How to get a Class A Contractor License in Virginia

Virginia licenses general contractors statewide through the Board for Contractors.¹ For the Class A Contractor License you need at least 5 years² of experience, a passing score on the Contractor business examination (Advanced, General and Virginia) for the Designated Employee² and a criminal background check³. The board lists $400 for the initial license³ and $414.50 for the application², each a separate charge. You renew every 2 years³.

Last checked November 6, 2026 · 8 official sources

Who issues it

Board for Contractors

Training and experience

Experience: at least 5 years²

Exam

Contractor business examination (Advanced, General and Virginia) for the Designated Employee²

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $400³
Application fee: $414.50²

Renewal

Every 2 years³

From another state

Exam waiver, Temporary license or permit and Military service members and spouses⁴³ Details

On this page

Virginia general contractor licenses
Applies to every license level
Who needs a Class A Contractor License
Requirements for a Class A Contractor License
How much a Class A Contractor License costs
How to apply
Renewal and continuing education
Class B Contractor License
Class C Contractor License
City and county rules
Check a license or report a problem
Laws and rules
Rule changes since January 2024
Common questions
General contractor licenses in other states

Virginia general contractor licenses

Virginia issues 3 general contractor credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

License	What it covers	Training or experience	Exam	Application or license fee
Class A Contractor License	"Class A contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is $150,000 or more, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is $1 million or more.¹	Experience 5 years²	Yes³	$400³
Class B Contractor License	"Class B contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is $30,000 or more, but less than $150,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is $250,000 or more, but less than $1 million.¹	Experience 3 years²	Yes³	$380³
Class C Contractor License	"Class C contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is less than $250,000.¹	Experience 1 year²	Yes³	$235³

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Virginia general contractor licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age: 18 years old³
Exam: Technical (trade) examination or individual license/certification for each Qualified Individual⁵
Given by: PSI⁵
When you can take it: Qualified Individuals for exam-based designations must be pre-approved (Experience Verification Form) before testing.²
Exam waived: Trade classifications (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting) need a Virginia Master Tradesman license instead of an exam.⁵
Background check: Background check required³
Disclose all felonies and non-marijuana misdemeanors in the last 3 years for the firm, Responsible Management, Designated Employee and Qualified Individuals; with a conviction, send a Criminal Conviction Reporting Form and an original criminal history record dated within 90 days. Criminal, financial or disciplinary history makes the application non-routine (possible informal fact-finding conference).²
Residency or citizenship: No residency requirement; out-of-state businesses must register with the SCC.²
Social Security number: Social Security Number or Virginia DMV Control Number for individuals named on the application²
Business requirements: Licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietors (not individuals); all businesses must register with the State Corporation Commission²

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Recovery Fund assessment	$25³	Board for Contractors	Each initial application; not required when applying for CBC and/or CIC only. Not refundable
Technology Fee	$7.25⁴	Board for Contractors	Per year of the license term; in place July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. Not refundable. Effective July 1, 2026
Change of Qualified Individual	$125³	Board for Contractors	Not refundable
Addition of Classification or Specialty	$125³	Board for Contractors	Not refundable

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, PSI²⁵, when you schedule.

How to apply

Register the business with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (and any assumed/fictitious name), and get an FEIN unless you are a sole proprietor or single-member LLC.²
Complete a Board-approved pre-license education course and keep the certificate.²
Wait for review; most applications take about 30 days.²

Apply online: dporlicensehome.dpor.virginia.gov⁴
Application form: Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴
Temporary or provisional license: Temporary license (45 days, not renewable) for firms licensed in another state⁶

Renewal

How often: Every 2 years³
When it expires: Expires two years from the last day of the month of issue.³
If it expires: 30-day grace period to renew, but the license is not valid during it.³
Reinstatement possible up to 24 months after expiration; after that, apply as a new applicant.³
Renew online: dpor.virginia.gov⁴

From another state

Route: Exam waiver
What the board says: Virginia has exam-waiver agreements (not full reciprocity) with North Carolina for Residential and Commercial Building and with Ohio for the business/law exam; applicants must meet all terms of the agreement and send verification of licensure.⁴
States named for the waiver: North Carolina and Ohio⁴
Licenses from these states can qualify for the waiver described above. This is not a list of licenses Virginia accepts in place of its own; it does not say those states give a Virginia license the same waiver.
Conditions: Must meet all terms of the agreement; submit a complete application and out-of-state verification of licensure.⁴
Regulation allows licensure under a reciprocal agreement or substantially equivalent criteria.³

Route: Temporary license or permit
What the board says: A firm holding a comparable license in another state can get a 45-day, non-renewable temporary license while it completes the full application.³
Form: Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴

