- 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 in the specialty for Class C, three years for Class B and five years for Class A.
- 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.
Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses roofing 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 roofing work
Virginia splits the work into 5 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 |
| ROC | Roofing contracting: watertight roof and deck surfaces, roofing system parts, dampproofing and waterproofing, and roof insulation above the deck |
| HIC | Home improvement specialty, which also covers roofing on homes |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Pick a license class (A, B or C) based on your job sizes.
- Name a qualifier with the required years of roofing experience.
- Have the qualifier pass the board-approved ROC exam.
- Have a member of responsible management finish the board-approved basic business course.
- For Class A or B, show the required net worth or post a $50,000 surety bond.
- Apply to the Board for Contractors and pay the license fee plus the $25 Recovery Fund assessment.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The firm's qualifier needs one year of experience in the specialty for Class C, three years for Class B and five years for Class A.
The license to apply for. Class A, B or C contractor license with the ROC (roofing contracting) specialty.
Virginia roofing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The qualifier must pass a board-approved exam for the specialty.
Business and law exam. A member of responsible management completes a board-approved basic business course.
What it costs in Virginia
The board lists 5 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 |
| Add a classification or specialty | $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.
Reciprocity. The board lists exam waivers for North Carolina residential (RBC) and commercial (CBC) building contractors. Ask the board about roofing.
Good to know in Virginia
- Getting the ROC specialty by exam is one path to the alternative energy system (AES) specialty for solar, together with NABCEP or board-approved certification.
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 roofer 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 roofing companies run on Koira.