Oregon NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set - Highlighted & Tabbed

Prepare for the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Oregon contractor licensing process with a complete reference package featuring highlighted and permanently tabbed books. This package combines the Oregon NASCLA Business Book with the listed commercial construction textbooks, codes, standards, manuals, and technical guides for organized business-law review and technical trade exam preparation.

The Oregon NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam Complete Book Set is designed for candidates who want a prepared reference library for open-book study. Every book in the package is highlighted and permanently tabbed to help candidates locate important chapters, definitions, code provisions, construction procedures, tables, safety requirements, and technical subjects more efficiently.

The included publications address the broad knowledge involved in managing commercial building projects. Subjects include construction project management, jobsite supervision, estimating, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast erection, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, excavation, masonry, gypsum systems, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, federal construction safety, building codes, stormwater planning, exterior insulation systems, sustainable construction, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

The Oregon NASCLA Business Book supports preparation for the Oregon examination covering contractor laws, rules, and business practices. Candidates can use it to review licensing responsibilities, business organization, contracts, estimating, financial management, employment practices, insurance, safety, project administration, and other responsibilities involved in operating an Oregon contracting business.

Open-book testing requires more than bringing the correct books into the testing room. Candidates must recognize the subject of each question, identify the publication most likely to contain the answer, and locate the relevant information within the available testing period. A highlighted and tabbed reference set supports a consistent navigation routine during study and timed practice.

Please allow an additional 15 business days for highlighted and tabbed book package orders. This additional preparation period allows the complete set to be assembled, reviewed, highlighted, permanently tabbed, and organized before shipment.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized technical trade examination accepted by participating contractor licensing agencies. Oregon accepts the examination through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.

The examination measures knowledge used to plan, supervise, coordinate, and complete commercial construction projects involving multiple building trades. Its broad scope reflects the responsibilities of a commercial general building contractor rather than a contractor working in one specialty area.

Major subjects represented by the complete book set include project management, jobsite operations, estimating, contracts, safety, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, precast construction, post-tensioning, steel decking, steel joists, wood trusses, masonry, excavation, carpentry, roofing, accessibility, commercial building codes, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Construction Jobsite Management and Construction Project Management support review of field supervision, communication, scheduling, documentation, cost control, quality management, risk, and project closeout. Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction provides broader coverage of materials, building systems, construction methods, sequencing, and field operations.

Concrete subjects are divided among ACI 318-19, Placing Reinforcing Bars, and The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. These publications address structural requirements, reinforcement, field placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, inspection, and quality control from different perspectives.

Specialty structural references cover precast concrete erection, unbonded post-tensioning, steel deck installation, steel joist handling, and metal plate connected wood-truss restraint and bracing. Additional publications cover masonry, gypsum systems, roofing, excavation, accessibility, stormwater controls, exterior insulation and finish systems, and building-service coordination.

After passing the NASCLA examination, a candidate may use the NASCLA National Examination Database to send an official transcript to Oregon or another participating licensing agency. The receiving agency reviews the transcript as part of its contractor licensing process.

A passing NASCLA result does not independently issue an Oregon contractor license. Applicants must complete the Oregon Construction Contractors Board application process, designate a Responsible Managing Individual, pass the Oregon examination, select the proper endorsement, and satisfy applicable business-registration, bonding, insurance, and documentation requirements.

Applicants who have passed the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination are not required to complete Oregon’s standard 16-hour pre-license training course. They must still pass the Oregon examination covering laws, rules, and business practices.

Open Book Test

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

The Oregon contractor examination covering laws, rules, and business practices is also open book. Candidates may use the approved Oregon reference manual under the current examination rules.

Open-book testing allows candidates to consult approved publications, but it does not eliminate the need for study. The NASCLA library contains thousands of pages across construction textbooks, standards, codes, manuals, and specialty technical guides.

A productive navigation method begins with identifying the primary subject of the question. The candidate should then select the publication most likely to contain the answer and use the permanent tabs, index, table of contents, chapter headings, definitions, code provisions, diagrams, or technical tables to locate the applicable material.

