NCLA will get you licensed QUICKER and EASIER!
We have the Virginia Contractor License Information you need. Receive trusted guidance on registering your business, documenting your qualifications, passing your state exams, avoiding exams, using reciprocity and qualifying individuals.
Contact a license professional to get properly licensed today!
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation:
Location:
Perimeter Center
Suite 102 (first floor)
9960 Mayland Drive
Richmond VA 23233
(804) 367-8500
Mailing Address
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 400
Richmond VA 23233-1485
VA Contractor-Class A or Class B: Examination Fee (One Portion) 40.00
Examination Fee (Three Portions) 85.00, Examination Fee (Two Portions) 72.00
VA Contractor Specialty Exams For Class A, B, and C: Exam Fee $85.00
VA Tradesman Licenses:
VA Elevator Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Electrician Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Gasfitter Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Hvac Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Liquefied Petroleum Gasfitter Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Natural Gasfitter Exam Fee $100
VA Journeyman Plumber Exam Fee $100
VA Limited Use/Limited Application Elevator Endorsement Exam Fee $100
VA Master Electrician Exam Fee $125
VA Master Gasfitter Exam Fee $125
VA Master Hvac Exam Fee $125
VA Master Liquefied Petroleum Gasfitter Exam Fee $125
VA Master Natural Gasfitter Exam Fee $125
VA Master Plumber Exam Fee $125
The Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in the trades of electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); gas fitting; water well construction; elevator mechanics; backflow prevention; and building energy analysis. (Although the term “certified” is used, state certification of these trades is mandatory, not optional.)
“Electrical work” consists of, but is not limited to, the following: (i) planning and layout of details for installation or modifications of electrical apparatus and controls including preparation of sketches showing location of wiring and equipment; (ii) measuring, cutting, bending, threading, assembling and installing electrical conduits; (iii) performing maintenance on electrical systems and apparatus; (iv) observation of installed systems or apparatus to detect hazards and need for adjustments, relocation or replacement; and (v) repairing faulty systems or apparatus.
“Gas fitter” means an individual who does gas fitting-related work usually as a division within the HVAC or plumbing trades in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. This work includes the installation, repair, improvement or removal of liquefied petroleum or natural gas piping, tanks, and appliances annexed to real property.
“HVAC tradesman” means an individual whose work includes the installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of heating systems, ventilating systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heating systems, boilers, process piping, backflow prevention devices, and mechanical refrigeration systems, including tanks incidental to the system.
“Plumber” means an individual who does plumbing work in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
“Plumbing work” means work that includes the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration or removal of piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following:
1. Backflow prevention devices;
2. Boilers;
3. Domestic sprinklers;
4. Hot water baseboard heating systems;
5. Hydronic heating systems;
6. Process piping;
7. Public/private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure or conveyance;
8. Sanitary or storm drainage facilities;
9. Steam heating systems;
10. Storage tanks incidental to the installation of related systems;
11. Venting systems; or
12. Water heaters.
These plumbing tradesmen may also install, maintain, extend or alter the following:
1. Liquid waste systems;
2. Sewerage systems;
3. Storm water systems; and
4. Water supply systems.
“Electrician” means a tradesman who does electrical work including the construction, repair, maintenance, alteration or removal of electrical systems in accordance with the National Electrical Code and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
“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 $120,000 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 $750,000 or more.
“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 $10,000 or more, but less than $120,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is $150,000 or more, but less than $750,000.
“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 $10,000, 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 $150,000. The Board shall require a master tradesmen license as a condition of licensure for electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractors.
“Contractor” means any person, that for a fixed price, commission, fee, or percentage undertakes to bid upon, or accepts, or offers to accept, orders or contracts for performing, managing, or superintending in whole or in part, the construction, removal, repair or improvement of any building or structure permanently annexed to real property owned, controlled, or leased by him or another person or any other improvements to such real property. For purposes of this chapter, “improvement” shall include (i) remediation, cleanup, or containment of premises to remove contaminants or (ii) site work necessary to make certain real property usable for human occupancy according to the guidelines established pursuant to § 32.1-11.7.
