The Virginia Contractor Exam, Portion by Portion

The designated employee (DE) of a Class A or Class B firm takes the business exam. Class B requires the Virginia and General portions; Class A adds the Advanced portion. Class C firms have no DE and skip the business exam entirely.

The qualified individual (QI) for each specialty takes the matching technical exam when the specialty calls for one, which includes Commercial Building (CBC), Residential Building (RBC), Home Improvement (HIC) and Roofing (ROC). Electrical, plumbing and HVAC specialties are handled differently: the QI must hold a DPOR master tradesman license, which comes from the separate tradesman exams, not from a contractor specialty exam.

Each portion is scored and timed on its own, so you can pass one and retake another.

All Virginia contractor exams are open book, but PSI does not supply the books. The bulletin names two primary references: the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Virginia 11th edition, and the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. PSI states that the NASCLA guide holds everything needed for the General and Advanced portions and, together with the USBC, everything needed for the Virginia portion. A longer list of alternative references exists, but the bulletin says nothing in them is required to answer the questions.

You may highlight, underline and index your books beforehand and use permanent tabs; removable tabs, study guides, loose pages and any handwriting are refused. A printed download must be bound or stapled, and writing in a book during the test gets it confiscated and reported to DPOR.

The business portions are booked directly with PSI, online through its Virginia contractor page or by phone at (855) 340-3910. PSI charges $40 for one portion, $72 for two and $85 for all three. Fees are not refundable or transferable and stay valid for one year from payment.

The bulletin lets you choose a test center or remote proctoring when you book. Centers are listed in cities such as Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Tazewell and Virginia Beach. To move an appointment without losing the fee, cancel at least two days ahead; a Monday seat must be released by the previous Saturday. Arrive 30 minutes early with a current, signature-bearing government ID that matches your registration.

Specialty exams need DPOR's approval first: the QI applies for eligibility with an Experience Verification Form, and PSI's specialty bulletin says eligibility lasts one year, during which a failed exam can be retaken as often as needed. Each specialty exam costs $85.

Formats vary by outline. The Residential Building exam has 80 questions, requires 70 percent (56 correct) and allows 160 minutes, with the largest areas being Exterior (10 items), Framing (9), Prints, Plans and Specifications (8) and Safety and Employee Protection (8). The Commercial Building exam has 80 scored questions at the same 56-correct cut plus 10 unscored experimental items. Home Improvement is shorter at 50 questions, 35 correct and 120 minutes. The outlines note that from May 1, 2025 the ICC code questions follow the 2021 editions.

Your score appears on screen when you finish, and a report is emailed; a failing report includes a diagnostic breakdown by area. You cannot rebook on the day you tested, but depending on seat availability a candidate who failed may retest within two business days.

Board policy keeps business exam scores valid for one year. If you have not passed every portion you need within that year, the passed portions lapse. The bulletin gives Class A candidates one escape valve: if the General and Virginia portions are passed but the Advanced portion is not, you can apply for Class B instead and have PSI forward the scores before they expire.

Start from the outline counts. On the General portion, estimating and contract management together make up 20 of 50 items, so arithmetic on bids, markups and change orders deserves real time. The Virginia portion rewards knowing Title 54.1, Chapter 11 and the Board's regulations well enough to find a rule fast in your tabbed book.

PSI sells practice exams on its Virginia page and says they only acquaint you with question style. ContractorPrepHQ offers a different kind of practice: original questions written from the PSI outlines and reference lists, a diagnostic that shows which areas are weak, drills with explanations and timed exams that end with a readiness score. The Virginia business prep costs $99, and each trade prep costs $149 and includes the business prep, one-time with lifetime access and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Separately from any exam study, the firm still needs its Board-approved eight-hour course from a listed provider.