Virginia Class B Contractor License: Requirements, Exams & How to Get Licensed
A Virginia Class B contractor license is the Commonwealth’s middle contractor license class. Under current Virginia law, Class B applies when a contractor performs or manages a single contract or project valued at $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or when total contracting work reaches $250,000 or more but less than $1 million during any 12-month period.
Official source: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 — Class A/B/C definitions
Class B can be a practical fit for a contractor who is not yet ready to meet the higher Class A requirements. However, if you already qualify for Class A and expect your business to grow, review our Virginia Class A contractor license guide before choosing a lower class and potentially repeating part of the licensing process later.
Last reviewed and verified against current Virginia DPOR guidance and Virginia law: September 2026Class B at a Glance
| Item | Current Requirement / Key Point |
|---|---|
| License class | Middle Virginia contractor license class |
| Single project range | $30,000 or more but less than $150,000 |
| 12-month volume | $250,000 or more but less than $1 million |
| Qualified Individual experience | Minimum 3 years in each classification or specialty being qualified |
| Financial qualification | $15,000 net worth/equity, or the Board’s $50,000 surety-bond alternative |
| Designated Employee | Required |
| Business examination | Virginia + General portions |
| Pre-license education | 8 hours; for Class B, completed by a member of responsible management or the Designated Employee |
| License holder | Business entity or sole proprietor, not simply an individual |
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50 — Requirements for a Class B license
What Is a Virginia Class B Contractor License?
A Virginia contractor license has two separate parts: the license class and the classification or specialty. The class controls the monetary range of contracting work. The classification or specialty controls the type of work the business may perform.
“Class B” tells you the monetary class of the contractor license. It does not, by itself, authorize residential building, home improvement, commercial improvement, highway/heavy, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or any other specific scope of work. The business still needs the appropriate classification or specialty.
See the related guide: Virginia Contractor Specialties
Who Should Consider a Virginia Class B Contractor License?
Class B may be appropriate when the business expects projects and annual volume above the Class C limits but is not yet able or ready to satisfy the higher Class A experience and financial requirements.
- Your expected single projects may reach $30,000 or more but remain below $150,000.
- Your total contracting volume may reach $250,000 or more in a 12-month period but remain below $1 million.
- Your Qualified Individual has at least three years of qualifying experience but not yet the five years required for Class A.
- The firm can meet the Class B financial qualification but not the higher Class A financial qualification.
If you already meet the Class A requirements and expect your business to grow, compare Class A before choosing Class B. Starting at the highest class you qualify for can help avoid a later class-change process. This is CEP practical guidance, not a DPOR requirement.
Class A vs. Class B vs. Class C: What Is the Difference?
| Class | Single Contract / Project | Total in Any 12-Month Period |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | $150,000 or more | $1 million or more |
| Class B | $30,000 or more but less than $150,000 | $250,000 or more but less than $1 million |
| Class C | Over $1,000 but less than $30,000 | Less than $250,000 |
The single-project threshold and the 12-month volume threshold operate independently. A contractor should evaluate both when deciding which class is required.
Official source: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100
What Are the Requirements for a Virginia Class B Contractor License?
A Class B applicant must satisfy requirements involving the business entity, Designated Employee, Qualified Individual, experience, financial responsibility, pre-license education, examinations and required disclosures.
How Much Experience Is Required?
For every classification or specialty requested on a Class B license, the firm must name a Qualified Individual who has at least three years of experience in that classification or specialty. The Qualified Individual must be at least 18 and must be a full-time employee of the firm or a member of responsible management.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50(C)
The experience requirement attaches to the classification or specialty being qualified. Three years of broad construction experience does not automatically establish three years of qualifying experience for every specialty.
What Is the Class B Financial Requirement?
A Class B firm must verify net worth or equity of at least $15,000. The regulation permits qualifying financial documentation such as the Board financial statement with supporting documentation, a CPA-reviewed financial statement, or a CPA audit. Instead of meeting the net-worth/equity requirement, the firm may obtain a $50,000 surety bond on the Board’s form.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50(D)
Official source: Current DPOR Contractor License Application
What Is a Designated Employee?
