- A license is needed for jobs over $1,000.
- Class C applicants show evidence of experience and credit history.
- Plan for a business and law exam.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses painting work at the state level through the Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
A license is needed for jobs over $1,000.
Virginia license types for painting work
Virginia splits the work into 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Painting and Wallcovering (PTC) specialty | Interior and exterior painting, wallpaper and wall coverings, with surface prep |
| Class C | Jobs over $1,000 up to $10,000 |
| Class B | Jobs over $10,000 and under $120,000 |
| Class A | Jobs of $120,000 or more |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Complete eight hours of pre-license education.
- Pick your class by job size and your specialty.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors with your experience and credit information.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Class C applicants show evidence of experience and credit history.
The license to apply for. Contractor license, Class C (or B or A by job size), with the right specialty.
Virginia painting contractor exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. Eight hours of pre-license education on business rules, completed by a member of responsible management.
What it costs in Virginia
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR).
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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 painter 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 Board for Contractors (DPOR) and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how painting companies run on Koira.