Virginia Residential HVAC Contractor Exam
Questions & Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A
SECTION 1: LICENSING AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
1. Which regulatory body primarily oversees the licensing and
enforcement of residential HVAC contractor certification in Virginia?
A. Virginia Department of Energy
B. Virginia Department of Transportation
C. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
(DPOR)
D. Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office
Rationale: The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation (DPOR) is responsible for contractor licensing, enforcement of
regulations, and oversight of trades including residential HVAC under the
Board for Contractors.
2. Under Virginia law, a residential HVAC tradesman license is limited to
work in which types of structures?
A. Commercial buildings only
B. Industrial facilities only
C. Dwellings and townhouses
D. All structures regardless of use
Rationale: The scope of practice for a residential HVAC tradesman license is
limited to HVAC work in dwellings and townhouses and does not include
commercial, industrial, institutional, or government use structures.
3. Which of the following best describes the HVAC contractor
classification under Virginia Board for Contractors regulations?
,A. HVAC contractors (HVA) install, alter, repair, or maintain heating,
ventilating, cooling systems, boilers, and mechanical refrigeration
systems
B. HVAC contractors only install ductwork and air distribution systems
C. HVAC contractors are limited to residential air conditioning only
D. HVAC contractors may perform any type of construction work
Rationale: HVAC contractors (Abbr: HVA) are those whose work includes the
installation, alteration, repair, or maintenance of heating systems, ventilating
systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heaters, boilers, process
piping, and mechanical refrigeration systems.
4. An applicant for the residential HVAC tradesman examination in
Virginia must furnish evidence of which experience and education
standard?
A. Bachelor's degree with no experience
B. 160 hours of formal vocational training and two years of practical
experience
C. High school diploma only
D. Five years of experience with no training
Rationale: An applicant for examination to be licensed as a residential HVAC
tradesman must furnish evidence of 160 hours of formal vocational training in
the trade AND two years of practical experience in the trade, among other
combinations.
5. Which Virginia code establishes the minimum legal requirements for
HVAC installation in residential structures?
A. National Electrical Code (NEC) only
B. Virginia Residential Code and Virginia Uniform Statewide Building
Code
C. OSHA Construction Standards only
D. EPA Energy Star Program Guidelines
,Rationale: The Virginia Residential Code and the Virginia Uniform Statewide
Building Code (VUSBC) establish the minimum legal requirements for HVAC
installation in residential structures such as townhouses.
6. Under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), heating
and cooling equipment shall be installed in accordance with:
A. The installer's preferred methods
B. The manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the code
C. Only the manufacturer's instructions
D. Only local building department requirements
Rationale: Heating and cooling equipment and appliances shall be installed in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the
Virginia Residential Code.
7. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a residential HVAC
tradesman license in Virginia?
A. 16 years old
B. 18 years old
C. 21 years old
D. 25 years old
Rationale: Applicants for tradesman licensure in Virginia must be at least 18
years of age.
8. The Virginia Board for Contractors requires HVAC contractors to
designate which individual for each specialty on its license?
A. A certified public accountant
B. A Qualified Individual (QI)
C. A licensed architect
D. A professional engineer
Rationale: Every licensed contractor must identify a Qualified Individual (QI)
for each specialty on its license. Since the 1990s, many specialties (such as
, HVAC) already required the QI to hold an individual tradesman license or
other approved certification.
9. In Virginia, a Class B contractor license is required for projects valued
at:
A. Less than $1,000
B. **$10,000 or more but less than $120,000**
C. $120,000 or more
D. Any project regardless of value
Rationale: Class B contractors work on single contracts for $10,000 or more
but less than $120,000, or contracts totaling $150,000 or more but less than
$750,000 over a one-year period.
10. Contractors who work in the HVAC trade in Virginia must have which
license type according to project amount?
A. Only a Class C license
B. Either a Class A or Class B license
C. Only a tradesman license
D. No license is required
Rationale: Contractors who work in the plumbing, electrical, or
heating/ventilation/air-conditioning trades must have either a Class A or
Class B license, according to project amount.
11. Which of the following is NOT included in the scope of practice for an
HVAC contractor in Virginia?
A. Installation of heating systems
B. Installation of cooling systems
C. Fire suppression and sprinkler system installations
D. Installation of mechanical refrigeration systems
Rationale: The HVAC classification does not provide for fire suppression
installations or sprinkler system installations.
