As you explore your options between the NASCLA Exam and the NC Building Contractor Exam, it can be difficult to determine the right exam for you. We aim to answer any questions you may have and clear up any confusion and misinformation to help you navigate your options, and hopefully make your choice easier.
When deciding between your options, it’s important to consider your long-term career goals and ultimately where you want to be licensed to do your work. There are two routes for you to take to obtain an NC Building Contractor license: applying directly to take the NC Building Contractor Exam, or by taking the NASCLA Exam and then applying separately. Regardless of which option you choose, you receive the same license. In most cases, applying directly with the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors can be the smarter and most efficient choice, offering a more direct path with fewer expenses and application steps.
Choosing the NASCLA route carries additional costs and steps as you must pass the NASCLA Exam and then apply separately for the NC Building Contractor license. You will also be required to submit your NASCLA exam results and take a separate NC Business Law exam. While NASCLA is often marketed as a convenient and enticing option for many contractors due to its wider recognition across multiple states, such as Virginia, West Virginia, Arizona, and Utah, it does not automatically grant you a license in those states. In reality, each state carries its own licensing requirements, making the NASCLA route more complicated with layers of approval and extra fees. This typically includes financial reviews, experience verification, and additional business law exams.
One of the biggest advantages of the NC Building Contractor Exam is the simplicity as you are only required to pass one exam to obtain your license. Additionally, the North Carolina Building Contractor License is reciprocal with 6 states, which include Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. For contractors planning to work in North Carolina or any of the reciprocal states, this may be the better and easier route for your needs and goals, allowing you to work directly without any additional exams.
It may also help to take into consideration the difficulty of each exam when deciding the right fit for you. The NASCLA is one of the most difficult trade exams for general contractors, despite being a fully open book exam. Many test-takers struggle to complete it within the time limit, with 115 questions and 5 and ½ hours to complete it, using the required 24 reference books that you must bring into the exam. This exam is accepted by over 16 states but is considered extremely challenging, and you are limited to 3 attempts per 12-month period. The NC Building Contractor Exam, while still a challenging exam, could be a more manageable option. It is not only more affordable but easier, with only 90 questions to complete in 3 hours and 20 minutes. This is a partial open book exam based on 17 books, requiring you to bring 8 of them into the exam center. The NC Building Contractor Exam also allows unlimited attempts, providing flexibility and making it easier to obtain your license quicker and more conveniently.
In conclusion, we recommend that you carefully consider your options, depending on your unique career goals and where you want to be a licensed contractor. The NASCLA exam may be the best choice if you are looking to obtain licensing in multiple states that go beyond those with reciprocity. For a more affordable and direct path, if you need licensing in North Carolina or the reciprocal states, the NC Building Contractor Exam may be the best option for your goals. Whichever route you choose, we suggest doing your research and selecting the option that best supports your career goals as a licensed contractor.