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Virginia

My Contractors License

Virginia Contractor License Exam Prep

Prepare for Virginia General Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Business and Law, and 8-Hour Pre-License requirements with online courses, books, tabs, and practice exams.

  • ★★★★★ Trusted exam prep
  • Online and self-paced
  • Books, tabs, and courses
4 Primary course options
24/7 Online course access
$1K General licensing threshold
3 License classes

Courses · Booksets · Tabs · Practice exams

Virginia licensing overview: Virginia contractor licenses include both a license class and a classification. The class determines the maximum project value, while the classification determines the type of work the contractor may perform. Virginia generally requires the appropriate contractor license for qualifying projects valued at more than $1,000.
Understand the license structure

Virginia Contractor License Classes

Class A

No Project Limit

Class A is Virginia's highest contractor license class and does not place a monetary limit on individual projects or annual contracting volume.

Class B

Mid-Level Projects

Class B applies to projects within the monetary limits established for this class. The source information lists a $120,000 individual project limit.

Class C

Smaller Projects

Class C is intended for lower-value contracting work. The source information lists a $10,000 individual project limit.

Choose your path

Virginia Contractor License and Course Options

Building & Construction

Virginia General Contractor

Explore Virginia general contractor preparation for commercial, residential, improvement, specialty, and NASCLA building classifications.

  • Virginia CBC Commercial Building Contractor
  • Virginia RBC Residential Building Contractor
  • Virginia CIC Commercial Improvement Contractor
  • Virginia Drywall Contractor
  • Virginia Commercial Contractor — NASCLA
View General Contractor Options
Electrical

Virginia Electrical Contractor

Prepare for Virginia electrical licensing with exam-prep options for Master Electrician and Journeyman Electrician classifications.

  • Virginia Master Electrician prep
  • Virginia Journeyman Electrician prep
  • Code navigation and calculations
  • Course, books, tabs, and practice exams
View Electrical Contractor Options
Class A & B

Virginia Business and Law

Prepare for the Virginia Business and Law examination covering contractor operations, project management, regulations, contracts, finances, insurance, labor, taxation, and legal responsibilities.

  • Required for Class A and Class B applicants
  • General, Virginia, and Advanced portions
  • Class A completes all three parts
  • Class B completes the General and Virginia portions
View Business and Law Options
Required Course

Virginia 8-Hour Pre-License Course

Complete the Virginia eight-hour pre-license education requirement before submitting your contractor license application.

  • Eight hours of required instruction
  • Online videos and quizzes
  • Applies to all license classes
  • Complete before submitting your application
View 8-Hour Pre-License Course
Compare course paths

Virginia Contractor Course Comparison

Course Path Primary Purpose Who Needs It Next Step
General Contractor Trade exam preparation for building and specialty classifications CBC, RBC, CIC, Drywall, and NASCLA applicants Select the classification matching your work
Electrical Contractor Electrical trade exam preparation Master and Journeyman Electrician applicants Select the correct electrical license level
Business and Law Virginia contractor business and project-management testing Class A and Class B applicants Complete the required exam portions for your class
8-Hour Pre-License Course Required contractor pre-license education All Virginia contractor applicants Complete before submitting the license application
Choosing the correct path: Start with General Contractor or Electrical Contractor based on the work you plan to perform. Class A and Class B applicants also need Business and Law. All applicants complete the Virginia 8-Hour Pre-License Course.
Licensing process

Steps to Obtain a Virginia Contractor License

01

Choose a Class and Classification

Select Class A, B, or C based on your intended project values. Then choose the classification that matches the work you plan to perform.

02

Complete the Pre-License Course

Complete the required Virginia eight-hour pre-license education course before submitting your contractor license application.

03

Pass the Required Exams

Complete the applicable trade examination and, for Class A and B applicants, the required Virginia Business and Law examination portions.

04

Submit Your Application

Submit your application, experience documentation, financial information, business records, exam results, fees, and other required materials to Virginia DPOR.

Application preparation

Virginia Contractor License Requirements

License Class

Your Class A, B, or C designation determines the project-value limits and financial qualifications that apply to your contractor license.

Classification

The classification determines the permitted work. General contractor options include CBC, RBC, CIC, Drywall, and NASCLA. Electrical licensing is handled through the Virginia Electrical Contractor path.

Education and Exams

Applicants must complete the eight-hour pre-license course and pass the required trade and business examinations for the selected class and classification.

Package options

Choose the Preparation Package You Need

Regular Combo

Online exam-preparation course plus the complete required reference-book set.

