Virginia DPOR | Home Improvement Contractor Comprehensive Examination
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) Comprehensive Examination
2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation | Home Improvement Contractor
Comprehensive Examination | Professional Contractor Candidates
140 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Virginia DPOR | Home Improvement Contractor Comprehensive Examination
Comprehensive Licensing Examination Actual Exam | Academic Year 2026/2027
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This document contains 140 original Verified Questions distributed across 4 core domains, with 35
questions in Virginia Contractor Licensing Laws and Regulations, 35 questions in Business Organization
and Financial Management, 35 questions in Building Codes and Construction Standards, 35 questions in
Project Management and Contract Administration. Every question has been carefully authored to
reinforce the official VA-HIC Comprehensive Licensing Examination objectives established by Virginia
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), and each rationale is grounded in the
foundational methodology taught in the VA-HIC curriculum, the Virginia DPOR Home Improvement
Contractor Licensing Manual, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and related construction
management and Virginia contracting law textbooks. The content has been developed specifically for
actual exam readiness and professional proficiency, aligned to the 2026/2027 academic year. Candidates
are encouraged to attempt every question without notes first, then examine the rationale provided for
each item, and finally use the Domain Score Tracker at the end of the document to identify areas that
warrant further attention. The answer distribution has been balanced and shuffled so that no two
consecutive questions share the same correct-answer letter, and so that exactly 35 questions are assigned
to each of the four answer positions (A, B, C, and D), encouraging genuine engagement with each item
rather than pattern-based guessing.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Virginia Contractor Licensing Laws and Regulations
Question 1. Which Virginia regulatory body is responsible for licensing and regulating
contractors engaged in home improvement, building, and specialty trades within the
Commonwealth?
A. The Board for Contractors, operating under the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation (DPOR).
B. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, operating under the Governor's Office.
C. The Virginia State Corporation Commission, operating under the Office of the Attorney
General.
D. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, operating under the
Secretary of Commerce.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia establishes the Board for Contractors within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The Board has authority to
issue, suspend, revoke, and reinstate contractor licenses, promulgate regulations under the
Virginia Administrative Code, and discipline licensees who violate the contractor licensing
statutes. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual reinforces that
the Board for Contractors is the sole regulatory authority for contractor licensing in the
Commonwealth, and that the Department of Labor and Industry, State Corporation
Commission, and Department of Housing and Community Development each have separate and
non-overlapping jurisdictions in labor, business entity, and building code matters respectively.
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Question 2. Virginia law establishes three classes of contractor license based on the
maximum value of a single contract the licensee may perform. Which of the following
correctly identifies the three classes and their associated contract limits?
A. Class A (up to $500,000), Class B (up to $250,000), Class C (up to $50,000).
B. Class A (no dollar limit), Class B (single contracts up to $50,000), Class C (single contracts up
to $5,000).
C. Class A (no dollar limit), Class B (single contracts up to $120,000), Class C (single contracts up
to $10,000).
D. Class A (over $200,000), Class B (up to $200,000), Class C (up to $20,000).
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-10 et seq. establishes three
contractor license classes. Class A licensees may engage in contracts of any dollar value. Class B
licensees may perform single contracts up to $120,000. Class C licensees may perform single
contracts up to $10,000. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual
emphasizes that exceeding the contract limit for a license class is a regulatory violation,
regardless of whether the contractor is otherwise qualified to perform the work, and that the
dollar limit applies to the value of the entire contract rather than to individual invoices or
progress payments.
Question 3. In addition to a license class, every Virginia contractor license carries a
specialty designation. What is the purpose of this designation?
A. It identifies the maximum number of employees the licensee may hire in a calendar year.
B. It identifies the geographic region within Virginia where the licensee is permitted to bid on
contracts.
C. It identifies the bonding capacity the licensee has been approved for by the Contractor
Transaction Recovery Fund.
D. It identifies the specific type of work the licensee is authorized to perform, such as Building
(BLD), Electrical (ELE), Plumbing (PLB), or Home Improvement (HIC).
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-50 requires every contractor
license to carry a specialty designation in addition to its class. Common designations include
Building (BLD), Electrical (ELE), Plumbing (PLB), Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning
(HVAC), and Home Improvement (HIC). The designation restricts the licensee to performing
work within the scope of that specialty. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor
Licensing Manual directs licensees to perform only the work that falls within their licensed
specialty, and to obtain separate specialty designations or licenses for any work outside that
scope.
Question 4. Under Virginia regulations, which of the following best describes the scope of
work for which a contractor holding the Home Improvement (HIC) specialty is licensed?
A. Construction of original residential dwellings from the foundation upward, including all rough-
in trades such as plumbing and electrical.
B. Repair, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of residential property, including but not
limited to carpentry, roofing, siding, painting, masonry, and similar trades, but generally
excluding plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work that requires a separate trade license.
