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General contractor · State license

How to get a contractor license in Virginia

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

In Virginia any business that contracts for construction, repair or improvement work over $1,000 needs a contractor license from the Board for Contractors (part of DPOR). The license class sets the job size: Class C for jobs under $30,000, Class B under $150,000 and Class A for anything larger. Each license names a qualified individual with 1, 3 or 5 years of experience, and Class A and B firms need an employee who passes PSI's business exams. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in Virginia

You don't need a license to start in construction in Virginia: the contractor license belongs to the business that takes the contract, and the state licenses only electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) workers as tradesmen. Get hired by a licensed contractor, or join a carpentry apprenticeship such as ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Virginia's or the carpenters union's, and build the years of experience a qualified individual needs. [1][2][16][17][26]

  • High school diploma or GED

    No state diploma rule found for construction employees: Virginia licenses the contracting business, not its workers. ABC Virginia's carpentry apprenticeship requires a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development test). The carpenters union's Virginia training centers ask applicants to submit documents, interview and take a math assessment Their Virginia pages don't state a diploma rule. [1][2][16][24]

  • Minimum age

    ABC Virginia's carpentry program requires 18. Virginia Works says a registered apprentice can be 16 or older, with some restrictions under 18. A contractor's qualified individual must be 18. [5][16][27]

  • Register before you start work

    No state license or card for construction employees. In a registered apprenticeship your employer registers you with Virginia Works, at no cost to you. [16][26][27]

  • Math

    The carpenters' training center says carpenters need general math, fractions, decimals and measurement, and asks applicants to complete a math evaluation. [28]

  • Pay while you learn

    Registered apprentices must be paid at least the state or federal minimum wage on a rising wage scale. [27]

  • Working on your own

    Taking jobs over $1,000 yourself requires a contractor license A Class C license needs one year of experience in the classification. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work also needs a tradesman license. [1][5][20]

  • Credit for military

    Honorably discharged veterans may apply substantially equivalent military training, education or experience toward certain Virginia license requirements. [29]

  • Still in high school?

    Virginia's Youth Registered Apprenticeship lets students who are at least 16 and in 11th or 12th grade work as paid apprentices while taking a matching CTE (career and technical education) program 280 work hours in a school year earns a graduation credit. The Virginia Department of Education's Trade and Industrial Education courses include Carpentry I-III and Masonry I-III. The contractor rules don't say whether school time counts as experience. [5][30][31]

Where to apply in VirginiaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) · (804) 367-8511 [3]

Virginia contractor license at a glance

Who issues licenses
Virginia Board for Contractors DPOR [3]
When you need a license
Contracting for work over $1,000 per job Class C starts above $1,000 [1][8]
Class limits
Class C: jobs under $30,000 and under $250,000 a year. Class B: jobs under $150,000 and under $1 million a year. Class A: no limit [1][4]
Experience
The qualified individual needs 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B) or 5 years (Class A) in the classification [4][5][6][7]
Exams
Designated employee: General and Virginia exams (Class B), plus Advanced (Class A), through PSI (a testing company). Technical exam for the qualified individual in classes such as residential building, commercial building and home improvement [4][6][7]
Pre-license course
Required for every class DPOR's page says 8 hours, the rule now says 6-hour courses [3][5][11]
Net worth
Class B $15,000, Class A $45,000, or a $50,000 surety bond instead None for Class C [4][6][7]
Application fee
$235 (C), $380 (B), $400 (A) plus a $25 Recovery Fund assessment DPOR's form lists $274.50, $419.50 and $439.50 [4][12]
Renewal
Every 2 years: $220 (C), $260 (B), $270 (A), plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment [13][14]
Minimum age
18 for the qualified individual and designated employee [5][6][7]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a contractor license in Virginia
  5. Class A, B and C
  6. Exams and the pre-license course
  7. Fees and renewal
  8. Getting the experience
  9. Steps to get licensed
  10. Where to get the hours
  11. Licensed in another state?
  12. Questions people ask

