- No license for jobs of $1,000 or less. Above $1,000 per job you need at least a Class C license.
- The Class C qualified individual needs at least 1 year of experience in the classification or specialty.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- No net worth or bond step for Class C. The board requires the financial statement only from Class A and B applicants.
- Every two years, from the last day of the month the license was issued.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No license for jobs of $1,000 or less. Above $1,000 per job you need at least a Class C license.
Virginia license types for handyman work
Virginia splits the work into 2 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 |
| HIC | Repairs or improvements to homes and townhouses and structures attached to them |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Keep jobs at $1,000 or less, or get licensed before taking larger ones.
- Name a qualified individual with at least 1 year of experience who passes the board exam for the HIC specialty.
- Have a member of management complete the 8-hour basic business course.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors for a Class C license with the HIC specialty.
- Pay the $235 license fee and the $25 Recovery Fund assessment.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The Class C qualified individual needs at least 1 year of experience in the classification or specialty.
The license to apply for. Class C contractor license with HIC (home improvement) specialty.
Virginia handyman exams
Trade exam. Yes. The Class C qualified individual must pass a board-approved exam for the specialty where no other license is a prerequisite.
Business and law exam. A member of management must finish the board-approved basic business course (8 hours of pre-license education).
What it costs in Virginia
The board lists 4 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 |
| Recovery Fund assessment, initial | $25 |
| Class C renewal | $220 |
| Recovery Fund assessment, renewal | $30 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. No net worth or bond step for Class C. The board requires the financial statement only from Class A and B applicants.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years, from the last day of the month the license was issued.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Virginia
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC jobs over $1,000 need those classifications, which require a master tradesman.
- Class C firms must disclose 3 years of past-due debts and judgments.
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 handyman 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.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.