NASCLA Exam Requirements
You don't need experience, a license, or a degree to take the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam. NASCLA says anyone is eligible to apply and sit for it. Passing doesn't license you, though. It takes the place of the trade exam in states that accept it, and you still meet that state's other licensing rules.
| Requirement | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Anyone. NASCLA lists no education, experience, license, or residency requirement to sit. |
| Apply | Online at ned.nascla.org. The $65 application fee goes to NASCLA, and processing usually takes about 7 business days. |
| Schedule | After approval, pay PSI $130 and book a PSI test center. |
| Eligibility window | 1 year from approval, with up to 3 attempts |
| Questions | 115 scored, plus 10 unscored pretest questions |
| Passing score | 81 correct out of 115 scored (about 70%) |
| Time | 330 minutes (5½ hours). The pretest time is already included. |
| Format | Computer-based multiple choice, open book. You bring the approved references. |
| ID | One current, government-issued ID showing your name, photo, and signature |
| After you pass | Buy a $45 electronic transcript for each state agency you're applying to |
| Still required | Each state's license application, plus whatever else that state requires. That's often a separate Business & Law exam. |
Sources: PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, updated July 7, 2026 (pp. 1–4); NASCLA: Apply for NASCLA Exams; NASCLA Exam & Transcript FAQ. Last verified October 4, 2026. This page covers the Commercial General Building exam. NASCLA's three electrical exams have their own numbers, summarized below.
Three different sets of requirements
"Requirements" means three separate things here, and most confusion comes from mixing them up.
1. To be allowed to take the exam. Apply through NASCLA, pay the $65 application fee, receive approval, then pay PSI $130 and book the exam. NASCLA's FAQ says there are no requirements to apply. You also don't have to live in the state where you want a license.
2. To get through test day. A valid ID, the approved reference books with the right markings, a permitted calculator, and an on-time arrival. These are covered in the reference checklist and test-day rules below.
3. To actually be licensed. This part belongs to each state. A NASCLA pass is not a license or certification. It's a trade-exam result that participating agencies accept. You still apply to the state and meet its other rules, which may include experience, financial, insurance, or bonding requirements. Many states also require their own Business & Law exam, and NASCLA doesn't give those. What a NASCLA pass covers differs by state.
Planning to work in one specific state? Check that state's row in the state table before you spend money on the exam or the books.
How to apply and schedule: step by step
- Check your target state first. Make sure the agency and license classification you want accept the NASCLA commercial exam, and see what else they require. Start with the state table, then confirm with the board.
- Apply at ned.nascla.org and pay the $65 fee. NASCLA says applications are usually processed within 7 business days.
- Watch for PSI's email. Once you're approved, PSI emails you from support@psiexams.com with a candidate ID that starts with "NASCC," plus a scheduling link.
- Pay PSI $130 and book. Schedule online or by phone at (855) 746-8177. You can test at any PSI site that offers the exam. Candidates with approved ADA accommodations must schedule by phone with a PSI registrar.
- Take the exam within your one-year window. You get up to three attempts in that year.
- After you pass, set up your transcript account at ned.nascla.org, link your result, and buy a transcript for each state agency. Then complete that state's application.
Applying through a state instead? Some states give the NASCLA exam themselves as their own trade exam. NASCLA says you can apply through one of those states or through NASCLA. If you test through a state, linking your results to a NASCLA transcript account can take longer. NASCLA asks you to email your score report to info@nascla.org.
How much the NASCLA exam costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exam application | $65 | NASCLA, at ned.nascla.org |
| Exam fee (Commercial General Building) | $130 | PSI |
| Transcript, per state agency | $45 each | NASCLA, at ned.nascla.org |
| State license application, license, Business & Law exam, bond | Varies | Each state |
Sources: NASCLA FAQ (application and transcript fees); PSI bulletin, p. 1 (exam fee).
Example: test once, then apply in three states
$65 application + $130 exam + (3 × $45 transcripts) = $330 in NASCLA and PSI fees.
That doesn't include reference books or anything the states charge.
A few money rules to know:
- PSI's $130 fee is valid for one year from the date you pay.
