much should you be paid now?
Answer and explanation, NAS-18
Answer: B. $72,000
Retainage is held back from each payment. $80,000 × (1 − 0.10) = $72,000 paid now, and $8,000 is retained.
Why not the others: $8,000 is the amount held back, not the payment. $80,000 ignores retainage. $50,000 is 10% of the whole contract.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 19 · Pricing: markup vs. margin
NAS-19 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Your cost is $200,000 and you mark it up 20%. What's your gross margin as a percent of the selling price?
Answer and explanation, NAS-19
Answer: B. 16.7%
A 20% markup makes the price $240,000 and the profit $40,000. Margin is profit ÷ price: $40,000 ÷ $240,000 = 16.7%. Markup is figured on cost and margin on price, so they're different numbers.
Why not the others: 20% treats markup and margin as the same thing. 25% and 40% don't come from these figures.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 20 · Pricing: bidding to a target margin
NAS-20 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Your cost is $200,000. You want a 20% gross margin on the selling price. What do you bid?
Answer and explanation, NAS-20
Answer: C. $250,000
Price = cost ÷ (1 − margin) = $200,000 ÷ 0.80 = $250,000. Check it: $50,000 profit ÷ $250,000 = 20%.
Why not the others: $240,000 is a 20% markup, which only gives a 16.7% margin (see NAS-19). $220,000 and $260,000 miss the target.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 21 · Business: break-even
NAS-21 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Your company's annual fixed overhead is $120,000. Each dollar of revenue leaves 20 cents after direct job costs. What annual revenue just covers overhead?
Answer and explanation, NAS-21
Answer: C. $600,000
Break-even revenue = fixed overhead ÷ the share each dollar contributes: $120,000 ÷ 0.20 = $600,000.
Why not the others: $144,000 adds 20% to overhead, which is a markup idea, not break-even. $240,000 and $720,000 don't follow from the inputs.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 22 · Business: straight-line depreciation
NAS-22 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
A machine costs $90,000, has a $10,000 salvage value, and a 5-year useful life. What's its annual straight-line depreciation?
Answer and explanation, NAS-22
Answer: B. $16,000
Straight-line spreads cost minus salvage evenly over the life: ($90,000 − $10,000) ÷ 5 = $16,000 a year.
Why not the others: $18,000 forgets to subtract salvage value. $14,000 and $20,000 don't come from the inputs.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 23 · Payroll: federal overtime
NAS-23 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
A non-exempt carpenter covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act earns $28 an hour and works 46 hours in one workweek. Using only the federal rule, what are gross wages for the week?
Answer and explanation, NAS-23
Answer: B. $1,372
Hours over 40 in a workweek are paid at least 1.5 times the regular rate. 40 × $28 = $1,120. The 6 overtime hours pay $42 each (1.5 × $28), which is $252. Total: $1,372.
Why not the others: $1,288 pays no overtime premium. $1,456 pays double time. $1,932 pays time-and-a-half on all 46 hours. State law can add rules such as daily overtime, which is why this question says federal only.
Verify: 29 U.S.C. §207(a)(1)
Question 24 · Scheduling: critical path and float
NAS-24 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Activity A (3 days) must finish before both B (5 days) and C (4 days) can start. B and C must both finish before D (2 days) can start. What's the total float of activity C?
Answer and explanation, NAS-24
Answer: B. 1 day
Path A–B–D takes 3 + 5 + 2 = 10 days. That's the critical path. Path A–C–D takes 3 + 4 + 2 = 9 days. C can slip 10 − 9 = 1 day without delaying the finish.
Why not the others: 0 days would make C critical, but it isn't. 2 and 3 days overstate the slack.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
Question 25 · Contracts: pricing a change order
NAS-25 · Procurement and Contracting Requirements
The owner adds work with a direct cost of $8,000. Your contract allows 10% overhead on cost, then 10% profit on cost plus overhead. What's the change-order amount?
Answer and explanation, NAS-25
Answer: C. $9,680
Apply the percentages in the order the contract states. $8,000 × 1.10 = $8,800 with overhead. $8,800 × 1.10 = $9,680 with profit.
Why not the others: $8,800 leaves out profit. $9,600 adds a flat 20% to cost, which this contract doesn't allow. $9,800 doesn't follow from the terms.
Verify: Arithmetic shown
| The real exam | What PSI's bulletin says |
|---|---|
| Questions | 115 scored + 10 unscored = 125 on screen |
| Time | 330 minutes |
| Minimum passing score | 81 |
| Format | Computer-based, open book. You bring the approved references |
| Biggest subject areas | Procurement and Contracting Requirements (31) and General Requirements (25), 56 of the 115 scored items |
| Cost to sit | $65 NASCLA application + $130 PSI exam fee |
| What it can replace | A state trade-exam requirement for many participating agencies. Arkansas, Oregon, and Utah use the NASCLA result differently, so check the state table below |
Sources: PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, updated July 7, 2026 (pages 1 and 3–4); NASCLA: Apply for NASCLA Exams.
The set covers 7 of the 12 subject areas. Most of it is safety rules you'll look up in 29 CFR 1926 and the estimating and business math that no tab can do for you. The subject-area labels are our best fit; PSI doesn't publish which questions come from which area. Your percentage on these 25 is feedback on these questions, not a predicted NASCLA score.
How did you do?
- Missed safety questions (1–11)? That's lookup speed, not memory. Practice finding the paragraph in 29 CFR 1926 fast. On test day, you'll be looking these up against the clock.
- Missed the math (12–25)? Drill it until it's automatic. The books won't do the arithmetic for you, and the business questions sit in the largest subject area on the exam.
- Got most of them right? Good. This set doesn't touch Metals, Wood, Doors/Windows/Glazing, Mechanical and Plumbing, or Electrical. Those need the specific reference books, so the plan below covers them.
What's on the NASCLA exam
PSI publishes how many scored questions come from each of 12 subject areas. Two areas, Procurement and Contracting Requirements and General Requirements, make up 56 of the 115.
| Subject area | Scored items | Share of 115 | Where to look first (our mapping) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement and Contracting Requirements | 31 | 27.0% | NASCLA Contractors Guide; Construction Project Management; Construction Jobsite Management |
| General Requirements | 25 | 21.7% | 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA); Construction Jobsite Management; EPA stormwater guide |
| Site Construction | 15 | 13.0% | Pipe and Excavation Contracting; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P |
| Concrete | 6 | 5.2% | ACI 318; Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction; Placing Reinforcing Bars; PTI Level 1; PCI Erectors' Manual |
| Metals | 6 | 5.2% | SJI Technical Digest No. 9; SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck |
| Mechanical and Plumbing Systems | 6 | 5.2% | Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers |
| Wood | 5 | 4.3% | Carpentry and Building Construction; BCSI |
| Thermal and Moisture Protection | 5 | 4.3% | Roofing Construction and Estimating; ANSI/EIMA 99-A (EIFS) |
| Finishes | 5 | 4.3% | Gypsum Construction Handbook |
| Masonry | 4 | 3.5% | Modern Masonry |
| Doors, Windows, and Glazing | 4 | 3.5% | Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction; IBC |
| Electrical Systems | 3 | 2.6% | Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers |
| Total | 115 | Plus 10 unscored questions you can't identify |
Item counts come from the PSI bulletin (page 3). The shares are our arithmetic, rounded to one decimal, so they don't add to exactly 100%. They tell you where the questions are, not how hard each area is.
Our mapping
- The "where to look first" column is Castleport's mapping from the book titles. PSI doesn't say which reference feeds which area.
- The bulletin also says questions can draw on general trade knowledge and industry practice.
- The IBC, the A117.1 accessibility standard, and Green Building Fundamentals cut across several areas.
