Exam overview

What the NASCLA exam is, what it costs, how you apply and what open book really means.

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NASCLA Contractor Exam Master Guide 2026The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book trade exam accepted by participating licensing agencies.…
The NASCLA exam explainedThe NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book exam of 125 questions, 115 of them scored, over 330 minu…
What Open Book Actually Means on the NASCLA ExamOpen book means you bring the approved references and look answers up. It is a test of navigation under time pressure rather than recall, and candidat…
NASCLA Exam CostThe PSI examination fee is USD 130 and the NASCLA application fee is USD 65. The approved reference books usually cost considerably more than both tog…
The NASCLA Approved Reference List ExplainedThe PSI bulletin names around 24 approved references by specific edition. They are bought from their publishers, and an edition mismatch makes a book …
How to Apply for the NASCLA ExamApply to NASCLA with the USD 65 application fee. Once approved you have 12 months and up to three attempts, and you book each sitting separately with …
The one-year approval windowAn approved NASCLA application lasts 12 months and allows up to three attempts. Booking late in the window means a failed attempt may leave no time fo…
The format of the examOne computer-based session of 125 multiple-choice questions over 330 minutes, with the approved reference books permitted. The appointment runs 360 mi…
Exam dayArrive early with photo identification and your books. They are checked against the approved list at check-in. The session runs 330 minutes with a res…
What You Can and Cannot Bring to the NASCLA ExamYou may bring the approved references with permanent index tabs and highlighting. Loose notes, written annotation beyond what the bulletin permits, an…