The license pathway in Virginia

  1. 1

    Class C

    • 1 year of experience
    • Pre-license basic business course (a member of responsible management)
    • No business exam; a technical exam for the qualified individual in classifications that require one (e.g. RBC, CBC, HIC)
    • $235 plus $25 Recovery Fund ($274.50 on DPOR's form)
    • Every 2 years, $220 plus $30 Recovery Fund

    For single jobs over $1,000 but under $30,000 and under $250,000 of work in 12 months. You need a qualified individual with at least one year of experience in the classification or specialty. No net worth requirement and no designated employee. [1][4][5][12][14]

  2. 2

    Class B

    • 3 years of experience
    • Pre-license basic business course
    • Yes: General and Virginia exams for the designated employee (PSI), plus any technical exam for the qualified individual
    • $380 plus $25 Recovery Fund ($419.50 on DPOR's form)
    • Every 2 years, $260 plus $30 Recovery Fund

    For single jobs from $30,000 up to $150,000 and under $1 million a year. The qualified individual needs three years of experience, and the firm must show $15,000 net worth or post a $50,000 bond. [1][4][6][12][14]

  3. 3

    Class A

    • 5 years of experience
    • Pre-license basic business course
    • Yes: Advanced, General and Virginia exams for the designated employee (PSI), plus any technical exam for the qualified individual
    • $400 plus $25 Recovery Fund ($439.50 on DPOR's form)
    • Every 2 years, $270 plus $30 Recovery Fund

    No limit on job size. The qualified individual needs five years of experience, and the firm must show $45,000 net worth or post a $50,000 bond. [1][4][7][12][14]

Who needs a contractor license in Virginia

Virginia law says no person may engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work unless licensed. A contractor is anyone who, for a price, bids on or performs construction, removal, repair or improvement of buildings or structures on real property. DPOR's forms note that anyone performing work over $1,000 must get a contractor license.

The license goes to a business (including sole proprietors), not to its workers. Its two parts are the class (A, B or C, which sets job size) and the classification or specialty (the type of work). The residential and commercial building classifications don't include electrical, plumbing, HVAC or gas fitting, which need their own classifications and master tradesmen. [1][2][3][8][9]

Class A, B and C

DPOR warns that exceeding the limits of your license class is a violation of the regulations. [1][4][5][6][7]

Exams and the pre-license course

Class A and B firms need a designated employee (a full-time employee or member of management, at least 18) who has passed the business exams through PSI. The rule caps exam charges at $200 per element.

Many classifications also need a technical exam for the qualified individual, after DPOR pre-approves the person's experience. These include commercial building, residential building and home improvement. DPOR says the NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) exam is equivalent for commercial building and commercial improvement.

Every new license also needs a board-approved pre-license course in business basics. DPOR's contractor page says eight hours; the rule, amended September 1, 2025, says courses must be six hours. Confirm with the provider. [1][3][4][10][11]

Fees and renewal

The rule sets initial fees of $235 (Class C), $380 (Class B) and $400 (Class A), plus a $25 Recovery Fund assessment. DPOR's current application lists $274.50, $419.50 and $439.50, including the technology fee DPOR added on July 1, 2026. The form says the Recovery Fund fee isn't charged when a license is only for commercial building (CBC) or commercial improvement (CIC).

Licenses last two years. Renewal costs $220 (C), $260 (B) or $270 (A), plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. Licenses aren't valid during the 30-day grace period after expiration. [3][4][12][13][14][15]

Getting the experience

Experience is the main hurdle: one, three or five years in the classification for your qualified individual. Most people get it working for licensed contractors. Formal routes include ABC Virginia's four-year carpentry apprenticeship, the carpenters union's Virginia training centers, and other programs registered with Virginia Works. See how to get an apprenticeship. [5][6][7][16][17][18]

Steps to get licensed in Virginia

  1. Pick your class and classification

    Choose Class A, B or C by job size, and a classification such as residential building (RBC), commercial building (CBC) or a specialty like home improvement (HIC). [1][4][9]

