Virginia Contractor Virginia Portion (Rules and Regulations)

Virginia Contractor License Exam (Rules and Regulations): What to Know Before Test Day

You've done the work. You know how to build. Now you need the license to prove it — and that means passing the Virginia Contractor exam. The Virginia Portion (Rules and Regulations) is a 24-question test focused entirely on state law, licensing rules, and the regulations that govern how contractors operate in Virginia. Pass it, and you're one step closer to holding a valid Virginia contractor's license. This guide walks you through exactly what's on the exam, how to study smart, and what to expect when you sit down at the testing center.

Virginia Contractor Exam Overview (2026)

The Virginia Portion (Rules and Regulations) exam is administered by PSI. Here are the key facts:

• Scored questions: 24
• Time limit: 48 minutes
• Passing score: 75% — that's 18 correct out of 24 scored questions
• Format: Multiple choice

The questions are drawn from Virginia-specific regulations: contractor licensing law, board rules, building codes, the Transaction Recovery Fund, and erosion and sediment control. You won't see any trade-specific technical content here — this is all about the rules of doing business as a contractor in Virginia.

You can review the official exam bulletin before your test date and schedule your exam through the exam registration page. The state licensing website maintained by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) is also worth bookmarking for license application details.

Topics Covered on the Virginia Rules and Regulations Exam

The exam covers five topic areas. Here's a breakdown by weight, from most to least heavily tested:

1. Regulation of Contractors (7 exam items)

This is the heaviest-weighted topic. Expect questions on contractor license classes (A, B, and C) and the contract value thresholds that define them, specialty designations, exemptions from licensing, and financial responsibility requirements like net worth and surety bonds. The application process and designated employee requirements also show up here.

2. Board Rules and Regulations (5 exam items)

This topic covers what licensees can and cannot do. You'll need to know the authorized scope of work for each license class, the rules around qualifiers and designated employees, standards of conduct, prohibited acts, and the procedures for license renewal, reinstatement, and what happens when a license expires.

3. Building Codes (5 exam items)

Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code applies to contractors, and this section tests your knowledge of compliance requirements, certificate of occupancy rules, permit and inspection requirements, how code violations can factor into disciplinary proceedings, and the obligations of building officials when they encounter unlicensed or incompetent tradesmen.

4. Transaction Recovery Fund (5 exam items)

The Fund is a consumer protection tool, and you need to understand it thoroughly. Questions here cover who can file a claim, what qualifies as improper or dishonest conduct, recovery limits per claimant and per regulant, assessment fees, and minimum Fund balance requirements.

5. Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (2 exam items)

This is the smallest section but still fair game. Focus on who needs a certificate for land-disturbing activities, how plans are submitted and approved, plan review timelines, and which activities are exempt.

Sample Virginia Contractor Exam Questions

Here are five sample questions modeled on the real exam. Think through each one — but we're not going to tell you the answers here. Try our free practice exam to check your thinking and get immediate feedback.

Question 1 (Transaction Recovery Fund — Hard)

A homeowner files a verified claim against the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund after obtaining a judgment against a licensed contractor for improper conduct. Which of the following is NOT eligible for recovery from the Fund?

• A) Court costs incurred in obtaining the judgment
• B) Attorney fees related to the litigation
• C) Actual monetary losses from the contractor's wrongful conversion of funds
• D) Punitive damages awarded by the court

This question tests your understanding of what the Fund will and won't cover — a distinction that trips up a lot of test-takers.

Question 2 (Building Codes — Medium)

In addition to requiring continuing education for license renewal, the Board may also require continuing education for a licensed tradesman under which of the following circumstances?

• A) When the tradesman has been licensed for more than ten consecutive years
• B) When the tradesman has been found in violation of statutes or regulations governing the practice of licensed tradesmen
• C) When the tradesman moves to a different locality within Virginia
• D) When the tradesman requests a license upgrade to a higher classification

Question 3 (Regulation of Contractors — Hard)

A regulant fails to pay the Recovery Fund assessment within 45 days of the first mailing. The Director sends a second notice by first-class mail. If no payment is received within the specified period after the second notice, what happens to the regulant's license?

• A) The license is placed on probationary status for 90 days
• B) The regulant receives a written warning but the license remains active
• C) The license is automatically suspended and restored only upon actual receipt of the delinquent assessment
• D) The Board initiates a formal hearing to consider revocation

Notice how specific the scenario is — Virginia exam questions often hinge on exact procedures and timelines.

Question 4 (Transaction Recovery Fund — Hard)

Which of the following persons is specifically excluded from the definition of "regulant" for purposes of the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund?

• A) A general contractor holding a Class A residential license
• B) A contractor holding only the commercial building contractor classification
• C) A sole proprietor holding a Class B residential contractor license
• D) A partnership licensed by the Board for Contractors for residential work

Question 5 (Board Rules and Regulations — Hard)

A Virginia contractor's license expired 18 months ago and the contractor now wants to resume operations. What must the contractor do?

