NASCLA Exam in Florida: What It Is and How to Prepare

The NASCLA exam is one way to meet the trade exam requirement for a Florida certified general, building or residential contractor license. It is an open book exam delivered by PSI, and passing it does not give you a license by itself. Here is what the exam is, what Florida still requires after it, and where License Fix fits.

What is the NASCLA exam?

NASCLA stands for the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies. Its Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized trade exam that participating state agencies accept in place of their own state trade test. Passing it does not make you a licensed contractor. You still apply to each state, and each state sets its own other requirements.

Per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (updated July 7, 2026), the exam has 115 scored questions, a minimum passing score of 81 and 330 minutes of testing time. PSI adds 10 unscored pretest questions that you cannot identify, and the time for them is already included in the 330 minutes.

What does Florida still require after you pass?

Florida still requires the Business and Finance exam and an attestation that you passed an exam covering the Florida Building Code. That is the rule in the DBPR form CILB 10 (June 2024 edition) for Certified General, Building and Residential Contractors. Read that form before you apply, and check with the DBPR if your situation is not standard.

Your NASCLA result is sent to the state through the NASCLA National Examination Database at ned.nascla.org. Each state transcript costs $45 and is valid for two years.

Why do some contractors choose the NASCLA route?

The main reason is mobility. One passing result can be sent to every state agency that accepts the exam, instead of preparing for a separate trade test in each state. Which states accept it changes over time, so check NASCLA's list of participating agencies and confirm with the state before you plan around it.

If you will only ever be licensed in Florida, compare both routes first. Our full guide to the Florida general contractor exam walks through the decision.

What does the NASCLA exam cover?

The content outline has 12 subject areas and 115 scored questions:

• 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

Procurement and Contracting plus General Requirements make up 56 of the 115 questions, about half the test. Plan your study hours around that.

Which books can you bring?

The exam is open book, and the references are not provided at the test center. You bring your own. The PSI bulletin lists the specific titles and editions that the questions were based on, and it also hands out a diagram and blueprint packet at the test center. For code books, the questions follow only the editions listed in the bulletin, so check the current list before you buy anything.

The bulletin allows highlighting, underlining and indexing. Books must otherwise be unmarked, with no handwriting and no loose or attached papers. Only permanent tabs are allowed. Temporary tabs such as Post-It notes must be removed before the exam starts.

How do you apply and what are the limits?

You apply in the NASCLA National Examination Database at ned.nascla.org and pay a $65 application fee. Applications are typically processed within 7 business days. An approved application is good for one year, and within that year you get up to three attempts. If you use all three or the year runs out, you can reapply after the year ends. PSI lists a $130 exam fee in its bulletin. You do not need to live in the state where you want to be licensed.

After you pass, you create an account in the NED database, NASCLA links your result, and you buy the transcript for each state agency you apply to.

Where does License Fix fit in?

License Fix School does not have a course built only for the NASCLA exam. We would rather tell you that plainly than let you assume it.

What License Fix does offer for this route:

• Business and Finance exam preparation. Florida requires this exam on the NASCLA route, and it is the part many candidates leave for last.
• An open book method. License Fix teaches you how to read a question, where to look and how to highlight and tab your reference books so you can find answers fast. That skill applies to any open book trade exam, including NASCLA.
• A bookstore. License Fix sells reference book and tab sets for several Florida license categories. For the NASCLA book list, use the current PSI bulletin as your source.

See the programs on the courses page and the sets in the bookstore. If you are not sure which route fits you, call +1 888 538 1225 and the License Fix team will help you sort out the next step.

Sources: PSI NASCLA Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 7/7/2026), NASCLA "Apply for NASCLA Exams" page, DBPR form CILB 10 (June 2024). Checked October 2026.