What Are the Requirements for a Class C Virginia Contractor License?
A Class C contractor license is Virginia’s entry-level contractor license class. It allows a contractor to perform work within specific monetary limits while requiring less experience and fewer financial qualifications than a Class A or Class B license.
If you’re deciding which license class you need, you can also review our Virginia Contractor License Classes Explained for an overview of Class A, B, and C. Here are the main requirements for obtaining a Virginia Class C contractor license.
Virginia Class C Monetary Limits
A contractor’s license class determines the monetary value of the projects the business is allowed to perform.
Under the current Virginia Board for Contractors regulations, a Class C contractor may perform projects valued at $1,000 to less than $30,000 per project with total projects of less than $250,000 during any 12-month period.
These limits changed in 2025, so be careful when using older contractor licensing resources that may still show Virginia's previous limits. You can find a breakdown of the current amounts in our Updated Virginia Contractor License Monetary Limits.
If the work your business plans to contract exceeds the Class C limits, you’ll need to qualify for a Class B or Class A contractor license.
Class C Experience Requirement
Every contractor license must have a Qualified Individual (QI) for each classification or specialty listed on the license. For a Class C license, the Qualified Individual must have at least one year of experience in the classification or specialty being requested.
The Virginia Class C contractor regulations also require the QI to be at least 18 years old and either a full-time employee of the business or a member of its responsible management.
What qualifies as acceptable experience can be one of the more confusing parts of the application. We explain it in more detail in What Counts as Experience for a Virginia Contractor License?.
Does a Class C Contractor Need to Take an Exam?
There is no separate Class C business examination like the examination required for Class A and Class B licenses.
However, the Qualified Individual must meet the examination or other prerequisite requirements for the classification or specialty being added to the license.
For example, if you are applying for the Residential Building Contractor (RBC) classification, the Qualified Individual must meet the examination requirements for RBC. Exam requirements vary by classification and specialty, so always verify the requirements for the specific classification you are requesting.
Is the 8-Hour Pre-Licensing Course Required for Class C?
Yes. A member of the business’s Responsible Management must complete an approved 8-hour contractor pre-license education course before applying for a new Virginia contractor license.
The course is not an exam-prep course and is not specific to your classification or specialty. It covers basic business topics, Virginia regulations, statutes, and requirements relevant to contractors.
You can read What Is the Virginia Contractor 8-Hour Pre-Licensing Course? for a complete explanation, or find the current list of approved contractor pre-license education providers through DPOR.
Does a Class C Contractor Have a Financial Requirement?
Unlike Class A and Class B applicants, Class C applicants do not have to meet a minimum net worth or equity requirement to obtain the license.
The current Virginia contractor license application identifies the financial documentation requirement for Class C as N/A. This is one of the major differences between Class C and Virginia’s higher contractor license classes.
Does a Class C Contractor Need a Surety Bond?
A $50,000 surety bond is not a standard requirement for obtaining a Class C contractor license.
The $50,000 surety bond you may see referenced in Virginia contractor licensing information is an alternative available to Class A and Class B applicants for satisfying their financial qualification requirements.
DPOR's Board for Contractors licensing information identifies its financial verification requirements and related surety bond option as applying to Class A and Class B applicants.
Because Class C does not have that financial qualification requirement, a Class C applicant does not need the $50,000 financial surety bond simply to qualify for the license.
However, this does not mean a Class C contractor could never need a bond for a particular project, contract, permit, or other requirement.
Class C Contractor License Requirements at a Glance
To obtain a Virginia Class C contractor license, your business will generally need to:
Establish the business that will hold the contractor license.
Complete the required 8-hour contractor pre-license course.
Choose your license classification or specialty based on the type of work the business will perform.
Designate a Qualified Individual (QI) who meets the Class C experience requirement of at least one year and any other requirements for the requested classification or specialty.
Submit the contractor license application to the Virginia Board for Contractors. The application identifies the license class, classification or specialty, Qualified Individual, and other required business information.
Receive approval from DPOR to take the technical/classification exam, if an exam is required for the classification or specialty.
Have the Qualified Individual take and pass the required technical/classification exam. Once approved, the QI can schedule the applicable examination with PSI.
Important: The technical/classification exam is different from the Class A/B business examination. Class C does not require the Class A/B exam, but the Qualified Individual may still need to pass an exam for the classification or specialty being requested.
If you want to see how these requirements fit into the entire licensing process, our How to Get a Virginia Contractor License: 6 Steps walks through the process from establishing your business through completing the required examinations.
It’s also important to remember that Virginia contractor licenses are issued to the business entity or sole proprietorship, rather than simply being an individual employee’s license. DPOR explains this distinction in its contractor license application instructions.
Class C vs. Class A and Class B
Class C has the lowest monetary limits of Virginia’s three contractor license classes, but it also has fewer qualification requirements.
Compared with Class A and Class B, Class C:
requires at least one year of qualifying experience
does not require the Class A/B business examination
does not have a minimum net worth or equity requirement
does not require the $50,000 surety bond used as an alternative method of satisfying Class A/B financial requirements
However, Class A, B, and C contractors all need the appropriate classification or specialty, and the Qualified Individual must satisfy the requirements associated with that classification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start with a Class C contractor license and upgrade later?
Yes. A business can obtain a Class C license and later apply to upgrade its license class when it is ready to perform projects exceeding the Class C monetary limits. The business will then need to satisfy the requirements for the higher license class.
Is Class C a residential contractor license?
No. Class C is a license class, not a type of construction.
Your license class determines your monetary limits, while your classification or specialty determines the type of contracting work your business is authorized to perform. For example, a business could hold a Class C Residential Building Contractor (RBC) license.
Do I need a Class C contractor license for jobs under $1,000?
Virginia's contractor licensing requirements generally begin when the total value of a project is $1,000 or more. Other licensing, local permitting, or legal requirements may still apply depending on the work being performed.
Who takes the specialty or classification exam?
The Qualified Individual (QI) associated with the classification or specialty is responsible for meeting its applicable examination and qualification requirements.
Can I use the same Qualified Individual for more than one classification?
Potentially. A Qualified Individual can qualify for multiple classifications or specialties if that person meets the applicable experience, examination, and other requirements for each one.
