How to Get a Virginia Contractor License: A Step-by-Step Guide

In Virginia, anyone who plans to perform contracting work in areas such as building, removal, restoration, or improvements to properties must obtain a license from the Board for Contractors within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

For any contractor field you plan to enter in Virginia, this guide walks you through the licensing process, from choosing a business structure and satisfying the bond requirements to filing the necessary paperwork.

1. Choose a Business Structure

Any lawful business entity may apply for a license through the Board for Contractors, though corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships are the ones seen most often.

Except for sole proprietorships, which are exempt from filing formation documents, business entities must register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Corporations submit Articles of Incorporation, limited liability companies file Articles of Organization, and limited partnerships file a Certificate of Limited Partnership.

2. Select the Proper License Class and Classification

Virginia separates licenses into three classes based on the size of the projects a contractor plans to handle: 

• Class C (lower-value work) – covers projects that stay over $1,000 but less than $30,000 per contract, with total annual volume under $250,000, with a combined annual contract volume kept under $250,000
• Class B (mid-range work) — applies when a single contract is $30,000 or more but below $150,000, or when total annual volume is $250,000 or more but less than $1,000,000
• Class A (large-scale work) — applies when a single contract is $150,000 or more, or when total annual volume reaches $1,000,000 or more. There is no upper monetary limit.

In addition to the license class that sets contract value limits, each license also includes a classification that defines the specific services the contractor may perform. These classifications are divided into two categories: trade-related and non-trade-related. The trade-related category includes the following types of classifications:

• Natural gas fitting
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Gas fitting
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Electrical

For these classifications, the contractor must designate a qualified individual who holds a Master Tradesman license in the corresponding trade.

The second category, non-trade-related, includes the following specialties:

• Water well/pump
• Conventional disposal systems
• Alternative disposal systems
• Radon mitigation
• Manufactured home
• Lead abatement
• Elevator/escalator
• Fire sprinkler
• Blast/explosive
• Accessibility services with LULA
• Accessibility services
• Asbestos 

For these classifications, qualified individuals are subject to additional requirements that vary by specialty and are set out in the Board’s Requirements for Qualified Individuals guidance sheet.

3. Designate a Qualified Individual 

A qualified individual is the person your business relies on to satisfy the specialty’s certification requirements. That role may be filled either by someone who is part of the responsible management or by a staff member employed on a full-time basis.

Once that person is designated, your qualified individual must, in addition to the trade-related and non-trade-related qualification requirements listed above, have specialty-specific experience, and the required length of that experience depends on the license class:

• Class C requires one year of experience
• Class B is tied to three years of experience
• Class A carries a five-year experience requirement

4. Name a Designated Employee Who Will Take the Examination

Unless you are applying for a Class C license, which is exempt from this requirement, you must designate a person from your full-time staff or responsible management to pass the required exam.

For Class B licenses, they must pass the Virginia and general sections of the exam, while for Class A licenses, they need a passing score on the advanced, Virginia, and general sections.

5. Choose an Employee to Complete Pre-License Education

Applicants for a license must complete the eight-hour Virginia contractor pre-license course, the content of which does not correspond to the material covered on the exams.

To satisfy this requirement for a Class B or Class A Virginia contractor license, the pre-license course must be completed either by a full-time staff member chosen as the designated employee or by a person who serves in responsible management. With a Class C application, this course must be taken by a person within responsible management.

Designed as an introductory course, it covers topics such as: 

• Business structures
• Taxes
• Workers’ compensation
• Employment law
• State building codes
• Prohibited acts
• How to remain compliant with the regulations
• Standards of practice
• Underground utilities

6. Secure a Surety Bond

A Virginia contractor license may require a surety bond issued by a licensed surety. This bond protects certain claimants who suffered damages due to a contractor’s dishonest conduct, provided they obtained a court judgment in their favor. Eligible claimants include homeowners with a contract for work on their Virginia residence and property owners’ associations with a contract covering services in shared community areas.

The amount of this bond varies based on the license class you apply for. For a Class A license, you must show either at least $45,000 in net worth or equity or provide a $50,000 surety bond. A Class B license requires at least $15,000 in net worth or equity or a $50,000 bond, while Class C licenses are exempt from both.

These bond amounts are set by Virginia law, while the premium charged by the surety depends on your credit profile and financial condition. If your credit and financials are strong, the premium will often fall between 1% and 3% of the required bond.

Need pricing for the bond required for your Virginia contractor license? Fill out the form below for a free estimate.

7. Submit Your Virginia Contractors License Application

These documents must be submitted with your license application to satisfy the Virginia contractor license requirements:

• Financial statement for Class A and Class B applicants or a surety bond issued in its place
• Disclosure forms:

• • Disciplinary Action Reporting Form for applicants who have been subject to disciplinary action
  • Criminal Conviction Reporting Form for any responsible manager, qualified individual, designated employee, or business with a record of conviction or a guilty verdict
  • Adverse Financial History Reporting Form for any responsible manager with outstanding or delinquent debt

