How to Get an Electrical Contractor License in Virginia

Starting an electrical contracting business in Virginia? You’ll need a contractor license with the Electrical (ELE) classification and a Qualified Individual who holds a Virginia master electrician license.

The business gets the contractor license. The electrician holds the master license. Virginia checks both before approving the company to perform electrical work.

Your contractor license can be Class A, B, or C, depending on the size of the jobs you take and your total contracting volume.

Virginia electrical contractor license requirements at a glance

The Virginia Board for Contractors handles applications, license changes, and renewals. Its pre-license education regulation specifies a six-hour course.

Do you need an electrical contractor license in Virginia?

If your business bids on or contracts to install, repair, maintain, or alter electrical systems, you’ll need the appropriate Virginia contractor license unless a specific exemption applies.

The license has two parts:

• Class A, B, or C: Sets the dollar limits for the jobs your company can undertake.
• Electrical (ELE) classification: Authorizes electrical contracting work within the classification’s scope.

Under 18VAC50-22-20, ELE covers electrical systems regulated by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including electronic/communication services and fire alarm systems work.

A general building contractor classification alone doesn’t authorize electrical contracting.

Class A, B, and C electrical contractor licenses

Virginia sets license classes by the value of individual contracts or the total value of work undertaken within any 12-month period.

Virginia raised these thresholds on July 1, 2025. Older licensing guides may still show the previous amounts. The current figures are in Virginia Code § 54.1-1100.

What this means for your electrical business

Say you run a residential electrical shop. Your largest job is $18,000, and you’ve taken on $180,000 in work over the past 12 months. Those figures fall within Class C.

Then business picks up. You’re still doing panel replacements, service upgrades, and smaller wiring jobs, but your 12-month contracting volume reaches $300,000.

You now fall into Class B territory, even though none of your individual jobs costs $30,000.

Or say you land a $175,000 commercial wiring contract. That single job reaches the Class A threshold.

Use the higher class required by either threshold.

Who can qualify your electrical contracting business?

Virginia requires a Qualified Individual for the ELE classification. Class A and B businesses also need a Designated Employee.

Qualified Individual: Your master electrician

The QI must hold a Virginia master electrician license issued by the Board for Contractors.

The person also needs electrical experience appropriate to the company’s license class.

The QI must be at least 18 and be a member of responsible management or a full-time employee.

Virginia defines a full-time employee for contractor licensing as someone who works at least 30 hours per week in the licensed business and receives an annual W-2.

Does the business owner need to be a master electrician?

No. You can qualify the company through an eligible master electrician who works for the business.

For example, you could own the company and employ a master electrician who meets the QI requirements.

The Board’s qualification rules require that person to have the proper credential, experience, and employment or management relationship.

The ELE classification doesn’t require an additional contractor specialty exam for a QI who meets the master electrician credential prerequisite.

Designated Employee: Your business exam qualifier

Class A and Class B businesses need a Designated Employee (DE). That person must satisfy the contractor business examination requirements unless an exemption applies.

These portions are listed in the Virginia contractor firm license application.

Virginia Code § 54.1-1108.1 provides examination exemptions for certain longstanding Class A and B contractors licensed or registered before 1991, subject to its conditions. New businesses should expect to meet the normal examination requirements.

The same person can fill more than one licensing role if they meet each role’s qualifications.

How to apply for a Virginia electrical contractor license

Step 1: Choose your license class and ELE classification

Use your largest expected contract and 12-month contracting volume to select Class A, B, or C. Apply for Electrical (ELE), plus any other classifications your business needs.

Step 2: Prepare your business information

Gather the firm’s registration details and identify its responsible management. The current application lists the documentation required for each business structure.

Step 3: Identify your master electrician

Your QI needs a valid Virginia master electrician license and the required experience. They must also be a member of responsible management or a full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week and receiving a W-2.

Step 4: Complete the six-hour pre-license course

Virginia requires a six-hour Board-approved pre-license business course for new Class A, B, and C contractor applicants.

For Class C, a member of responsible management completes the course. For Class A and B, either a responsible-management member or the Designated Employee can take it.

The current requirement is established in 18VAC50-22-300. Use a Board-approved course provider.

Step 5: Pass the business exams

Class B requires the Virginia and General portions. Class A adds Advanced.

The business exams are taken by the Designated Employee. Class C applicants have no DE business examination requirement.