Structural concrete questions may require ACI 318-19, while reinforcing-bar placement questions may involve Placing Reinforcing Bars. Questions involving concrete placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, testing, or field quality may be addressed in The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction.

Steel-deck questions may require the SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, while steel-joist and joist-girder questions may involve Technical Digest No. 9. Wood-truss handling, installation, restraint, and bracing questions may require the BCSI guide.

Precast erection questions may be located in the Erectors’ Manual, while unbonded post-tensioning questions may require the Level 1 Field Fundamentals publication. Masonry questions may involve Modern Masonry, and excavation or underground utility questions may require Pipe and Excavation Contracting.

Accessibility questions may involve ICC A117.1, while broader commercial code questions may require the International Building Code. Federal construction-safety questions may involve 29 CFR Part 1926, and stormwater-planning questions may require Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

The highlighting and permanent tabs in this package support faster reference navigation, but candidates should study with the prepared books before examination day. Repeated practice helps candidates understand what each tab represents and how highlighted information fits within the surrounding chapter, standard, or code section.

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

Licensing Steps

1. Determine the appropriate Oregon endorsement. Review the residential, commercial, and combined endorsement options and select the one that matches the work the business intends to perform.
2. Select the business structure. Determine whether the contractor will operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or another eligible business form.
3. Designate a Responsible Managing Individual. The RMI must be connected with the business and responsible for managing or supervising its construction activities.
4. Prepare for the NASCLA examination. Study the technical subjects and practice locating information throughout the highlighted and tabbed reference set.
5. Apply for the NASCLA examination. Complete the current NASCLA application and examination-registration process.
6. Pass the NASCLA examination. The result may be transmitted to Oregon through the NASCLA National Examination Database.
7. Prepare for the Oregon examination. Study the Oregon NASCLA Business Book and review Oregon contractor laws, rules, licensing duties, and business practices.
8. Pass the Oregon contractor examination. NASCLA candidates remain responsible for completing the Oregon examination covering laws, rules, and business practices.
9. Register the business when required. Complete the applicable corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or assumed business-name registration.
10. Obtain the required contractor bond. Secure the bond associated with the selected endorsement and business structure.
11. Obtain general liability insurance. Provide proof of the coverage required for the selected Oregon contractor endorsement.
12. Submit the Oregon CCB application. Include the required examination records, bond, insurance certificate, business information, RMI information, and supporting documents.

State Requirements

The Oregon Construction Contractors Board licenses and regulates construction contractors in the state. Contractors performing covered construction work must obtain the appropriate CCB license before advertising, bidding, contracting, or performing work that requires licensure.

The license is issued to the business entity. The applicant must identify a Responsible Managing Individual who is an owner or employee and who manages or supervises the company’s construction activities.

Under Oregon’s standard licensing pathway, the RMI completes approved pre-license education and passes the Oregon contractor examination. An applicant who has passed the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is exempt from the standard 16-hour pre-license training requirement.

The NASCLA exemption does not remove the Oregon examination requirement. The RMI must still pass the open-book Oregon examination covering laws, rules, and business practices.

Applicants must select the endorsement that matches the work the company plans to perform. Oregon distinguishes between residential, commercial, and combined contracting activity, with additional endorsement levels and requirements based on the contractor’s scope.

The selected endorsement affects the contractor’s bond and insurance requirements. The bond and insurance certificate should use the same legal business name shown on the contractor application.

Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and businesses using an assumed business name must complete the applicable Oregon business registration. Business names and organizational details should remain consistent across the application, bond, insurance, and registration records.

The CCB application may require examination documentation, RMI information, ownership details, business-structure records, bond documentation, general liability insurance, and additional materials related to the requested endorsement.

Passing the NASCLA examination and purchasing this complete book set do not guarantee license approval. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board determines whether the applicant has completed the examination, business, bonding, insurance, and administrative requirements for the requested license.

