Virginia Contractor License Courses, Classes & Exam Prep

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Contractor Licensing Start-Up Consultation

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Navigating the requirements of becoming a contractor can be confusing, and the process often changes from state to state. Whether you are a first-time applicant or an experienced contractor looking for a license in additional states, getting the answers to your questions can be tedious and time-consuming. Let us help you streamline this process an build a plan to reach your career goals with a 30-minute start-up call and follow-up email support with a contractor licensing expert!

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Virginia Contractors Class A/B Exam Prep Course

$ 297.00

Prepare for the three-part (Virginia, General, Advanced) Virginia Business Law Exam for Class A and Class B contractor applicants with this exam prep course and practice exam simulator backed by a No-Pass, No-Pay Guarantee!

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Overview & Benefits

Benefits of having a contractor’s license in Virginia

The state of Virginia offers many opportunities to individuals who want to launch their own contracting business. However, just like every state, there are rules, laws, and requirements that must be met before legally performing work in the state.

Receiving your contractor’s license in VA can be difficult, and the process itself can be a bit overwhelming to start. While you are ready to get out there and start working, you won’t get very far without a Virginia contractor's license. For this reason, we help mitigate the hassle and stress by helping you meet all Virginia general contractors license requirements.

With Contractor Training Center, you’ll have your license in no time. Our experienced and knowledgeable team understands this process and is equipped with the right tools, resources, and exam prep services to support you through this process.

So, should you get a contractor’s license? This is a question you need to ask yourself before you go out, buy tools, and start building houses! Without a license, this is considered illegal and for several good reasons. If anyone could build homes, the quality of these living spaces would be seriously compromised.

The Benefits of Having a Contractor's License in Virginia

Construction laws vary from state to state. In the state of Virginia (VA), a contractor’s license is legally required for any work that exceeds $1,000 in labor and materials. As a contractor, you can work in the construction, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical field. There are many ways individuals benefit from obtaining a license, the two primary ones being:

  • Gives you credibility
  • Gives you a higher earning potential

Having a license increases your credibility, allowing you to build trust with your clients. There are other ways to gain their trust, but this is a big part of establishing yourself and your business, especially if you’re working with new customers.

Gives You Credibility

Having a license increases your credibility, allowing you to build trust with your clients. There are other ways you can gain their trust, but this is a big part of establishing yourself and your business, especially if you're working with new customers.

Gives You A Higher Earning Potential

Consequently, there are larger projects that you can't perform without a contractor's license. With one, you can take on big assignments, get more jobs, and increase your profit. More often than not, clients will pay a higher price to a licensed contractor than unlicensed handypersons.

In addition, a contractor’s license keeps scam artists from deceiving people and endangering homeowners. With this being said, there are some home services that you can conduct without a license, but the question you need to ask yourself is, “Should I invest in a Virginia general contractor license?”

What You Can Expect

Get a strong start in building your career

On this page, you will find everything you need to know to embark on this journey! We’ll walk you through the steps of obtaining your license, discuss the different types of exams, and offer additional resources to make the process of you getting your license as easy and stress-free as possible. Don’t wait and get in touch with us today!

Exam Preparation

What you'll need to prepare for the exam

At Contractor Training Center, we offer several classes, among them being: A/B, RBC, CBC, Virginia Highway Heavy, Virginia Pre-License Courses, and Continuing Education. You can obtain the necessary books and study tools from our site to ensure the successful completion of your exam.

We’ve made it our priority to equip you with the materials you need to study—including practice tests and tabs for your exam books. Listed below is the information on the classes we offer, their costs, and the books needed to prepare for this exam. You need to purchase the books, manuals, and additional resources from the links provided below.

At Contractor Training Center, we offer several classes, among them being: A/B, RBC, CBC, Virginia Highway Heavy, Virginia Pre-License Courses, and Continuing Education. You can obtain the necessary books and study tools from our site to ensure the successful completion of your exam.

We’ve made it our priority to equip you with the materials you need to study—including practice tests and tabs for your exam books. Listed below is the information on the classes we offer, their costs, and the books needed to prepare for this exam. You need to purchase the books, manuals, and additional resources from the links provided below.

Class A/B Course

This training course is very concise and covers material on the Virginia General and Advanced exams. This course will give you practice on sample accounting and math problems that will help you with the exam. There is also be a review of test-taking strategies.

DPOR of Virginia Contractor Pre-License Course

This is a mandatory course for any new contractor in the state of Virginia. It covers the practices and regulations that govern the contracting industry. Within this course, we’ll review the required elements of preparing a contract to meet all regulations and explore methods in selecting customers and jobs based on license classification and experience.

Additionally, we will explore the various business structures to meet the client’s needs and give you tips that will help you avoid business problems. This course will guide contractors in making smart choices that will enhance their business while complying with all rules and regulations.

This course will teach the individual how to operate their contracting business; create estimates/bids; and act as a reference for insurance, banking, project management, employment law, and environmental issues. After you register and review the material, we will send the results to DPOR.

License Requirements

The First Step to Any Virginia License

To help you prepare for the Virginia contractor's exam, Contractor Training Center offers a range of exam prep courses and reference materials, including those for Class A/B, RBC, CBC, Virginia Highway Heavy, Virginia Pre-License Courses, and Continuing Education. We provide the necessary study materials, including practice tests and tabs for exam books, to ensure your success.

