- A contractor license is needed for jobs over $1,000. The class depends on job size and yearly volume.
- The firm's qualifier needs one year of experience for Class C, three years for Class B and five years for Class A. A master tradesman applicant needs one year holding a journeyman license, or nine years of practical experience in the trade. A journeyman needs, for example, eight years of experience with no school, or fewer years with vocational training or a degree.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Class A firms need a $45,000 net worth and Class B firms $15,000, or either can post a $50,000 surety bond instead.
- Contractor licenses expire two years from the last day of the month they were issued. Renewal is $220 (C), $260 (B) or $270 (A) plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. Plumbers with a tradesman license need 3 hours of approved continuing education to renew.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
A contractor license is needed for jobs over $1,000. The class depends on job size and yearly volume.
Virginia license types for plumbing 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 |
|---|---|
| Class C | Single jobs over $1,000 but under $30,000, and 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 |
| PLB | Plumbing contractor: piping, fixtures, water heaters, boilers, drainage, and water supply systems. Does not include gas piping |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Meet the experience rules and pass the journeyman plumbing exam, then hold the journeyman license for at least one year.
- Get board pre-approval and pass the master tradesman exam with PSI.
- Form your business and pick a license class (A, B or C) based on your job sizes.
- Have a member of responsible management finish the board-approved basic business course.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors with the PLB classification and your master as qualifier, and pay the fee plus the $25 Recovery Fund assessment.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The firm's qualifier needs one year of experience for Class C, three years for Class B and five years for Class A. A master tradesman applicant needs one year holding a journeyman license, or nine years of practical experience in the trade. A journeyman needs, for example, eight years of experience with no school, or fewer years with vocational training or a degree.
The license to apply for. Class A, B or C contractor license with the PLB classification, qualified by a Master Plumber.
Virginia plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The master tradesman exam is given by PSI with board pre-approval. The exam fee is $125 for a master and $100 for a journeyman.
Business and law exam. A member of responsible management completes a board-approved basic business course.
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 with initial application | $25 |
| Original tradesman license | $150 |
| Master tradesman exam (PSI) | $125 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Class A firms need a $45,000 net worth and Class B firms $15,000, or either can post a $50,000 surety bond instead.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor licenses expire two years from the last day of the month they were issued. Renewal is $220 (C), $260 (B) or $270 (A) plus a $30 Recovery Fund assessment. Plumbers with a tradesman license need 3 hours of approved continuing education to renew.
Reciprocity. The Board lists reciprocity and exam agreements with other states. Tradesmen can upgrade to a master license by exam or reciprocity. Ask the board for the terms.
Good to know in Virginia
- The PLB classification does not cover gas piping. Gas work needs a gas fitting classification and license.
- Since April 1, 2025, a residential plumber tradesman license is another path for those who only work in homes. Holding it for three years qualifies you for the master exam.
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 plumber 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, 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.