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Virginia Contractor License Courses

Some construction contractors must be licensed in Virginia. Trade licenses are required for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, asbestos abatement and lead abatement work.

To do construction work in Virginia you need a license or certificate from the Virginia Board for Contractors. To get an application, contact:

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Board for Contractors
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233-1463
(804) 367-8511
Fax: (866) 430-1033
http://www.dpor.virgnia.gov
E-mail: contractor@dpor.virginia.gov

The Board issues three types of contractor's licenses or certificates -- Class A, B, or C. Usually the type of license you get will be based on the value of contracts your business will work on. Here's a description of each class:

A Class A contractor works on single contracts for $120,000 or more or contracts totaling $750,000 or more over a one-year period (company must have a net worth of at least $45,000).

A Class B contractor works on single contracts for $10,000 or more but less than $120,000 or contracts totaling $150,000 or more but less than $750,000 over a one-year period.

A Class C contractor works on single contracts for $1,000 or more but less than $10,000 or contracts totaling less than $150,000 over a one-year period.

To get a Class A or Class B license your company's qualified individual must pass Business and Law Contracting exam. Freedom offers a Home Study course that covers all of the relevant state laws and regulations as well as business management topics required to pass this exam.

Click here for course details.

Exams are given by:

PSI Examination Services

3210 E. Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(800) 733-9267
Fax: (702) 932-2666
http://www.psiexams.com

The Board issues these three types of licenses in each of these general trades -- building, highway/heavy, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. It also recognizes the following specialty trades:

Alarm/security systems   Alternative energy system
Home improvement   Equipment/machinery
Landscape irrigation   Radon mitigation
Billboard, sign   Farm improvement
Landscape service   Recreational facility
Blast, explosive   Fire alarm systems
Commercial improvement   Refrigeration
Marine facility   Fire sprinkler
Electronic/communication service   Sewage disposal systems
Asbestos   Fire suppression
Elevator/escalator   Vessel construction
Modular/mobile/manufactured building   Gas fitting
Environmental monitoring well   Water well/pump
Asphalt paving and sealcoating   Concrete
Environmental specialties   Lead abatement
Liquefied petroleum gas   Masonry
Natural gas   Painting and wall covering
Roofing   Swimming pool construction

To get a license you must specify a full-time employee or manager from your company to be a "qualified individual" for each trade you want to have on your license. Each person you pick must have the following experience, depending on the class of license you're applying for, and pass a Specialty (Technical) exam. Specialty exams are also administered by PSI exams.

Type of license Years of experience required
Class A license 5
Class B license 3
Class C certificate 2

For electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, liquefied petroleum gas fitting and natural gas fitting the qualified individual of the company also has to get a tradesman license. At the end of this section you'll find information on how to get this license.

Contractor's license fees: It will cost $60 to take the Class A exam. The Class B exam costs $40. A Class A license costs $230 and a Class B license is $205, both nonrefundable. A Class C certificate costs $150 nonrefundable. All are good for two years.

If you have a valid license in another state the Board may grant you a Virginia license by reciprocity. Requirements for this vary so you'll need to check with the Board.

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Trade Licenses

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Board for Contractors
3600 West Broad Street
P. O. Box 11066
Richmond, VA 23230-1066
(804) 367-2945
Fax: (804) 367-2474
http://www.state.va.us/dpor/

The Tradesman Licensing Section of the Board for Contractors issues journeyman and master licenses for the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, natural gas fitting and liquid petroleum gas fitting trades. You must pass an exam to get any of these licenses. To qualify for a journeyman exam, you must have one of the following:

  • four years of practical trade experience and 240 hours of vocational training. You can substitute each year of experience (after the four years) for 80 hours of training, up to 200 hours
  • an associate degree from a Department-approved program and two years of practical experience
  • an bachelor's degree from a Department-approved program and one year of practical experience
  • ten years of documented Department-approved practical experience

To qualify for a master exam you must have one of the following:

  • one year of experience as a licensed journeyman
  • ten years of documented Department-approved practical experience

Exams are given by:

 

PSI Examination Services

3210 E. Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(800) 733-9267
Fax: (702) 932-2666
http://www.psiexams.com

 

Contractor's license fees: It will cost $80 to take the exam. The initial tradesman license will cost $75. To add a trade designation to your current state-issued Virginia tradesman license.

Virginia has a reciprocity agreement for electricians and plumbers licensed in North Carolina.

Our Mission:

Provide each student with the Best Quality, Low Cost, up-to-date study materials and Personal Attention to ensure their successful course completion and obtaining Professional License or Certification of their choice.