Route: Military service members and spouses
What the board says: Servicemembers and spouses may transfer a good-standing license used in the last two years for the duration of military orders; spouses may also get expedited processing.⁴
Form: Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴

2. Every license level except Class C Contractor License

Requirements

Education or training: Board-approved pre-license (basic business) course, completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee³
Who may teach it: Course must be approved by the Board for Contractors; providers set their own fees and schedules.³
Alternative: A Board-approved advanced contractor class also meets the requirement.⁴
Surety bond: $50,000¹
Business requirements: Firm must name a Designated Employee (full-time employee or member of Responsible Management, 18+) who passed the business exam³

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Change of Designated Employee	$125³	Board for Contractors	Not refundable

Renewal

Late renewal: Recovery Fund assessment at renewal: $30³
Reinstatement fee: $550³ (renewal received more than 30 days after expiration, up to 24 months; includes the renewal fee; Recovery Fund assessment also due)

3. Every license level except Class A Contractor License

How to apply

Processing time: About 30 days for most applications²

Who needs a Class A Contractor License

"Class A contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is $150,000 or more, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is $1 million or more.¹

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

No license is needed for jobs of $1,000 or less (Class C starts at over $1,000).¹
Owner exemption: one primary residence for own use per 24 months.¹
Work of $25,000 or less per project done on behalf of a licensed RBC, CBC or HIC contractor is exempt (individual trade licenses still required).¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

Landscape irrigation and water well work uses different class thresholds and needs a license regardless of contract amount.¹

Requirements for a Class A Contractor License

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Experience: At least 5 years²
Each Qualified Individual (one per classification/specialty) needs at least five years of experience in that classification or specialty³
Supervision: Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee (30+ hours a week) or a member of Responsible Management²
Exam: Contractor business examination (Advanced, General and Virginia) for the Designated Employee²
Given by: PSI²
Advanced²
General²
Virginia²
Exam waived: Exam waiver agreements: North Carolina (RBC, CBC) and Ohio (Business and Law) per the board list; the NASCLA exam is accepted as equivalent for qualified-individual technical exams.⁴
Business requirements: Financial responsibility: net worth/equity of $45,000 or a $50,000 surety bond³
Also required: Past-due debts, judgments, tax obligations, bond defaults and bankruptcies must be disclosed for the past five years.³

How much a Class A Contractor License costs

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$400³	Board for Contractors	All classifications. Not refundable. Effective September 24, 2025
Application fee	$439.50²	Board for Contractors	Total payable with the application (board fee + Recovery Fund + Technology Fee). Not refundable
Application fee	$414.50²	Board for Contractors	CBC/CIC-only applications (no Recovery Fund assessment). Not refundable
Expedited Fee	$250⁷	Board for Contractors	Optional expedited Class A processing; total on form $689.50. Not refundable

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

How to apply

Choose the license class (Class A) and the classifications/specialties you need, and name a Qualified Individual for each with at least 5 year(s) of experience who holds the required trade license/certification or passes the technical exam.⁴
Have the Designated Employee pass the PSI business exam (Advanced, General and Virginia).²
Document net worth of $45,000 (Financial Statement Form, CPA review/audit) or obtain the $50,000 surety bond on the Board's form.² Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴
Submit the Contractor License Application (A501-27LIC) with the fee ($439.50 total on the current form), copies of ID, the course certificate, experience forms and any criminal-conviction or financial-history forms.² Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴

Processing time: About 30 days for most applications; expedited Class A processing within two working days for an extra $250²

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee: $270³ (Plus $30 Recovery Fund assessment)

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Virginia Class A Contractor License. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Expiration date

Class B Contractor License

"Class B contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is $30,000 or more, but less than $150,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is $250,000 or more, but less than $1 million.¹

Requirements

Experience: At least 3 years²
Each Qualified Individual (one per classification/specialty) needs at least three years of experience in that classification or specialty³
Supervision: Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee (30+ hours a week) or a member of Responsible Management²
Exam: Contractor business examination (General and Virginia) for the Designated Employee²
Given by: PSI²
General²
Virginia²
Exam waived: Exam waiver agreements: North Carolina (RBC, CBC) and Ohio (Business and Law) per the board list; the NASCLA exam is accepted as equivalent for qualified-individual technical exams.⁴
Business requirements: Financial responsibility: net worth/equity of $15,000 or a $50,000 surety bond³
Business requirements: Class B application must show a current local license where localities require one¹
Also required: Past-due debts, judgments, tax obligations, bond defaults and bankruptcies must be disclosed for the past four years.³

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$380³	Board for Contractors	All classifications. Not refundable. Effective September 24, 2025
Application fee	$419.50²	Board for Contractors	Total payable with the application (board fee + Recovery Fund + Technology Fee). Not refundable
Application fee	$394.50²	Board for Contractors	CBC/CIC-only applications (no Recovery Fund assessment). Not refundable

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

How to apply

Choose the license class (Class B) and the classifications/specialties you need, and name a Qualified Individual for each with at least 3 year(s) of experience who holds the required trade license/certification or passes the technical exam.⁴
Have the Designated Employee pass the PSI business exam (General and Virginia).²
Document net worth of $15,000 (Financial Statement Form, CPA review/audit) or obtain the $50,000 surety bond on the Board's form.² Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴
Submit the Contractor License Application (A501-27LIC) with the fee ($419.50 total on the current form), copies of ID, the course certificate, experience forms and any criminal-conviction or financial-history forms.² Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴

Renewal

Renewal fee: $260³ (Plus $30 Recovery Fund assessment)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Class C Contractor License

"Class C contractors" perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is less than $250,000.¹

Requirements

Education or training: Board-approved pre-license (basic business) course, completed by a member of Responsible Management³
Who may teach it: Course must be approved by the Board for Contractors; providers set their own fees and schedules.³
Alternative: A Board-approved advanced contractor class also meets the requirement.⁴
Experience: At least 1 year²
Each Qualified Individual (one per classification/specialty) needs at least one year of experience in that classification or specialty³
Supervision: Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee (30+ hours a week) or a member of Responsible Management²
Business requirements: No Designated Employee and no net worth requirement for Class C²
Also required: Past-due debts, judgments, tax obligations, bond defaults and bankruptcies must be disclosed for the past three years.³

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$235³	Board for Contractors	All classifications. Not refundable. Effective September 24, 2025
Application fee	$274.50²	Board for Contractors	Total payable with the application (board fee + Recovery Fund + Technology Fee). Not refundable
Application fee	$249.50²	Board for Contractors	CBC/CIC-only applications (no Recovery Fund assessment). Not refundable

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

How to apply

Choose the license class (Class C) and the classifications/specialties you need, and name a Qualified Individual for each with at least 1 year(s) of experience who holds the required trade license/certification or passes the technical exam.⁴
Submit the Contractor License Application (A501-27LIC) with the fee ($274.50 total on the current form), copies of ID, the course certificate, experience forms and any criminal-conviction or financial-history forms.² Form (PDF, dpor.virginia.gov)⁴

Renewal

Renewal fee: $220³ (Plus $30 Recovery Fund assessment)
Late renewal: Recovery Fund assessment at renewal: $30³
Reinstatement fee: $460³ (renewal received more than 30 days after expiration, up to 24 months; includes the renewal fee; Recovery Fund assessment also due)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Class A Contractor LicenseVirginia licenses contractors statewide, but cities and counties also collect business license (BPOL) taxes, building officials require proof of the state license and of local license taxes before issuing permits, and localities may license home improvement and home building contractors (except Class A).¹

City or county	What it requires	Link
Fairfax County	Fairfax County BPOL: no fee at $10,000 or less gross receipts, $30 at $10,001-$50,000, $50 at $50,001-$100,000, rate-based above; contractors must file extra items with the application.⁸	Official page⁸

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a general contractor in Virginia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Virginia is on the Virginia license lookup page.

Look up a license: dpor.virginia.gov⁴
File a complaint: dpor.virginia.gov⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

July 1, 2026: DPOR Technology Fee of $7.25 per year added to certain fees (2026 House Bill 30), through June 30, 2030.⁴
September 1, 2025: Board for Contractors regulations amended effective September 1, 2025 (pre-license course length now six hours in 18VAC50-22-300).³

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Class A Contractor License in Virginia?

The rules set at least 5 years² before you can be licensed. On processing, the board says: About 30 days for most applications; expedited Class A processing within two working days for an extra $250.²

Can I transfer my general contractor license to Virginia?

The Board for Contractors publishes these routes for the Class A Contractor License: exam waiver⁴ and temporary license or permit³. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Class A Contractor License in Virginia?

Every 2 years³. The renewal fee is $270³.

General contractor licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

Code of Virginia Title 54.1 Chapter 11 Contractors (full chapter)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)Checked November 6, 2026
Contractor License Instructions & Application (A501-27LIC)Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationDated August 1, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
18VAC50-22 Board for Contractors Regulations (full chapter)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Virginia Administrative Code)Checked November 6, 2026
Board for ContractorsVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationChecked November 6, 2026
Requirements for Qualified Individuals (A501-27EXINFO)Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationDated September 1, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
A501-2703LIC applicationVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationDated August 1, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
Experience guidelinesVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational RegulationDated August 24, 2017Checked November 6, 2026
Understanding BPOL TaxFairfax County Department of Tax AdministrationChecked November 6, 2026