Reference Books

• Oregon NASCLA Business Book
  Supports preparation for the Oregon examination covering contractor laws, rules, licensing responsibilities, business organization, contracts, finance, insurance, employment, safety, and project administration.
• Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, communication, documentation, productivity, quality control, safety, 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 structural concrete requirements and commentary involving materials, reinforcement, design, durability, construction, and inspection.
• BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses recommended practices 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 management.
• Erectors’ Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Covers precast concrete erection planning, handling, rigging, 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 methods, 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, 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, material selection, 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
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, fire-protection, electrical, lighting, communication, and building-control systems coordinated during commercial construction.

Test Information and Study Materials

Begin by separating the Oregon business reference from the NASCLA technical library. This creates a focused plan for reviewing Oregon laws, rules, and business practices while allowing the construction books to be grouped by trade subject.

Organize the technical references into project management, safety, codes, accessibility, site work, concrete, masonry, structural systems, carpentry, roofing, environmental controls, exterior systems, and mechanical and electrical coordination.

Practice selecting the correct publication before searching for an answer. Read a sample question, identify its central topic, choose the book most likely to contain the information, and use the permanent tabs, index, or table of contents to locate the applicable section.

Timed reference exercises help candidates build a repeatable open-book method. The objective is to recognize the subject, select the correct book, locate the supporting material, and evaluate the available answers without searching unrelated references.

Review missed questions carefully. An incorrect response may reveal a technical knowledge gap, an incorrect book choice, misunderstood terminology, or inefficient navigation. Identifying the cause helps candidates focus future study more effectively.

How Contractor Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

Contractor Exam Prep helps Oregon contractor candidates turn a large business and technical reference library into an organized exam-preparation system. The highlighted and permanently tabbed books reduce the initial setup work and provide a consistent structure for study.

Trade-focused review becomes more manageable when the references are grouped by subject. Candidates can connect concrete, masonry, steel, roofing, excavation, accessibility, safety, project-management, and building-system questions with the publications most likely to contain the answers.

Practice-oriented preparation encourages candidates to use the books actively. Students can work through questions, identify important terms, choose the appropriate publication, and use the prepared tabs to locate code provisions, definitions, diagrams, tables, and technical requirements.

Reference-navigation practice is especially important for the open-book NASCLA examination. Familiarity with the highlighting, indexes, chapter headings, code sections, and technical tables helps candidates develop a clearer and more efficient testing routine.

The included Oregon business reference also supports review of contractor licensing, endorsement selection, contracts, financial management, insurance, employment responsibilities, safety, and project administration.

Contractor Exam Prep does not guarantee a passing examination result, licensing approval, or license issuance. The complete highlighted and tabbed package provides organized study support, trade-focused references, navigation practice, and a confidence-building preparation structure.

FAQ Section

What is included in this complete book set?

The package includes the Oregon NASCLA Business Book and all 24 listed technical references for the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination. The complete set is highlighted and permanently tabbed.

How long does preparation of the package take?

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

Does Oregon accept the NASCLA examination?

Yes. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.

Does passing NASCLA eliminate Oregon pre-license training?

Applicants who have passed the NASCLA commercial general building examination are exempt from Oregon’s standard 16-hour pre-license training requirement.

Is the Oregon examination still required?

Yes. NASCLA candidates must still pass the Oregon examination covering contractor laws, rules, and business practices.

Is the NASCLA examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may bring permitted references that comply with current examination rules. The testing center does not provide the complete technical library.

Is the Oregon contractor examination open book?

Yes. Candidates may use the approved Oregon reference manual under the current examination rules.

Why are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Highlighting identifies useful material, while permanent tabs help candidates reach important chapters, code sections, definitions, tables, and technical subjects more efficiently.

Should I study with the prepared books before test day?

Yes. Repeated practice helps candidates learn which reference applies to each subject and become familiar with the highlighting and tabbing system.

Are the books provided at the testing center?

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

Does purchasing this package guarantee a passing score or Oregon license?

No. Examination and licensing outcomes depend on the candidate’s preparation, reference familiarity, application, and completion of all applicable Oregon requirements.