United States
Hong KongThe NASCLA exam in Alabama
Alabama accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in place of its own commercial general building trade exam. The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors still sets experience, financial, bonding and business-and-law requirements, which the NASCLA exam does not satisfy.
Alabama participates in the NASCLA Accredited Examination program, so a pass satisfies the commercial general building trade examination requirement there. One exam, accepted.
That is one requirement of several. The license itself comes from the state, and the state asks for more.
What the exam satisfies
The trade examination requirement, and only that. You sit 125 questions over 330 minutes and need 81 of the 115 scored. The result goes into the NASCLA National Examination Database.
You then request a transcript. It goes to the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors and costs USD 45.
What Alabama still requires
- Experience, usually expressed in years in the trade or in a supervisory role
- Financial statements, and often a minimum net worth or working capital
- A surety bond, and general liability and workers compensation insurance
- A business and law examination in many states, which the NASCLA exam does not cover
- A qualifying party, where the license is held by a company
Many participating states require a separate business and law examination alongside the trade exam. Passing the NASCLA exam does not satisfy it. Check with the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors before assuming one exam is the whole requirement.
Confirm the current figures
Experience thresholds, bond amounts, net worth requirements and fees all change. The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors publishes the current position, and NASCLA lists the participating agencies. Use both.
Work from those rather than from a prep provider summary. Those are often a year or more out of date.
Scope of the license
Alabama licenses general contractors by classification, so establish which classification your work falls under before applying. The classification determines what the license permits you to bid.
Common questions
Does Alabama accept the NASCLA exam?
Yes, in place of its own commercial general building trade examination. The Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors sets the remaining requirements.
Does passing license me there?
No. It satisfies the trade exam requirement. Experience, financial, bonding and often a business and law exam remain.
Do I need a separate business and law exam?
Many participating states require one, and the NASCLA exam does not cover it. Confirm with the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors.
How does the state receive my result?
You request a transcript from the NASCLA National Examination Database, at USD 45 per state.
Can I use one pass in several states?
Yes. That is the point of the program. Each state receives its own transcript and applies its own remaining requirements.