How to use the weights: the three largest areas hold 71 of the 115 scored items. Cover them first and deepest, but don't skip the small areas. Three or four questions apiece across nine areas adds up. Let the counts decide what gets covered, and let the questions you miss or look up slowly decide where your next hour goes.
How to study for an open-book exam
Open book doesn't mean you can learn the books during the test. At about 2½ minutes per question, there's no time to read a chapter. Sort what you study into three bins:
- Know cold. Formulas (cubic yards, block counts, markup vs. margin, retainage), core vocabulary, and what each reference is for.
- Know where. Code tables, exact dimensions, OSHA paragraphs, contract and lien details. You don't memorize these; you know which book and which section to open.
- Know how to find. Each book's index terms, chapter layout, and your own tab system.
The 10-minute navigation drill
This trains lookup speed. Do it several times a week from Week 1 on.
- Pick five topics from the subject-area table, such as "guardrail height," "steel joist erection," or "retainage."
- For each, write down the book you'd open first.
- Start a timer. Use only that book's index, table of contents, and your permanent tabs.
- Stop the timer when you reach the right section, not when you finish reading it.
- Write down the route you took and your time.
- Two days later, repeat the same five topics and compare.
- Swap out any topic you now find quickly for one you're still slow on.
| Topic | First book | Route (index term or tab) | Time 1 | Time 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardrail top-rail height | 29 CFR 1926 | Subpart M (Fall Protection) → 1926.502 | ||
| Worksheet entry 1 | ||||
| Worksheet entry 2 | ||||
| Worksheet entry 3 | ||||
| Worksheet entry 4 |
Your 6-week NASCLA study plan
Assumptions: about 8–10 hours a week, with your references in hand by the end of Week 1. Less time? Compress Weeks 4 and 5 into one, but keep the order: map the exam, set up your books, cover the big areas, then breadth, then timed practice.
| Week | Focus | Items at stake | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set up | — | If you have not applied yet, apply at ned.nascla.org; NASCLA says applications are typically processed within 7 business days. Check your books against the current reference list. Take the 25 practice questions above, books open, and note which lookups were slow. Start the navigation drill. |
| 2 | Procurement and Contracting Requirements | 31 | Work through the NASCLA Contractors Guide: contracts, bonds, liens, insurance, payroll, and the business math. Redo questions 17–25 until they're automatic. Drill: five business topics, timed. |
| 3 | General Requirements | 25 | Tab 29 CFR 1926 by subpart: M (fall protection), L (scaffolds), P (excavations), X (stairways and ladders). Cover jobsite management and stormwater pollution prevention (SWPPP) basics. Redo questions 1–11 timed. |
| 4 | Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Metals | 31 | Excavation and trenching, rebar placement, post-tensioning, precast erection, steel joists, and deck. Practice quantity takeoffs (questions 12–16). Run one 60-minute mixed session of lookups across these books. |
| 5 | Wood, Thermal and Moisture, Doors/Windows/Glazing, Finishes, Mechanical and Plumbing, Electrical | 28 | Trusses (BCSI), roofing, EIFS, gypsum, and building systems for construction managers. Practice navigating the IBC and A117.1. Run two 60-minute mixed sessions. |
| 6 | Timed rehearsal | All 115 | Do at least one long timed session with only the books you'll bring, at about 2½ minutes per question. Recheck that your tabs and markings follow the rules. Redo every question you've missed. |
Items at stake are PSI's counts added together: Week 4 is 15 + 6 + 4 + 6 = 31, and Week 5 is 5 + 5 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 3 = 28. Across Weeks 2–5 that's all 115. This is an editorial plan, not an official requirement, and no plan guarantees a result.
Pacing: 330 minutes for 125 questions
330 minutes ÷ 125 questions works out to about 2 minutes 38 seconds per question on average. That's our arithmetic for planning. PSI gives you the total time, not a per-question limit, and the 10 unscored questions are mixed in where you can't spot them.
