Pick your state and license
Every state has its own license classes, exam format, and approved reference books. Start with your state page so you know exactly what you need.
Contractors License
Exam Prep
in All 50 States
Seminars, online courses, study guides, and practice exams built to help you pass the licensing exam and navigate the references your test uses.
Browse all statesAbout American Contractors Exam Services
Contractor License Exam Prep, Built by Contractors Since 1991
American Contractors Exam Services is a contractor license exam prep company. Since 1991, we have helped more than 60,000 contractors pass the licensing exams required to do business in their state. We host live in-person seminars in cities across the country, with regional offices in Nashville, Tennessee; Mineral Wells, West Virginia; and Midlothian, Virginia. We also offer live instructor-led webinars, account-based online courses, state-specific study books, timed practice exams, and license application processing for contractors in all 50 states.
How It Works
From Picking Your State to Passing the Exam
Four steps. The same path our students have followed for 35 years.
Choose how you want to study
Live in-person seminar, live instructor-led webinar, or a self-paced online course. Pick the format that fits your schedule and how you learn best.
Study what is on the exam
Our instructors walk you through every approved reference book, show you what to highlight, and drill the exam topics so you know where to find every answer.
Pass and get to work
Pass your exam, finish your license application, and get back to your business. If you do not pass after taking our class, you can sit through the same seminar again at no charge for the next 12 months — a retake benefit, not a refund.
All 50 States
Find Exam Prep by State
Every state has its own exam format, approved books, and application process. Search yours below.
Most Popular
All States A–Z
Alabama
Alaska
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Arkansas
California
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Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
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Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
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Montana
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Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
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New York
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Ohio
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Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
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Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virgin Islands
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Everything You Need to Pass
Prep Seminars
Live in-person and webinar classes focused on exam strategy and reference navigation.
Online Courses
Account-based course access for online prep products when available.
Books & Study Guides
State-specific manuals, codebooks, and reference guides.
Practice Exams
Timed practice to build topic recognition, pacing, and book-lookup speed.
NASCLA Exam Prep
Prep for the accredited exam accepted by a large multi-state network.
HVAC & NATE
Specialized prep for HVAC contractor and NATE certification tracks.
Prep by Trade
Choose the work you are getting licensed to do.
Jump into the trade path that matches your exam, then narrow it by state, license class, format, books, and application requirements.
Browse all state licenses →
Trade Prep
General Contracting
Residential, commercial, business law, and state contractor license paths.
Trade Prep
HVAC
Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and mechanical exam prep.
Trade Prep
NATE Certification
Technician-focused certification prep for HVAC professionals.
Trade Prep
Electrical
Journeyman, master, and contractor electrical reference navigation.
Trade Prep
Plumbing
Plumbing contractor and trade exam materials by state.
Trade Prep
Low-Voltage
Low-voltage, alarm, telecom, and specialty systems licensing support.
Trade Prep
Roofing
Roofing contractor prep, books, and application guidance.
Trade Prep
Specialty
Concrete, masonry, excavation, pools, and other specialty classifications.
Trade Prep
NASCLA
Accredited commercial building exam prep accepted across many states.
Why Prep Beats Self-Study
Open-book is not the same as easy.
Most contractor exams are open book, but the clock is running and the books are not optional. PSI and Prov build their questions directly out of the approved references — if a book is allowed in the testing room, it is fair game. The contractors who pass on the first try are the ones who know exactly which book a question came from and where to find the answer.
- Navigate, do not memorize. You will never see the exact same questions twice, but the topics never change. We teach you to find answers fast.
- Tabs and highlights win the timed sections. Your books come tabbed and highlighted so you can flip straight to a code section the moment you read the question.
- Free retakes for a year. Sign up for a class and you can sit through it again at no charge for twelve months. The more you hear it, the better it sticks.
Have Questions? We Answer In Person.
Call our team and we will point you to the right state, the right license, and the right prep path.
What Our Students Say
★★★★★
I have taken online and in-person classes from them and have passed every time.— Douglas S.
★★★★★
With the help of their exam prep seminar I passed the licensing exam on the first try!— Jim C.
★★★★★
I have used this company for my TN mechanical, GC and now my Electrical. Always produces great results.— Brian R.
Our Regional Support Network
Three regional hubs. Real instructors, real classrooms, and real help when you need it.
Nashville, TN
Flagship training center for Tennessee seminars, NASCLA prep, book pickup, and instructor support.
Mineral Wells, WV
Regional support for West Virginia contractor licensing, NASCLA prep, and application guidance.
Midlothian, VA
Virginia Class A, B, and C exam prep plus pre-licensing and continuing education support.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you complete a seminar and still need more help, contact American Contractors Exam Services with your official exam results and course details. Our team can confirm the retake, restudy, practice, or custom-training support available for your course and state.
Exam length varies by state, license class, and testing vendor. Check the state page, product details, and current board bulletin before scheduling so the time limit, question count, and allowed references match the exam you plan to take.
Yes. American Contractors Exam Services offers prep materials, practice exams, and online courses for all 50 states. Seminar availability varies by state and schedule.
Start with the state where the work will be licensed, then narrow by trade, license classification, project value, and whether a business-law exam or application approval is required.
Yes. American Contractors Exam Services can help connect exam prep to application-processing support when that service is available for the state and classification. The team can help organize requirements, but final rules still come from the licensing board.
American Contractors Exam Services focuses on contractor license exam preparation: approved references, book navigation, timing, practice, and licensing-path guidance. It is not a substitute for field experience or trade school.
Reciprocity can let you qualify in a new state based on an existing license or an accepted exam such as NASCLA. The exact rules vary by state, so the state-specific pages will call that out directly.
That depends on the state and exam. Open-book exams still require preparation because the clock is running and the allowed references are strict. Success often depends on knowing where to find answers quickly.
For open-book exams, the testing agency controls which references are allowed. Prep works best when your seminar, practice, and study time use the same approved references listed in the current bulletin.
No. Live webinars are scheduled seminar sessions with an instructor. Online courses are account-based course products when available. Check the product format before checkout.
Many students try to test while the class material is fresh, but the right timing depends on confidence, practice results, and the state application or exam-authorization rules.