C. All commercial tenant fit-out work valued at $50,000 or less per contract.
D. Site development and excavation work for original construction, including grading and utility
installation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-1001 defines the Home
Improvement (HIC) specialty as covering the repair, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of
existing residential property. Common HIC work includes carpentry, roofing, siding, painting,
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, masonry, flooring, and similar trades. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work generally requires
a separate trade license even when performed within a residential remodeling project. The
Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual stresses that HIC licensees
must either subcontract specialty trades to licensees holding the appropriate trade designation,
or obtain the additional trade designations themselves before performing such work.
Question 5. Before applying for an initial Virginia contractor license, an applicant must
satisfy a pre-license education requirement. How many hours of Board-approved pre-
license education must an additional Class A, B, or C contractor applicant finish?
A. Three hours of pre-license education.
B. Forty hours of pre-license education.
C. Sixty hours of pre-license education.
D. Eight hours of pre-license education.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-60 requires every applicant for
an initial contractor license to finish eight hours of Board-approved pre-license education
covering Virginia contractor licensing law, business organization, financial management, and
project management fundamentals. The eight-hour requirement is the same for Class A, B, and
C applicants. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual directs
applicants to select from a list of Board-approved education providers, and the certificate of
completion must accompany the license application.
Question 6. Applicants for a Virginia Class A contractor license must document at least
how many years of experience in the building trades or related field?
A. One year of experience in any trade.
B. Five years of experience in any trade.
C. Two years of experience in the classification for which the applicant is applying.
D. Ten years of experience in the classification.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-60 requires Class A contractor
applicants to document at least two years of experience in the classification for which the license
is sought. Class B applicants must also document at least two years of experience, while Class C
applicants must document at least one year. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement
Contractor Licensing Manual specifies that experience documentation must be provided on
forms approved by the Board, signed by a supervisor or employer, and accompanied by
supporting documentation such as contracts, permits, or photographs of completed work.
Question 7. To qualify for a Virginia Class A contractor license, an applicant (or the
applicant's firm) must demonstrate a minimum net worth. What is that minimum net
worth requirement?
A. $5,000 minimum net worth.
B. $45,000 minimum net worth.
C. $15,000 minimum net worth.
D. $100,000 minimum net worth.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Code section 54.1-1108 and the Virginia Administrative Code section
18VAC50-22-60 establish minimum financial responsibility requirements for each license class.
Class A applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of $45,000. Class B applicants must
demonstrate a minimum net worth of $15,000. Class C applicants are not subject to a minimum
net worth requirement but must demonstrate minimum financial responsibility through a
$2,000 line of credit or other Board-approved financial instrument. The Virginia DPOR Home
Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual explains that financial responsibility is tested by
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) Comprehensive Examination
2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation | Home Improvement Contractor
Comprehensive Examination | Professional Contractor Candidates
140 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Virginia DPOR | Home Improvement Contractor Comprehensive Examination
Comprehensive Licensing Examination Actual Exam | Academic Year 2026/2027
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This document contains 140 original Verified Questions distributed across 4 core domains, with 35
questions in Virginia Contractor Licensing Laws and Regulations, 35 questions in Business Organization
and Financial Management, 35 questions in Building Codes and Construction Standards, 35 questions in
Project Management and Contract Administration. Every question has been carefully authored to
reinforce the official VA-HIC Comprehensive Licensing Examination objectives established by Virginia
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), and each rationale is grounded in the
foundational methodology taught in the VA-HIC curriculum, the Virginia DPOR Home Improvement
Contractor Licensing Manual, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and related construction
management and Virginia contracting law textbooks. The content has been developed specifically for
actual exam readiness and professional proficiency, aligned to the 2026/2027 academic year. Candidates
are encouraged to attempt every question without notes first, then examine the rationale provided for
each item, and finally use the Domain Score Tracker at the end of the document to identify areas that
warrant further attention. The answer distribution has been balanced and shuffled so that no two
consecutive questions share the same correct-answer letter, and so that exactly 35 questions are assigned
to each of the four answer positions (A, B, C, and D), encouraging genuine engagement with each item
rather than pattern-based guessing.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Virginia Contractor Licensing Laws and Regulations
Question 1. Which Virginia regulatory body is responsible for licensing and regulating
contractors engaged in home improvement, building, and specialty trades within the
Commonwealth?
A. The Board for Contractors, operating under the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation (DPOR).
B. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, operating under the Governor's Office.
C. The Virginia State Corporation Commission, operating under the Office of the Attorney
General.
D. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, operating under the
Secretary of Commerce.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia establishes the Board for Contractors within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The Board has authority to
issue, suspend, revoke, and reinstate contractor licenses, promulgate regulations under the
Virginia Administrative Code, and discipline licensees who violate the contractor licensing
statutes. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual reinforces that
the Board for Contractors is the sole regulatory authority for contractor licensing in the
Commonwealth, and that the Department of Labor and Industry, State Corporation
Commission, and Department of Housing and Community Development each have separate and
non-overlapping jurisdictions in labor, business entity, and building code matters respectively.
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Question 2. Virginia law establishes three classes of contractor license based on the
maximum value of a single contract the licensee may perform. Which of the following
correctly identifies the three classes and their associated contract limits?