What the bulletin says about the clock
- A tutorial of up to 15 minutes before the exam doesn't count against your time.
- One question shows at a time, with the minutes remaining displayed.
- You can go back and change any answer until time runs out.
- Restroom breaks are allowed with the proctor's permission, but you get no extra time.
A two-pass approach that fits those rules (our suggestion, not PSI's)
- First pass: answer what you know and the quick lookups. Mark anything that needs a long search.
- Second pass: work the marked questions with whatever time is left.
- If time remains, return to unanswered or flagged items before the clock expires. The bulletin lets you revisit and change answers; it does not publish a guessing-penalty rule in the materials checked for this page.
Source: PSI bulletin (pages 2–3).
The 24 approved references
The exam is open book, but the books aren't provided at the test center. You bring your own. PSI also hands out a diagram and blueprint packet on site.
Rules for your books
- Allowed: highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs.
- Not allowed: writing in the books, loose or attached papers, or temporary tabs like Post-it notes. Temporary tabs must come out before the exam begins.
- Code-edition rule: PSI says code questions are based only on the code-book editions it lists. Use the exact listed editions for IBC and ACI 318, and use the listed ICC A117.1-2017 standard rather than assuming a newer edition is acceptable.
- Other books can be earlier or later editions at your own risk. A conflict caused by a different edition isn't grounds for an appeal.
- Calculator: a silent, battery-powered, non-programmable calculator without paper tape or an alphabet keyboard is allowed.
The reference list
This is PSI's list as of the July 7, 2026 bulletin (pages 4–5).
| # | Reference | Edition(s) PSI lists |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers (American Technical Publishers) | 4th ed., 2024 |
| 2 | ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities | 2017 (code) |
| 3 | BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses (SBCA / TPI) | 2018, updated March 2020, or 2025 |
| 4 | Carpentry and Building Construction, Feirer and Feirer (McGraw-Hill) | 2016 |
| 5 | Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) | 2023 edition with latest amendments, or PSI's OSHA Excerpts 2025 |
| 6 | Construction Jobsite Management, Mincks and Johnston | 4th ed. (2017) or 5th ed. (2024) |
| 7 | Construction Project Management, Gould and Joyce | 4th ed. (2014) or 5th ed. (2022) |
| 8 | NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management | Basic 14th ed. |
| 9 | Erectors' Manual: Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products (PCI) | 2nd ed., 1999 |
| 10 | Green Building Fundamentals, Montoya (Pearson) | 2nd ed., 2011 |
| 11 | Gypsum Construction Handbook (USG) | 7th ed., 2014 |
| 12 | Technical Digest No. 9: Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders (Steel Joist Institute) | 3rd ed., 2008 |
| 13 | International Building Code (ICC) | 2021 or 2024 (code) |
| 14 | ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary | 318-14 or 318-19 (2022) (code) |
| 15 | Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning, Level 1 Field Fundamentals (PTI) | 3rd ed., 2003 |
| 16 | Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone, Kicklighter (Goodheart-Willcox) | 9th ed., 2020 |
| 17 | Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Roberts (Craftsman) | 2011 |
| 18 | Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, Andres and Smith (Pearson) | 11th ed., 2024 |
| 19 | Roofing Construction and Estimating, Atcheson (Craftsman) | 1995, reprinted 2022 |
| 20 | Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices (CRSI) | 10th ed., 2019 or later printing |
| 21 | SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck (Steel Deck Institute) | 2016 |
| 22 | The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (ACI) | 4th ed., 2018 |
| 23 | Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites (EPA 833-R-06-004) | 2007, free from EPA |
| 24 | ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017 Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage | 2017 |
Check the live bulletin before you buy books. PSI updates this list.
Tabbing that actually saves time
- Tab the sections you keep looking up in the navigation drill, not every chapter.