18VAC50-22-20. Definitions of License Classifications.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter unless a different meaning is provided or is plainly required by the context shall have the following meanings:
“Commercial building contractors” (Abbr: CBC) means those individuals whose contracts include construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition on real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures. The CBC classification does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas fitting services and does not allow construction, repair, or improvement, of dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC.
If the CBC performs specialty services other than those listed in this definition, all required specialty designations shall be obtained. The CBC may act as a prime contractor and contract with subcontractors to perform work not permitted by the CBC license. The commercial building classification includes but is not limited to the functions carried out by the following specialties for contracts of commercial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures, including multi-family housing:
Billboard/sign contracting
Commercial improvement contracting
Concrete contracting
Farm improvement contracting
Industrialized building contracting
Landscape service contracting
Marine facility contracting
Masonry contracting
Painting and wallcovering contracting
Recreational facility contracting
Roofing contracting
Swimming pool contracting
“Electrical contractors” (Abbr: ELE) means those individuals whose contracts include the construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, or removal of electrical systems. This classification provides for all work covered by the electrical provisions of the USBC including electronic/communication service contracting (ESC) and fire alarm systems contracting (FAS) specialties. A firm holding an ELE license is responsible for meeting all applicable individual license and certification regulations.
“Highway/heavy contractors” (Abbr: H/H) means those individuals whose contracts include construction, repair, improvement, or demolition of the following:
Bridges
Dams
Drainage systems
Foundations
Parking lots
Public transit systems
Railroads
Roads
Runways
Streets
Structural signs and lights
Tanks
The functions carried out by these contractors include but are not limited to the following:
Building demolition
Clearing
Concrete work
Excavating
Grading
Nonwater well drilling
Paving
Pile driving
Road marking
Steel erection
These contractors also install, maintain, or dismantle the following:
1. Power systems for the generation and primary and secondary distribution of electric current ahead of the customer’s meter;
2. Pumping stations and treatment plants;
3. Telephone, telegraph, or signal systems for public utilities; and
4. Water, gas, and sewer connections to residential, commercial, and industrial sites, subject to local ordinances.
This classification may also install backflow prevention devices incidental to work in this classification when the installer has received formal vocational training approved by the board that included instruction in the installation of backflow prevention devices.
“HVAC contractors” (Abbr: HVA) means those individuals whose work includes the installation, alteration, repair, or maintenance of heating systems, ventilating systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heaters, heating systems, boilers, process piping, and mechanical refrigeration systems, including tanks incidental to the system. This classification does not provide for fire suppression installations, sprinkler system installations, or gas piping. A firm holding a HVAC license is responsible for meeting all applicable individual license and certification regulations. This classification may install backflow prevention devices incidental to work in this classification.
“Plumbing contractors” (Abbr: PLB) means those individuals whose contracts include the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration, or removal of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following:
Backflow prevention devices
Boilers
Hot water baseboard heating systems
Hot water heaters
Hydronic systems
Process piping
Public/private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance
Sanitary or storm drainage facilities
Steam heating systems
Storage tanks incidental to the installation of related systems
Venting systems related to plumbing
These contractors also install, maintain, extend, or alter the following:
Liquid waste systems
Sewerage systems
Storm water systems
Water supply systems
This classification does not provide for (i) gas piping or (ii) the function of fire sprinkler contracting except for sprinklers that are tied into the domestic water supply. A firm holding a PLB license is responsible for meeting all applicable individual license and certification regulations. The classification may install sprinkler systems permitted to be designed in accordance with the plumbing provisions of the USBC when the installer has received formal vocational training approved by the board that included instruction of installation of sprinkler systems.
“Residential building contractors” (Abbr: RBC) means those individuals whose contracts include construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition on real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of dwellings and townhouses, as defined in the USBC, including accessory buildings or structures on such property. The RBC classification does not provide for electrical,
Landscape service contracting
Masonry contracting
Painting and wallcovering contracting
Roofing contracting
Swimming pool contracting
“Specialty contractors” means those individuals whose contracts are for specialty services that do not generally fall within the scope of any other classification within this chapter.
Virginia DOT:
Virginia Department of Transportation’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-367-7623
Central Office Mailing Address:
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, Virginia 23219