NASCLA Contractor study plan

Read a full residential and a full light-commercial plan set from cover sheet to detail sheets and label every major view on a one-page index you create

Decode 30 common architectural, structural, and MEP symbols and abbreviations into a personal flashcard deck

Locate and cite 15 specific code sections covering egress, stairs, guards, and fire separation using the adopted code edition's index

Perform a linear measurement takeoff of walls, openings, and finishes from two plan sheets and reconcile the totals against the dimension strings

Cross-check 10 plan details against code minimums for headroom, handrail height, riser/tread, and window egress and note each pass or fail

Build a complete material takeoff for one small project scope, including waste factors and unit conversions

Assemble a bid package that separates labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, and profit lines for that same scope

Identify and write out five common estimating errors and the check you would use to catch each one

Build a 40-activity critical path schedule for a small commercial build, including logic ties and a realistic weather allowance

Calculate float for every activity and mark the critical path on the printed network

Convert the schedule into a 12-period cost-loaded cash flow curve

Compute earned value for a worked example and interpret CPI and SPI in one written paragraph

Draft a two-week look-ahead schedule from the master schedule, including crew and material needs

Sequence the pre-construction phase from site investigation through notice to proceed and list the approval or permit required at each step

Draft a submittal register covering 20 items with responsible party, required date, and review turnaround

Write a mock RFI and a mock change order that each contain every element needed for a defensible record

Identify the documentation required at a project meeting and produce a one-page minutes template

Map the contractual notice deadlines for delay, differing site conditions, and change directives into a single reference table

Write a daily site log template and complete three sample entries that capture crew counts, weather, deliveries, and delays

Draft a site logistics and staging plan for a constrained urban lot, showing access, laydown, and dumpster placement

Build a three-phase inspection and test plan naming the hold points and the acceptance criteria for each

Diagnose five common concrete, framing, and waterproofing defects and write the corrective action for each

Prepare a punch list of 15 realistic line items from a described walkthrough and rank them by severity

Build a job hazard analysis for five high-risk tasks, listing hazards, controls in hierarchy order, and the responsible person for each control

Identify the required written safety programs, training, and recordkeeping for a 12-employee crew and note the retention period for each record

Select fall protection, excavation protective systems, and scaffold access controls for three described scenarios and state the trigger threshold that applies

Outline the steps for handling a silica, lead, or asbestos exposure concern, including who must be notified and within what timeframe

Write a site-specific emergency action plan covering evacuation, medical response, and severe weather

Compare the rights and remedies of the main contract delivery methods and document the risk shift in each

Calculate retainage, progress payment, and a lien deadline scenario for three worked examples using the stated contract terms

Read a sample balance sheet and income statement and compute current ratio, gross margin, and working capital

Build a risk register with 12 identified risks, each scored for likelihood and impact with a mitigation owner

Match 15 materials or assemblies to their correct installation method and the standard or test that governs acceptance

Complete three full-length timed practice exams and log every missed item by domain

Re-study only the two lowest-scoring domains until the retest score clears 85%

Recite from memory the key numeric thresholds for egress, fall protection, excavation, and retainage

Review every flashcard, code citation, and reference table created in weeks 1 through 7 in two passes