- Tab 29 CFR 1926 by subpart letter: M (fall protection), L (scaffolds), P (excavations), X (stairways and ladders).
- Keep formulas in your head. Writing them in the book isn't allowed.
What NASCLA costs and how the process works
First attempt: $195 ($65 application + $130 exam). Each state you send results to: $45 more. The costs come from NASCLA and PSI; the totals are our addition.
- Apply with NASCLA at ned.nascla.org and pay the $65 application fee. NASCLA says anyone can apply; there's no experience prerequisite for the exam itself. Applications are typically processed within 7 business days.
- Watch for an email from PSI with your candidate ID (it starts with NASCC) and scheduling instructions.
- Know your window. Approval lasts one year, with up to three attempts in that year. After three attempts or one year, you reapply as a "re-applicant," and you can't be re-approved until the year has run out.
- Schedule with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/nascla or (855) 746-8177, and pay the $130 exam fee. The fee is good for one year from payment. You can test at any PSI site that offers the exam; you don't need to live in the state you're licensing in.
- Need to cancel? Do it at least 2 days before your appointment, by phone or on PSI's site. A voicemail or email doesn't count. A late cancellation, no-show, late arrival, or improper ID forfeits the fee.
- On test day, arrive 30 minutes early with one current, government-issued ID showing your name, signature, and photo. Temporary IDs aren't accepted.
- If you pass, PSI gives you a pass report with no numerical score or breakdown. Keep it; it's your only paper proof.
- Create one account at ned.nascla.org. PSI's bulletin says results reach the database in about 48 hours; NASCLA says linking your account takes about 5–6 business days in total. Creating more than one account delays it.
- Buy a transcript for each state agency, $45 each. It goes to the agency electronically, and the agency can view it for two years after purchase. You don't get your own copy. NASCLA says your passing result itself never expires.
- Apply to the state for your license. NASCLA doesn't issue licenses.
Sources: NASCLA: Apply for NASCLA Exams; NASCLA Exam & Transcript FAQ; PSI bulletin (pages 1–2, 5).
Which states accept the NASCLA exam?
NASCLA lists 20 participating agencies across 17 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands (18 jurisdictions total). Alabama and South Carolina each have two participating agencies. A NASCLA result does not serve the same function in every jurisdiction, so read your row before you buy books or assume it waives a trade exam.
| Agency | What NASCLA's agency page says | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors | Participating as of September 2009 | Confirm the classification with the board |
| Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board | Listed as participating | Page gives contact details only; confirm with the board |
| Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Administering since Nov. 1, 2017, for B-1 and B-2 General Commercial; optional instead of the state trade exams | Exam date on your transcript must be within the past 2 years |
| Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board | Administering | Used in place of showing relevant experience, not as a trade-exam waiver |
| California Contractors State License Board | B General Building | Only out-of-state applicants with 5+ years licensed in good standing; California residents take the state trade exam |
| Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Replaces the Florida trade exam (since March 1, 2019) | Florida's Business/Finance and Florida Building Code portions are still required |
| Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors | Participating as of November 2010 | Confirm the classification with the board |
| Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | Listed as participating | Page gives contact details only; confirm with the board |
| Mississippi State Board of Contractors | Participating as of May 2010 | Confirm the classification with the board |
| Nevada State Contractors Board | Participating as of December 2013 | Confirm the classification with the board |
| New Mexico Construction Industries Division | Replaces the trade exam for GB98 | Since Jan. 13, 2023: you need a letter showing 1+ year licensed and in good standing in another state |
| North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors | Commercial Building Construction and Residential Building Contractor classifications | Pass must be within the past 2 years |
| Oregon Construction Contractors Board | Listed as participating | Replaces the 16-hour pre-licensure training, not a trade exam |
| South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board | Administering since May 2010 | Score must be within 3 years |
| South Carolina Residential Builders Commission | Reciprocity with the SC Contractors' Licensing Board | Pass must be within the past 3 years |
| Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Administering since March 2021 | Confirm the classification with the board |
| Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | Accepted since May 2019 | Utah has no trade exam; NASCLA counts toward the 2-year experience requirement |
| U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs | Participating as of February 2013 | Confirm the classification with the department |
| Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Since Jan. 1, 2016; comparable to the Commercial Building classification | Confirm the classification with the board |
| West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board | Listed as participating | Won't accept scores or transcripts from before Sept. 1, 2013 |
What the terms mean
- NASCLA says an administering agency uses the NASCLA exam as its state trade exam option.