Step 6: Prepare financial documents

Class A and B applicants need financial documentation showing the required net worth or equity, or an approved surety bond. Complete the financial-history and licensing disclosures for your class.

Step 7: Submit your application

Get the current Contractor Firm License Instructions & Application through the Virginia Board for Contractors.

Submit the required business information, personnel details, qualifications, financial documents, and fees.

Under 18VAC50-22-35, DPOR may request more information before considering an application complete.

Once issued, check the business’s class and ELE classification through the DPOR License Lookup.

What if your master electrician leaves the company?

Say you own a small electrical shop and your master electrician takes another job. That person is your company’s only ELE Qualified Individual.

Virginia requires you to report the QI change to the Board within 60 days. The change-of-QI application fee is $125, and the replacement must meet the licensing and experience requirements for your contractor class.

If your only QI leaves, contact DPOR about your firm’s authority to continue electrical contracting while arranging a replacement. The reporting period doesn’t automatically authorize work without a qualified person.

Class A and B shops have another personnel requirement to watch. If your Designated Employee leaves, the business must report the DE change within 120 days.

Both deadlines are established in 18VAC50-22-220.

An employee departure won’t make scheduled customers, unfinished jobs, or estimates waiting for approval disappear. Keeping those records together helps when responsibilities change.

Cinderblock lets contractors keep appointments, estimates, job notes, and invoices connected to each job, so the next person handling the work can find the details without digging through separate messages and spreadsheets.

How much does a Virginia electrical contractor license cost?

Virginia charges different initial fees for each contractor class.

The contractor fee regulation establishes the application charges and $25 Recovery Fund assessment.

The enacted Virginia budget, HB30 Chapter 1, Item 356, authorizes a technology fee of $7.25 per year for initial licenses, renewals, and reinstatements.

For a two-year contractor license, that’s $14.50.

The totals above add the technology fee to the state licensing charges. DPOR’s September 2025 application form predates the technology fee, so the calculated totals aren’t printed on that version of the form.

Other costs include the six-hour course, required examinations, and any financial or business setup expenses.

Financial requirements for Class A and B

Class A and B applicants can submit acceptable financial documentation or use the specified $50,000 surety bond.

The $50,000 is the bond’s face amount. Your cost of obtaining it depends on the surety.

Other insurance obligations depend on the business and its work. Virginia’s contractor qualification rules don’t establish one general liability coverage amount for every ELE contractor.

See the Class C, Class B, and Class A regulations for the class-specific qualifications.

Renewing your Virginia electrical contractor license

Virginia contractor businesses renew every two years. Individual electrician licenses run on a three-year cycle.

The contractor renewal fees include the base charges and Recovery Fund assessment shown above. The technology fee adds $14.50 to a two-year contractor renewal and $21.75 to a three-year individual electrician renewal.

Virginia requires three hours of Board-approved continuing education for the electrical trade designation when renewing an individual electrician license.

Under 18VAC50-22-130, contractors have 30 days after expiration to renew without reinstatement, but the license is invalid during that period.

The individual electrician renewal requirements are in 18VAC50-30-120.

Reciprocity, exemptions, and local permits

Can you use an electrical license from another state?

Virginia has reciprocity arrangements for certain contractor and individual tradesman credentials.

Requirements depend on the jurisdiction, credential, and agreement. Check the Board for Contractors and Tradesmen Program before taking on Virginia work.

If you’re also operating across the state line, see our North Carolina electrical contractor licensing guide.

Are there exemptions from contractor licensing?

Virginia Code § 54.1-1101 lists specific exemptions.

For example, it covers certain work by an owner on a primary residence for the owner’s own use. A business offering electrical services to paying customers is in a different position.

Do you still need local permits?

A Virginia contractor license doesn’t replace local permit and business licensing requirements.

Electrical permits and inspections can still apply. Check with the building department in the city or county where the job is located.

Where to apply for an electrical contractor license

The Virginia Board for Contractors provides contractor applications, approved education information, examination resources, and license-change forms.

For journeyman and master electrician licensing, use the Virginia Tradesmen Program.

You can verify business and individual credentials using the DPOR License Lookup.

Before submitting the application, confirm your contractor class, ELE Qualified Individual, and required course and examination records.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements can change. Consult the relevant licensing authority or a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.