Best NASCLA Exam Prep Courses

Reviewing & Rating the Best NASCLA Prep Courses in 2026

Contractors know this better than most: preparation and attention to detail are extremely important. And if you’re trying to become accredited with the National Association of Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA), you’ll need both to pass your exam.

The NASCLA exam requires a structured plan of preparation in order to pass. Fortunately, a well-written NASCLA prep course can help you ace the exam and meet your licensing requirements as a contractor.

We’ve recounted our experiences with some of the top providers on the market today. In our humble opinion, these guys are the cream of the crop. 

But in order to find the best choice for your particular study needs, you’ll want to weigh the information we’ve written below. So keep reading to see our picks for the best NASCLA prep courses available online!

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1. CompuCram

Compucram offers an all-in-one prep course guaranteed to help you pass the national exam on your first try. That’s why their course includes multiple study methods and effective progress tracking, to help as many students as possible succeed in their chosen career fields.

Mobile Friendly Platform

Compucram’s courses are also entirely mobile friendly, so you could take your learning on the go. If you have a 30 minute break during work, you can use that time to go through a few practice questions or flashcards. Plus, all of your work is saved and can be transferred to other devices, so you can pick up right where you left off once you get home. This was really helpful for someone like me who is a working professional that ends flexible learning. 

Adaptive Tracking Technology

I started by taking a pre-assessment test to find out what subjects I needed to learn. From there, I was given a series of dynamic practice exams; I never saw the same exam twice. Each of their contracting courses also include a Readiness Indicator. This dynamically tracked my progress and then used that information to let you know when you’re ready to pass the Contractor’s license exam. 

Interactive Study Tools 

From fill-in-the-blank questions to practice exams that are never the same twice, I was able to stay engaged in the study material as I worked through it. The practice exam is also simulated, so I got an experience similar to the one I would experience on exam day. 

Pros

• Fully simulated mock exams to prep for the real deal
• Pass guarantee
• Adaptive tech to track progress
• Mobile-friendly platform for flexible study times

Cons

• National only except Arizona available
• Only 180 days of access
• Lacks PSI reference books

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2. Contractor Training Center

Boasting an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, Contractor Training Center got its start back in 2001. They provide exam prep, assistance with licensing applications, and contractor coaching.

Exam-Ready Annotated Books

CTC offers a book set that comes highlighted and bookmarked, so you can navigate through the material prior to the exam. With the NASCLA exam being open book, having the resources already prepped for you before hand makes for a streamlined experience. The books in the book set are allowed into the exam with you day of, so you can walk in feeling not only prepared, but supported by the materials.

On-Demand Prep Course

The online course includes the book set, but also has a practice exam simulator so you can get a feel for what the real exam will be like. With over 1,100 questions, I was able to work through the mock exam with my book material multiple times so I was able to master navigating my materials to find the answer without losing out on time.

Instructor Support

CTC has a team of instructors that teach the webinars, recorded classes, bootcamps, and cram sessions as well as offer office hours to answer any question I have independently. For students that need lots of instructor support, CTC delivers.

Pros

• Pass guarantee with access until you pass
• Open book exam materials that are already annotated
• Extensive instructor support
• Exam simulator to prep for the real thing

Cons

• Not budget-friendly
• Students report that customer service can be difficult to get in touch with
• Printed books are not always up-to-date

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3. Builders License Training Institute

Everybody wants to pass an exam the first time they take it, which is what’s great about Builders License Training Institute: They have a 98% pass rate among their students.

PSI Approved Book Sets

The book package includes all 23 books on the PSI list with pre-printed tabs for all books included. This package also includes practice exams for 4 of the most important books.

Additional Add-Ons

BLTC offers bundles with books and an exam prep course, but also has lots of additional study material to add on to your material. Some of these resources are as cheap as $7, allowing you to customize your study material purchase.

Large Question Bank

Their question bank has over 1,000 practice question, which I find appealing because it makes the course less redundant and I finish feeling more prepared.