- You lose the fee if you cancel less than 2 days before your appointment, don't show up, arrive after the start time, or bring the wrong ID. Cancel through PSI's website or by phone. Voicemail and email don't count.
What's on the NASCLA exam
The exam has 115 scored questions across 12 subject areas. The table is sorted by item count, largest first.
| Subject area | Scored items |
|---|---|
| Procurement and Contracting Requirements | 31 |
| General Requirements | 25 |
| Site Construction | 15 |
| Concrete | 6 |
| Metals | 6 |
| Mechanical and Plumbing Systems | 6 |
| Wood | 5 |
| Thermal and Moisture Protection | 5 |
| Finishes | 5 |
| Masonry | 4 |
| Doors, Windows, and Glazing | 4 |
| Electrical Systems | 3 |
| Total | 115 |
Source: PSI bulletin, p. 3, content outline.
Three things the outline doesn't spell out:
- About half the exam is business and project administration. Procurement and Contracting plus General Requirements make up 56 of the 115 scored items. Item counts show what the exam covers. They don't tell you how hard an area is or how long to study it.
- You'll see 125 questions, not 115. Ten unscored pretest questions are mixed in. PSI says their time is already built into the 330 minutes. Spread over all 125 items, that works out to about 2 minutes 38 seconds per question. The bulletin doesn't say which questions they are, so treat every question as if it counts.
- Some things help you on the clock. A printed diagram and blueprint packet is handed out at the test center. The on-screen tutorial (up to 15 minutes) doesn't count against your time. You can also go back and change answers before time runs out. PSI bulletin, pp. 3–4
Approved reference books
The exam is open book, but PSI doesn't hand out the books. You bring them, and only references on PSI's list are allowed. PSI bulletin, pp. 4–5
Rules for your books
- You may highlight, underline, and index them.
- Tabs must be permanent. Post-it–style temporary tabs have to come off before the exam starts.
- No handwriting in the books, and no loose or attached papers.
- For code questions, only the code editions on the list count. For other references, PSI lets you use earlier or later editions, but at your own risk. An answer conflict caused by a different edition isn't grounds for an appeal.
The 24 references on the current list
| ✓ | Reference | Edition named in the July 2026 bulletin |
|---|---|---|
| NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic | 14th edition | |
| International Building Code (ICC) | 2021 or 2024 | |
| ACI 318: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary | ACI 318-14 or ACI 318-19 (2022) | |
| Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) | 1926-2023 edition with latest amendments, or PSI's OSHA Excerpts 2025 | |
| ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities | 2017 | |
| Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers | 4th edition, 2024 | |
| BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses | 2018 (updated March 2020) or 2025 | |
| Carpentry and Building Construction (Feirer & Feirer) | 2016 | |
| Construction Jobsite Management (Mincks & Johnston) | 4th ed., 2017 or 5th ed., 2024 | |
| Construction Project Management (Gould & Joyce) | 4th ed., 2014 or 5th ed., 2022 | |
| Erectors' Manual: Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Pre-Cast Concrete Products (PCI) | 2nd edition, 1999 | |
| Green Building Fundamentals (Montoya) | 2nd edition, 2011 | |
| Gypsum Construction Handbook (USG) | 7th edition, 2014 | |
| Technical Digest No. 9: Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders (SJI) | 3rd edition, 2008 | |
| Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning, Level 1 (PTI) | 3rd edition, 2003 | |
| Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone (Kicklighter) | 9th edition, 2020 | |
| Pipe and Excavation Contracting (Roberts) | 2011 | |
| Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction (Andres & Smith) | 11th edition, 2024 | |
| Roofing Construction and Estimating (Atcheson) | 1995 (reprinted 2022) | |
| Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices (CRSI) | 10th edition, 2019 or later printing | |
| SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck | 2016 | |
| The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (ACI) | 4th edition, 2018 | |
| Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites (EPA 833R06004) | 2007 | |
| ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for EIFS and EIFS with Drainage | 2017 |
Source: PSI bulletin, pp. 4–5. Checked October 4, 2026.
A few notes on the list:
- The EPA stormwater guide is free. PSI says the document can be downloaded as a PDF for free or ordered in hard copy for free; its bulletin directs candidates to search for document number 833R06004 and select the NEPIS result.
