The NASCLA exam is a 330-minute, 115-question, open book exam, and is a popular option for becoming a licensed general contractor. The NASCLA exam is not easy. However, it is highly encouraged due to the versatility to be licensed in multiple states. There are also some great NASCLA exam prep courses. They can significantly help you better prepare to pass on the first attempt.
During the study period, pay attention to the timeline to make sure that you do not miss any crucial dates, which could cost you time and money. In this article we will outline some important steps to take while you study. This should better streamline your approval, and get that license in your hand. Everyone is different. Some may take several months to study. Others may crank out all studying and pass within the first month or two. It is important to account for the study time needed due to the clock that starts after application approval.
Continue reading to find out what timelines you may want to pay attention to, and what actions you will want to take while you study. NASCLA exam prep is key to not only passing the exam on the first attempt, but also avoiding any delay in getting your license once you pass.
Know the Timeline of NASCLA Exam Prep
There are many NASCLA exam prep courses out there. A number of them REALLY press to have you licensed ASAP, rather than allowing you to complete the exam on your schedule which can be a critical mistake.
Most states require you to take a business and law exam after passing the NASCLA. The NASCLA serves as the trades portion for each participating state, but the state wants you to understand their rules and regulations before you build. The business and law exam is much shorter and easier than the NASCLA, so don’t worry! Numerous online courses have a “Step 1” of applying for your state’s business and law exam. Note: Most states have a 1-year timeline from the application approval date to the time you MUST take your exam.
So, let’s create a scenario – You receive your application approval by your state. Your approval to take the NASCLA exam is in hand as well. You do not start studying for the NASCLA exam for 3-months. It takes you 6-months to study. You fail on the first attempt. It takes you 2 more months to study. You pass on the second attempt. You are now only left with one month to study, book a time and pass your state’s business and law exam. While this is (hopefully) an unlikely scenario, it is important to note that the clock starts ticking once your applications are approved.
Create Your Entity BEFORE Sending in Your State’s Application
This is a BIG mistake that a large portion of contractor applicants make. What happens is the applicant fills out the state’s application form as an individual, but plans to have an entity perform the work and be the license carrier. When the applicant receives the license, it is in their personal name, NOT the entity’s name.
If you plan to perform work as an LLC, corporation etc. be sure to complete your state’s application as that entity, not as yourself. You will be the qualifier, but you will not be the licensee. This means is you serve as the test taker who completed the requirements to get a license. Your entity is the actual license carrier. Also, some states can take a month or two to fully review the application and costs can be more than $100. If you make this mistake you will have to pay the application fee twice. You will also have to wait for the application process to go through twice, wasting precious time!
Your Transcript is Accessible to Your State Agency for Two Years
While we understand that this is more of a “post” exam tip, it is still important to note. After passing the NASCLA exam, the National Examination Database holds onto your transcript for two years. If you do not get your license with a state during that timeframe, you will need to re-pay the $30 transcript fee. This is to send your transcript to the state that you wish to get your license in.
Your application for the NASCLA exam is processed quite promptly compared to most state agency applications. It typically takes NASCLA around 7 business days to complete the application process.
Even though the application process is fairly quick, seats for test taking can often be full. We recommend going ahead and getting that NASCLA application completed towards the beginning of your study cycle. Then create your PSI account. This way you can view the availability of testing centers near you. Depending on your location, some PSI testing centers hit capacity and do not have availability more commonly than others.
You Have One Year and Three Attempts to Take the NASCLA
NO! We do not mean that you can only take the NASCLA exam 3 times. This means if you take the NASCLA exam 3 times, and fail all 3 times, you must wait until 365 days after your NASCLA application was approval to book another time to sit for the exam.
This is not the mindset we want to have though. If you put forth serious effort and take a great online course, you should be able to pass on the first attempt!
NASCLA Exam Prep Conclusion
The NASCLA exam is a fantastic option for getting your general contractor’s license if your state accepts or administers it. We will not downplay the NASCLA exam by any means. This exam is quite challenging and will require a significant amount of studying. However, if you put your mind to it and truly study each and every book thoroughly, you can pass on the first attempt. A general contractor’s license opens the door for numerous opportunities and the commitment to studying is well worth the achievement.
We hope this article was helpful, giving you understanding of some of the things you should be doing while and/or before you study. Your study time should not be consumed with common mistakes people make while attempting to get their general contractor’s license.