License path
Virginia contractor exam prep
Virginia contractors are licensed by the Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR). Most classifications sit a trade paper plus Law & Business. Need only the business paper? It is sold standalone. If you buy a Virginia classification that sits that exam, that paper is half off where we offer it.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Virginia contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Virginia classification that requires a state board exam — currently 6 courses across Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC / Mechanical. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169. Many Virginia classifications also require passing a separate Business & Law exam — and that course is half off with any trade course in your cart for the matching term.
Who licenses contractors in Virginia
These are the Virginia classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Virginia board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Virginia
Virginia licenses electricians, plumbers, HVAC tradesmen and gas fitters through the Board for Contractors’ Tradesmen Program at DPOR. Virginia sets its requirement as a sliding scale: the more classroom training you hold, the fewer years of field experience you need.
- Journeyman — trade years against training hours. Qualify with any one of: four years’ practical experience and 240 hours of formal vocational training; five years and 160 hours; or six years and 80 hours. The more schooling, the less time on the tools.
- Or come in through education. An associate degree or certificate from a two-year programme in a tradesman-related field plus two years of practical experience; a bachelor’s degree in a related engineering curriculum plus one year; or eight years of practical experience with no formal training at all.
- Master — build on the journeyman routes. Master applicants qualify through the journeyman pathways, with an additional route of three years’ practical experience as a Virginia licensed residential HVAC or plumbing tradesman.
- Renew every three years. Licences for electricians, gas fitters, HVAC tradesmen and plumbers expire three years from the last day of the renewal period.
- Take a three-hour course in each discipline you hold. Every journeyman and master must complete a three-hour continuing education course in each discipline licensed — electricians on the National Electrical Code, plumbers on the International Plumbing Code, HVAC tradesmen on the International Mechanical Code. Hold two licences and you take two courses.
Sources: Virginia DPOR Tradesmen Program, the Board for Contractors tradesman regulations and the Board’s approved continuing education listing. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with DPOR.
Choose your Virginia classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Virginia test.
Virginia contractor licensing — FAQ
Who licenses contractors in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. Virginia issues three monetary classes: Class A (no project-value limit), Class B (up to $120,000 per project and $750,000 per year), and Class C (up to $10,000 per project and $150,000 per year).
What exams and education does Virginia require?
Class A and B applicants complete an 8-hour pre-license education course, and the designated qualified individual passes a PSI exam. The passing score is generally 70%. Confirm the exact requirements for your class with DPOR.
What is on the Virginia contractor exam?
Depending on your class, a Business and Law portion (about 50 questions, 120 minutes) plus a trade portion (about 70 questions, 180 minutes). Scores are reported immediately at the PSI test center; a failed part can be retaken for a new $85 fee.
Are the Virginia exams open book?
The Virginia contractor exams are generally open book against the listed references, so fast reference navigation is a key skill. Confirm the current reference list and format in the PSI/DPOR candidate information bulletin for your classification.
How long should I study for the Virginia exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.