Page 1 of 138
Virginia Class A General Contractor Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Virginia Class A General Contractor Exam
POINT-FORM SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE
• License Classifications (DPOR): Class A (unlimited: single contract ≥$150k OR 12-month total
≥$1M), Class B (project ≤$120k, annual ≤$750k), Class C (project ≤$10k, annual ≤$150k)
• Application Requirements: Written application to DPOR, proposed designated employee,
experience documentation, financial statement or $50,000 bond
• Financial Responsibility (Class A): Minimum net worth $45,000 demonstrated by CPA-reviewed
statement or balance sheet; or $50,000 surety bond
• Pre-License Education: Mandatory 8-hour DPOR-approved business and law course before
taking exams
• Examination Structure (PSI): Three exams: Virginia Portion (24 questions, 48 min), General
Portion (50 questions, 100 min), Advanced Portion (24 questions, 60 min)
• Virginia Portion Topics: Contractor regulation, Board rules, building codes, Transaction
Recovery Fund, erosion and sediment control
• General Portion Topics: Business organization, estimating & bidding, contracts, project
management, risk, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxes, lien laws
• Advanced Portion Topics: Estimating/bidding, contract management, project management, risk
management, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxes, lien laws
• Trade Exam Options: Commercial building contractor (NASCLA accepted), residential building
contractor, home improvement contractor, electrical, plumbing, HVAC
• Passing Scores: Virginia (18/24 correct – 75%), General (35/50 correct – 70%), Advanced (17/24
correct – ~71%)
• Designated Employee: Must be at least 18, full-time, passed required exams, employed by or
member of responsible management
• Recovery Fund: Initial fee required; fund compensates consumers for certain losses caused by
licensed contractors
• Lien Laws (Code of Virginia § 43): Mechanic's lien rights, preliminary notices, bond off
procedures, filing deadlines
• USBC (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code): Adopts and amends IBC/IRC; floodplain and
coastal requirements
• OSHA/TOSHA (29 CFR 1926): Construction safety standards; fall protection, trenching,
scaffolding, cranes, etc.
• Insurance Requirements: Minimum $500,000 liability for residential/commercial building
permits; workers' compensation if employees exist
• Tax Reporting: 1099 for independent contractors; W-2 for employees; withheld taxes must be
held separately
• Contract Types: Cost-plus, fixed-price, time and materials, unit price; each has distinct risk
allocation
• Estimating Methods: Conceptual (architect's use), detailed, unit price, parametric; labor burden
includes payroll taxes and benefits
, Page 2 of 138
• Scheduling (CPM): Critical Path Method identifies activities that must precede others; total float
calculation
• Business Structures: Sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC; each has different
liability and tax implications
250 EXAM MCQ QUESTIONS (15+ words each) with Answers & Rationales
1. Under Virginia Code § 54.1-1100, what is the minimum single contract value that requires a Class A
contractor license?
A) $50,000
B) $75,000
C) $150,000
D) $250,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Class A license is required when the total value referred to in a single contract or project is
$150,000 or more .
2. A contractor undertakes multiple projects totaling $1.2 million over a 12-month period. What license
class is required?
A) Class C only
B) Class B only
, Page 3 of 138
C) Class A
D) No license required
**Answer:** C
**Rationale:** Class A license is required when the total value of all construction undertaken within any
12-month period is $1 million or more, regardless of individual contract size .
3. What is the minimum net worth requirement for a Class A contractor license in Virginia?
A) $15,000
B) $25,000
C) $45,000
D) $75,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Class A applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of $45,000 as proof of financial
responsibility .
4. In lieu of meeting the net worth requirement, a Class A applicant may provide what alternative proof
of financial responsibility?
, Page 4 of 138
A) A $25,000 letter of credit
B) A $50,000 surety bond from a corporate surety licensed in Virginia
C) A personal guarantee from the business owner
D) A certificate of deposit in the amount of $100,000
**Answer:** B
**Rationale:** In lieu of compliance with net worth requirements, an applicant may obtain and
maintain a bond in the amount of $50,000 from a corporate surety licensed in the Commonwealth .
5. How many hours of pre-licensing education must be completed before taking the Virginia contractor
exams?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants must complete an 8-hour DPOR-approved pre-licensing course covering business
and law topics before applying for the license .
