How Do You Pass Your Nascla Exam on the First Attempt?

Passing the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA)-Accredited exam is one of the top achievements you can have as a general contractor. That’s because it eliminates the need to take a trade exam alongside the Business and Law Exam when seeking a contractor’s licence from any state that accepts NASCLA. As a result, you will enjoy a more streamlined process of becoming licensed as a contractor in multiple jurisdictions in the United States.

Still, preparing for your NASCLA exams can be a challenging endeavour. So, what tips should you use to boost your chances of passing on the first try? Here are our top recommendations.

 

1. Know What You’re Up Against

Most general contractors will want to skip right into the gist of the preparation process, and that would be something like taking your NASCLA exam prep from a reputable provider like RocketCert. While that’s crucial to understanding better what your exam will look like, you first want to deal with the basics. Some of the elements to pay attention to in this regard include the format and content of the NASCLA exam.

To begin with, this is an open-book examination with 125 questions in total. Of these, however, only 115 count towards your final score. The remaining 10 are unscored and only potential questions in future exams. You will have 5.5 hours to complete the 115 questions and require a minimum score of 70% (81 correct answers) to pass your exam.

The exam will test you in the following areas:

• General requirements
• Doors, Windows, and Glazing
• Thermal and Moisture Protection
• Site Construction
• Masonry
• Concrete
• Wood
• Metals
• Finishes
• Electrical Systems
• Mechanical and Plumbing Systems
• Procurement and Contracting Requirements

It’s also a good idea to check the exam blueprint on NASCLA’s website to know the weight of each section. This will help you distribute your study efforts appropriately.

 

2. Use the Official NASCLA Contractors Guide

While this sounds like a no-brainer, you might be tempted to cut corners, but the one thing you need to know is that the official NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management is crucial for success. That’s in consideration that it contains approximately 70% of the total exam content.

Since you will need enough time to cover the content, you should consider coming up with a systematic approach. Such an approach will guide you on what to do every day, whether that’s your daily reading, code familiarity, creating memory aids, or active learning.

 

3. Have a Realistic Study Schedule

It’s almost obvious that studying for your exams won’t be the only thing you’ll do all the time. As a construction professional, and even as a beginner in the industry, you will have a personal life and other daily tasks and responsibilities hanging around. That’s why you need to create a realistic study schedule.

You want this schedule to contain enough time for your daily studies while ensuring it doesn’t take over your life. We recommend setting aside 1-2 hours of focused study during weekdays and 3-4 hours during the weekends. While at it, make sure you are consistent to avoid rushing as you get closer to the exam day.

When studying, ensure you master material calculations and math concepts. Additionally, you’ll want to focus on understanding the international building code sections, not memorising them.

 

4. Utilise Study Courses and Practice Exams

One of the best ways to prepare for your NASCLA exams is to invest in expertly prepared study courses and practice exams. These educational materials are designed to specifically cover the topics that will be tested in the exam.

Practice exams are particularly invaluable to your success, especially if you take full-length practice tests. It’s crucial to simulate the actual test conditions when taking your exams. Such conditions include keeping your phone away, using only permitted materials, and having strict time limits.

 

5. Learn to Tab Your NASCLA Books Correctly

The NASCLA exam is an open-book exam, which means you can bring permitted reference materials to the exam room. When preparing your reference material, consider investing in pre-tabbed and highlighted books. That’s because finishing your exam in the allotted time is crucial for success.

When you tab your books correctly, you can save a significant amount of time since you will navigate quickly to the right section of each book rather than flipping through pages.

 

Take Your NASCLA Exam Confidently

Preparing for your NASCLA exam is all about having a clear strategy and remaining disciplined. This is why some contractors pass their NASCLA exam on their first try, while others have to give it several attempts. Remember the cost of failing doesn’t only involve the exam fee. It extends to lost opportunities, delayed projects, and the emotional suffering of uncertainty. Luckily, you can avoid this by creating the right strategy and investing in your exam preparation materials from a reliable education provider like RocketCert. Visit rocketcert.com today to learn more.