NASCLA Exam Prep Course: How to Choose the Right One

A good NASCLA exam prep course trains you for the exam as it is really built: 115 scored questions in 330 minutes, open book, graded against a published content outline. Judge any course by how closely it copies that format and how well it teaches you to find answers in your reference books, not by a pass rate on a sales page.

If you are still deciding which exam route to take in Florida, read our full Florida general contractor exam guide first, then come back here to compare courses. Every fact below comes from NASCLA, PSI Services or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Anything that changes, such as fees, reference editions or participating states, is marked "check the source".

What does a NASCLA exam prep course need to prepare you for?

A NASCLA exam prep course needs to prepare you for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. It is an open book test delivered by PSI. Per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin updated July 2026, it has 115 scored questions, a minimum passing score of 81, and 330 minutes of testing time.

Here is what that means in practice:

• 81 of 115 is about 70.4%, so every point matters.
• 330 minutes divided by 115 questions leaves about 2.9 minutes per question. The bulletin also adds 10 unscored pretest items you cannot identify, so plan on about 2.6 minutes per item.
• Procurement and Contracting Requirements is 31 questions (27%) and General Requirements is 25 (22%). Together they are about half the test.
• Site Construction adds 15 questions (13%). The other 44 questions fall in nine areas, with the question count in parentheses: Mechanical and Plumbing (6), Concrete (6), Metals (6), Wood (5), Thermal and Moisture Protection (5), Finishes (5), Masonry (4), Doors, Windows and Glazing (4) and Electrical (3).

If a course does not show you this outline, it cannot show you where your study hours should go.

Where does the NASCLA exam fit in Florida licensing?

The NASCLA exam is a trade exam, not a license. NASCLA states that passing it removes the trade exam requirement for participating state agencies, but you still apply to the state and meet its other requirements. Florida is on NASCLA's participating list.

For Florida, the June 2024 edition of DBPR form CILB 10 says NASCLA applicants must also pass the Florida Business and Finance exam and attest to passing an exam covering the Florida Building Code. That option applies to Certified General, Building and Residential Contractors. Read the DBPR CILB 10 form before you pay for anything, because a course that ignores these steps leaves you with a gap after the exam.

Our post on the NASCLA exam in Florida explains the route and why contractors choose it. This guide is about the next decision: which course to buy.

What makes the best NASCLA exam prep course?

The best NASCLA exam prep course is the one that matches the real exam, teaches open book speed and tells you plainly what it does not cover. Use this checklist and score every course against it:

1. It follows the PSI content outline and shows you how many questions each subject area carries.
2. Its practice exams use the real format: 115 questions, a 330 minute clock and the 81 question passing line.
3. It teaches you to tab, highlight and index your reference books, because only permanent tabs, highlighting and underlining are allowed in the room.
4. It names the reference books and editions it is built on, and tells you to check the current list in the bulletin.
5. Every wrong answer points you to the book and page where the answer lives.
6. It tells you what you still have to do for your state, such as the Florida Business and Finance exam.

Speed in finding the passage matters as much as knowing it. Our contractor license exam strategy guide shows how tabbing works, and it applies to any open book exam.

Which pass rate claims should you distrust?

Distrust any pass rate that comes without a number, a time period and a method. "Most of our students pass" tells you nothing, and neither does a percentage with no sample size. Unless a figure names an official source, treat it as the school's own count, not an official statistic. That includes ours: the 91% pass rate and 209+ students passed on our pages are the school's own count since 2022, not a DBPR or NASCLA statistic, and the questions below apply to it too.

Ask these questions before you believe a claim:

• How many students are in the number, and over what dates?
• Does it count everyone who enrolled, or only students who finished?
• Does it count first attempt passes or every attempt?
• Can the school show real student results, not only a testimonial?

Also be careful with guarantees. Our own money-back guarantee, for example, covers only the Business and Finance exam, not NASCLA. The bulletin limits you to three attempts within one year of your approval date, so a "pass guaranteed" promise has to be read against that limit. Ask for the guarantee terms in writing.

How should you compare NASCLA exam prep courses side by side?

Compare courses on what you get, what it costs in total and how much support you have before test day. Put the same four questions to every provider so you are comparing like with like:

• Format: Is it live, recorded, or a bookstore set with practice tests? Which suits how you study?
• Practice volume: How many full length practice exams are included, and are they timed?
• Books: Are the reference books and tabs included, or are you buying them separately?
• Support: Who answers questions when you are stuck on a chapter, and how fast?

Add the fixed costs on top of the course price. NASCLA lists a $65 application fee, the PSI bulletin lists a $130 exam fee valid for one year, and NASCLA charges $45 for each state transcript. That is at least $240 before you buy a course, a book or the Florida Business and Finance exam. Fees change, so check NASCLA's application page and the PSI bulletin before you budget.

Then write the total next to each course. A cheap course that leaves you buying books and practice tests separately is not cheap.

How does License Fix prepare candidates for the NASCLA route?

License Fix School has no course built only for the NASCLA exam, and we would rather say so than imply otherwise. What the school does offer for this route is its Florida Business and Finance exam preparation, which the Florida NASCLA route still requires, and a method built around the open book skill: how to read a question, where to look and how to tab each book so you can find the answer fast. Students work through step by step lessons, and the school's bookstore sells reference book and tab sets for several Florida license categories.

You can see the programs on the courses page and the sets in the bookstore. Use the six point checklist above on us as well. Ask what is included, what is not, and how practice results are tracked. A straight answer to those questions is a good sign.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the NASCLA exam cost?

NASCLA lists a $65 application fee and a $45 transcript fee for each state agency, and PSI lists a $130 exam fee in its bulletin updated July 2026. For Florida, that is at least $240. Check both sources for the current amounts, and add your course, books and state licensing fees.

How many times can I take the NASCLA exam?

You have one year from your application approval date, and a maximum of three attempts in that year. If you do not pass in three attempts, you can reapply once the one year period has ended.

Is the NASCLA exam open book?

Yes. The PSI bulletin says the exam is open book, and the references are not provided at the test center. You bring your own. Books may be highlighted, underlined and indexed, but they must not contain handwriting or loose papers, and only permanent tabs are allowed.

Does passing NASCLA give me a license?

No. NASCLA states the exam is not a national license. Your results go into the NASCLA National Examination Database, and you send a transcript to the state agency where you apply.

Choose your NASCLA exam prep course with a checklist, not a promise

Pick the NASCLA exam prep course that matches the real exam, trains your open book speed and gives you proof instead of slogans. When you want to see how License Fix compares, explore our courses or call +1 888 538 1225 to talk with the team.

Checked against the PSI NASCLA Candidate Information Bulletin (updated July 2026), the NASCLA Apply for Exams and FAQ pages and DBPR form CILB 10 (June 2024) in October 2026.