Exam Guides

Pass your contractor license exam.

Free, state-by-state study guides for commercial contractor exams — checked against each state’s own board and testing documents.

Guides available now

Florida Read the guide →Florida — en español Ver la guía →

States with a state exam

These states test commercial general contractors. Guides are coming — get the next one by email below.

Alabama Coming soonArizona Coming soonArkansas Coming soonCalifornia Coming soonGeorgia Coming soonHawaii Coming soonIdaho Coming soonLouisiana Coming soonMassachusetts Coming soonMississippi Coming soonNevada Coming soonNew Mexico Coming soonNorth Carolina Coming soonOregon Coming soonSouth Carolina Coming soonTennessee Coming soonUtah Coming soonVirginia Coming soonWest Virginia Coming soon

No state exam for commercial GCs

In these states there’s no statewide commercial general contractor exam. Many still require state registration, a city or county license, or separate licenses for trades like electrical and plumbing — check with your city or county.

AlaskaState registration, no exam

ColoradoLicensed by cities and counties

ConnecticutMajor Contractor registration, no exam

DelawareBusiness license and registration, no exam

District of ColumbiaExam-based license passed but not in effect yet

IllinoisLicensed by cities (e.g., Chicago)

IndianaLicensed by cities and counties

IowaState registration, no exam

KansasLicensed by cities and counties

KentuckyNo state general contractor license

MaineNo state general contractor license

MarylandCommercial licensing is local; MHIC is residential

MichiganState license is residential only

MinnesotaCommercial registration only; license is residential

MissouriLicensed by cities and counties

MontanaState license, no exam

NebraskaState registration, no exam

New HampshireNo state general contractor license

New JerseyNo state commercial GC exam

New YorkLicensed locally (e.g., NYC registration)

North DakotaState license, no exam

OhioState licenses commercial trades only; GC is local

OklahomaNo state general contractor license

PennsylvaniaLicensed locally; state registration is residential

Rhode IslandState registration, no GC exam

South DakotaNo state general contractor license

TexasNo state general contractor license

VermontNo state commercial license

WashingtonState registration, no exam

WisconsinState credential is residential only

WyomingLicensed by cities and counties

What’s the NASCLA exam?

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a national, open-book exam (115 scored questions, 5.5 hours). Many states accept it in place of their own trade exam, but you usually still take that state’s business and law exam. Each state guide tells you whether NASCLA counts there.

Last checked October 2026 against state licensing boards, statutes and testing-company bulletins. Rules change — always confirm with your state board before you apply. ContractorDock is not affiliated with any licensing board, NASCLA or testing company.

Pass your contractor license exam.

Guides available now

States with a state exam

No state exam for commercial GCs

What’s the NASCLA exam?

Get the next state guide first.