Virginia Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)

How Virginia licenses contractors

DPOR issues Class A (unlimited), Class B ($120k per project), and Class C ($10k-$120k) licenses with core specialties such as CBC (Commercial Building) and RBC (Residential Building). Applicants complete the mandatory 8-hour pre-license course, pass PSI exams (NASCLA allowed for CBC), submit financial statements, and carry liability insurance.

Plan for hurricanes, nor'easters, Piedmont sinkholes, and seismic activity near the Central Virginia Seismic Zone. Exams highlight floodproofing, energy code, and historic brick conservation.

Official source: Virginia Board for Contractors

Virginia contractor license types

Class A applicants provide a $45k net worth statement; Class B $15k. All firms must maintain minimum $500k liability insurance to pull residential building permits.

What's on the Virginia contractor exam

PSI offers exams in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Fairfax, and via remote proctoring.

What Virginia exam questions emphasize

• Virginia Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management
• Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC)
• Flood hazard regulations and Coastal Primary Sand Dune rules
• Lien law (Code of Virginia 43) and prompt-pay acts

Exam-day logistics

• Bring two IDs, pre-license course certificate, and reference manuals
• NASCLA transcripts must be sent directly to DPOR
• Scores post immediately; submit financial documents and insurance for activation

Trade-specific exam guides

If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Virginia general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.

• General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
• Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
• Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
• HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.

Virginia code books & approved references (2026)

Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.

• Virginia Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management
• Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
• Virginia Residential Code
• Virginia lien statutes (Code 43)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Fees & timeline for the Virginia contractor license

• $90 application fee plus $235 license fee for Class A
• $80 PSI trade exam fee and $80 Business & Law fee
• Pre-license course tuition (8 hours)
• Financial statement preparation or surety bond
• $500k liability insurance minimum for RBC/CBC work

Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm fees with DPOR.

Virginia Business & Law focus

The Virginia Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, payroll, tax registration, and OSHA/TOSHA requirements.

• Know Title 54.1 licensing requirements and DPOR disciplinary process
• Understand preliminary lien notices and bonding off liens
• Register with the Department of Taxation and VEC for payroll
• Maintain OSHA safety plans for trenching, cranes, and maritime work

Practice with our national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.

A focused 4-week study plan for the Virginia exam

Because plan for hurricanes, nor'easters, Piedmont sinkholes, and seismic activity near the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, this four-week outline targets what Virginia field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.

1. Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: Virginia Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management.
2. Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC).
3. Week 3 — Business & Law. The Virginia Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, payroll, tax registration, and OSHA/TOSHA requirements. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
4. Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI offers exams in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Fairfax, and via remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.