Louisiana NASCLA Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors Complete Book Set

Prepare for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Louisiana contractor licensing process with a complete collection of commercial construction, project management, safety, code, and business references.

This Louisiana NASCLA complete book set brings together the listed publications used to study the broad range of subjects associated with the commercial general building contractor examination. The collection covers construction management, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast erection, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, masonry, excavation, gypsum systems, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, safety, building codes, stormwater planning, exterior insulation systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The set also includes the Louisiana Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors. This Louisiana-focused publication provides useful study material involving contractor licensing, business administration, contracts, financial management, employment responsibilities, insurance, safety, and project operations.

Louisiana currently uses an online Business and Law course for qualifying parties who are receiving credit through NASCLA or reciprocity. The Louisiana business guide remains a valuable reference for understanding state contractor responsibilities and building a stronger foundation for operating a licensed contracting business.

The NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination requires candidates to work with an extensive reference library. Effective preparation involves more than reading construction books. Candidates must recognize the subject of a question, select the appropriate publication, and locate the relevant definition, table, code section, chapter, or technical requirement efficiently.

Studying with the complete set allows candidates to become familiar with the organization and terminology of each reference. The books can be divided into manageable subject groups so candidates can review one area at a time and practice locating information under timed conditions.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies, including the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

The examination measures knowledge used to plan, supervise, manage, and complete commercial building projects. It covers a wide range of construction subjects rather than concentrating on a single specialty trade.

Major areas represented by the listed books include project management, jobsite administration, estimating, contracts, safety, concrete, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning, precast construction, wood trusses, steel decking, steel joists, masonry, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, building codes, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Candidates apply for the NASCLA examination through the applicable NASCLA examination process. After passing, the result is stored in the NASCLA National Examination Database. Candidates may electronically transmit an official transcript to Louisiana or another participating licensing agency.

Passing the NASCLA examination may satisfy the applicable technical trade-examination requirement, but it does not automatically issue a Louisiana contractor license. Applicants must complete the Louisiana license application and meet the requirements established by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

Louisiana qualifying parties using a NASCLA examination result must also complete the Louisiana Business and Law requirement. The current Louisiana Business and Law component is delivered as an online course through the contractor portal and is separate from the NASCLA technical examination.

The examinations and licensing requirements may be completed in the order permitted by the Louisiana Board. All remaining licensing requirements must be satisfied before a license, classification, or qualifying-party designation is issued.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open-book test. Candidates are responsible for obtaining and bringing permitted references to the testing location. The testing center does not provide the complete examination library.

Open-book testing allows candidates to consult approved books, but it does not remove the need for detailed preparation. The library contains thousands of pages across textbooks, construction codes, standards, manuals, and technical guides.

A candidate who is unfamiliar with the references may spend too much time searching through unrelated books. A stronger approach is to identify the primary subject of the question, choose the publication most likely to address it, and use the index, table of contents, chapter headings, definitions, or technical tables to find the information.

For example, structural concrete questions may require ACI 318, while questions about reinforcing-bar placement may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars. Concrete field practices may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction.

Steel construction questions may involve the Steel Deck Institute manual or the technical digest covering steel joists and joist girders. Wood-truss questions may require the BCSI guide, while precast and post-tensioning questions rely on their respective specialty publications.

Accessibility questions may require ICC A117.1, while broader commercial building-code questions may rely on the International Building Code. Excavation and underground utility questions may involve Pipe and Excavation Contracting, and construction safety questions may require 29 CFR Part 1926.

Candidates should use the listed editions during study because code sections, page numbers, terminology, illustrations, and technical requirements may differ between editions. Regular practice with the actual references helps build speed and familiarity before examination day.

All books brought into the testing room must comply with the current examination rules. Candidates should review the applicable candidate bulletin and avoid unauthorized loose pages, removable notes, inserts, or other prohibited materials.