• A) Reinstate the license by meeting all renewal requirements and paying the reinstatement fee
• B) Apply as a new applicant since the license has been expired for more than 12 months
• C) Request a temporary license while the reinstatement application is processed
• D) Simply pay the renewal fee since the license is still within the two-year renewal window

License reinstatement rules are exact — and the exam will test whether you know the specifics.

What Types of Questions to Expect (By Topic)

Our full practice exam pool includes 91 questions spread across all five topics. Here's what kinds of problems you'll face in each area:

• Regulation of Contractors — 28 practice questions: Scenarios involving license class thresholds (what dollar amounts trigger Class A vs. B vs. C), exemption eligibility, financial responsibility calculations, and application requirements. You'll need to apply definitions, not just recall them.

• Board Rules and Regulations — 20 practice questions: Questions focus on what a licensee is allowed to do under a given classification, when a designation is required, what constitutes a prohibited act, and procedural details around renewal and reinstatement timelines.

• Building Codes — 17 practice questions: Expect scenario-based questions about permit requirements, occupancy certificates, and when code violations become part of a disciplinary case. Some questions target the reporting duties of building officials.

• Transaction Recovery Fund — 18 practice questions: This section has some of the most detail-dependent questions on the exam. You'll see problems involving claimant eligibility, what qualifies as dishonest conduct, specific dollar caps, and assessment procedures.

• Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations — 8 practice questions: Questions here cover plan submission requirements, review timelines, certificate holder obligations, and which land-disturbing activities fall under an exemption.

Study tip: When deciding where to spend your time, let the exam's actual question weights guide you. Regulation of Contractors (7 items) and the three 5-item topics — Board Rules, Building Codes, and Transaction Recovery Fund — together account for 22 of your 24 scored questions.

Study Materials

The Virginia Rules and Regulations exam is law-based, so your primary sources are Virginia statutes and DPOR regulations. Review the official materials published by the Board for Contractors through the state licensing website.

If your contractor license also requires trade-specific knowledge or you're preparing for additional exams that include OSHA content, the OSHA 29 CFR 1926 reference covers OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry and is a solid resource to have on your shelf. While it's not tested on the Virginia Rules and Regulations portion specifically, it's frequently relevant to the broader licensing process.

For exam practice, start with our free practice exam — no account needed, 10 questions per attempt, and you can retake it as many times as you want. It's a quick way to get a feel for how the questions are written and what level of detail you're expected to know.

When you're ready to get serious, the full practice exam mirrors the real test: same question count, same 48-minute time limit, and the same topic breakdown. Questions are drawn from a large pool so each attempt is different, and you'll get a detailed score breakdown by topic so you can see exactly where to focus. Questions are based on the exact topic list provided by the official test provider.

Study Tips for the Virginia Contractor Rules and Regulations Exam

Read the statute language carefully. Virginia exam questions often turn on precise wording — "shall" vs. "may," specific dollar thresholds, exact timeframes. Don't paraphrase when you study; know the actual rule.

Focus on the high-weight topics first. Regulation of Contractors alone accounts for nearly 30% of your scored questions. Master license classes, contract thresholds, and financial responsibility requirements before moving to smaller sections.

Know your numbers. This exam tests specific figures: contract value cutoffs for Class A/B/C, Recovery Fund maximums, assessment triggers, and review timelines for erosion control plans. Write them down and drill them.

Watch the wording in questions. Several sample questions above use phrasing like "NOT eligible" or "specifically excluded." Read every question twice before answering — the exam uses this kind of language deliberately.

Time isn't your enemy here. 48 minutes for 24 questions gives you two minutes per question. That's comfortable. Don't rush; use the time to re-read carefully.

FAQs About the Virginia Contractor Exam (Rules and Regulations)

What is the passing score for the Virginia Contractor Rules and Regulations exam?
You need to answer at least 18 of 24 scored questions correctly — a 75% passing score. There's no partial credit; each question is either right or wrong.

How long do I have to complete the exam?
The time limit is 48 minutes for the Virginia Portion.

Where do I register for the exam?
Through PSI at the exam registration page.

What happens if my Virginia contractor's license expires?
The reinstatement rules depend on how long the license has been expired, and the exam tests this specifically. If you're unsure of the exact procedures, that's a sign to review the Board's renewal and reinstatement rules carefully — and to practice with exam-style questions that cover this scenario.

Can I use reference materials during the exam?
No. The Virginia Rules and Regulations exam is closed-book. All Virginia-specific regulatory content needs to be memorized.

What's the difference between the free and full practice exams?
The free exam gives you 10 questions per attempt from a limited pool — great for a quick assessment with no commitment. The full practice exam matches the real test format, draws from 91 questions across all five topics, and gives you a topic-by-topic score breakdown so you can study with precision.

Ready to Pass Your Virginia Contractor Exam?

The Virginia Rules and Regulations exam is 24 questions, 48 minutes, and entirely about knowing your state's licensing rules. That's actually a well-defined scope — which means focused study pays off fast.

Start by taking our free practice exam to benchmark where you stand. Then work through the full practice exam to identify your weak spots and build the confidence to pass on your first try. Your license is within reach — go get it.