  2. Name a qualified individual

    A full-time employee (at least 30 hours a week) or member of responsible management with 1, 3 or 5 years of experience who passes any required technical exam or holds the needed license, such as a master tradesman license for electrical, plumbing or HVAC. [4][5][6][7][19]

  3. Pass the business exams (Class A and B)

    Your designated employee takes PSI's General and Virginia exams (Class B) or Advanced, General and Virginia exams (Class A). PSI: test-takers.psiexams.com/vacon. [4]

  4. Take the pre-license course

    A board-approved basic business course, required for every class and separate from the exams. DPOR lists approved providers on its contractor page. [3][4][11]

  5. Apply with proof of finances

    Submit the firm application and fee. Class A and B firms show net worth ($45,000 or $15,000) or a $50,000 bond. [4][6][7][12]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Virginia, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Business exams (Advanced and General): OH

    The Board for Contractors lists an examination reciprocity agreement between Ohio's Business and Law exam and Virginia's Advanced and General law exams. [21]

  • Technical exam (NASCLA)

    For the commercial building (CBC) and commercial improvement (CIC) classifications, DPOR's application says the NASCLA exam is equivalent, though you must still show matching experience. [4]

  • Firm licenses from other states

    The rule lets firms licensed in a state with a reciprocal agreement, or with substantially equivalent requirements, get a Virginia license under that agreement's terms. Ask the board before applying. [22]

Also listed by: Utah (their own boards list Virginia as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
VA Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists VA

Questions people ask

Do I need a contractor license to work construction in Virginia?

Not as an employee. The license is for the business that contracts for jobs over $1,000. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work needs a tradesman license or supervision by a licensed tradesman. [1][2][20]

What's the difference between Class A, B and C?

Job size. Class C covers single jobs under $30,000, Class B under $150,000, and Class A any size. Experience required for the qualified individual rises from one to three to five years. [1][4]

Is there an exam for a Class C license?

There's no business exam for Class C, but the qualified individual must pass a technical exam in classifications that require one, such as residential building or home improvement, and a manager must complete the pre-license course. [4][5]

Sources (31)
  1. Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100, Definitions (contractors), Virginia General Assembly (Virginia Law). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. Code of Virginia § 54.1-1103, Necessity for license, Virginia General Assembly (Virginia Law). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Board for Contractors, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Contractor Firm License Instructions & Application (A501-27LIC), Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. 18VAC50-22-40, Requirements for a Class C license (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. 18VAC50-22-50, Requirements for a Class B license (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. 18VAC50-22-60, Requirements for a Class A license (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Tradesman Exam & License Application (A501-2710EXLIC, v8, 07/01/2026), Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. 18VAC50-22-20, Definitions of license classifications (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. 18VAC50-22-80, Examination fees (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. 18VAC50-22-300, Prelicense education courses (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. 18VAC50-22-100, Fees (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. 18VAC50-22-110, Renewal required (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. 18VAC50-22-140, Renewal fees (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. 18VAC50-22-130, Qualifications for renewal (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Carpentry Apprenticeship Training Program, Northern Virginia 2026-2027, Associated Builders and Contractors, Virginia Chapter (ABC Virginia). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. Virginia, Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. Apprenticeship Search (Registered Apprenticeship sponsors), Virginia Works (Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. 18VAC50-22-61, Qualifications for classifications and specialties, Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Code of Virginia § 54.1-1129, Necessity for licensure, Virginia General Assembly (Virginia Law). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions, Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. 18VAC50-22-70, Qualifications for licensure by reciprocity or substantial equivalency (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Board for Contractors (Virginia Administrative Code). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Apprenticeship Training, Associated Builders and Contractors, Virginia Chapter (ABC Virginia). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  24. Virginia: Apply, Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  25. Become a Registered Apprentice, Virginia Works (Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  26. Code of Virginia § 54.1-1128, Definitions (tradesmen), Virginia General Assembly (Virginia Law). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  27. Registered Apprenticeship FAQs, Virginia Works (Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  28. Applicant Resources and Test Prep, Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  29. Military and Veterans Services, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  30. Youth Registered Apprenticeship, Virginia Works (Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  31. Trade and Industrial Education, Virginia Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.