Virginia Contractor Exam: Preparation, Format, and Testing Centers

Virginia contractors seeking licensure through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) must pass a trade examination as a core step in the credentialing process. This page covers the structure of that examination, what candidates are tested on, how testing is administered, and how preparation resources align with exam content. The exam requirement applies across contractor license classes and directly determines whether an applicant advances to licensure.

Definition and scope

The Virginia contractor examination is a proctored, computer-based assessment administered on behalf of DPOR through a third-party testing vendor. PSI Exams Online serves as Virginia's authorized contractor exam provider (PSI Exams). The exam is required for all contractor license classes — Class A, Class B, and Class C — though the depth and scope of testing varies by classification.

The exam is not a single uniform test. It includes two components: a trade/technical examination specific to the contractor's specialty and a business and law examination that covers Virginia statutes, regulations, and business practices. The business and law component is required for all applicants at the Class A and Class B levels. Class C applicants may have modified requirements depending on the specialty classification.

Scope coverage and limitations: This page addresses the Virginia contractor examination as administered under the jurisdiction of DPOR and governed by the Virginia Board for Contractors. Reciprocity arrangements with other states — which may waive or modify examination requirements — are not covered here but are addressed under Virginia Contractor Reciprocity Agreements. Federal contractor certifications and municipality-specific trade tests fall outside the scope of DPOR's exam system and are not addressed on this page. Broader licensing requirements are documented under Virginia Contractor License Requirements.

How it works

The examination process follows a defined sequence tied to the broader licensing application reviewed at Virginia DPOR Contractor Licensing:

1. Eligibility confirmation — Candidates must meet experience and financial requirements before scheduling. DPOR reviews qualifications before authorizing exam access.
2. Authorization to Test (ATT) — Once DPOR approves the candidate, PSI issues an ATT notification. Testing cannot be scheduled without this authorization.
3. Scheduling — Candidates schedule through PSI's online portal or by phone. Testing is available at PSI-operated centers across Virginia and through remote proctoring for eligible candidates.
4. Examination format — The business and law exam consists of multiple-choice questions drawn from Virginia contractor statutes, including Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia (Virginia Code § 54.1-1100 et seq.) and the Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC50. Trade exams test technical knowledge specific to the applicant's designated specialty.
5. Scoring and results — Scores are reported immediately upon completion at the testing center. A passing score is typically 70 percent or higher, as specified in Virginia's examination approval standards.
6. Retesting — Candidates who do not pass may retest after a waiting period designated by PSI and DPOR. There is no statutory cap on the number of retake attempts, though each attempt requires a separate examination fee.

Testing centers with proctored facilities are located in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke, and Hampton Roads, among other regions. Remote proctoring expands access for candidates in rural jurisdictions.

Common scenarios

Class A vs. Class B examination demands: Class A applicants — authorized for projects with no cap on single-contract value — face a more demanding business and law component than Class B applicants, whose licensure covers single contracts up to $120,000 (DPOR Contractor Classifications). Both groups sit for the same style of exam but encounter different weighting of regulatory content.

Specialty trade candidates: Applicants in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and similar specialty classifications take trade-specific exams mapped to Virginia-adopted code standards. A plumbing contractor candidate, for instance, is tested on the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code as it applies to plumbing systems, not on general construction project management. Specialty trade classification structures are detailed under Virginia Specialty Contractor Trades.

Failed first attempt: A candidate who fails the business and law section but passes the trade section is typically required to retake only the failed component, not both exams. This is relevant for experienced tradespeople who perform well on technical content but underestimate Virginia-specific regulatory detail.

Dual-classification applicants: Contractors pursuing both a residential and commercial classification — distinctions explored at Virginia Residential Versus Commercial Contractor — may need to satisfy examination requirements for each classification separately depending on trade category.

Decision boundaries

Preparation materials should be keyed specifically to DPOR's examination content outline, which PSI publishes as a candidate handbook for each exam type. Generic national contractor study resources often do not reflect Virginia-specific statutory language from Title 54.1 or the Board for Contractors' regulations under 18VAC50-22.

The Virginia Contractor Exam Preparation reference covers approved study materials, including the statutes candidates are most heavily tested on. Candidates who treat the business and law exam as secondary to the trade exam frequently underestimate the volume of regulatory content drawn directly from Virginia Administrative Code.

The exam does not test project bidding, estimating software, or business management theory. It tests legal obligations — licensing thresholds, consumer protection requirements under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, escrow rules addressed at Virginia Contractor Escrow and Payment Rules, and continuing education obligations covered under Virginia Contractor Continuing Education.

The broader Virginia contractor licensing landscape, including all credential categories, is indexed at Virginia Contractor Authority.

References

• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Board for Contractors
• PSI Exams Online — Virginia Contractor Examination Scheduling
• Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 et seq. — Contractors
• Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC50-22 — Board for Contractors Regulations
• Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC)