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Virginia issues a contractor's license through the Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), in Classes A, B and C, set by contract and 12-month work values. Class C starts above $1,000 for a single contract or project. Applicants complete eight hours of pre-license education. As of September 24, 2025, the Class C initial license fee is $235 per application.
Virginia · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-04
State license
Contractor's license (residential and commercial)
Virginia law bars anyone from engaging in, or offering to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless licensed under its contractor licensing chapter. The definitions set Class A, Class B and Class C contractors by the value of a single contract or project and of the work undertaken within any 12-month period.
Class A and Class B: the firm names a designated employee who has passed a board-approved examination or has been exempted from the examination requirement. Class A, Class B and Class C: the qualified individual named for each classification or specialty has met the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination, where applicable
Contractor's license (residential and commercial). Virginia law bars anyone from engaging in, or offering to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless licensed under its contractor licensing chapter. The definitions set Class A, Class B and Class C contractors by the value of a single contract or project and of the work undertaken within any 12-month period.
Threshold. Class C covers work where a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or where the total undertaken within any 12-month period is less than $250,000.
No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter.
Va. Code § 54.1-1103(A) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
"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.
Va. Code § 54.1-1100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
"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.
Va. Code § 54.1-1100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
"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.
Va. Code § 54.1-1100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
License classes
Class
Scope
Source
Class A
Single contract or project of $150,000 or more, or $1 million or more within any 12-month period
Exam. Class A and Class B: the firm names a designated employee who has passed a board-approved examination or has been exempted from the examination requirement. Class A, Class B and Class C: the qualified individual named for each classification or specialty has met the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination, where applicable. Source: 18VAC50-22-60(B)(3); 18VAC50-22-50(B)(3); 18VAC50-22-60(C)(4); 18VAC50-22-50(C)(4); 18VAC50-22-40(B)(4)
Experience. Qualified individual: a minimum of five years of experience in the classification or specialty for Class A, three years for Class B and one year for Class C. Source: 18VAC50-22-60(C)(2); 18VAC50-22-50(C)(2); 18VAC50-22-40(B)(2)
Financial. Net worth or equity of $45,000 for Class A and $15,000 or more for Class B, shown by a financial statement, a CPA-reviewed financial statement or a CPA audit; in lieu of this, the firm may obtain a $50,000 surety bond on the board's bond form. Source: 18VAC50-22-60(D); 18VAC50-22-50(D)
Other. Eight hours of pre-license education for Class A, Class B and Class C applicants. Source: DPOR, Board for Contractors
Has passed a board-approved examination as required by § 54.1-1106 of the Code of Virginia or has been exempted from the examination requirement in accordance with § 54.1-1108.1 of the Code of Virginia; and
18VAC50-22-60(B)(3) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
3. Has passed a board-approved examination as required by § 54.1-1108 of the Code of Virginia or has been exempted from the examination requirement in accordance with § 54.1-1108.1 of the Code of Virginia; and
18VAC50-22-50(B)(3) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
4. Has met the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination, where applicable, for any classification or specialty service specified in 18VAC50-22-61 or has completed a board-approved examination for all other classifications and specialty services that do not require other certification or licensure.
18VAC50-22-60(C)(4) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
4. Has met the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination, where applicable, for any classification or specialty service specified in 18VAC50-22-61 or has completed a board-approved examination for all other classifications and specialty services that do not require other certification or licensure.
18VAC50-22-50(C)(4) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
4. Has met the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination, where applicable, for any classification or specialty service specified in 18VAC50-22-61 or has completed a board-approved examination for all other classifications and specialty services that do not require other certification or licensure.
18VAC50-22-40(B)(4) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Has a minimum of five years of experience in the classification or specialty for which the individual is the qualifier;
18VAC50-22-60(C)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Has a minimum of three years of experience in the classification or specialty for which the individual is the qualifier;
18VAC50-22-50(C)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Has a minimum of one year of experience in the classification or specialty for which the individual is the qualifier;
18VAC50-22-40(B)(2) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
the firm must verify a net worth or equity of $45,000 by submitting a completed financial statement with supporting documentation, a financial statement reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA), or a CPA audit. In lieu of this requirement, the firm may obtain a $50,000 surety bond on the board's bond form.
18VAC50-22-60(D) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
the firm must verify a net worth or equity of $15,000 or more by submitting a completed financial statement with supporting documentation, a financial statement reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA), or a CPA audit. In lieu of this requirement, the firm may obtain a $50,000 surety bond on the board's bond form.
18VAC50-22-50(D) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
In order to become licensed as a Contractor (Class A, Class B, or Class C), applicants must complete eight hours of pre-license education.
