Alabama’s trade examinations are longer than the trade content alone would suggest, because business and regulatory material is bundled into the same paper. That is on top of a separate Business and Law examination.
The trade papers are 110 questions, not 80
The Alabama Electrical Contractor examination is 110 questions over five hours, open book, requiring 75 percent, referenced to the 2020 NEC with the American Electrician’s Handbook permitted.
The HVAC contractor examination is also 110 questions over five hours, open book at 70 percent, referenced to the 2018 IRC with ACCA Manual J-Abridged and Manual D. Roughly 30 of those 110 are business and law rather than mechanical content.
The practical consequence: if you prepare only the trade syllabus you are preparing for about three-quarters of the paper. Our trade preparation targets the technical block specifically, so plan business content alongside it rather than instead of it.
Business and Law is separate and required
Alabama’s Business and Law examination, formerly called the General Contractor Examination, is 50 questions and is required in addition to your trade paper. It is drawn from the NASCLA business, law and project management material.
Commercial general building uses the NASCLA exam
For commercial general building work Alabama accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination at 115 scored questions, open book, 70 percent. Because that exam is accredited across a group of states, passing it in Alabama can support applications elsewhere that accept NASCLA.
Five hours is a stamina problem
Both trade papers run five hours. That is long enough that concentration decides some results independently of knowledge. Sit at least one full-length timed run before exam day rather than discovering in hour four how your focus holds.
Alabama exam prep
- Alabama Business & Law Exam Prep
- Alabama Commercial General Building Contractor (NASCLA) Exam Prep
- Alabama Electrical Contractor Exam Prep
- Alabama HVAC Contractor Exam Prep
Before you register
- Confirm the question count and time limit on the current bulletin for your exam.
- Confirm the code edition named. It is pinned, and a newer edition is not a substitute.
- Confirm whether a separate business and law paper is also required.