Virginia General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with a building classification: Residential Building (RBC), Commercial Building (CBC), or Building (BLD) · Issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors.

🏗️ General ContractorVA ✔ Verified 2026-06-19

In Virginia, general contractors must hold the Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with a building classification: Residential Building (RBC), Commercial Building (CBC), or Building (BLD), issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Virginia

Follow these steps to earn your Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with a building classification: Residential Building (RBC), Commercial Building (CBC), or Building (BLD). Every figure is verified against the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. The Qualified Individual for the building classification must have 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of experience in the classification and pass the trade/technical exam. No individual tradesman license exists for general building contracting.
Pass the Building classification technical exam (RBC/CBC/BLD) and Business exams - Class B: General + Virginia; Class A: General + Virginia + Advanced (Designated Employee) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Virginia requires No surety bond required. Class A firms must document $45,000 net worth/equity and Class B $15,000; a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form may be submitted as an alternative way to prove financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Not state-mandated by DPOR), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. Disclosure of felony and recent non-marijuana misdemeanor convictions; Virginia residents with convictions must provide a Virginia State Police criminal history record dated within 90 days. No routine fingerprinting.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Class A: $45,000 net worth/equity. Class B: $15,000. Class C: none. Class A/B applicants must disclose adverse financial history (bankruptcies, liens, judgments, defaults) within the past 5 (A) / 4 (B) years.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors — Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. (CBC/CIC-only firms pay a reduced fee: Class A $400, Class B $380, Class C $235, with no Recovery Fund fee.) application fee, plus a Included in application fee above license fee. Processing time: Approximately 30 days for routine applications.
Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years.

Virginia general contractor license lookup

To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Virginia — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official dpor.virginia.gov database →

License types

Class C — Single project under $30,000; up to $250,000 total work per 12 months; no net-worth requirement
Class B — Single project under $150,000; up to $1 million total per 12 months; net worth $15,000
Class A — No monetary limit on project or annual value; net worth $45,000

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	The Qualified Individual for the building classification must have 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of experience in the classification and pass the trade/technical exam. No individual tradesman license exists for general building contracting.
Application fee	Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. (CBC/CIC-only firms pay a reduced fee: Class A $400, Class B $380, Class C $235, with no Recovery Fund fee.)
License fee	Included in application fee above
Renewal fee	Class A $270, Class B $260, Class C $220, plus $30 Recovery Fund assessment.
Renewal period	Every 2 years
Continuing education	None required for the contractor license.
Bond required	No surety bond required. Class A firms must document $45,000 net worth/equity and Class B $15,000; a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form may be submitted as an alternative way to prove financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.
Liability insurance	Not state-mandated by DPOR
Property damage	Not state-mandated by DPOR
Workers' comp	Required under Virginia law if the business has 3 or more employees (including subcontractors' employees)
Background check	Disclosure of felony and recent non-marijuana misdemeanor convictions; Virginia residents with convictions must provide a Virginia State Police criminal history record dated within 90 days. No routine fingerprinting.
Credit requirement	Class A: $45,000 net worth/equity. Class B: $15,000. Class C: none. Class A/B applicants must disclose adverse financial history (bankruptcies, liens, judgments, defaults) within the past 5 (A) / 4 (B) years.
Reciprocity	None - Virginia does not offer general reciprocity for the contractor (business) license; out-of-state firms must apply and meet Virginia requirements, though existing credentials may be reviewed for experience
Processing time	Approximately 30 days for routine applications

Exams

Building classification technical exam (RBC/CBC/BLD)	Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: Paid to PSI
Business exams - Class B: General + Virginia; Class A: General + Virginia + Advanced (Designated Employee)	Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: Paid to PSI

Preparing for the General Contractor exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

All applicants (every class) must complete a Board-approved pre-license education course (commonly the 8-hour basic course). Contractor license required for any single job over $1,000; firms must also comply with local (city/county) licensing where work is performed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Virginia general contractor license cost?

Application: Class A $425, Class B $405, Class C $260. (CBC/CIC-only firms pay a reduced fee: Class A $400, Class B $380, Class C $235, with no Recovery Fund fee.). License: Included in application fee above. Renewal: Class A $270, Class B $260, Class C $220, plus $30 Recovery Fund assessment..

How do I look up a general contractor license in Virginia?

Search the official license database at dpor.virginia.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do general contractors in Virginia need a surety bond?

No surety bond required. Class A firms must document $45,000 net worth/equity and Class B $15,000; a surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form may be submitted as an alternative way to prove financial responsibility. Class C has no net-worth requirement.

What experience is required for a Virginia general contractor license?

The Qualified Individual for the building classification must have 1 year (Class C), 3 years (Class B), or 5 years (Class A) of experience in the classification and pass the trade/technical exam. No individual tradesman license exists for general building contracting.

Is insurance required for general contractors in Virginia?

Liability: Not state-mandated by DPOR Workers' compensation: Required under Virginia law if the business has 3 or more employees (including subcontractors' employees)

How often must a Virginia general contractor license be renewed?

Every 2 years.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-19 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors before applying. This is not legal advice.