You failed the NASCLA exam. What to do next

What the bulletin says about attempts

From PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 7 Jul 2026), and nothing more:

• You have one year from the date NASCLA approves your application to take the exam.
• Within that year you can sit the exam at most three times.
• If you have not passed within those three attempts, you can reapply to take the exam once your one year of eligibility from the application approval date has run out.
• The $130 exam fee is valid for one year from the date you pay it.

What the bulletin does not say

We read it closely, and it is silent on these points, so ask instead of assuming:

• What a retake costs. The bulletin does not say in so many words whether each attempt needs a new payment. Ask PSI when you book.
• Any waiting period between attempts. None is stated. Ask PSI what the earliest available date is.
• What a candidate who does not pass receives. The bulletin describes results going to NASCLA's National Examination Database (NED) after a pass. It does not describe a score report for other results. Keep whatever you are given at the test center or by email.
• Challenging a question. During the exam, a Comments link lets you note a problem with a question. PSI reviews the comments but does not reply, and the bulletin calls this the only review of exam materials available. It also says that a conflict caused by using a different edition of a non-code reference is not grounds for appeal.

Count your window

Write down two dates: the day NASCLA accepted your application, and the day one year later. Then count your attempts used. If you have used one, you have two left in the window. If you have used three, the next step is a new application once the year has run out.

Plan the next sitting so that a third attempt, if you need it, still fits before the year ends. Leave enough weeks between sittings to actually change something.

Step 1: work out why, in the first two days

Write down what you remember while it is fresh. Not the questions, which you agreed not to share, but how the sitting went:

• Time. Did you finish? Where did you fall behind?
• Areas. Which subject areas felt weak? Was it contracts and money, or the building trades?
• Books. Were there lookups you could not find? In which books?
• Fatigue. Did your focus drop in the last two hours?

If you received results by subject area, put them next to the question counts in the exam outline. A weak score in Procurement and Contracting (31 questions) costs far more than one in Electrical Systems (3).

Step 2: match the fix to the cause

• Ran out of time: your problem is lookup speed and pacing, not knowledge. Re-tab your heaviest books, drill timed lookups, and practice the checkpoints in the week before the exam.
• Weak in the two big areas: go back to procurement and general requirements. Together they are 56 of 115 questions.
• Arithmetic slips: markup and margin, units, waste and labor burden. See five estimating mistakes.
• Could not find it: add tabs where practice shows you lose time, and learn each book's index terms. See open-book exams reward preparation.

Step 3: a short rebuild

Do not restart from page one. A focused four to six weeks usually beats a second full course of study:

1. Week 1: a fresh baseline by subject area, and a book check (tabs, editions, no sticky notes).
2. Weeks 2 to 4: two thirds of your time on the two areas that cost you the most points by weight, one third on lookup drills.
3. Last week or two: at least one long timed set at 2.4 minutes per question, at the time of day you are booked, then rest.

The 12-week plan has the full version if your window allows it.

Step 4: rebook with care

Book online or by phone with PSI. The 2-day cancellation rule still applies to the new date, and a late arrival or missing ID still costs the fee. The cost, scheduling and retakes guide has the details.

Get a fresh read

Take the free 10-question check to see where you stand now, by subject area. It needs no signup and explains every answer. For a lesson on each area and four timed 115-question practice exams on the 330-minute clock, see the plans.

Sources

• PSI Candidate Information Bulletin 1458, examination application, examination review, reference and after-passing sections, updated 7 Jul 2026. Retrieved 5 Nov 2026.

FAQ

How many times can I take the NASCLA exam?

At most three times in the year after NASCLA approves your application, according to PSI's bulletin.

What if I do not pass in three attempts?

The bulletin says you can reapply once your one year of eligibility from the application approval date has run out.

Do I have to pay again for a retake?

The bulletin does not say plainly. The $130 fee is valid for one year from payment. Ask PSI when you book.