Licensing Steps

1. Choose the appropriate Louisiana classification. The requested classification should correspond with the commercial construction work the company intends to perform.
2. Determine the license type. Review whether the company needs a commercial contractor license and which classifications or subclassifications apply to the proposed work.
3. Identify the qualifying party. The business must designate the individual responsible for qualifying the company for the requested classification.
4. Submit the Louisiana license application. Provide the requested business, ownership, qualifying-party, classification, financial, and supporting information.
5. Receive contractor portal access. Applicants and qualifying parties receive access to the Louisiana contractor portal after the application is submitted and processed.
6. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the NASCLA application process and receive authorization before scheduling the commercial general building examination.
7. Prepare with the listed references. Study the technical subjects and practice locating information throughout the complete book set.
8. Pass the NASCLA examination. The result may be transmitted to Louisiana through the NASCLA National Examination Database.
9. Complete the Louisiana Business and Law requirement. Qualifying parties using NASCLA credit must complete the Louisiana online Business and Law course through the contractor portal.
10. Submit remaining licensing documents. Provide financial information, insurance documentation, qualifying-party records, and other materials required for the requested license.
11. Complete the Board’s review. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors evaluates the application, examination credit, and supporting documentation.
12. Receive the license before contracting. The business must obtain the applicable Louisiana license before performing work that requires state contractor licensure.

State Requirements

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors regulates commercial, residential, mold remediation, and home improvement contractors in the state. Applicants must obtain the appropriate license and classification before performing covered contracting work.

A commercial license applies to qualifying commercial construction projects that fall within Louisiana’s contractor licensing laws. The applicant should select the classification that accurately describes the work the company intends to perform.

The contractor license is issued to the business entity. A qualifying party is connected with the license and demonstrates the applicable technical knowledge for the requested classification.

Louisiana accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors as a trade-examination option. A candidate who has already passed the NASCLA examination may transmit the result to the Louisiana Board through the National Examination Database.

Using a NASCLA examination result does not replace the Louisiana license application. The company must still provide all required business, ownership, financial, qualifying-party, insurance, and classification information.

Qualifying parties using NASCLA or reciprocity credit must complete Louisiana’s online Business and Law course. The course is accessed through the LSLBC contractor portal after the application process has been initiated.

Applicants should submit complete and accurate documents. Missing financial information, incomplete qualifying-party records, unresolved ownership details, or missing insurance materials may delay the licensing process.

The Louisiana Board makes the final licensing decision. Passing an examination or purchasing this complete book set does not independently authorize the applicant to perform licensed contracting work.

Reference Books

• Louisiana Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management, Commercial Contractors
  Provides Louisiana-focused material involving contractor licensing, business administration, financial management, contracts, employment responsibilities, insurance, safety, and project operations.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, safety, productivity, quality control, coordination, and daily construction operations.
• Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Reviews project organization, estimating, scheduling, contracts, cost control, risk management, communication, quality, and project closeout.
• ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Provides requirements and commentary involving structural concrete materials, design, reinforcement, durability, construction, and inspection.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses recommended procedures for receiving, handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.
• NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic 14th Edition
  Explains contractor business practices, project management, finance, contracts, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety, and risk.
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Covers precast erection planning, rigging, handling, bracing, alignment, connections, field procedures, and safety.
• Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning – Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
  Reviews field procedures for handling, installing, stressing, inspecting, and protecting unbonded post-tensioning systems.
• SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition, 2016
  Explains steel-deck receiving, storage, placement, fastening, construction loading, field modifications, and installation safety.
• Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Dave Roberts, 2011
  Covers excavation, grading, trenching, underground utilities, pipe installation, equipment, estimating, productivity, and site safety.
• Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
  Provides information about gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, fire-resistant assemblies, installation methods, finishing, and construction details.
• Placing Reinforcing Bars: Recommended Practices, 10th Edition
  Covers reinforcing-bar identification, supports, placement, splices, tolerances, detailing, handling, and field installation.
• Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
  Provides guidance for receiving, storing, handling, placing, bridging, and erecting steel joists and joist girders.
• Modern Masonry – Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Reviews masonry materials, mortar, tools, layout, brick, concrete block, stone, estimating, construction practices, and safety.
• Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition, Cameron K. Andres and Ronald C. Smith
  Provides broad coverage of commercial construction materials, structural systems, building components, sequencing, methods, and field practices.
• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926, with Latest Available Amendments
  Contains federal construction safety requirements involving jobsite operations, fall protection, excavation, scaffolding, equipment, and electrical safety.
• Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Student Edition, John L. Feirer and Mark D. Feirer
  Covers carpentry tools, construction materials, layout, foundations, framing, floors, walls, roofs, interiors, and common building procedures.
• ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2017
  Provides accessibility criteria for routes, entrances, rooms, fixtures, controls, communication elements, and building features.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson
  Reviews roofing systems, materials, installation methods, measurements, quantities, flashing, drainage, estimating, and project planning.
• The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, 2018
  Explains concrete materials, preparation, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, quality control, and problem prevention.
• Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2nd Edition, 2011
  Introduces sustainable construction, energy efficiency, water conservation, materials, building performance, and indoor environmental quality.
• International Building Code, 2021 Edition
  Contains commercial building requirements involving occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, accessibility, structural provisions, and building systems.
• Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites
  Explains stormwater planning, erosion and sediment controls, pollution prevention, inspections, documentation, and construction-site responsibilities.
• ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems and EIFS with Drainage
  Provides requirements involving exterior insulation and finish systems, materials, installation, drainage, flashing, joints, and system performance.
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition, 2023
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, fire-protection, electrical, lighting, communication, and building-control systems coordinated during commercial construction.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by dividing the technical references into manageable subject groups. Separate project management, safety, codes, accessibility, site work, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, exterior systems, environmental controls, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Study one group at a time and learn which publication is most likely to address each type of question. This helps candidates avoid searching through unrelated references during timed practice.