Virginia DPOR Mandatory Contractor 8-Hour Pre-License Course

This is the course that is mandatory for any new contractor in the state of Virginia.  It presents the regulations and practices that govern the contracting industry. We will review the required elements of preparing a contract according to regulation, explore methods in selecting customers and jobs based on license classification and experience, explore the various business structures to meet their particular needs, and tips that will help you avoid regulatory and business problems.  The course is designed to guide contractors in making choices that will ensure compliance with regulation and maintain the license through business success.

The course provides guidance for operating a contracting business and can be used as a continued reference for topics such as estimating and bidding, insurance, banking and credit cards, project management, employment law, tax information, contracts, environmental issues, and other subjects.  Once you register and review the material (PDF) and we transmit the results to DPOR.  It’s that simple.

To register, please click here.

Virginia Tradesman DPOR Continuing Education

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) requires continuing education training on the various codes to renew a trade certificate.

  • Contractor Training Center. offers internet delivered training, recognized by DPOR, that focuses on major changes to the Trades portion of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) that will become effective in early 2008.
  • The courses were developed by experts who helped write the codes.

To register, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the contractor licensing process in Virginia.

How long is my license Valid?

An original contractor’s license will expire within two years from the month that the license is received and issued.

Is a VA contractor license reciprocal with other states?

Contracting licenses vary from state to state; however, you can obtain more information regarding this by emailing the Board for Contracts at contrac[email protected] or by calling them at (804) 367-8511.

Will the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia disburse temporary licenses?

Temporary licenses are given out to those who are out-of-state contractors. Still, they must have the entities, and these licenses have set requirements, including they can only be used for out-of-state entities who need a license during the waiting period for their permanent one. Temporary licenses are valid for 45 days, can’t be reinstated, reapplied, renewed, or reissued.

On average, the price for a temporary license is $50. To receive this license, you need to send a letter of good standing from another state. They need to give you positive feedback. You will need to pay both application fees (temporary and permanent).

Is the contractor continuing education required in the state of Virginia?

It is not required in the state of Virginia.

Is a NASCLA accredited commercial contractor license accepted in Virginia?

Yes, it’s accepted but you need to send in credentials with your license applications.

Does the state of Virginia require a general contractor (commercial contractor) license?

Yes, the state of Virginia requires it. It’s called the CBC – Commercial Building Contractor or the NASCLA. The NASCLA exam is accepted in 12 states.

How much work can you do without a contractor work in Virginia?

In Virginia, a contractor’s license is required for any work that exceeds $1,000. There are different license specifications based on the type of work you wish to do. Make sure you get licensed for the particular type of work you intend to perform. 

Who needs a contractor license in Virginia?

Due to Virginia’s Code, only business entities may be given a contractor’s license. Additionally, even if the business has only one employee, the individual would not receive the contractor’s license.

How to get a Class A Contractors license in VA?

File with the Department a written application on a form prescribed by the Board. Deliver the application with the $385 fee. In addition, as proof of financial responsibility, the applicant shall demonstrate compliance with the minimum net worth requirement fixed by the Board in regulation by providing either a financial statement on a form prescribed by the Board or a balance sheet reviewed by a certified public accountant licensed in accordance with § 54.1-4409.1.

In addition, if the applicant is a sole proprietor, he shall furnish to the Board his name and address. If the applicant is a member of a partnership, they need to provide the Board with the names and addresses of all of the partnership’s general partners.

If the application is approved, the proposed designated employee will be required to take an oral or written examination to determine his general knowledge of contracting, including the statutory and regulatory requirements governing contractors in the Commonwealth. 

The Board may grant a Class A license in any of the following classifications: (i) residential building contractor, (ii) commercial building contractor, (iii) highway/heavy contractor, (iv) electrical contractor, (v) plumbing contractor, (vi) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor, (vii) fire sprinkler contractor, and (viii) specialty contractor.

How to get a Class B Contractors license in VA?

File with the Department a written application on a form prescribed by the Board. Deliver the application with the $370 fee. In addition, as proof of financial responsibility, the applicant shall demonstrate compliance with the minimum net worth requirement fixed by the Board in regulation by providing either a financial statement on a form prescribed by the Board or a balance sheet reviewed by a certified public accountant licensed in accordance with § 54.1-4409.1.

In addition, if the applicant is a sole proprietor, he shall furnish to the Board his name and address. If the applicant is a member of a partnership, they need to provide the Board with the names and addresses of all of the partnership’s general partners.

If the application is approved, the proposed designated employee will be required to take an oral or written examination to determine his general knowledge of contracting, including the statutory and regulatory requirements governing contractors in the Commonwealth.

The Board may grant a Class B license in any of the following classifications: (i) residential building contractor, (ii) commercial building contractor, (iii) highway/heavy contractor, (iv) electrical contractor, (v) plumbing contractor, (vi) HVAC contractor, (vii) fire sprinkler contractor, and (viii) specialty contractor.

How to get a Contractor C Contractors license in VA?

File with the Department a written application on a form prescribed by the Board. Deliver the application with the $235 fee. The application shall contain information concerning the name, location, nature, and operation of the business and information demonstrating that the applicant possesses the character and minimum skills to engage in the occupation of contracting correctly.

The Board may grant a Class C license in any of the following classifications: (i) residential building contractor, (ii) commercial building contractor, (iii) highway/heavy contractor, (iv) electrical contractor, (v) plumbing contractor, (vi) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor, (vii) fire sprinkler contractor, and (viii) specialty contractor.

How to become a general contractor in VA?

We detail the steps in Virginia's licensing process in our blog post, 'How to Become a Contractor in Virginia: A Basic Guide.' Learn about the different license classifications, how to submit your application and tips for passing your exam!

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