NASCLA exam cost, scheduling and retakes

Book the NASCLA Commercial General Building exam once and know the rules first. Everything below comes from PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 7 Jul 2026 and read on 5 Nov 2026. NASCLA and PSI can change any of it, so confirm the details when you apply and book.

Step 1: get approved by NASCLA

Since 1 November 2016 you must be approved by NASCLA before you can take the exam. You apply to NASCLA online at ned.nascla.org. Once NASCLA approves you, it sends your name to PSI, and PSI emails you how to register. The bulletin does not list a fee for this application step, so check the application itself for any current charge.

Step 2: pay PSI and book

• Fee: $130, paid to PSI when you schedule. It is valid for one year from the date you pay.
• Booking: online at test-takers.psiexams.com/nascla, or by phone at (855) 746-8177. Online booking is open 24 hours a day.
• Where: PSI test centers nationwide. You see the nearest sites when you enter your zip code.
• Accommodations: PSI test centers provide access under the ADA. If you are granted an accommodation, you must book by phone with a PSI registrar.

Cancelling and missed appointments

• You can cancel and rebook without losing the fee if PSI receives your cancellation 2 days before the exam date. For a Monday exam, that means by the Saturday before.
• Cancel on the PSI website or by speaking to PSI on the phone. A voicemail or email does not count.
• You lose the fee if you cancel late, do not show up, arrive after the start time or do not bring proper ID.
• If a test site closes for severe weather or another emergency, your exam is rescheduled.

Test day

• Arrive 30 minutes early for sign-in. Arriving late can cost you your seat and your fee.
• ID: one current, government-issued ID with your name, signature and photo, such as a driver's license or passport. Temporary IDs are not accepted.
• Bring: your own copies of the listed references and a silent, battery-operated, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator without an alphabet keyboard. Phones, smart watches, tablets, bags, notes and outerwear go in storage. See the reference books guide for what you may do to your books.
• Format: 115 scored and 10 unscored questions in 330 minutes, one question on screen at a time, with time remaining shown. You can go back and change answers while time remains. A tutorial of up to 15 minutes comes first and does not count against the clock.

Results and transcripts

Results go to NASCLA's National Examination Database (NED), and the bulletin asks you to allow 48 hours for them to be entered. You need an account on ned.nascla.org: NASCLA links your result to it, and you buy transcripts there and send them electronically to the state agencies where you apply. The bulletin does not list the transcript price.

Retakes and the one-year window

• You have one year from the date NASCLA approves your application to take the exam.
• In that year you can sit the exam at most three times.
• If you have not passed after three attempts, you can reapply once your year of eligibility has run out.

The bulletin says the $130 fee is valid for a year from payment, but it does not say in so many words whether each retake needs a new payment. Ask PSI when you book a retake. Since the attempts are limited, use the time before a retake well: the NASCLA exam outline shows where the points are, and which states accept the NASCLA exam shows where a pass can be used.

Take the free 10-question check and see your score by subject area in minutes. It needs no signup and explains every answer.

The NASCLA Commercial course has a lesson for each of the 12 subject areas that shows which listed reference to open and how to apply it, original practice questions with every answer worked, and four timed practice exams of 115 questions on a 330-minute clock. Your scores come back by subject area, so you know where the next study hour goes. See the course.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by NASCLA or PSI. NASCLA and PSI are named only to identify the exam and its test vendor.

FAQ

How much does the NASCLA exam cost?

$130, paid to PSI when you schedule. The fee is valid for one year from the date you pay.

How many times can I take the NASCLA exam?

Up to three attempts in the one year after NASCLA approves your application.

Do I need approval before I book the NASCLA exam?

Yes. Apply to NASCLA online at ned.nascla.org. Once NASCLA approves you, PSI emails you how to register.

Sources

Show the list

• PSI Candidate Information Bulletin 1458, registration, scheduling, security, examination and results sections, updated 7 Jul 2026. Retrieved 5 Nov 2026.
• NASCLA Commercial Exam, NASCLA. Retrieved 5 Nov 2026.