6-Step Process to Get Your Virginia Contractor License

There are six steps you need to take to get your Contractor License in the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of your specialty or types of projects you perform. Please review these steps first, to see where you are in the process ... then come back to this page.

How to get the VA Contracting License, 6 Steps

Why choose Contractor Exam Prep over every other exam prep company?

• Small, in-person live classes - Ask questions ... Get answers.
  
• Every one of our exam preparation courses are Instructor-Led classes.  Advantage: You have a live, experienced instructor to guide you from start to finish and to answer your questions.  Many other exam prep companies use Computer-Based Training.  Disadvantage: You sit in front of a screen by yourself and just highlight.  Many questions go unanswered.  No clear understanding of the material. Confusion.
• Each class is designed for your specific exam.  We don't teach 'combined' classes for multiple exams at the same time like some companies. It confuses and overwhelms you.
• Everything you need to pass the exam in just one session - No need to travel multiple times.  Save time.  Save money.
  
• Attend a second, FREE bonus session, if you want more - Increase your confidence.  Know that you know the material.
  
• Our "Near 100% First Time Pass Rate Guarantee" - Know that by following our instructions, you are near 100% guaranteed to pass.
  
• Experienced instructors who've trained 1,000s of contractor students - Get solid, real-world answers.
  
• Needed, already highlighted, reference materials.  For some classes, we provide as loaner materials what you actually need - No additional costs.
• Schedule to take the exam within a few days after the class.  Test out while the information is 'fresh'. No heavy studying or cramming.
• Read our students' comments below ...

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GOOGLE REVIEW PAGE - Tyson's Corner Area Training Facility

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VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION:  Effective March 1, 2016, all Virginia Contractor License Specialty examinations require pre-approval from DPOR before scheduling/taking the examination.

It has been reported that pre-approval can require anywhere from 4 days to 45 business days.  We encourage you to get the process started as early as possible and get pre-approved for your exam BEFORE you enroll in any of our Virginia Contractor License Specialty Exam preparation courses.

Virginia Residential Building Contracting (RBC) Exam Prep Course

Prepare you to pass the Virginia Residential Building Contracting (RBC) Specialty exam ... The First Time ... GUARANTEED!

Just one class prepares you to pass the Virginia Residential Building Contracting (RBC) Specialty exam ... But if you feel you need more, come to a second Bonus Class ... ABSOLUTELY FREE!! NO ADDITIONAL COST!!

Choose your date(s) and location below.

(Our VA contractors license course Includes Everything You Need.  There is absolutely nothing else to buy. *We provide loaner reference materials that can be taken to the exam for one-time use that must be returned to our offices within one week of your class.)

IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE YOU SIGN UP FOR ONE OF OUR CLASSES:

BEFORE you can sit for one of our Contractor Specialty classes, you will need two things (1) DPOR approval and (2) to have your exam scheduled with PSI.  This ensures a smoother licensing process.

We encourage you to get the application/approval process started as early as possible and get approved for your specialty exam BEFORE you register for any of our Virginia Contractor License Specialty Exam preparation courses as the approval process can require anywhere from 4 days to 45 days or more.  Please visit the PSI website for information on registering and scheduling of an exam.

What you will need to bring to class:

1. Proof of DPOR approval
2. Proof that you are scheduled for the PSI exam shortly after taking the class
   

Contractor training classes are held at our locations in Tyson's Corner and Richmond.

Choose your date(s) and location below.

Tyson's Corner Contractor Training Facility

1765 Greensboro Station Place
9th Floor - Tower 1
McLean (Tyson's Corner), Virginia 22102

CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE

Directions: Greensboro Drive to Solutions Drive.

Our Training Center is the building at the end of Solutions Drive

in the 'CVENT' building.

Richmond Area Contractor Training Facility

4860 Cox Rd., Suite 200
Richmond (Glen Allen), VA 23060

Tyson's Corner Location

1765 Greensboro Station Place
9th Floor - Tower 1
McLean (Tyson's Corner), Virginia 22102

Richmond Location

4860 Cox Rd., Suite 200
Richmond (Glen Allen), VA 23060

This VA contractors license course includes everything that you will need to successfully pass the VA Residential Building Contracting Specialty exam ... the first time! There is nothing else to buy!

