Arkansas NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Books & Courses Rental

Prepare for the Arkansas Business and Law examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors with a complete rental package designed for organized study and efficient open-book reference navigation. This package combines the Arkansas NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management with the complete highlighted and tabbed NASCLA trade-reference library, business and trade courses, and 6 months of course access.

The business course supports preparation for Arkansas contractor laws, business organization, financial management, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, project administration, and other subjects associated with operating a contracting business. The trade course provides structured preparation across the commercial construction topics represented by the NASCLA examination.

The included reference library covers construction project management, jobsite supervision, concrete, masonry, structural steel, wood construction, roofing, excavation, accessibility, construction safety, building codes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, stormwater management, and other major commercial building subjects.

Every rental reference is highlighted and tabbed to help make the extensive collection easier to organize and navigate. Open-book contractor examinations still require detailed preparation. Candidates must recognize the subject being tested, choose the appropriate reference, locate the applicable chapter or code section, interpret the information, and manage their examination time effectively.

The package price is $1,799. A $1,500 refundable rental-book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $3,299. The deposit is refundable when the books are returned within six months in similar condition. Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders.

Exam Details

This package supports preparation for the Arkansas Business and Law examination and the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. Arkansas commercial contractor licenses are issued and regulated by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.

Arkansas requires a commercial contractor license when a contractor performs qualifying work valued at $50,000 or more, including labor and materials, on a commercial project. A project that is not a single-family residence is generally treated as commercial work for this licensing threshold.

The Arkansas Business and Law examination evaluates knowledge related to contractor business operations and state requirements. Candidates are tested from the Arkansas edition of the Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management. The included Arkansas reference and business course help candidates organize the laws, financial concepts, administrative responsibilities, and business practices associated with the examination.

The NASCLA examination is a standardized commercial general building trade examination accepted by participating state agencies. Arkansas participates in the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination program and may use the examination in connection with the trade-knowledge or experience portion of the commercial contractor application process.

Passing the NASCLA examination does not automatically create an Arkansas contractor license. Candidates must still submit the appropriate Arkansas application and meet the Board’s classification, experience, business, financial, bond, workers’ compensation, and documentation requirements.

The NASCLA trade examination covers a broad range of commercial construction knowledge. Candidates should prepare for subjects involving project management, jobsite administration, site work, concrete, masonry, metals, wood systems, roofing, finishes, accessibility, safety, building codes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, procurement, and contracting.

Open Book Test

The Arkansas Business and Law examination is an open-book test based on the Arkansas Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management. Candidates are instructed to bring the Arkansas edition of the guide to the testing center and should confirm that they are scheduled for the correct Arkansas Business and Law examination.

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is also an open-book examination. Candidates must bring the permitted references and follow the current testing rules for tabs, highlighting, markings, bindings, notes, and supplemental materials.

Open-book testing does not eliminate the need to study. The combined business and trade reference library contains thousands of pages. Candidates need to know which book applies to each subject and how to locate the correct section without spending too much time searching.

The highlighted and tabbed rental references are prepared to support navigation. Tabs can make major chapters, construction divisions, business subjects, and code sections easier to find. Highlighting can draw attention to selected definitions, procedures, formulas, requirements, and technical tables.

Candidates should use the books throughout the six-month course period. When answering practice questions, locate the supporting information in the applicable reference and review the surrounding section. This method develops subject knowledge and familiarity with the organization of the books.

Testing rules can restrict loose paper, removable inserts, temporary notes, or other additions. Candidates should review the current testing instructions and inspect each book before the examination.