A. Class A (up to $500,000), Class B (up to $250,000), Class C (up to $50,000).
B. Class A (no dollar limit), Class B (single contracts up to $50,000), Class C (single contracts up
to $5,000).
C. Class A (no dollar limit), Class B (single contracts up to $120,000), Class C (single contracts up
to $10,000).
D. Class A (over $200,000), Class B (up to $200,000), Class C (up to $20,000).
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-10 et seq. establishes three
contractor license classes. Class A licensees may engage in contracts of any dollar value. Class B
licensees may perform single contracts up to $120,000. Class C licensees may perform single
contracts up to $10,000. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual
emphasizes that exceeding the contract limit for a license class is a regulatory violation,
regardless of whether the contractor is otherwise qualified to perform the work, and that the
dollar limit applies to the value of the entire contract rather than to individual invoices or
progress payments.
Question 3. In addition to a license class, every Virginia contractor license carries a
specialty designation. What is the purpose of this designation?
A. It identifies the maximum number of employees the licensee may hire in a calendar year.
B. It identifies the geographic region within Virginia where the licensee is permitted to bid on
contracts.
C. It identifies the bonding capacity the licensee has been approved for by the Contractor
Transaction Recovery Fund.
D. It identifies the specific type of work the licensee is authorized to perform, such as Building
(BLD), Electrical (ELE), Plumbing (PLB), or Home Improvement (HIC).
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-50 requires every contractor
license to carry a specialty designation in addition to its class. Common designations include
Building (BLD), Electrical (ELE), Plumbing (PLB), Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning
(HVAC), and Home Improvement (HIC). The designation restricts the licensee to performing
work within the scope of that specialty. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor
Licensing Manual directs licensees to perform only the work that falls within their licensed
specialty, and to obtain separate specialty designations or licenses for any work outside that
scope.
Question 4. Under Virginia regulations, which of the following best describes the scope of
work for which a contractor holding the Home Improvement (HIC) specialty is licensed?
A. Construction of original residential dwellings from the foundation upward, including all rough-
in trades such as plumbing and electrical.
B. Repair, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of residential property, including but not
limited to carpentry, roofing, siding, painting, masonry, and similar trades, but generally
excluding plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work that requires a separate trade license.
C. All commercial tenant fit-out work valued at $50,000 or less per contract.
D. Site development and excavation work for original construction, including grading and utility
installation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-1001 defines the Home
Improvement (HIC) specialty as covering the repair, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of
existing residential property. Common HIC work includes carpentry, roofing, siding, painting,
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, masonry, flooring, and similar trades. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work generally requires
a separate trade license even when performed within a residential remodeling project. The
Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual stresses that HIC licensees
must either subcontract specialty trades to licensees holding the appropriate trade designation,
or obtain the additional trade designations themselves before performing such work.
Question 5. Before applying for an initial Virginia contractor license, an applicant must
satisfy a pre-license education requirement. How many hours of Board-approved pre-
license education must an additional Class A, B, or C contractor applicant finish?
A. Three hours of pre-license education.
B. Forty hours of pre-license education.
C. Sixty hours of pre-license education.
D. Eight hours of pre-license education.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-60 requires every applicant for
an initial contractor license to finish eight hours of Board-approved pre-license education
covering Virginia contractor licensing law, business organization, financial management, and
project management fundamentals. The eight-hour requirement is the same for Class A, B, and
C applicants. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual directs
applicants to select from a list of Board-approved education providers, and the certificate of
completion must accompany the license application.
Question 6. Applicants for a Virginia Class A contractor license must document at least
how many years of experience in the building trades or related field?
A. One year of experience in any trade.
B. Five years of experience in any trade.
C. Two years of experience in the classification for which the applicant is applying.
D. Ten years of experience in the classification.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia Administrative Code section 18VAC50-22-60 requires Class A contractor
applicants to document at least two years of experience in the classification for which the license
is sought. Class B applicants must also document at least two years of experience, while Class C
applicants must document at least one year. The Virginia DPOR Home Improvement
Contractor Licensing Manual specifies that experience documentation must be provided on
forms approved by the Board, signed by a supervisor or employer, and accompanied by
supporting documentation such as contracts, permits, or photographs of completed work.
Question 7. To qualify for a Virginia Class A contractor license, an applicant (or the
applicant's firm) must demonstrate a minimum net worth. What is that minimum net
worth requirement?
A. $5,000 minimum net worth.
B. $45,000 minimum net worth.
C. $15,000 minimum net worth.
D. $100,000 minimum net worth.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Code section 54.1-1108 and the Virginia Administrative Code section
18VAC50-22-60 establish minimum financial responsibility requirements for each license class.
Class A applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of $45,000. Class B applicants must
demonstrate a minimum net worth of $15,000. Class C applicants are not subject to a minimum
net worth requirement but must demonstrate minimum financial responsibility through a
$2,000 line of credit or other Board-approved financial instrument. The Virginia DPOR Home
Improvement Contractor Licensing Manual explains that financial responsibility is tested by
Virginia Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Comprehensive Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