1. Reference materials needed - (One-Time Use. To Be Returned)
2. Detailed instructions that outline the exam-scheduling process
3. Our 'train-effortlessly-the-way-your-mind-naturally-works' method
4. Our 100% Guarantee

Q: What is the requirement to be approved for the VA Residential Building Contracting specialty?

A: The Virginia RBC specialty is te largest residential 'umbrella' designation in the Commonwealth.  It covers a number of smaller specialties.  To qualify for the Residential Building specialty, your Qualified Individual(s) must have sufficient experience in at least three (3) of the smaller specialties that the HIC specialty covers.  Instead of taking three or more exams, DPOR will allow you to qualify for and take just one, the Home Improvement contractor exam.

Q: Is pre-approval required for the Virginia Residential Building (RBC) specialty?

A: Yes.  You will need to submit your license application for review to DPOR before scheduling your specialty exam.  The review process can require 4 days to 45 or more business days.  We encourage you to start early.  If you are obtaining a VA Class A contractor license, the review process can be expedited.

Q; What does the VA Residential Building designation cover?

A: It covers quite a few smaller specialties including Masonry, Painting and Wall Covering, Roofing, windows and doors, siding, finish carpentry, etc.

Q: I've seen online practice tests.  Should I try that?

A: Many find it to be a waste of money.  You can get a 'feel' for the type of questions/answers you'll encounter on the exam, but it has been reported by countless students that the information on the actual exam is very different.

The Virginia Residential Building Contracting (RBC) designation is a 'big' specialty.  It is an 'umbrella' designation that covers quite a few other specialties.

This is information provided directly by the Virginia Board for Contractors (VBC), Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Board of Contractors regulation guide, updated January 1, 2016:

"Residential Building  Contractors"  (Abbr:  RBC)  is defined as  those  individuals whose  contracts  include  “construction,   remodeling, repair,  improvement,  removal,  or  demolition  on  real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of  dwellings  and  townhouses, as  defined  in  the  USBC, including   accessory   buildings   or   structures   on   such property.” The RBC  classification  does  not  provide  for electrical,  plumbing,  HVAC,  or  gas  fitting  services  and does   not   allow   construction,   removal,   repair,   or improvement to commercial, industrial, institutional, or governmental  use  structures  outside  of  dwellings  and townhouses as defined by the USBC.

If  the  RBC  contractor  performs  specialty  services,  all required  specialty  designations  shall  be  obtained.  The residential  building  classification  includes  but  is  not limited  to  the  functions  carried  out  by  the  following specialties:

• Concrete contracting
• Home improvement contracting
• Industrialized building contracting
• Landscape service contracting
• Masonry contracting
• Painting and wallcovering contracting
• Roofing contracting
• Swimming pool contracting

Below, you'll find a further breakdown of each of these specialties that your Virginia Residential Building Contractor (RBC) designation covers.

"Concrete contracting" (Abbr: CEM) means the service that provides for all work in connection with the processing, proportioning, batching, mixing, conveying and placing of concrete composed of materials common to the concrete industry. This includes but is not limited to finishing, coloring, curing, repairing, testing, sawing,
grinding, grouting, placing of film barriers, sealing and waterproofing. Construction and assembling of forms, molds, slipforms, pans, centering, and the use of rebar is also included. The CBC, RBC, and H/H classifications also provide for this function.

"Home improvement contracting" (Abbr: HIC) means the service that provides for repairs or improvements to dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC or structures annexed to those dwellings or townhouses as defined in the USBC. The RBC classification also provides for this function. The HIC specialty does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas fitting functions. It does not include new construction functions beyond the existing building structure other than decks, patios, driveways, and utility out buildings that do not require a permit per the USBC.

“Industrialized building contracting” (Abbr: IBC) means the service that provides for the installation or removal of an industrialized building as defined in the Virginia Industrialized Building Safety Regulations (13 VAC 5-91). This classification covers foundation work in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Uniform
Statewide Building Code (13 VAC 5-63) and allows the licensee to complete internal tie-ins of plumbing, gas, electrical, and HVAC systems. It does not allow for installing additional plumbing, gas, electrical, or HVAC work such as installing the service meter, or installing the outside compressor for the HVAC system. The CBC and RBC classifications also provide for this function.

