NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam — Study Guide
Free, topic-by-topic study notes for the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam exam. Read a chapter, then practice it.
Procurement & Contracting Requirements
The single largest domain on the NASCLA exam (31 of 115 items) covers how commercial projects are bid, awarded, bonded, and modified. This chapter reviews bidding documents, the three surety bonds, change orders, and retainage.
General Requirements
The second-largest domain (25 of 115 items) is Division 01: the administrative and procedural backbone of a project. This chapter covers MasterFormat organization, submittals, scheduling, safety administration, and closeout.
Site Construction
Site work (15 of 115 items) covers excavation safety, soils, and earthwork. This chapter reviews OSHA's excavation standard, soil classification, and compaction testing.
Concrete
Concrete (6 of 115 items) covers volume takeoff, testing, and quality control under ACI 318. This chapter reviews cubic-yard calculations and the slump and cylinder tests.
Metals
Metals (6 of 115 items) covers structural steel and its connections. This chapter reviews how commercial steel frames are joined and inspected.
Mechanical & Plumbing
Mechanical and plumbing (6 of 115 items) covers the rough-in and protection of building systems the general contractor coordinates. This chapter reviews cross-connection control.
Wood, Plastics & Composites
Wood (5 of 115 items) covers framing lumber and its dimensions. This chapter reviews nominal versus actual sizing.
Thermal & Moisture Protection
Thermal and moisture protection (5 of 115 items) covers the building envelope: roofing, flashing, insulation, and vapor control. This chapter reviews keeping water out.
Finishes
Finishes (5 of 115 items) covers interior surfaces such as gypsum board, flooring, and paint. This chapter reviews gypsum board finishing.
Masonry
Masonry (4 of 115 items) covers brick, block, and mortar. This chapter reviews mortar types and their uses.
Openings (Doors, Windows & Glazing)
Openings (4 of 115 items) covers doors, windows, hardware, and glazing safety. This chapter reviews where safety glazing is required.
Electrical
Electrical (3 of 115 items) covers the coordination and safety of power systems on commercial jobs. This chapter reviews ground-fault protection.
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