Practice using each book’s index and table of contents. Read a sample question, identify the central construction subject, select the likely publication, and locate the relevant material. Repeat this process until choosing a reference becomes more automatic.

Review missed questions carefully. An incorrect answer may reveal a content weakness, an incorrect book selection, a misunderstood term, or inefficient navigation. Identifying the cause creates a more focused preparation plan.

The Louisiana business guide can be studied separately to strengthen knowledge of state contractor operations. Candidates using NASCLA credit should also complete the current Louisiana online Business and Law course through the contractor portal.

How Contractor Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

Contractor Exam Prep helps Louisiana contractor candidates turn a large technical library into an organized preparation system. The complete book set provides the references needed to study the primary commercial building subjects associated with the NASCLA examination.

Trade-focused review becomes more manageable when the references are organized by subject. Candidates can connect questions involving concrete, masonry, steel, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project management, and building systems with the appropriate publications.

Practice-oriented preparation helps students develop a consistent open-book method. Candidates learn to recognize key terms, select the correct reference, use indexes and chapter headings, and locate code provisions or technical tables efficiently.

The Louisiana business reference also supports a stronger understanding of contractor licensing and business responsibilities. This knowledge can help candidates approach the state licensing process and ongoing business operations with a clearer foundation.

Contractor Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete set provides organized study materials, trade-focused references, navigation practice, and a confidence-building structure for pursuing the candidate’s examination and licensing goals.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Louisiana contractor business guide and the 24 listed NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor technical references.

Does Louisiana accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors for the applicable trade-examination requirement.

Does passing NASCLA automatically provide a Louisiana license?

No. Applicants must complete the Louisiana license application and satisfy the applicable business, financial, qualifying-party, insurance, classification, and licensing requirements.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may bring approved references that comply with the current examination rules. The testing center does not provide the books.

Is Louisiana Business and Law required?

Qualifying parties receiving trade-examination credit through NASCLA or reciprocity must complete Louisiana’s online Business and Law course through the LSLBC contractor portal.

Is the Louisiana business guide included?

Yes. The Louisiana Contractors’ Guide to Business Law and Project Management for Commercial Contractors is included as a state-focused business reference.

Are the books supplied at the testing center?

No. Candidates are responsible for obtaining and bringing all permitted references to the testing location.

Should I use the listed editions?

Yes. Code provisions, technical requirements, page numbers, illustrations, and book organization may differ between editions.

How should I study the complete set?

Group the books by subject, learn which publication applies to each topic, and practice locating information through indexes, chapters, code sections, and technical tables under timed conditions.

Does purchasing the set guarantee license approval?

No. Licensing decisions are made by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors after reviewing the applicant’s complete licensing file.