Licensing Steps

1. Identify the correct Arkansas license and classification. Determine whether a commercial contractor license and the Building classification or another classification matches the work the business intends to perform.
2. Review the commercial project threshold. Arkansas generally requires a commercial contractor license for qualifying commercial work valued at $50,000 or more, including labor and materials.
3. Complete the Arkansas commercial application. Use the current new commercial contractor application issued by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.
4. Select the qualifying individual. Identify the person whose examination, experience, and construction qualifications will support the requested classification.
5. Prepare for Arkansas Business and Law. Study the Arkansas Contractors Guide and complete the business course with the reference nearby.
6. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the NASCLA application process and obtain authorization before scheduling the commercial general building examination.
7. Study the trade references. Use the highlighted and tabbed rental books with the trade course to review each major construction subject.
8. Pass the required examinations. Complete the Arkansas Business and Law examination and the applicable NASCLA trade examination.
9. Send the examination results. Arrange for the required Arkansas business test results and NASCLA transcript to be submitted or made available to the appropriate licensing authority.
10. Document construction experience. Provide references and other evidence supporting the experience required for the requested classification.
11. Register the business entity. Corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and similar entities must include the applicable organizational filings.
12. Provide financial documentation. Submit the financial statement or other financial-responsibility documentation required for the license application.
13. Obtain the contractor bond. File the required Arkansas contractor surety bond in the correct business name.
14. Address workers’ compensation. Applicants with employees must provide proof of current workers’ compensation coverage as required.
15. Submit the complete application. Include the application, fee, test results, references, organizational documents, financial information, bond, and insurance records.
16. Receive approval before contracting. Do not bid, contract, manage, or perform work requiring an Arkansas license until the proper license and classification have been issued.

State Requirements

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board regulates commercial contractors and establishes minimum standards involving construction experience, business ability, and financial stability. Applicants must apply under the business entity that will perform the contracting work.

A commercial contractor license is generally required when the total value of labor and materials on a commercial project is $50,000 or more. Contractors must hold the classification or specialty appropriate for the work being performed.

The application must identify the requested classification and include documentation supporting the applicant’s qualifications. Contractor references are used to verify that the qualifying individual has experience appropriate for the classification requested.

The Arkansas Business and Law examination is required for new commercial contractor applicants. The test is based on the Arkansas edition of the Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management. Passing results must be provided to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board as directed.

Arkansas recognizes the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination as part of its participating-state program. The NASCLA examination addresses trade knowledge, while the Arkansas Business and Law examination remains a separate state requirement.

Applicants must provide a fully executed Arkansas contractor surety bond in the required amount and correct legal business name. The current commercial application identifies a $10,000 contractor bond requirement.

Applicants must also demonstrate financial responsibility through the documentation accepted by the Board. Businesses with employees must provide a certificate showing current workers’ compensation coverage in the name used for the contractor license.

Corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships must provide copies of their organizational filings. Businesses using a registered fictitious name must include the applicable registration documentation.

Licensure does not replace local building permits, inspections, business licenses, planning approvals, or zoning requirements. Contractors remain responsible for complying with project-specific requirements imposed by local governments and other authorities.

Reference Books

• Included Rental Book: Arkansas NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management
  The Arkansas-specific business and law reference covering contractor licensing, business organization, finance, contracts, employment, insurance, safety, and project administration.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, safety, quality control, and construction coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project planning, scheduling, estimating, procurement, cost control, contracts, and construction administration.
• Included Rental Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Contains code requirements and commentary addressing structural concrete materials, design, construction, durability, and inspection.
• Included Rental Book: BCSI Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Provides recommended practices for handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal-plate-connected wood trusses.
• Included Rental Book: NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic 14th Edition
  Covers business organization, estimating, contracts, project management, safety, labor, insurance, and financial administration.
• Included Rental Book: Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Addresses handling, erection planning, temporary stability, bracing, coordination, and safety for precast concrete construction.
• Included Rental Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
  Introduces materials, installation procedures, field practices, safety, and inspection concepts for unbonded post-tensioning.
• Included Rental Book: SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition
  Explains steel-deck storage, handling, placement, attachment, construction practices, and field coordination.
• Included Rental Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011, Dave Roberts
  Reviews excavation, grading, trenching, underground piping, equipment, estimating, safety, and production methods.
• Included Rental Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Covers gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, installation, finishing, fire resistance, and sound control.
• Included Rental Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Provides guidance for reinforcing-bar handling, supports, placement, splices, tolerances, drawings, and field practices.
• Included Rental Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  Addresses handling, erection, bridging, stability, and safety for steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Rental Book: Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, 9th or 10th Edition, Clois E. Kicklighter
  Reviews masonry materials, tools, layout, installation methods, reinforcement, estimating, and field practices.
• Included Rental Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  Provides broad coverage of commercial materials, building systems, plans, specifications, and construction methods.
• Included Rental Book: Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926, with Latest Available Amendments
  Contains federal OSHA safety and health requirements applicable to construction workplaces.
• Included Rental Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Student Edition, John L. Feirer and Mark D. Feirer
  Covers layout, framing, structural components, exterior construction, interior finishes, and carpentry techniques.
• Included Rental Book: ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2017
  Provides technical accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, spaces, fixtures, building elements, and facilities.
• Included Rental Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, measurements, flashing, drainage, installation, repair, and estimating.
• Included Rental Book: The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  Explains concrete preparation, placement, finishing, curing, quality control, and troubleshooting practices.
• Included Rental Book: Green Building Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, 2011, Michael Montoya
  Introduces sustainable sites, energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, and indoor environmental quality.
• Included Rental Book: International Building Code, 2021 Edition
  Covers occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, structural provisions, accessibility, and building safety.
• Included Rental Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites
  Explains stormwater planning, erosion controls, pollution prevention, inspections, maintenance, and documentation.
• Included Rental Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems and EIFS with Drainage
  Covers materials, installation, performance, application, and drainage practices for exterior insulation and finish systems.
• Included Rental Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition, 2023
  Introduces mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire-protection, controls, and building-service systems for construction managers.

