Virginia NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam Prep

Contractor Training Center offers everything you need to prepare for the NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam, one of the exams accepted by the Virginia DPOR to obtain a Commercial Building Contractor license. 

The NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam is a challenging test of your knowledge of building regulations, best practices, and terminology.

As a licensed commercial building contractor in Virginia, you will be able to take on projects for work on properties in the commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental sectors.

Such projects often include:    

• Construction 
• Renovation 
• Repair 
• Improvement  
• Removal 
• Demolition  

In Virginia, in addition to obtaining a Commercial Building Contractor classification, specialty designations must be obtained for licensees to perform:  

• Electrical work 
• Plumbing 
• HVAC projects 

You can also refer to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for more information on testing policies.

To register for the NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam, you'll need to: 

• Apply to take the exam with NASCLA by visiting ned.nascla.org. 
• Submit your application and the $35 application fee (Applications are typically processed within 7 business days and valid for one year from the date of approval).    
• Schedule your exam with PSI. Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with a candidate ID number and a link to schedule your exam. 
• Pass the five-hour, open-book test consisting of 115 questions. A 70% score is required to pass. 

Once you’ve taken and passed the exam, you will receive a score report validating your results. Then: 

• Return to the NASCLA National Examination Database (NED) at ned.nascla.org and create a user account. 
• Link your score to your profile.  
• Purchase a transcript to send to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The transcript fee is $30 per state.    

Important Notes: 

• You must be pre-approved by NASCLA before you can take the exam. 
• Once approved, you are eligible to take the exam for one year and may attempt the exam up to three times within that year. 
• Transcripts are valid for two years. 
• Passing the NASCLA exam is just one step in the Virginia licensing process. You will also need to meet other state requirements, such as pre-license education and passing the Virginia Business Law Exam. (See How to Get Licensed as a Contractor in Virginia for more details.)