- Some booksellers stock newer printings of a few non-code titles than the editions named above. PSI allows other editions of non-code books at your own risk. The table shows what the bulletin itself names.
- Recheck the list before you buy. PSI updates the bulletin, and the editions are the part most likely to change.
Test-day rules
- Arrive 30 minutes early. If you're late you may be turned away, and you'll lose the fee.
- Bring one current, government-issued ID with your name, photo, and signature, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. Temporary IDs aren't accepted.
- Bring a calculator that's allowed: silent, battery-powered, and non-programmable, with no paper tape and no alphabet keyboard.
- Store everything else. Phones, smartwatches, bags, notes, food, drinks, and outerwear such as jackets, vests, cardigans, and scarves go into PSI's storage. If you're asked to remove outerwear, PSI expects appropriate clothing, like a shirt or blouse, underneath.
- Breaks: you can use the restroom with the proctor's permission, but the clock keeps running.
- Integrity: NASCLA's policy for cheating or attempted cheating is invalidated scores, forfeited fees, and a 12-month bar from reapplying.
Source: PSI bulletin, pp. 2–3.
Which states accept the NASCLA exam?
NASCLA lists 20 agencies that accept the commercial exam: 17 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Alabama and South Carolina each having two boards. What a pass replaces is not the same everywhere. It usually replaces the state trade exam. In a few places it stands in for experience or pre-license training instead, or it only counts within a time limit.
| Agency | How NASCLA says the exam is used |
|---|---|
| Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board | Listed as accepting as of March 17, 2025. |
| Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors | Accepting since September 2009. |
| Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Since Nov. 1, 2017, an option in place of the state trade exams for the B-1 and B-2 general commercial classifications. The exam date on your transcript must be within the past 2 years. |
| Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board | NASCLA's note says Arkansas gives the exam in place of applicants showing appropriate experience on the application. Confirm how this applies to your classification. |
| California Contractors State License Board | Since April 25, 2025, the B General Building trade exam may be waived for out-of-state applicants who have held a license in good standing in their state for at least 5 years and passed NASCLA. California residents take the California trade exam. |
| Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Since March 1, 2019, accepted in place of the Florida trade exam. Florida's Business/Finance and Florida Building Code portions are still required. |
| Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors | Accepting since November 2010. |
| Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | Listed by NASCLA as a participating agency; its current NASCLA detail page gives no effective date or additional use condition. |
| Mississippi State Board of Contractors | Accepting since May 2010. |
| Nevada State Contractors Board | Accepting since December 2013. |
| New Mexico Construction Industries Division | Accepted in place of the trade exam for the GB98 license. Since Jan. 13, 2023, you also need a letter showing at least 1 year licensed in good standing in another state. |
| North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors | Accepted for both the Commercial Building Construction and Residential Building Contractor classifications. |
| Oregon Construction Contractors Board | Accepted in place of the 16-hour pre-licensure training requirement. |
| South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board | Administering as of May 2010. Exam scores must be within the past 3 years to be accepted. |
| South Carolina Residential Builders Commission | Has reciprocity with the SC Contractors' Licensing Board. You must have passed the NASCLA exam within the past 3 years. |
| Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Administering since March 2021. |
| Utah DOPL, Construction Trades Bureau | Utah hasn't required trade exams since May 2019. It accepts NASCLA to meet the 2-year experience requirement for general contractors. |
| Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Since Jan. 1, 2016, treated as comparable to the Commercial Building classification. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Affairs | Accepting since February 2013. |
| West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board | Accepting since Sept. 1, 2013. It won't accept scores or transcripts from before that date. |
Source: NASCLA Commercial Exam Participating State Agencies and each agency's NASCLA page. Checked October 4, 2026. The notes are summarized from NASCLA's wording. The licensing agency makes the final call, so confirm with the board before you apply.
- If your state isn't listed, NASCLA doesn't list it as accepting the commercial exam.
- Some agencies give the NASCLA exam themselves as their own trade-exam option. NASCLA marks those on its map. Either way, your result can be sent through NASCLA's transcript system.
