- No contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or less.
- The qualified individual needs 1 year of experience for Class C, 3 years for Class B and 5 years for Class A, in the classification.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Class A: $45,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. Class B: $15,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. No net worth requirement is listed for Class C.
- Every two years, from the last day of the month the license was issued.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses general contractor work at the state level through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or less.
Virginia license types for general contractor work
Virginia splits the work into 6 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Class C | Single jobs over $1,000 and under $30,000, under $250,000 a year |
| Class B | Single jobs of $30,000 to under $150,000, or $250,000 to under $1 million a year |
| Class A | Single jobs of $150,000 or more, or $1 million or more a year |
| RBC | Residential building: build, remodel, repair or demolish homes and townhouses |
| CBC | Commercial building: commercial and industrial structures |
| HIC | Home improvement specialty: repairs or improvements to homes and townhouses and structures attached to them |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Pick your class (A, B or C) from your typical job size and yearly volume.
- Pick your classification, such as RBC, CBC or the HIC specialty.
- Name a qualified individual with enough experience who passes the board exam.
- Have a member of management finish the 8-hour basic business course. Class A and B also need a designated employee who passes the board exam.
- For Class A or B, show the required net worth or post a $50,000 bond.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors and pay the license fee plus the $25 Recovery Fund assessment.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The qualified individual needs 1 year of experience for Class C, 3 years for Class B and 5 years for Class A, in the classification.
The license to apply for. Contractor license, Class A, B or C, with RBC (residential) or CBC (commercial) classification.
Virginia general contractor exams
Trade exam. Yes. The qualified individual must pass a board-approved exam for the classification where no other license is a prerequisite.
Business and law exam. Class A and B need a designated employee who passes a board exam. All new licenses need 8 hours of pre-license basic business education by a member of management.
What it costs in Virginia
The board lists 6 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class C initial license | $235 |
| Class B initial license | $380 |
| Class A initial license | $400 |
| Recovery Fund assessment, initial | $25 |
| Renewal, Class C / B / A | $220 / $260 / $270 |
| Recovery Fund assessment, renewal | $30 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Class A: $45,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. Class B: $15,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. No net worth requirement is listed for Class C.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years, from the last day of the month the license was issued.
Reciprocity. The board lists exam waivers for North Carolina residential (RBC) and commercial (CBC) building contractors, and a waiver of the Virginia law exams for Ohio business and law exam holders. Ask the board for the terms.
Good to know in Virginia
- A $25 Recovery Fund assessment is charged with each initial license and $30 with each renewal.
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC need separate classifications with a master tradesman as qualified individual.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a contractor near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.