NASCLA Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the NASCLA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

NASCLA exam key facts

  • The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book exam with 115 questions. Source
  • Candidates get 330 minutes (5.5 hours) to complete the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractors exam, not counting a tutorial of up to 15 minutes. Source
  • To pass the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractors exam, a candidate must answer at least 81 of the 115 questions correctly. Source
  • An approved NASCLA exam application gives the candidate three attempts within one year, after which they must apply again as a Re-Applicant. Source
  • Passing NASCLA exam results never expire, but each purchased transcript is visible to the regulatory agency for only two years after purchase. Source
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📋 NASCLA Exam Format at a Glance

115
Questions
330 min
Time Limit
70.00%
Passing Score

📚 NASCLA Topics to Study (21)

✍️ Sample NASCLA Questions & Answers

1. If a property owner pays the general contractor in full but the general contractor fails to pay subcontractors, in most states:
✓ Unpaid subcontractors may still file mechanic's liens against the owner's property if they followed proper procedures

In most states, unpaid subcontractors who properly preserved their lien rights can still lien the owner's property even if the owner paid the general contractor in full.

2. Which financial statement shows a company's revenues, expenses, and net profit over a period of time?
✓ Income statement (Profit and Loss statement)

The income statement, also called a Profit and Loss statement, summarizes revenues and expenses over a specific period to show the company's net profit or loss.

3. A 'payment bond' on a construction project primarily protects which parties?
✓ Subcontractors and material suppliers who may not be paid by the contractor

A payment bond guarantees that subcontractors and material suppliers will be paid for their work and materials, even if the general contractor fails to pay them.

4. What form must employers use to verify an employee's eligibility to work in the United States?
✓ I-9

The I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form must be completed for all new hires to verify their identity and authorization to work in the U.S.

5. A contractor's 'markup' on a project covers which of the following?
✓ Overhead expenses and profit added to direct costs to determine the contract price

Markup is the percentage added to direct project costs to cover the contractor's overhead expenses and desired profit margin, resulting in the final contract price.

6. Each employee on a scaffold more than ______ above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level.
✓ 10 feet

Explanation: According to safety regulations, each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling to that lower level. This protection typically involves the use of guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest systems, or other appropriate fall protection measures. Understanding and adhering to safety regulations is crucial for contractors to ensure a safe working environment and prevent accidents on construction sites.

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📖 NASCLA Guides & Articles

Your NASCLA Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for NASCLA

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

  • A timed, full-length NASCLA mock exam — 115 questions in 330 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
  • A fixed NASCLA question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
  • Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
  • A printable NASCLA cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
  • NASCLA flashcards built from the same question bank.
  • Free NASCLA practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
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How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. test-takers.psiexams.com — Fees, exam format, passing score, time limit, exam information · verified Oct 2026
  2. nascla.org — Eligibility, fees, score release, score validity, test delivery, registration, retake policy · verified Oct 2026
NASCLA Study Guide 2026 — Exam Format & Topics