NV General Contractor exam-day guide
NV General Contractor · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID with a signature and photo. The first and last name must match your exam registration exactly; if you have recently married or changed your name, contact the provider before test day to correct the registration.
Exam appointment confirmation
Bring the confirmation email or appointment number from the testing provider. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether an electronic copy on your phone is acceptable before you enter the secure area.
Approved calculator
Ask the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether one is supplied at the workstation. In general, basic four-function or non-programmable scientific calculators are accepted and programmable, graphing, or phone-based calculators are not, but verify this for your exam.
Reference materials, if any are permitted
Confirm with the provider whether your exam is open-book and, if so, exactly which references and editions are allowed and whether tabs, highlights, or loose notes are permitted. If the exam is closed-book, leave the books at home or in your vehicle.
Pencils or pen
Ask whether writing instruments and scratch paper are supplied at the site or whether you must bring your own. Do not assume either way.
Location and parking plan
Look up the test center address, parking options, and door location the day before. Confirm the arrival time and check-in window with the provider, since late arrivals are commonly turned away.
Provider contact number
Save the testing provider's phone number and the Nevada State Contractors Board licensing phone number in your phone in case of a schedule change, illness, or site problem.
Leave prohibited items behind
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, Bluetooth earpieces, notes, or study materials into the test room. If a locker is available, use it, but confirm the provider's storage policy in advance.
Water and a snack for after the exam
Bring water and a snack to leave in your vehicle or a locker for after the test. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed at the workstation; they usually are not.
Application and eligibility confirmed
Verify that your license application has been approved and that your eligibility is on file before you sit. Scheduling an exam before your application is approved can cause your score to be unusable for licensure.
Content outline reviewed
Bring a one-page summary of the exam content outline and the sections you plan to flag and return to. Re-read it in the parking lot, then put it away before you enter.
Sleep and logistics
Set two alarms, plan your route with 30 to 45 minutes of buffer, and confirm your check-in time with the provider. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summary sheets and the exam content outline, and work through a timed practice set so you get used to the pace.
Confirm the appointment date, time, and address in writing, and check the provider's list of permitted and prohibited items one more time.
Confirm that your application is approved and your name on the registration matches your ID. Request a correction now if it does not.
Do a light review of the calculations you are most likely to see on a general contractor exam, such as area and volume, concrete quantities, slope and grade, and basic markup and margin. Practice them by hand, not with a phone.
Pack your ID, confirmation, approved calculator, and any permitted references in a single bag and place it by the door.
Take one short walk-through of formulas and definitions, then stop. No new topics and no all-nighters.
Set alarms, confirm your transportation plan, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals late in the evening.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, and arrive at the test center with time to spare. Confirm the check-in window with the provider; late arrivals may be denied entry.
Leave your phone, watch, and notes in the car or a locker. Use the restroom before check-in and keep the pre-exam conversation with other candidates to a minimum.
Read the instructions on screen before starting and note the clock and the number of questions. Confirm with the provider in advance whether the clock counts up or down and whether there are scheduled breaks.
First pass: answer every question you know, and flag the rest. Second pass: work the flagged items. Third pass: make sure no question is left blank, since unanswered items usually score as wrong.
For calculation items, write the formula first, then substitute numbers, then check units and reasonableness. For code or specification items, look for the key phrase, such as 'minimum', 'not', or 'except'.
If you get stuck, mark your best answer now and move on. Do not spend more than about a minute and a half on any single item unless you are certain you can solve it.
Ask the proctor how and when official results are reported, and keep your score report and confirmation with your licensing records.
Rules to check
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with your signature. The name on the ID must match the name on your registration; if it does not, contact the provider before test day to fix it.
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and notes must not enter the secure test room. Confirm the provider's storage policy, meaning locker or vehicle, in advance.
Arrive within the check-in window set by the provider. Confirm how early to arrive and what happens if you are late, because late arrivals are commonly refused entry and may forfeit the fee.
Confirm the break policy with the provider before you sit, including whether breaks are scheduled or on request, whether the clock stops, and whether you can leave the room unescorted (usually you cannot).
Do not talk, share materials, or attempt to copy or remove exam content. Prohibited conduct is typically grounds for score cancellation and can affect your license application.
Confirm the passing standard and how it applies, whether it is a single score or a minimum on each portion, before your exam date. Do not rely on what other candidates tell you.
Ask how and when official results are delivered, since an on-screen score is often preliminary. Keep your score report with your license application records.
Bring only the calculator or other aids that the provider has approved. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, leave it at home or ask the provider in writing.