Multi-State Licensing
The NASCLA Exam: One Test, 18 Jurisdictions
The NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor Examination is the closest thing U.S. contracting has to a passport. Pass it once and 18 jurisdictions will accept it in place of their own commercial general building trade exam.
It doesn't replace everything — each state still runs its own business/law exam and application process — but it means you never sit another trade exam as you expand across state lines.
Exam format
- Administrator
- PSI
- Questions
- 115 scored + 10 unscored pretest
- Time limit
- 330 minutes (5.5 hours)
- Format
- Open book (~24 references)
- Passing score
- ≈70%
- What it waives
- The state trade exam only
With roughly two dozen approved references allowed in the room, NASCLA is the ultimate book-navigation exam. Candidates who tab and index their references before test day have a decisive edge — the same Tab & Pass approach we teach for the Florida exams.
The 18 accepting jurisdictions
Acceptance rules differ by state — some apply it to a specific classification, some add conditions. Click a state for the details.
| Jurisdiction | How it's accepted |
|---|---|
| Alabama → | Accepted by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors in place of the trade exam for the Building Construction classification — confirm current policy before applying. |
| Arizona → | Accepted by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors toward commercial general building classifications — confirm current policy before applying. |
| Arkansas → | Accepted by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board in place of the trade exam for commercial licensure — Arkansas still requires its Business and Law exam. |
| California → | Accepted case-by-case by the CSLB since April 2025, and only for applicants who have held an out-of-state contractor license for at least 5 years — confirm current policy before applying. |
| Florida → | Accepted by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board in place of the trade portions of the certified General Contractor exam — Florida’s Business & Finance exam is still required. |
| Georgia → | Accepted by Georgia’s licensing board in place of the trade exam for General Contractor licensure — Georgia’s business and law requirements still apply. |
| Louisiana → | Accepted by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors in place of the Building Construction trade exam — the separate Business and Law exam still applies. |
| Mississippi → | Accepted by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors in place of the Building Construction trade exam — Mississippi’s Law and Business Management exam still applies. |
| Nevada → | Accepted by the Nevada State Contractors Board toward general building contractor licensure — Nevada still requires its Construction Management Survey (business/law) exam. |
| New Mexico → | Accepted by New Mexico’s Construction Industries Division in place of the trade exam for the GB-98 general building classification — the state Business and Law exam still applies. |
| North Carolina → | Accepted by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors in place of the Building classification exam — application and licensure requirements still apply. |
| Oregon → | Accepted by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board for commercial contractor licensure — Oregon’s own training and business/law testing requirements still apply. |
| South Carolina → | Accepted by the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board in place of the Building trade exam — South Carolina’s Business Management and Law exam still applies. |
| Tennessee → | Accepted by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors in place of the Building (BC) trade exam — Tennessee’s Business and Law exam still applies. |
| Utah → | Accepted by Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing toward general building contractor licensure — Utah’s business/law requirements and application still apply. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands → | Accepted by the territory’s licensing authority in place of the trade exam for general building contractor licensure — confirm current policy before applying. |
| Virginia → | Accepted by the Virginia Board for Contractors in place of the trade exam for Class A licensure with the Commercial Building specialty — Virginia’s other licensure requirements still apply. |
| West Virginia → | Accepted by the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board in place of the General Building trade exam — West Virginia’s Business and Law exam still applies. |
NASCLA or your state's exam?
Choose NASCLA if…
- You plan to work commercial jobs in more than one of the 18 jurisdictions.
- You chase storm, industrial, or franchise work that crosses state lines.
- You'd rather buy and tab one book set than a new set for every state.
Stick with the state exam if…
- You'll only ever work in one state — for Florida, see the Florida exam guides.
- You need a residential or trade-specific license — NASCLA covers commercial general building only.
- Your state isn't on the list above.
Either way, the state's business/law exam and application still apply — in Florida that's the Business & Finance exam.
Train the skill that passes NASCLA
115 questions, 5.5 hours, two dozen books — navigation wins. Start with a free timed practice test and see where you stand against the passing line.
Start the Free Practice Test