Do you need a state license in Virginia?
Virginia licenses septic system work at the state level through the Virginia Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals (DPOR). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Virginia license types for septic system 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 |
|---|---|
| Master installer | Responsible for supervising journeyman installers |
| Journeyman installer | Works under the direct supervision of a licensed master installer |
Steps to get licensed in Virginia
- Pick the class you need: conventional or alternative, journeyman or master.
- Apply to the DPOR board for the installer license.
- As a journeyman, work under a licensed master installer.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Onsite sewage system installer license (master or journeyman, conventional or alternative).
Virginia septic installer exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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 Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals (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 septic installation 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 Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals (DPOR) and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.