A Class B firm must name a Designated Employee. The Designated Employee must be at least 18, be a full-time employee or member of responsible management, and satisfy the Board-approved Class B business examination requirement unless a lawful exemption applies.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50(B)
What Is a Qualified Individual?
The Qualified Individual qualifies the firm for a particular classification or specialty. Every classification or specialty requested must have a Qualified Individual who meets the applicable experience, employment, prerequisite and examination requirements.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50(C)
Designated Employee vs. Qualified Individual
= the person who satisfies the Class B business-exam role.
= the person who qualifies the business for a specific classification or specialty.
One person may sometimes fill more than one role if all requirements are independently satisfied.
Is the Class B License Issued to a Person or a Business?
Virginia contractor licenses are issued to Class A, B and C business entities and sole proprietors, not simply to individuals. The application supports sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, LLCs and other recognized business forms, subject to Virginia business-registration requirements.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Apply for Contractor License
Official source: Current DPOR Contractor License Application
What Exams Are Required for a Virginia Class B Contractor License?
For Class B, the Designated Employee business examination is a two-part exam consisting of a Virginia section and a General section. This differs from Class A, which adds an Advanced section.
Official source: DPOR Contractor License Introduction / Instructions
Can I Take the Class B Business Exam Before Applying?
Yes. DPOR states that successful completion of the required examination is required before applying for contractor licensure. Applicants therefore do not need to wait for a completed license application review before taking the Class B business examination.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Examinations
For preparation, see Virginia Class A/B Business & Law Exam Preparation
What Passing Scores Are Required?
The DPOR-hosted contractor business examination bulletin lists 18 correct answers for the Virginia portion and 35 correct answers for the General portion as the minimum passing scores. Always check the current DPOR-linked bulletin before testing because exam rules and references can change.
Official source: DPOR-hosted Contractor Business Exam Candidate Information Bulletin
Do Specialty Exams Follow the Same Process?
No. The Class B business examination is associated with the Designated Employee. Classification and specialty requirements attach to the Qualified Individual and may include a Board-approved technical examination or another prerequisite. DPOR directs applicants to review the QI exam requirements for the classification or specialty being requested.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — QI exam information
Does Class B Determine What Kind of Work I Can Perform?
No. Class B determines the monetary class. The classification or specialty determines the type of contracting work the firm is authorized to perform. A Class B firm may hold more than one classification or specialty if it meets the requirements for each.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors
Official source: 18VAC50-22-240 — Addition/deletion of classifications or specialties
Compare classifications and specialties: Virginia Contractor Specialties
How Do I Get a Virginia Class B Contractor License?
Complete the required eight hours of Board-approved pre-license education. For a Class B applicant, a member of responsible management or the Designated Employee completes the course.
Confirm that Class B is the correct monetary class for the business and compare Class A if you already meet the higher requirements.
Establish or confirm the business entity and identify responsible management.
Name a qualified Class B Designated Employee and complete the Virginia and General business-exam portions.
Choose the appropriate classification or specialty and identify the Qualified Individual for each.
Confirm the Qualified Individual has at least three years of qualifying experience and satisfies any specialty prerequisite or examination requirement.
Prepare the Class B financial verification: at least $15,000 net worth/equity or the Board’s $50,000 surety-bond alternative.
Submit the current DPOR contractor license application and required supporting documents.
Complete specialty-exam steps and Board pre-approval where applicable.
Respond promptly to any DPOR deficiency or request for additional information.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Education, Exams, Applications
How Long Does It Take?
There is no single reliable completion time because the applicant, DPOR and the exam administrator each control different parts of the process. The most productive approach is to complete applicant-controlled steps early and avoid waiting on DPOR for steps that can already be completed.
Applicant-controlled steps
- Pre-license education
- Business exam preparation and testing
- Business/entity documentation
- Experience verification
- Financial documentation
- Application completeness
Potential delay points
- Incomplete or inconsistent business information
- Insufficient experience documentation
- Missing financial records
- Wrong classification or specialty
- Failure to complete the required business examination before applying
- Delays in specialty-exam approval where applicable
What Should I Have Ready Before Applying?