Pre-Highlighted Combo

Online course plus professionally highlighted and tabbed reference books.

Course Only

Self-paced online lessons and practice exams without the reference books.

Bookset Only

The complete approved reference-book set for your selected Virginia contractor examination.

Tabset Only

Pre-printed tabs designed to help you locate important sections quickly during an open-book examination.

Individual Books

Purchase only the approved references missing from your existing book collection.

Frequently Asked Questions: Virginia Contractor License

Which of the four Virginia course paths should I choose?

Choose General Contractor for building and specialty classifications, Electrical Contractor for Master or Journeyman electrical licensing, Business and Law for Class A or B requirements, and the 8-Hour Pre-License Course for the required education completed by all applicants.

What is included under Virginia General Contractor?

The General Contractor path includes CBC Commercial Building, RBC Residential Building, CIC Commercial Improvement, Drywall, and Virginia NASCLA commercial preparation options.

What is included under Virginia Electrical Contractor?

The Electrical Contractor path includes preparation for Virginia Master Electrician and Virginia Journeyman Electrician licensing.

How are Virginia contractor licenses structured?

A Virginia contractor license includes both a class and a classification. The class determines the monetary limits of the license, while the classification determines the type of work the contractor may perform.

What is the difference between Virginia Class A, B, and C licenses?

Class A is the highest license class and does not impose the same project-value limit as the lower classes. Class B and Class C licenses have lower monetary limits and different financial qualification requirements.

When is a Virginia contractor license required?

Based on the information provided, Virginia generally requires the appropriate contractor license for qualifying construction projects valued at more than $1,000.

What is the Virginia CBC classification?

CBC stands for Commercial Building Contractor. It covers qualifying commercial, industrial, institutional, and modular construction within the limits of the contractor's license class.

What is the Virginia RBC classification?

RBC stands for Residential Building Contractor. It covers qualifying construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, and demolition involving dwellings, townhouses, and related residential property.

What is the Virginia CIC classification?

CIC stands for Commercial Improvement Contractor. It covers qualifying commercial repair and improvement work but does not include new building construction or work requiring separate electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas classifications.

What does the Virginia Drywall Contractor classification cover?

The Drywall Contractor classification covers qualifying drywall installation, removal, repair, replacement, finishing, and related specialty work.

Can I use the NASCLA exam for a Virginia contractor license?

The NASCLA Commercial General Building examination may be an accepted trade-exam option for qualifying Virginia commercial contractor applications. Applicants must still satisfy Virginia application, classification, class, financial, and Business and Law requirements.

Why should I consider the NASCLA exam?

NASCLA is accepted as a commercial general building trade examination by multiple participating jurisdictions. It can be useful for contractors who may seek commercial licenses in more than one state.

Is the Virginia Business and Law exam required?

Virginia Business and Law is required for Class A and Class B contractor applicants. Class C applicants do not take the separate Business and Law examination described on this page.

How many parts are on the Virginia Business and Law exam?

The exam has three parts. Class A applicants must pass all three parts. Class B applicants complete the General and Virginia portions.

Is the Virginia eight-hour pre-license course required?

Yes. The source information states that the eight-hour pre-license course is required for Virginia contractor applicants regardless of the selected license class or classification.

Can I complete the pre-license course online?

Yes. The course described on this page is delivered online and includes instructional videos and quizzes that must be completed before applying.

Are Virginia contractor exams open book?

Approved references may be permitted for certain Virginia contractor examinations. Review the current candidate bulletin for your exam to confirm approved books, tab rules, testing time, and prohibited materials.

How should I prepare for a Virginia contractor exam?

Effective preparation generally combines an online course, the approved reference books, book-navigation practice, and repeated timed practice examinations.

  1. Review the current exam outline and candidate bulletin.
  2. Learn where key topics are located in each approved book.
  3. Practice finding answers under timed conditions.
  4. Complete practice exams to identify weak areas.
Can I purchase a Virginia course without the books?

Yes. Depending on the examination, available options may include course-only, bookset-only, tabset-only, individual books, regular combos, and pre-highlighted and tabbed combos.

Does passing the exams automatically issue my Virginia license?

No. Passing the required examinations and completing the pre-license course are only parts of the licensing process. Applicants must also satisfy Virginia's application, experience, financial, business-entity, fee, and classification requirements.

Start Preparing for Your Virginia Contractor Exam

Choose your Virginia license class and classification, then find the course, books, tabs, and complete preparation package you need.