Contractor licensing — Virginia

Virginia splits construction licensing across two distinct programs inside the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The Board for Contractors licenses the business entity as a contractor; the Tradesmen Section licenses the individual person as a journeyman or master in a trade. Most real-world trade shops need both: an individual master electrician, plumber, or HVAC tech whose license is designated as the qualified individual for a contractor firm. Contractor license classes. The Board for Contractors issues three classes keyed to the dollar value of work (Code of Virginia §54.1-1100): - Class A. Single contract or project of $150,000 or more, or annual work of $1,000,000 or more (§54.1-1100, §54.1-1106). - Class B. Single contract or project between $30,000 and $149,999, or annual work between $250,000 and $999,999 (§54.1-1100, §54.1-1108). - Class C. Single contract or project between $1,001 and $29,999, or annual work less than $250,000 (§54.1-1100, §54.1-1108.2). Above each class, the Board assigns a classification (e.g. BLD building, HIC home improvement, H/H highway/heavy) and/or one or more specialty designations (e.g. ELE electrical, PLB plumbing, HVA HVAC). The classification or specialty determines what kind of work the contractor may perform; the class determines how large a project may be. Qualified individual and designated employee. Every contractor license must name a Qualified Individual (QI) who has passed the trade-specific exam and meets the experience requirement for the classification or specialty sought. For Class A and Class B the firm must also name a Designated Employee responsible for compliance. Class A and B applicants must pass the Virginia contractor business exam in addition to any trade exam. Class C applicants are exempt from the business exam but still must meet the trade qualifications. Tradesman license (individual). Separate from the contractor license, DPOR's Tradesmen Section licenses individual electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, gas fitters, and several other trades at journeyman and master levels under Code of Virginia Title 54.1 Chapter 11 and 18 VAC 50-30. A Residential tier for HVAC and plumbing, which requires less experience than the journeyman license, became available April 1, 2025. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors must have a master tradesman on the license as the qualified individual. Financial responsibility and unlicensed contracting. Class A and B applicants submit financial statements and demonstrate responsibility; the Board can require a surety bond where financial statements do not meet thresholds set in 18 VAC 50-22. Performing contractor work outside your class or specialty, or without any license, is a prohibited practice under §54.1-111 and can be charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor for first offenses, escalating to a Class 6 felony for repeat or disaster-period violations.