- Current DPOR contractor application
- Legal business/entity information and SCC registration where applicable
- Responsible management information
- Designated Employee information and business-exam completion
- Qualified Individual information for each classification/specialty
- Experience verification
- Class B financial verification or Board surety bond
- Pre-license education completion
- Required disclosures and supporting documentation
Official source: Current DPOR Contractor License Application
Common Class B Licensing Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Treating Class B as a specialty
Class B only controls the monetary class. The business still needs the correct classification or specialty.
Mistake #2 — Ignoring the 12-month volume limit
A business can outgrow Class B based on total annual contracting volume even if no single project reaches the Class A threshold.
Mistake #3 — Choosing Class B when Class A requirements are already met
If the business already qualifies for Class A, a later upgrade may create avoidable paperwork and requirements.
Mistake #4 — Using general experience instead of specialty-specific experience
The Qualified Individual’s three years must relate to the classification or specialty being qualified.
Mistake #5 — Forgetting the financial qualification
Class B requires $15,000 net worth/equity or the Board’s approved surety-bond alternative.
Mistake #6 — Mixing up the DE exam with the QI specialty requirement
The Designated Employee and Qualified Individual serve different licensing functions.
Can I Upgrade From Class B to Class A Later?
Yes. Virginia provides a change-in-license-class process. A Class B firm moving to Class A must meet the Class A requirements then in effect, including the higher QI experience requirement, higher financial qualification and the additional Class A examination requirement.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors — Change in License Class
If you already satisfy the Class A requirements, compare the long-term cost and flexibility of starting with Class A rather than planning an upgrade later.
What If I Already Hold a Contractor License in Another State?
Do not assume an out-of-state license automatically transfers to Virginia. DPOR maintains reciprocity/exam-waiver information and temporary-license procedures for qualifying circumstances. Review the current Board guidance for the credential and jurisdiction involved.
Official source: Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors
What Happens at Renewal or If Key People Change?
Class B licensees must continue to meet the Class B qualifications at renewal. Virginia regulations also require changes in responsible management, the Designated Employee and the Qualified Individual to be reported within specified time periods.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-130 — Qualifications for renewal
Official source: 18VAC50-22-220 — Changes in RM, DE or QI
Where Does Contractor Exam Preparation Fit Into the Class B Process?
Virginia DPOR is the licensing authority. The testing vendor administers the exams. The applicant business supplies the qualifications and application. Contractor Exam Preparation helps contractors understand the process and prepare for the Business & Law and applicable specialty examinations.
CEP’s Virginia Class A/B preparation is exclusively live, in-person and instructor-led. The goal is not simply to hand students information, but to help them navigate the approved references, recognize what questions are asking and work efficiently under exam conditions.
What Should I Do Next?
Virginia Class B Contractor License FAQs
What is a Class B contractor license in Virginia?
Class B is the middle Virginia contractor license class. It generally covers a single project of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or total contracting volume of $250,000 or more but less than $1 million during a 12-month period.
Official source: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100
How much experience is required for Class B?
The Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty must have a minimum of three years of experience in that classification or specialty.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50
What net worth is required for a Virginia Class B license?
The firm must verify at least $15,000 in net worth or equity, or may use the Board’s $50,000 surety-bond alternative.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-50(D)
What exam does the Class B Designated Employee take?
The Class B business examination consists of the Virginia and General sections.
Official source: DPOR Contractor License Instructions
Is Class B better than Class A?
Class B may fit a firm that does not yet meet Class A requirements. If the firm already qualifies for Class A and anticipates growth, CEP generally recommends comparing Class A before deciding because Class A removes the upper monetary limits that apply to Class B.
Can a Class B license have multiple specialties?
Yes, provided the firm meets the applicable Qualified Individual and other requirements for each classification or specialty.
Official source: 18VAC50-22-240
Official Sources Reviewed
Regulatory and licensing facts in this draft were checked against the following government sources. Where an agency summary page conflicts with current statutory text, the current statute/regulation is treated as controlling authority.
- Virginia DPOR — Board for Contractors
- 18VAC50-22-240 — Adding/deleting classifications and specialties
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 — Contractor class definitions
- Current DPOR Contractor License Application
- 18VAC50-22-50 — Class B requirements
- DPOR Contractor License Instructions
- 18VAC50-22-220 — Changes in RM/DE/QI
- DPOR-hosted Contractor Business Exam Bulletin