Some construction contractors must be licensed in Virginia. Trade licenses are required for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, asbestos abatement and lead abatement work.
To do construction work in Virginia you need a license or certificate from the Virginia Board for Contractors. To get an application, contact:
The Board issues three types of contractor's licenses or certificates -- Class A, B, or C. Usually the type of license you get will be based on the value of contracts your business will work on. Here's a description of each class:
A Class A contractor works on single contracts for $70,000 or more or contracts totaling $500,000 or more over a one-year period (company must have a net worth of at least $45,000).
A Class B contractor works on single contracts for $7,500 or more but less than $70,000 or contracts totaling $150,000 or more but less than $500,000 over a one-year period.
A Class C contractor works on single contracts for $1,000 or more but less than $7,500 or contracts totaling less than $150,000 over a one-year period.
To get a Class A or Class B license your company's qualified individual must pass Business and Law Contracting exam. Freedom offers a Home Study course that covers all of the relevant state laws and regulations as well as business management topics required to pass this exam.
The Board issues these three types of licenses in each of these general trades -- building, highway/heavy, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. It also recognizes the following specialty trades:
Alarm/security systems
Alternative energy system
Home improvement
Equipment/machinery
Landscape irrigation
Radon mitigation
Billboard, sign
Farm improvement
Landscape service
Recreational facility
Blast, explosive
Fire alarm systems
Commercial improvement
Refrigeration
Marine facility
Fire sprinkler
Electronic/communication service
Sewage disposal systems
Asbestos
Fire suppression
Elevator/escalator
Vessel construction
Modular/mobile/manufactured building
Gas fitting
Environmental monitoring well
Water well/pump
Asphalt paving and sealcoating
Concrete
Environmental specialties
Lead abatement
Liquefied petroleum gas
Masonry
Natural gas
Painting and wall covering
Roofing
Swimming pool construction
To get a license you must specify a full-time employee or manager from your company to be a "qualified individual" for each trade you want to have on your license. Each person you pick must have the following experience, depending on the class of license you're applying for:
Type of license
Years of experience required
Class A license
5
Class B license
3
Class C certificate
2
For electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, liquefied petroleum gas fitting and natural gas fitting the qualified individual of the company also has to get a tradesman license. At the end of this section you'll find information on how to get this license.
Contractor's license fees: It will cost $60 to take the Class A exam. The Class B exam costs $40. A Class A license costs $230 and a Class B license is $205, both nonrefundable. A Class C certificate costs $150 nonrefundable. All are good for two years.
If you have a valid license in another state the Board may grant you a Virginia license by reciprocity. Requirements for this vary so you'll need to check with the Board.
The Tradesman Licensing Section of the Board for Contractors issues journeyman and master licenses for the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gas fitting, natural gas fitting and liquid petroleum gas fitting trades. You must pass an exam to get any of these licenses. To qualify for a journeyman exam, you must have one of the following:
four years of practical trade experience and 240 hours of vocational training. You can substitute each year of experience (after the four years) for 80 hours of training, up to 200 hours
an associate degree from a Department-approved program and two years of practical experience
an bachelor's degree from a Department-approved program and one year of practical experience
ten years of documented Department-approved practical experience
To qualify for a master exam you must have one of the following:
one year of experience as a licensed journeyman
ten years of documented Department-approved practical experience
Exams are given by:
Contractor's license fees: It will cost $80 to take the exam. The initial tradesman license will cost $75. To add a trade designation to your current state-issued Virginia tradesman license.
Virginia has a reciprocity agreement for electricians and plumbers licensed in North Carolina.
