- For those who subcontract with a properly licensed commercial contractor
- Required for commercial work of $50,000 or more, including but not limited to, labor and materials
- Only for contractors that have a current out of state contractors license
- Required for building single-family residences if the cost of the project is more than $2,000, including but not limited to, labor and material unless an exception applies. Also allows for remodeling of single-family residences
- Only for contractors that have a current out of state contractors license
- Required to make major structural changes to a single-family residence or to add on to an existing single-family residence if the project is more than $2,000, including but not limited to, labor and material
- Only for contractors that have a current out of state contractors license
- Required to do specialty work on a single-family residence if the project is more than $2,000, including but not limited to, labor and material
- For contractors who are only responsible for specific types of work (i.e. painting, roofing, flooring, etc)
- This license does not allow you to build or remodel a home
How do I get my contractor or builder license in Arkansas?
- Complete an application.
- Applications for the appropriate license may be found on the Arkansas Contractor Application page
- The qualifying party must pass the Arkansas Business and Law exam as well as the appropriate trades exam
- Submit completed application and fees to the ACLB
Is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor license accepted in Arkansas?
Yes! When you pass the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, you will be listed in the NASCLA National Examination Database. You will then have this information available for the following states which accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination: AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, NV, NC, OR, SC, TN, UT, US Virgin Islands, VA, and WV. You may also need to take each states’ specific business/law/project management exam in addition to the NASCLA exam.
License Examinations
Residential Builders
What exams do I need to complete in order to become a licensed residential contractor in Arkansas?
Arkansas Business & Law
Arkansas Residential Builder Exam
What are the exam fees for Arkansas residential contractors?
One portion: $84.00
Two portions: $168.00
Retake fees are the same
Commercial Contractors
What exams do I need to complete in order to become a licensed commercial contractor in Arkansas?
Arkansas Business and Law Exam
National Commercial Building Contractor Exam (NASCLA)
What are the exam fees for Arizona commercial contractors?
One portion: $84.00
Two portions: $168.00
NASCLA
What is the NASCLA Accredited Examination Program?
The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is designed to help participating states by providing one trades licensing examination that is accepted by all participating jurisdictions.
The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program is NOT a nationally recognized license. Contractors will still have to meet additional state licensure requirements within each participating state to obtain their licenses.
Why take the NASCLA Accredited Exam?
The NASCLA Accredited exam benefits contractors who need licenses in multiple states. If your business will expand into any of the participating states, you will save time and money by passing the NASCLA exam.
By passing the NASCLA exam, you will avoid having to take multiple trades exams in other states. You will still need to pass a Business & Law exam in each of the States (except Arkansas). Arkansas will accept the NASCLA Accredited exam as both the Trades and Business/Law.
What states is the NASCLA exam accepted in?
The NASCLA exam is accepted in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, US Virgin Islands, VA, & WV. For your convenience, we have included links below to our FAQ pages for each of these states to help you find further information.
- Alabama Builder FAQs
- Arizona Contractor FAQs
- Arkansas Contractor FAQs
- Florida Contractor FAQs
- Georgia Contractor FAQs
- Louisiana Contractor FAQs
- Mississippi Contractor FAQs
- Nevada Contractor FAQs
- North Carolina Contractor FAQs
- Oregon Contractor FAQs
- South Carolina Contractor FAQs
- Tennessee Contractor FAQs
- Utah Contractor FAQs
- Virginia Contractor FAQs
- West Virginia Contractor FAQS
Do I have to be approved to take the NASCLA exam?
Yes. Effective November 1, 2016, applicants must get pre-approval from the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) to take the NASCLA exam.
Applicants can apply for approval online at ned.nascla.org. Once approved, the individual’s name will be forwarded from NASCLA to PSI. PSI will then send the applicant an email with information about how to schedule their exam.
What books can I bring to the NASCLA exam?
All of these books can be found in our book store. Click Here to take a look!
- ICC A117.1 - 2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
- BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2013 or 2018 Edition
- Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016 Edition
- Code of Federal Regulations -29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with latest available amendments
- Construction Jobsite Management, 4th Edition, 2017
- Construction Project Management, 4th Edition, 2014
- NASCLA Contractors' Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic, 12th or 13th Edition
- Erectors' Manual - Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Pre-Cast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
- Green Building Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, 2011
- Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition, 2014
- Technical Digest No. 9 –Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition, 2008
- International Building Code, 2015 or 2018 Edition
- ACI 318-14 (2014): Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
- Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning -Level 1 Field Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, 2003
- Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, 8th Edition, 2015
- Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 2011 Edition
- Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 9th Edition, 2014
- Roofing Construction and Estimating, 1995 Edition
- Placing Reinforcing Bars, Recommended Practices, 2011
- SDI (Steel Deck Institute) Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 3rd Edition, 2016
- The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition, 2018
For more information, view the PSI Candidate Bulletin
Can I write in my reference books and still bring them to the exam?
References may be highlighted, underlined, and/or indexed (tabbed with permanent stick tabs), however they may NOT otherwise be written in or marked in any way. Temporary tabs, such as Post-It notes, are not allowed and must be removed from the reference before the exam will begin.
What subject areas will be covered on the NASCLA Accredited Exam?
There are 115 questions and you must get 81 answers correct. You will have 330 minutes to complete the exam. The subjects covered in the exam are listed below, however, the questions are taken at random from a large pool of questions making sure that all contractors are taking a different exam.
Subject Areas and # of Questions:
- General Requirements: 25 questions
- Site Construction: 15 questions
- Concrete: 6 questions
- Masonry: 4 questions
- Metals: 6 questions
- Wood: 5 questions
- Thermal and Moisture Protection: 5 questions
- Doors, Windows, and Glazing: 4 questions
- Finishes: 5 questions
- Mechanical and Plumbing Systems: 6 questions
- Electrical Systems: 3 questions
- Procurement and Contracting Requirements: 31 questions
The exam is based on information found in the reference materials we have listed above as well as trade knowledge or general industry practices. Except for Code books, you may base your answers on later editions of references as they become available. For Code questions, the examinations will be based only on the edition of the Code book listed on the candidate bulletin.
Is the NASCLA exam an open book exam?
The NASCLA exam is an open book exam. All of the books listed on the candidate bulletin may be brought into and used during the exam. Books will not be provided to you at the exam center. If you are in need of books, we offer all of the references listed on the Candidate Bulletin for sale in our Bookstore, or in our complete NASCLA Prep Package.
What can I expect from the NASCLA Exam Prep course?
Our NASCLA Exam Prep course is designed to help you maximize your study time.
The remainder of the lessons are devoted to each book on the Candidate Bulletin. Each of these lessons help you get to know the layout of the books and key information that can be found within. Each book has a quiz dedicated solely to the material in that book.
Finally, you will find the practice test at the end of the course. This practice test consists of a pool of over 1,000 questions, to help you practice taking an exam as well as determine which areas you need to brush up on further.
How long does it take to complete your NASCLA Exam Prep course?
That question is almost entirely up to you!
There are 16 hours of videos, which walk you through each reference allowed in the exam. There are also over 1,000 practice questions, to help you gauge your knowledge and practice using your references in an exam-like setting.
We recommend going through the entire course at least once. After that it is up to you. Some may want to go through the whole course multiple times. You might also find yourself taking note of particular topics you would like to devote more time to, and just going back later to study those areas.
We recommend for you to spend as much time with the course as is necessary to really get to know your reference materials, and be comfortable finding answers with the texts--this will ensure your success on the exam!
Does the NASCLA exam work for residential construction?
The following states allow NASCLA accreditation for residential contractors: AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, Virgin Islands, WV.
