If you desire to become a contractor in Virginia, you are probably wondering what it takes to get there. Well, to start with, you’ll need a licence to practise legally. It may sound like a complicated process if you’ve never been through a similar process before, but the reality is that it’s a tad straightforward.
All you need is the right resources, and you should have the ultimate hack for becoming a licensed contractor in Virginia. This article will guide you through the specific steps of acquiring your licence. Let’s jump in!
Step 1: Establish Your Contracting Business
Most people would expect the first step of becoming a licensed contractor in Virginia to be completing a course and taking their exams. While taking a premium Virginia Contractors License course from a top provider like RocketCert sets the foundation for a successful career, the first thing you want to do is create a business entity.
That’s because the licence will be issued to a business and not a person. The first thing you should do here is to decide the kind of business that suits your objectives. Some of the common types are sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC) and partnership. If you’re not sure what’s best, feel free to consult a lawyer.
Step 2: Pick Your Contractor Licence Type
A contractor’s licence in Virginia isn’t just that. It has three different classes (class A, B, & C) and each one of these has different limits in terms of the monetary value of the projects you can take on. The limitations are as follows:
- Class A: No monetary limitations.
- Class B: Each project is limited to $120,000 and you shouldn’t take on more than $750,000 worth of projects yearly.
- Class C: Limits you to $10,000 for each project, and a yearly maximum of $150,000.
Instinctively, you will think that a Class A licence is the best choice but there’s a caveat. You will have to pass the “Advanced” section of your contractor’s exam, which wouldn’t be the case if you opted for a Class B or C licence. Also, you want to make sure you have sufficient financial resources if you opt for a Class A or B licence. That’s in consideration that each of these requires the applicant to submit proof of equity to the Department of Occupational and Professional Regulation (DPOR).
Keep in mind that every licence class should have at least one classification and/or speciality. This determines the type of service your company is permitted to offer. But that’s not all. You will have to prove that you’ve got enough experience. That’d be 5 years of work experience for a Class A licence, 3 years for Class B, and 2 years for Class C.
Step 3: Complete Your Continuing Education Course
Once you’re done with the basics, it’s time to prepare for the state exam requirements. For this part, all applicants should complete an 8-hour pre-licence course that’s board-approved. This will equip you with the knowledge you need to show that you understand the Virginia contracting laws and regulations.
Step 4: Take Your Business Law Exam
After completing the pre-licence course, Class A and B applicants have to take an exam to prove a sufficient understanding of the Contractor Business Laws in Virginia. The exam has three sections in total (Virginia, General, and Advanced). Class B applicants are required to take only the ‘Virginia’ and ‘General’ sections, while Class A applicants have to take all three sections.
You can, however, take the ‘Advanced’ section as a Class B applicant who is interested in upgrading to a Class A licence later.
Step 5: Send a Licence Application to DPOR
After taking your exam, you can now send your application for licensure to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). This requires you to obtain a blank application form from the DPOR board that you should fill out and submit along with the required fee and all necessary documents.
Once your application is accepted and your licence is shipped, you can now begin working as a professional contractor.
Step 6: Pass Your Technical Licensing Exam
Did you know that you need to pass a technical exam for certain licence specialisations? If required for your speciality, you can do this after DPOR approves your application for licensure. The exam will cover special topics related to the kind of work you are permitted to do with your licence.
Prepare for Your Exams Effortlessly!
At this point, you have the right idea of all the steps you’ll take to acquire your licence. So, what should you do next? Find a pre-licensing course provider that offers all the material you need to increase your chances of success. And which provider is better than RocketCert?
With expertly created and fully narrated courses, you don’t have to struggle to pass your exams. What’s more, they have the right exam prep materials and additional resources to ensure you are sufficiently prepared for your career, and not just your exams.
So, visit rocketcert.com to learn more and get started on a journey towards a thriving career today.
