Rest of the US · 4 trades verified · checked 2026-10-21
Virginia trade licenses
Electrician, Plumber, HVAC and General contractor credentials in Virginia, from the issuing board's page or the statute: who issues each one, the levels, the time it takes and the exam.
| Trade | Issued by | Top credential | Time to top | Exam | Fees printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Virginia Board for Contractors | Master Electrician Tradesman | 5 years | Yes | Yes |
| Plumber | Virginia Board for Contractors | Master Plumber Tradesman | 5 years | Yes | Yes |
| HVAC | Virginia Board for Contractors | Master HVAC Tradesman | 5 years | Yes | Yes |
| General contractor | Virginia Board for Contractors | Class A Contractor | 5 years | Yes | Yes |
Electrician in Virginia
Statewide tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors. Journeyman and master electrician tradesman licenses are set out in the board's tradesman regulations (18 VAC 50-30). Master Electrician Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyman Electrician Tradesman — 4 years, 240 classroom hours, exam, original tradesman license $150. Master Electrician Tradesman — 5 years, exam, original tradesman license $150. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: A valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year, or nine years of practical experience in the trade (residential HVAC and residential plumber tradesmen qualify after three years), then the board-approved exam.
Virginia electrician details · Electrician in every state
Plumber in Virginia
Statewide tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors. Journeyman and master plumber tradesman licenses are set out in the board's tradesman regulations (18 VAC 50-30). Master Plumber Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyman Plumber Tradesman — 4 years, 240 classroom hours, exam, original tradesman license $150. Master Plumber Tradesman — 5 years, exam, original tradesman license $150. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: A valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year, or nine years of practical experience in the trade (residential HVAC and residential plumber tradesmen qualify after three years), then the board-approved exam.
Virginia plumber details · Plumber in every state
HVAC in Virginia
Statewide tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors. Journeyman and master HVAC tradesman licenses are set out in the board's tradesman regulations (18 VAC 50-30). Master HVAC Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Journeyman HVAC Tradesman — 4 years, 240 classroom hours, exam, original tradesman license $150. Master HVAC Tradesman — 5 years, exam, original tradesman license $150. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: A valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year, or nine years of practical experience in the trade (residential HVAC and residential plumber tradesmen qualify after three years), then the board-approved exam.
Virginia HVAC details · HVAC in every state
General contractor in Virginia
Statewide contractor license in three classes (A, B and C) issued to the firm, which names a qualified individual for each classification such as residential (RBC) or commercial (CBC) building. Class A Contractor: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
Class C Contractor — 1 year, initial license $235. Class B Contractor — 3 years, exam, initial license $380. Class A Contractor — 5 years, exam, initial license $400. No reciprocity partner is named in the source.
What the top level asks for: The qualified individual needs at least five years of experience in the classification; the designated employee passes the board-approved exam (§ 54.1-1106); the firm shows a net worth or equity of $45,000, or a $50,000 surety bond instead; basic business course.
Virginia general contractor details · General contractor in every state
Moving to or from Virginia
Electrician: no route is named in the source, and Alabama and Maryland list Virginia in return. Plumber: no route is named in the source. HVAC: no route is named in the source. General contractor: no route is named in the source. Conditions differ by board, so read the state page for each trade before relying on a partner list.
Nearby and comparable: Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Delaware. Guides: how long each state takes · license or registration.
General information from the Virginia sources on 2026-10-21, not legal advice. Each board is the authority; confirm before applying.