How to get a contractor license in Virginia: Class A, B and C through DPOR
Virginia licenses general contractors at the state level. Virginia licenses contractors statewide through the DPOR Board for Contractors in three classes (A, B, and C) tied to monetary project-size thresholds, with pre-license education and PSI-administered examinations.
- Licensing level
- state
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Verified
- Official source
Virginia contractor licenses at a glance
| License | Issued by | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Class C | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Smallest projects (DPOR sets the single-contract and annual limits). Pre-license education course and the application; no business exam, though some specialty classifications test. |
| Class B | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Mid-size projects. Pre-license course, the PSI business exam (Virginia Business), experience and net worth requirements. |
| Class A | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | No project limit. Pre-license course, the Virginia Business and Advanced exams through PSI, higher experience and net worth requirements. |
Start at the source
Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) is the official authority. Its site, www.dpor.virginia.gov, carries the current requirements, applications and any candidate bulletin. Everything on this page routes back to it, because requirements change and the agency's version is the one that counts.
The path, wherever you are
- Confirm the licensing level above with the authority, then pull the current application checklist from its site.
- Where a trade exam is required, get the candidate bulletin: it names the exam vendor, the topics, and the exact reference editions allowed on the table.
- Buy the referenced code books in the exact editions listed, and tab them yourself within whatever marking the bulletin permits.
- Train the lookup, not just the knowledge: contractor trade exams are commonly open book, which makes finding the governing section fast the actual tested skill.
- Expect a separate business and law exam in many jurisdictions, with its own reference book.
Why open book changes your prep
An open-book exam gives you the answers and takes away the time to find them. The candidates who fail are rarely the ones who knew the least; they are the ones who found things slowest. That lookup skill is what this site trains:the free timed drill shows you your seconds-per-lookup in two minutes.
Not sure whether you need a contractor license or an ICC inspector certification? The two are issued by different bodies and scored differently: seeinspector certification vs contractor licenseand why the ICC passing score is a scaled 75.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Virginia contractor license requirements?
Choose the class that matches your project sizes, complete the DPOR-approved pre-license education course, document the experience the Board requires for that class, meet its net worth requirement, pass the PSI exams required for Class A or B, and file the DPOR application with the qualified individual named. The Board's exam information sheet lists the current thresholds and fees.
What are the Class A contractors license requirements in VA?
Class A is the unlimited license: the most years of experience, the highest net worth requirement, the pre-license course, and both the Virginia Business exam and the Advanced exam through PSI. Specialty classifications such as residential building (RBC) may add a trade exam.
Is there a Virginia residential building license?
Residential Building Contractor (RBC) is a specialty classification held on a Class A, B or C license from DPOR, not a separate license. Choose the class by project size, then add the RBC classification on the application.
Does Virginia require a state contractor license?
Virginia licenses general contractors at the state level. Virginia licenses contractors statewide through the DPOR Board for Contractors in three classes (A, B, and C) tied to monetary project-size thresholds, with pre-license education and PSI-administered examinations.
Who do I contact to get licensed in Virginia?
Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) is the state authority. Its official site carries the current application requirements.
Is the Virginia contractor exam open book?
Where Virginia or its localities require a trade exam, contractor trade exams are commonly open book against the adopted code and reference list, administered by PSI. The candidate bulletin for your specific exam is the authority, and it names the exact editions allowed on the table.
Sources
- www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Contractors
- www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Contractors/A501-27EXINFO.pdf
Other states
| Tennessee | state |
| Texas | local |
| Utah | state |
| Vermont | state |
| Washington | state |
| West Virginia | state |
| Wisconsin | hybrid |
| Wyoming | local |
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