Class C Initial License with license application $235
18VAC50-22-100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Class B Initial License with license application $380
18VAC50-22-100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Class A Initial License with license application $400
18VAC50-22-100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
In accordance with § 54.1-1119 of the Code of Virginia, a $25 Recovery Fund assessment is also required with each initial license application.
18VAC50-22-100 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
Class C renewal* with renewal application $220
18VAC50-22-140 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Class B renewal* with renewal application $260
18VAC50-22-140 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Class A renewal* with renewal application $270
18VAC50-22-140 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
A $30 Recovery Fund assessment is also required with each contractor license renewal.
18VAC50-22-140 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Term and continuing education
Term and renewal. Licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued.
Licenses issued under this chapter will expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued, as indicated on the license.
18VAC50-22-110 · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Contracting without a license
Contracting for, or bidding on, work on real property owned, controlled or leased by another person without a license or certificate, or without the proper class of license for the value of the work, is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a person who undertakes work without a valid Virginia contractor's license or certificate when one is required, or without the proper class of license for the work undertaken, is also subject to a fine of up to $500 for each day of the violation. A construction contract entered into without a valid Virginia contractor's license is not enforceable by the unlicensed contractor unless the contractor gave substantial performance in good faith and did not have actual knowledge that a license or certificate was required.
A. The following acts are prohibited and shall constitute the commission of a Class 1 misdemeanor:
Va. Code § 54.1-1115(A) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
1. Contracting for, or bidding upon the construction, removal, repair or improvements to or upon real property owned, controlled or leased by another person without a license or certificate, or without the proper class of license as defined in § 54.1-1100 for the value of work to be performed.
Va. Code § 54.1-1115(A)(1) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
B. Any person who undertakes work without (i) any valid Virginia contractor's license or certificate when a license or certificate is required by this chapter or (ii) the proper class of license as defined in § 54.1-1100 for the work undertaken,
Va. Code § 54.1-1115(B) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500 per day for each day that such person is in violation, in addition to the authorized penalties for the commission of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Va. Code § 54.1-1115(B) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-03
A construction contract entered into by a person undertaking work without a valid Virginia contractor's license shall not be enforceable by the unlicensed contractor undertaking the work unless the unlicensed contractor (i) gives substantial performance within the terms of the contract in good faith and (ii) did not have actual knowledge that a license or certificate was required by this chapter to perform the work for which he seeks to recover payment.
Va. Code § 54.1-1115(C) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-04
Virginia law requires a license under its contractor licensing chapter before anyone engages in, or offers to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth [1]. The credential is the contractor's license, issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), and it covers both residential and commercial work.
The class a firm holds turns on dollar value. The statute's definitions sort contractors by the value of a single contract or project and by the total value of work undertaken within any 12-month period [2]. The lowest tier, Class C, reaches work where one contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or where the 12-month total is less than $250,000 [2].
Three classes, three sets of qualifications
Above the Class C band, the same definitions place Class B in a middle range of contract and 12-month values and Class A at the top of the scale [2].
In each class, a qualified individual is named for each classification or specialty, and that person has to meet the appropriate prerequisite and board-approved examination where one applies [3][4][5]. Class A and Class B firms also name a designated employee who has passed a board-approved examination or been exempted from it [3][4].
Experience scales by class. The qualified individual needs a minimum of five years in the classification or specialty for Class A [3], three years for Class B [4] and one year for Class C [5].
Class A and Class B add a financial showing. A Class A firm verifies a net worth or equity of $45,000 [3], and a Class B firm $15,000 or more [4], through a financial statement, a CPA-reviewed statement or a CPA audit. Either class may instead obtain a $50,000 surety bond on the board's bond form [3][4]. Applicants in all three classes complete eight hours of pre-license education [6].
Cost of a license and of keeping it
Initial fees rise with the class, and each initial application also carries a Recovery Fund assessment. As of 2025-09-24, the Class C initial license fee is $235 per application [7].
A license expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued [9]. Renewal fees are also set by class, with a separate Recovery Fund assessment on each renewal. As of 2025-09-01, the Class C renewal fee is $220 per renewal [8].
Consequences the statute attaches
Virginia's prohibited acts section treats two things as a Class 1 misdemeanor: contracting for or bidding on work on real property owned, controlled or leased by another person without a license or certificate, and doing so without the proper class of license for the value of the work [10]. A person who undertakes work without a valid license or certificate when one is required, or without the proper class for the work undertaken, also faces a fine of up to $500 for each day of the violation [10].
The statute reaches the contract itself as well. A construction contract entered into without a valid Virginia "contractor's license" is not enforceable by the unlicensed contractor, unless that contractor gave substantial performance in good faith and had no actual knowledge that a license or certificate was required [10].