- California residents take California's own trade exam. Our California contractors license study guide covers the CSLB Law and Business exam and trade-exam outlines.
After you pass
- Keep your pass report. PSI gives it to you at the test center, and it's your only paper proof. You won't get a numeric score or a breakdown by subject when you pass. NASCLA
- Create one account at ned.nascla.org. More than one account slows down linking. NASCLA estimates about 5–6 business days total for PSI to upload your result and NASCLA to link it. NASCLA FAQ
- Buy a $45 transcript for each agency. It goes to the agency electronically, and you don't get a copy. The agency can view it for 2 years after you buy it.
- Your result doesn't expire, but some states set a time limit. NASCLA says passing results never expire. Arizona wants an exam date within the past 2 years, the SC Residential Builders Commission wants a pass within the past 3 years, and West Virginia won't take results from before Sept. 1, 2013.
If you don't pass
- You get up to 3 attempts within 1 year of your application approval date. NASCLA
- If you use all 3 attempts, or the year runs out, you reapply as a "Re-Applicant" at ned.nascla.org with the same NASCC ID. You can't be approved again until your 1-year window has ended.
- Book each new attempt with PSI, and confirm the fee when you do.
NASCLA electrical exams
NASCLA also offers three electrical exams. They have a separate PSI bulletin, separate reference lists, and their own list of participating states. Don't use the commercial numbers above for these.
| Exam | Scored questions | Minimum passing score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor (Master/Unlimited) | 100 | 75 | 270 minutes |
| Journeyman Electrician | 100 | 70 | 300 minutes |
| Residential Electrical Contractor | 100 | 70 | 270 minutes |
Each electrical exam also includes 10 unscored experimental questions, and all three are open book under their own reference rules. Source: PSI electrical bulletin, July 7, 2026, pp. 3–6.
Check the NASCLA electrical participating agencies. For how individual states handle out-of-state electrician licenses, see our electrical license reciprocity by state research.
Numbers you may see elsewhere that are out of date
Plenty of NASCLA pages online still show old figures. Here's what the official sources say now.
| You may see | Current official figure |
|---|---|
| $106 or $120 exam fee | $130 (PSI bulletin, July 2026) |
| $25 application fee | $65 (NASCLA) |
| 5 hours or 300 minutes | 330 minutes |
| 125 questions | 115 scored, plus 10 unscored pretest |
| "Closed book" | Open book, approved references only |
| "Replaces the Business & Law exam" | It replaces the trade portion. States run their own Business & Law exams. |
| "A national contractor license" | Not a license or certification |
Quick answers
Is the NASCLA exam a national contractor license? No. NASCLA says it isn't a license or certification. It's a trade-exam result that participating states accept. NASCLA FAQ
Do I need experience to take it? Not to sit for the exam. Your state may still require experience before it issues a license.
Can I take the NASCLA exam online? PSI's commercial bulletin describes computer-based testing at PSI test centers and doesn't mention a remote option. Ask PSI if you want to check whether that's changed.
What score do I need? 81 correct out of 115 scored questions on the commercial exam.
The bulletin calls 81 a minimum passing score without specifying raw versus scaled scoring; interpret the correct-answer count above conditionally.
Official sources
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor (updated July 7, 2026): exam fee, format, content outline, references, ID and test-center rules
- NASCLA: Apply for NASCLA Exams: application fee, processing, attempts, scheduling, transcripts
- NASCLA Exam & Transcript FAQ: eligibility, fees, results, transcript linking
- NASCLA Commercial Exam Participating State Agencies
- NASCLA State Business and Law Exams
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, NASCLA Electrical Exams (July 7, 2026)
- NASCLA Electrical Exams Participating State Agencies
Last verified: October 4, 2026, against PSI's NASCLA commercial and electrical bulletins (both updated July 7, 2026) and NASCLA's application, FAQ, Business & Law, and participating-agency pages. The cost and timing figures above were calculated from those published numbers.
By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team.
AI tools assisted with drafting, organization and source checking. Source checking is not qualified professional review. About our editorial approach.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) or PSI. Exam and organization names are used only to identify their subjects, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Each state licensing agency decides who gets a license, so confirm current requirements with your board before you apply.