Pros

• Video course walks you through the reference book materials so you know what’s important for the exam
• Large question bank to work through
• Exam prep covers 15 different states

Cons

• Lacks mock exams
• Pre-approval is required to take this course
• No instructor support

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4. Zack Academy

For students that prefer self-guided exam prep, we recommend checking out Zack Academy. Their NASCLA Commercial General Contractor Exam Prep Online Courses allow students to complete their studying online at any time of their choosing.

Narrated Course Content

The course offers 16 hours of narrated content, so you can listen to the material during a commute to solidify the material. I found it helpful to listen to the narration as I worked through the course.

Accelerated Course

Once you enroll, you’ll have six months to take advantage of all the material provided by Zach Academy. By prioritizing clarity, this NASCLA exam prep course is excellent at saving time for their students.

Pros

• Better Business Bureau Accredited
• Course content is fully narrated
• Hundreds of practice questions

Cons

• Pricing is inconsistent
• No instructor support

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5. @HomePrep

@HomePrep has a huge NASCLA catalog, including one gargantuan bundle with an intimidating price tag. But there’s a lot to gain from this company if you’re interested in becoming a general contractor:

State Specific Content

This contractor license prep company offers several individual courses for different states and disciplines. With state-specific content for Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, it doesn’t matter where you’re located, they offer a course that covers its state licensing requirements.

Large Course Package

However, they definitely make a splash by allowing you to enroll in one whopper of a package that applies to every national jurisdiction. In total there are 23 separate items included within their bundle packages.

Some of the highlights of the NASCLA General Building Complete Package are their permanent tabs as well as their signature exam prep course. In addition to these, you’ll get several books that are approved for use on the real exam.

Pros

• Large course bundle with lots of add-ons
• Offers pass guarantee

Cons

• No instructor support
• Not budget-friendly

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6. 1 Exam Prep

1 Exam Prep immediately stands out by offering a free set of sample questions. In addition to allowing prospective students take a peek at their sample questions, 1 Exam Prep’s Commercial General Building Contractor (NASCLA) Online Course continues to help students in other ways as well.

For example, their course includes specific highlight and tabbing sections to optimize your study plan. They also include hundreds of practice questions so that you are able to practice with key concepts and fortify any areas of knowledge that may need a bit of brushing up prior to your exam date.

What’s especially impressive about 1 Exam Prep is how they simulate the NASCLA exam experience with their final practice exam. With a realistic structure and setting, this is a great way to identify how prepared you are to take your own NASCLA accredited exam.

And while most candidates will want to take as little time as possible to prepare for an exam, 1 Exam Prep grants a full year of access. This way, you should have more than enough time to become fully confident in your exam readiness.

Pros

• Individual packages for state specific content
• Offers hundreds of NASCLA prep packages

Cons

• No pass guarantee
• The most expensive courses on this list

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Deciding Which Prep Course is Best for You

I want instructor support → Contractor Training Center has an On-Demand course that has instructors

I need audio lectures to listen to as I work → Zack Academy offers 16 hours of narrated lectures.

I want courses for my state specifically → 1 Exam Prep has a course package for every state that has individual exams.

I have the books and I just need the exam prep → CompuCram has a streamlined course that prepares you for the exam without the books included.

I want to be able to customize my study material → Builders License Training Institute offers a huge bundle of exam prep material, but also countless additional packages you can add on to your bundle.

I’m looking for a breakdown about the open book materials → @Home Prep Education’s NASCLA prep course is primarily focused on getting you and your study materials ready for the exam.

Honorable Mentions

My Contractor License: Offers an umbrella course for all states with a book bundle, but is not as budget-friendly as some of the course listed above.

NASCLA: This is the actual organization that gives the exam, so their study guides and practice exams are 100% certified. However, they only practice material and not an actual course

NASCLA Exam Course Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the NASCLA exam?

• Time Allotted: 330 minutes
• Number or Questions: 115
• Passing Score: 81 or 70% (minimum)

How do I apply to take the NASCLA Exam?

You can locate the application to apply to take the NASCLA exam here. NASCLA requirements dictate that those taking the exam receive pre-approval prior to scheduling an exam date at a PSI testing center.

Which states accept the NASCLA accreditation?

While contractors would typically need to complete Commercial Trades exams per state they wish to conduct business within, however, the NASCLA accreditation removes this requirement. The NASCLA accepting states include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the US Virgin Islands.