- NASCLA's FAQ generally describes an accepting agency as taking a NASCLA pass in place of its state trade exam. The agency-specific pages show exceptions in how the result is used—for example, Arkansas uses it in place of an experience showing, Oregon in place of 16-hour pre-licensure training, and Utah toward its experience requirement.
- Every administering agency is also an accepting one.
Use the agency-specific row as the practical rule for your application, then confirm your exact classification with that board.
Sources: NASCLA participating state agencies and each linked agency page; NASCLA FAQ.
Ready to schedule? A quick check
- [ ] Your state's row (above) says NASCLA works for the license you want, and you've confirmed it with the board.
- [ ] Your books match the editions on the current PSI list, especially the code books.
- [ ] Your tabs are permanent, and there's no handwriting or loose paper in any book.
- [ ] In the navigation drill, you can name the right first book for any subject area and reach the section quickly.
- [ ] You've practiced mixed topics, not just one book at a time.
- [ ] You've done at least one long timed session with the exact books you'll bring.
- [ ] You can do the takeoff and business math in questions 12–25 without looking anything up.
Quick answers
Is 81 the same as 70%? PSI lists a minimum passing score of 81 next to 115 scored questions. It doesn't say whether 81 is a raw count of correct answers. If it is, 81 ÷ 115 is about 70.4%.
Does the NASCLA exam cover business and law? No, it's the trade exam. NASCLA doesn't hold state business and law results, and many states still require one. Florida's Business/Finance portion, for example, is still required.
Is the NASCLA exam a national license? No. NASCLA says it isn't a license or a certification. It can take care of the trade-exam requirement in participating states, and then you apply to each state.
What if I fail three times? You wait until your one-year eligibility period ends, then reapply as a re-applicant.
Is there an official practice test? NASCLA sells one through its bookstore; see the NASCLA practice exam page. The 25 questions on this page are free, original, and unofficial.
I'm taking a NASCLA electrical exam. That's a different program, with its own exams, references, and participating states. Start with NASCLA's electrical exams page. For the journeyman electrician exam's open-book rules, see our guide: Is the Journeyman Electrician Exam Open Book?
Sources
- PSI: NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, Candidate Information Bulletin (updated July 7, 2026)
- NASCLA: Apply for NASCLA Exams
- NASCLA: Accredited Examinations FAQ
- NASCLA: Commercial Exam
- NASCLA: Commercial Exam Participating State Agencies
- NASCLA: Practice Exam
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 (scaffolds), 1926.501 and 1926.502 (fall protection), 1926.651 and 1926.652 (excavations), 1926.1053 (ladders)
- 29 U.S.C. §207 (Fair Labor Standards Act overtime)
Last verified: October 4, 2026. We checked the exam format, subject-area counts, reference list, and test-day rules against PSI's bulletin (updated July 7, 2026). We checked the application, attempt, transcript, and participating-agency information against NASCLA's current pages. OSHA and federal-overtime practice items were rechecked against the linked authorities; calculation-only items were independently recalculated from the facts supplied in each question.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We're not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies), PSI Services LLC, or any state licensing agency. Exam and credential names are used only to identify the exam; trademarks belong to their respective owners. The practice questions on this page are original and are not official exam questions. Passing the NASCLA exam doesn't guarantee a license; your state agency makes that decision.
By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team