Test Information and Study Materials

Separate your study schedule into Arkansas Business and Law preparation and NASCLA trade preparation. For the Arkansas examination, focus on the state-specific guide, including contractor licensing, business organization, contracts, finance, employment, insurance, project administration, and legal responsibilities.

For the NASCLA examination, organize the references by construction discipline. Keep project-management books together and separate concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, roofing, safety, accessibility, excavation, codes, and building-system publications.

Use the courses with the books open. When a lesson introduces a subject, locate the related chapter, code provision, table, formula, or illustration. Reviewing the supporting reference helps connect the lesson to the material available during the examination.

Complete timed practice sessions and confirm each answer in the applicable book. Track the references and subjects that take the most time so those areas can receive additional review.

How Contractor Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

Contractor Exam Prep supports Arkansas contractor candidates through organized business and trade study guidance, highlighted and tabbed rental references, reference-navigation practice, and a structured preparation schedule.

The Arkansas Business and Law course helps candidates review state-specific contractor responsibilities and business subjects. The NASCLA trade course provides focused review across the principal commercial construction topics represented by the examination library.

The prepared books help turn a large technical reference set into a more manageable study system. Candidates can use the highlighted and tabbed references during lessons, independent review, and timed practice to build familiarity with each publication.

Practice-oriented preparation helps candidates identify weaker subjects before test day. Students can adjust their study schedule, revisit difficult books, and spend additional time on unfamiliar business or construction concepts.

Contractor Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing score, classification approval, application approval, or contractor license. The package provides organized references, structured courses, and practical preparation support to help candidates approach their Arkansas licensing goals with greater confidence.

FAQ Section

What is included in this rental package?

The package includes the Arkansas NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, the complete highlighted and tabbed NASCLA rental-reference set, business and trade courses, and 6 months of course access.

How much does the package cost?

The package price is $1,799. A refundable $1,500 rental-book deposit is collected with the order, making the total initial payment $3,299.

How does the refundable deposit work?

The $1,500 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned within six months in similar condition.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The rental references are highlighted and tabbed to support organized study and open-book navigation.

How long is course access available?

The package includes 6 months of access to the Arkansas business course and NASCLA commercial general building trade course.

Is the Arkansas Business and Law examination open book?

Yes. Candidates use the Arkansas edition of the Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management during the examination.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may use permitted references and must follow the current rules for books, tabs, highlighting, markings, and bindings.

Does passing NASCLA automatically provide an Arkansas license?

No. Candidates must apply to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and satisfy the applicable business test, classification, experience, financial, bond, insurance, and documentation requirements.

How long does order processing take?

Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed rental-book package orders.

Does this package guarantee a passing score?

No exam-preparation package can guarantee a passing score or licensing approval. This package provides organized references, business and trade courses, and practice-oriented preparation.