• Experience Verification Form for every person serving as a qualified individual under a commercial building or commercial improvement designation
• Experience Verification Form for any person designated as a qualified individual under a license classification that requires preapproval and a passing examination score. Such classifications include fire suppression, finish carpentry, and roofing, among others. Proof of certification for any qualified individual must also be included when required.
• MSC specialties (narrowly scoped activities that fall within a broader classification or specialty) – documentation showing the qualified individual’s experience in that specific activity
• Completion of the Virginia pre-license education course
• Documentation showing the company’s FEIN
• Employment confirmation for any qualified individual or designated employee who is not part of the responsible management team
• Copy of the SCC certificate for any business operating under a trade name
• Copy of official photo IDs for each qualified individual, designated employee, and responsible management representative

License fee: $260 for Class C, $405 for Class B, $425 for Class A

You may submit your application online or send it by mail to:

Commonwealth of Virginia

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400

Richmond, Virginia 23233-1485

City-level Requirements for a Virginia contractor license

Many Virginia cities impose their own permit and registration rules in addition to state-level licensing. Below is a brief look at contractor requirements in Alexandria, Richmond, and Norfolk.

• Alexandria: In Alexandria, permits are required for new construction, building maintenance, changes in occupancy, additions, renovations, demolitions, and alterations. Issued by the City of Alexandria Permit Center, these permits fall into two main categories: residential and commercial.
• Richmond: Contractors planning to do business in Richmond must secure a business license through the Department of Finance’s Business Unit no later than 30 days after the business begins operating. Along with the license application, contractors must submit an approved zoning certificate, proof of workers’ compensation insurance, and a state-issued contractor license. Partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies must also provide certified copies of their formation documents, while sole proprietors must include a copy of a photo ID.
• Norfolk: Contractors operating in Norfolk must secure zoning approval and apply for a business license with the Commissioner of the Revenue. They must also obtain an approval certificate from the Norfolk City Treasurer showing that neither they nor their business owes any past-due city taxes.

Renew Your Virginia Contractor License

Virginia contractor licenses are issued for a two-year term and must be renewed before the expiration date shown on the license. Renewals can be submitted up to 60 days before the expiration date and are processed online through DPOR’s online services portal or by mail. The Board must receive your renewal — not just the postmark — by the expiration date.

There is a 30-day window after the expiration date during which you may still renew without paying a reinstatement fee. However, the license is not valid during those 30 days — you cannot legally perform contracting work while it is expired. If renewal is not completed within 30 days of expiration, a reinstatement fee is required in addition to the standard renewal fee. Reinstatement is available for up to 24 months after the expiration date. After 24 months, reinstatement is no longer permitted, and the firm must apply as a new applicant and meet all current entry requirements. If your license has expired for more than 30 days, contact DPOR Board staff at (804) 367-8511 or [email protected] for guidance before submitting.

No examination is required to renew a contractor business license. Virginia does not require continuing education for contractor business licenses, though individual tradesman certifications (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and gas fitting) do require continuing education each renewal period.

FAQs

What happens if you work without a valid Virginia contractor license?

Under § 54.1-1101(B) of the Code of Virginia, anyone who carries out work without holding the certificate or license that state law requires, or without holding the license class that matches that work, is subject to a fine of up to $500 for each day the violation continues, imposed in addition to the penalties for a Class 1 misdemeanor. That offense can lead to a fine of up to $2,500 or jail time of up to 12 months, or both.

Who is exempt from a Virginia contractor license?

Virginia law does not require a contractor license from a person who builds, demolishes, renovates, or oversees work on only one dwelling that serves as that person’s primary home, provided that the property belongs to that person and that this occurs within 24 months.

Additionally, the licensing rules do not apply to those who bid on or carry out projects for the U.S. government on property under federal control, the military, or the Department of Transportation for work on a bridge or highway, whether that work involves building, rebuilding, or upgrading. Per §54.1-1101(A)(15) of the Code of Virginia, work valued at $25,000 or less per project performed on behalf of a properly licensed contractor holding a residential building, commercial building, or home improvement classification is also exempt — provided that any services requiring an individual license or certification are performed only by a licensed or certified individual. 

How long does the Virginia contractors’ license application process take?

The Board reviews applications in the order they arrive, and most filings take about 30 days to move through the process. Delays are more likely when a contractor submits an application that lacks the required information or has a prior disciplinary record, a poor financial track record, or a criminal history that leads the Board to conduct further review or hold a fact-finding conference.

Is there a handyman license in Virginia?

Virginia does not issue a separate handyman license. Anyone performing contracting work — building, repairing, improving, or removing structures on property owned by others — for compensation must hold the appropriate class of Virginia contractor license from DPOR. However, §54.1-1101(A)(15) of the Code of Virginia exempts work valued at $25,000 or less per project when performed on behalf of a properly licensed contractor holding a residential building, commercial building, or home improvement contractor classification, provided that any work requiring an individual license or certification is carried out only by someone holding that credential. Handymen working independently or on projects above $25,000 are required to obtain a contractor license — typically a Class C license, which covers single contracts over $1,000 and under $30,000 with total annual volume under $250,000.

Can out-of-state contractors work in Virginia?

Out-of-state contractors who already hold a valid contractor license from another state may apply for a 45-day temporary contractor license from DPOR. The temporary license application must be submitted simultaneously with the permanent license application, along with a Letter of Good Standing from the issuing state board and the applicable fees. The temporary license cannot be renewed, reinstated, or reapplied for. Virginia does not offer licensing by reciprocity — all applicants, including out-of-state firms, must meet the full standard requirements for a permanent two-year Virginia contractor license.