"Landscape service contracting" (Abbr: LSC) means the service that provides for the alteration or improvement of a land area not related to any other classification or service activity by means of excavation, clearing, grading, construction of retaining walls for landscaping purposes, or placement of landscaping timbers. This specialty may remove stumps and roots below grade. The CBC, RBC, and H/H classifications also provide for this function.

"Masonry contracting" (Abbr: BRK) means the service that includes the installation of brick, concrete block, stone, marble, slate or other units and products common to the masonry industry, including mortarless type masonry products. This includes installation of grout, caulking, tuck pointing, sand blasting, mortar washing, parging, and cleaning and welding of reinforcement steel related to masonry construction. The CBC and RBC classifications and the HIC and CIC specialties also provide for this function.

"Painting and wallcovering contracting" (Abbr: PTC) means the service that provides for the application of materials common to the painting and decorating industry for protective or decorative purposes, the installation of surface coverings such as vinyls, wall papers, and cloth fabrics. This includes surface preparation, caulking,
sanding and cleaning preparatory to painting or coverings and includes both interior and exterior surfaces. The CBC and RBC classifications and the HIC and CIC specialties also provide for this function.

"Roofing contracting" (Abbr: ROC) means the service that provides for the installation, repair, removal or improvement of materials common to the industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks. This includes roofing system components when installed in conjunction with a roofing project, application of dampproofing or waterproofing, and installation of roof insulation panels and other roof insulation systems above roof deck. The CBC and RBC classifications and the HIC and CIC specialties also provide for this function.

"Swimming pool construction contracting" (Abbr: POL) means the service that provides for the construction, repair, improvement or removal of in-ground swimming pools. The CBC and RBC classifications and the RFC specialty also provide for this function. No trade related plumbing, electrical, backflow or HVAC work is included in this specialty.

Specialty contractors engaging in construction which involves the following activities or items or similar activities or items may fall under the CIC, HIC and FIC specialty services, or they may fall under the CBC or RBC classifications.

• Appliances
• Awnings
• Blinds
• Bulkheads
• Cabinetry
• Carpentry
• Carpeting
• Casework
• Ceilings
• Chimneys
• Chutes
• Temperature Controls
• Conduit Rodding
• Curtains
• Curtain Walls
• Decks
• Doors
• Drapes
• Drywall
• Epoxy
• Exterior Decoration
• Facings
• Fences
• Fiberglass
• Fireplaces
• Fireproofing
• Fixtures
• Floor Coverings
• Flooring
• Floors
• Glass
• Glazing
• Grouting
• Grubbing
• Guttering
• Insulation
• Interior Decorating
• Lubrication
• Metal Work
• Millwrighting
• Mirrors
• Miscellaneous Iron
• Ornamental Iron
• Partitions
• Protective Coatings
• Railings
• Rigging
• Rubber Linings
• Sandblasting
• Scaffolding
• Screen
• Sheet Metal
• Shutters
• Siding
• Skylights
• Storage Bins and Lockers
• Stucco
• Terrazzo
• Tile
• Vaults
• Vinyl Flooring
• Wall Panels
• Wall Tile
• Waterproofing
• Weatherstripping
• Welding
• Windows
• Wood Floors

Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) Exam Prep Course

Virginia Contractor License Highway Heavy Exam Preparation Course (H/H)

VA Contractor License Class A/B Contractor Exam Preparation Course

Contractor License Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Specialty Exam Prep Course

Contractor Licenses VA Commercial Improvement Contractor (CIC) Specialty Exam Prep Course

Virginia Contractor License Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) Specialty Exam Prep Course

VA Contractor License Building Technical (BLD) Specialty (Now known as the Residential Building Contractor Specialty (RBC)) Exam Prep Course

Contractor License Student Testimonials

MHIC (Maryland Home Improvement Commission) FAQs and Helpful Information

Virginia Contractor License ... Frequently Asked Questions/Helpful Information

DPOR Board of Contractors Application Process: How to get Your Virginia Contractor License ... In 6 Steps

MHIC Contractor License for Home Improvement: How to Get Your MHIC License ... In 4 Steps

We reserve the right to refuse entrance to any student for any reason.  The total remedy will be the refund of the course fee.