Virginia Class A General Contractor Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Virginia Class A General Contractor Exam
POINT-FORM SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE
• License Classifications (DPOR): Class A (unlimited: single contract ≥$150k OR 12-month total
≥$1M), Class B (project ≤$120k, annual ≤$750k), Class C (project ≤$10k, annual ≤$150k)
• Application Requirements: Written application to DPOR, proposed designated employee,
experience documentation, financial statement or $50,000 bond
• Financial Responsibility (Class A): Minimum net worth $45,000 demonstrated by CPA-reviewed
statement or balance sheet; or $50,000 surety bond
• Pre-License Education: Mandatory 8-hour DPOR-approved business and law course before
taking exams
• Examination Structure (PSI): Three exams: Virginia Portion (24 questions, 48 min), General
Portion (50 questions, 100 min), Advanced Portion (24 questions, 60 min)
• Virginia Portion Topics: Contractor regulation, Board rules, building codes, Transaction
Recovery Fund, erosion and sediment control
• General Portion Topics: Business organization, estimating & bidding, contracts, project
management, risk, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxes, lien laws
• Advanced Portion Topics: Estimating/bidding, contract management, project management, risk
management, safety, labor laws, financial management, taxes, lien laws
• Trade Exam Options: Commercial building contractor (NASCLA accepted), residential building
contractor, home improvement contractor, electrical, plumbing, HVAC
• Passing Scores: Virginia (18/24 correct – 75%), General (35/50 correct – 70%), Advanced (17/24
correct – ~71%)
• Designated Employee: Must be at least 18, full-time, passed required exams, employed by or
member of responsible management
• Recovery Fund: Initial fee required; fund compensates consumers for certain losses caused by
licensed contractors
• Lien Laws (Code of Virginia § 43): Mechanic's lien rights, preliminary notices, bond off
procedures, filing deadlines
• USBC (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code): Adopts and amends IBC/IRC; floodplain and
coastal requirements
• OSHA/TOSHA (29 CFR 1926): Construction safety standards; fall protection, trenching,
scaffolding, cranes, etc.
• Insurance Requirements: Minimum $500,000 liability for residential/commercial building
permits; workers' compensation if employees exist
• Tax Reporting: 1099 for independent contractors; W-2 for employees; withheld taxes must be
held separately
• Contract Types: Cost-plus, fixed-price, time and materials, unit price; each has distinct risk
allocation
• Estimating Methods: Conceptual (architect's use), detailed, unit price, parametric; labor burden
includes payroll taxes and benefits
, Page 2 of 138
• Scheduling (CPM): Critical Path Method identifies activities that must precede others; total float
calculation
• Business Structures: Sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC; each has different
liability and tax implications
250 EXAM MCQ QUESTIONS (15+ words each) with Answers & Rationales
1. Under Virginia Code § 54.1-1100, what is the minimum single contract value that requires a Class A
contractor license?
A) $50,000
B) $75,000
C) $150,000
D) $250,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Class A license is required when the total value referred to in a single contract or project is
$150,000 or more .
2. A contractor undertakes multiple projects totaling $1.2 million over a 12-month period. What license
class is required?
A) Class C only
B) Class B only
, Page 3 of 138
C) Class A
D) No license required
**Answer:** C
**Rationale:** Class A license is required when the total value of all construction undertaken within any
12-month period is $1 million or more, regardless of individual contract size .
3. What is the minimum net worth requirement for a Class A contractor license in Virginia?
A) $15,000
B) $25,000
C) $45,000
D) $75,000
Answer: C
Rationale: Class A applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of $45,000 as proof of financial
responsibility .
4. In lieu of meeting the net worth requirement, a Class A applicant may provide what alternative proof
of financial responsibility?
, Page 4 of 138
A) A $25,000 letter of credit
B) A $50,000 surety bond from a corporate surety licensed in Virginia
C) A personal guarantee from the business owner
D) A certificate of deposit in the amount of $100,000
**Answer:** B
**Rationale:** In lieu of compliance with net worth requirements, an applicant may obtain and
maintain a bond in the amount of $50,000 from a corporate surety licensed in the Commonwealth .
5. How many hours of pre-licensing education must be completed before taking the Virginia contractor
exams?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants must complete an 8-hour DPOR-approved pre-licensing course covering business
and law topics before applying for the license .