Questions & Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A
SECTION 1: LICENSING AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
1. Which regulatory body primarily oversees the licensing and
enforcement of residential HVAC contractor certification in Virginia?
A. Virginia Department of Energy
B. Virginia Department of Transportation
C. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
(DPOR)
D. Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office
Rationale: The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation (DPOR) is responsible for contractor licensing, enforcement of
regulations, and oversight of trades including residential HVAC under the
Board for Contractors.
2. Under Virginia law, a residential HVAC tradesman license is limited to
work in which types of structures?
A. Commercial buildings only
B. Industrial facilities only
C. Dwellings and townhouses
D. All structures regardless of use
Rationale: The scope of practice for a residential HVAC tradesman license is
limited to HVAC work in dwellings and townhouses and does not include
commercial, industrial, institutional, or government use structures.
3. Which of the following best describes the HVAC contractor
classification under Virginia Board for Contractors regulations?
,A. HVAC contractors (HVA) install, alter, repair, or maintain heating,
ventilating, cooling systems, boilers, and mechanical refrigeration
systems
B. HVAC contractors only install ductwork and air distribution systems
C. HVAC contractors are limited to residential air conditioning only
D. HVAC contractors may perform any type of construction work
Rationale: HVAC contractors (Abbr: HVA) are those whose work includes the
installation, alteration, repair, or maintenance of heating systems, ventilating
systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heaters, boilers, process
piping, and mechanical refrigeration systems.
4. An applicant for the residential HVAC tradesman examination in
Virginia must furnish evidence of which experience and education
standard?
A. Bachelor's degree with no experience
B. 160 hours of formal vocational training and two years of practical
experience
C. High school diploma only
D. Five years of experience with no training
Rationale: An applicant for examination to be licensed as a residential HVAC
tradesman must furnish evidence of 160 hours of formal vocational training in
the trade AND two years of practical experience in the trade, among other
combinations.
5. Which Virginia code establishes the minimum legal requirements for
HVAC installation in residential structures?
A. National Electrical Code (NEC) only
B. Virginia Residential Code and Virginia Uniform Statewide Building
Code
C. OSHA Construction Standards only
D. EPA Energy Star Program Guidelines
,Rationale: The Virginia Residential Code and the Virginia Uniform Statewide
Building Code (VUSBC) establish the minimum legal requirements for HVAC
installation in residential structures such as townhouses.
6. Under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), heating
and cooling equipment shall be installed in accordance with:
A. The installer's preferred methods
B. The manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the code
C. Only the manufacturer's instructions
D. Only local building department requirements
Rationale: Heating and cooling equipment and appliances shall be installed in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the
Virginia Residential Code.
7. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a residential HVAC
tradesman license in Virginia?
A. 16 years old
B. 18 years old
C. 21 years old
D. 25 years old
Rationale: Applicants for tradesman licensure in Virginia must be at least 18
years of age.
8. The Virginia Board for Contractors requires HVAC contractors to
designate which individual for each specialty on its license?
A. A certified public accountant
B. A Qualified Individual (QI)
C. A licensed architect
D. A professional engineer
Rationale: Every licensed contractor must identify a Qualified Individual (QI)
for each specialty on its license. Since the 1990s, many specialties (such as
, HVAC) already required the QI to hold an individual tradesman license or
other approved certification.
9. In Virginia, a Class B contractor license is required for projects valued
at:
A. Less than $1,000
B. **$10,000 or more but less than $120,000**
C. $120,000 or more
D. Any project regardless of value
Rationale: Class B contractors work on single contracts for $10,000 or more
but less than $120,000, or contracts totaling $150,000 or more but less than
$750,000 over a one-year period.
10. Contractors who work in the HVAC trade in Virginia must have which
license type according to project amount?
A. Only a Class C license
B. Either a Class A or Class B license
C. Only a tradesman license
D. No license is required
Rationale: Contractors who work in the plumbing, electrical, or
heating/ventilation/air-conditioning trades must have either a Class A or
Class B license, according to project amount.
11. Which of the following is NOT included in the scope of practice for an
HVAC contractor in Virginia?
A. Installation of heating systems
B. Installation of cooling systems
C. Fire suppression and sprinkler system installations
D. Installation of mechanical refrigeration systems
Rationale: The HVAC classification does not provide for fire suppression
installations or sprinkler system installations.
