Requirements to Take the Virginia Contractor's License Exam

Learn the requirements to take the Virginia contractor's license exam.contractor image by Joy Fera from Fotolia.com

Receiving a contractor's license can be the first step to starting your own profitable contracting business. Many types of contracting work exist that you can apply for a license to complete, including general contracting, HVAC and plumbing, and asbestos abatement. In the state of Virginia, each type of contracting has a separate license and a separate exam that must be taken in order to receive your license. Making sure that you can pass the exam for your area of certification is the key to getting your contracting license in Virginia. Each exam has its own requirements.

Incorporation

The first requirement before taking your examination is to make sure that you are incorporated legally in the state of Virginia or that you are working for a company or individual that is incorporated. According to the Contractors License Exam website, contractors' licenses cannot be issued to independent individuals, so you will have to become incorporated as an LLC or sole proprietorship before you will be able to take the exam, or you will have to be affiliated with someone who is. This is a good idea, because it also will lead to some tax benefits and other protection of your assets from lawsuits. Once you have incorporated or are working for a company, you can sit for your licensing examination.

After you have successfully set up your company or gotten a job with a contracting company, you can submit your application for licensing to the Division of Professional and Occupational Regulation in Virginia. You will need to send them your company information, proof that you have two to five years experience (depending on the class of license you are applying to test for, and the level of experience that is required to test for that class), and your application for the examination, after which time you will be given a test date and location.

A fee must be paid to take the exam in Virginia. The fee to take a Class A license exam is $60.00 (as of 2010), while the fee to take the Class B exam is $40. Fees must be paid at the time of submitting your application. you can make your check payable to PSI Examination Services.