Moving to Virginia as a general contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Virginia Commercial Building (CBC) technical examination for the qualified individual, given by PSI after the Board pre-approves the application and Experience Verification Form. The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is accepted in its place..
2. 2Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. PSI contractor business examination for the designated employee: the Virginia portion (Board rules, contractor law, building codes, the Recovery Fund, erosion and sediment control), the General portion and the Advanced portion (estimating, contracts, project and risk management, safety, labor law, finance, taxes and lien law). Open book..
3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($85). Paid directly to PSI: $85 for all three business examination portions taken together, plus $85 for the CBC technical examination. PSI charges $40 for one portion and $72 for two. Fees cannot be refunded or transferred and are valid for one year from payment..
4. 4Pre-license course. Complete the required pre-license course. Eight-hour Board-approved pre-license course in basic business, regulations and statutes, completed by the designated employee or a member of responsible management. A Board-approved advanced contractor class also counts. Providers set their own prices, and some offer the course online. Attach the completion certificate to the application..
5. 5Application fee. Pay the application fee ($414.50). Class A initial license fee for an application requesting only Commercial Building (CBC) or Commercial Improvement (CIC), which does not pay the Recovery Fund assessment. Adding any other classification or specialty adds the $25 Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund assessment, bringing the fee to $439.50. Both amounts include the $400 license fee and the DPOR technology fee of $7.25 per year. Fees are not refundable..
6. 6Financial responsibility. Show financial responsibility of at least $45,000. At least $45,000 of net worth or equity, not counting property owned as tenants by the entirety, shown on the Board's Financial Statement Form with supporting documents, a CPA-reviewed financial statement or a CPA audit..
7. 7Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($50,000) (if applicable). A $50,000 surety bond on the Board's Surety Bond Form may be filed instead of the net worth documentation..
8. 8Business license. Obtain a business license. The business must register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, including businesses formed in another state, and any assumed or fictitious name must be registered. The firm must also meet the business license requirements of every county, city and town where it works..
9. 9Background check. Complete a background check (if applicable). Only if the firm, its qualified individual, its designated employee or anyone in responsible management has a felony conviction or a non-marijuana misdemeanor conviction in the last three years: an original criminal history record dated within 90 days from each jurisdiction where the conviction occurred, filed with the Criminal Conviction Reporting Form..

Published fees on this path total $499.50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.