Virginia HIC Exam Home Improvement Contractor
Complete Practice Exam DPOR-Aligned Actual Exam
2026/2027 Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
Part I: Virginia Law & Regulatory Compliance (Questions 1-15)
Q1: Under current Virginia DPOR regulations, what is the maximum single contract value
a Class C licensed contractor is permitted to undertake?
A. $15,000
B. $25,000
C. $29,999 [CORRECT]
D. $49,999
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. A Class C license covers single contracts over $1,000 but
under $30,000, so $29,999 is the ceiling. Anything at $30,000 or above bumps you into
Class B territory, and many folks miss that by thinking it's a round $30,000 cutoff.
Q2: Marcus runs a small handyman business and just landed a whole-house siding job
quoted at $42,000. He currently holds only a Class C license. What is his best course of
action before signing the contract?
A. He can take the job and upgrade his license later if DPOR asks about it.
,B. He must either downgrade the scope to fit under $30,000 or upgrade to a Class B
license before proceeding. [CORRECT]
C. He can subcontract the excess amount over $30,000 to another contractor.
D. He can split the project into two separate contracts of $21,000 each.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Virginia law ties your license class directly to the
contract value, and doing work outside your class is treated similarly to being
unlicensed. You can't get around the threshold by chopping the job into pieces or
pushing work downstream.
Q3: How many years of documented experience must a qualified individual show to
support a Class B contractor license application in Virginia?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years [CORRECT]
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Class B requires three years of experience for the
qualified individual. Five years is the Class A standard, and one year is for Class C, so it's
easy to mix these up if you're not paying attention.
Q4: A contractor's license has been expired for six weeks, but he continues to bid on
residential remodeling jobs. A homeowner files a complaint with DPOR. Which
statement best describes the Board's likely response?
,A. The Board cannot take action because the complaint came from a consumer, not
another licensee.
B. The Board may impose civil penalties and treat the activity as unlicensed contracting.
[CORRECT]
C. The Board will only issue a warning letter since the lapse was less than 90 days.
D. The Board must refer all cases to the local police immediately.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Operating with an expired license is essentially the same
as working without one in DPOR's eyes. The Board can levy fines up to $2,500 per
violation for licensed contractors and higher penalties for unlicensed activity, plus it can
refer matters for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Q5: Which of the following best describes the net worth or bonding requirement for a
Class A contractor in Virginia?
A. No minimum net worth is required; only a $10,000 bond.
B. $15,000 net worth or a $25,000 surety bond.
C. $45,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. [CORRECT]
D. $100,000 net worth and a $100,000 surety bond.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Class A contractors need to show either $45,000 in net
worth or post a $50,000 surety bond. Class B drops to $15,000 net worth or the same
$50,000 bond option, while Class C has no net worth minimum at all.
, Q6: Before a designated employee can sit for the Virginia contractor licensing exam,
what pre-license education requirement must be satisfied?
A. A 4-hour online ethics course approved by DPOR.
B. An 8-hour pre-license education course. [CORRECT]
C. A 16-hour business law seminar.
D. No pre-license education is required for the designated employee.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Virginia requires every designated employee to
complete an 8-hour pre-license education course before taking the PSI exam. This
applies across Class A and B; Class C follows a different path where the qualified
individual is generally exam-exempt.
Q7: Sarah is the sole owner of a Class B home improvement company. She completed
the 8-hour course and passed the law exam. Her lead carpenter, Mike, has 4 years of
hands-on experience and will oversee all fieldwork. Which statement accurately
describes their licensing roles?
A. Sarah is the qualified individual and Mike is the designated employee.
B. Sarah is the designated employee and Mike can serve as the qualified individual.
[CORRECT]
C. Both Sarah and Mike must pass the trade exam to activate the license.
D. Mike cannot be the qualified individual because he is not the business owner.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. The designated employee is the person who completes
the pre-license course and passes the business/law exam, while the qualified individual
is the person with the verified trade experience. They can be the same person, but they
Complete Practice Exam DPOR-Aligned Actual Exam
2026/2027 Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
Part I: Virginia Law & Regulatory Compliance (Questions 1-15)
Q1: Under current Virginia DPOR regulations, what is the maximum single contract value
a Class C licensed contractor is permitted to undertake?
A. $15,000
B. $25,000
C. $29,999 [CORRECT]
D. $49,999
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. A Class C license covers single contracts over $1,000 but
under $30,000, so $29,999 is the ceiling. Anything at $30,000 or above bumps you into
Class B territory, and many folks miss that by thinking it's a round $30,000 cutoff.
Q2: Marcus runs a small handyman business and just landed a whole-house siding job
quoted at $42,000. He currently holds only a Class C license. What is his best course of
action before signing the contract?
A. He can take the job and upgrade his license later if DPOR asks about it.
,B. He must either downgrade the scope to fit under $30,000 or upgrade to a Class B
license before proceeding. [CORRECT]
C. He can subcontract the excess amount over $30,000 to another contractor.
D. He can split the project into two separate contracts of $21,000 each.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Virginia law ties your license class directly to the
contract value, and doing work outside your class is treated similarly to being
unlicensed. You can't get around the threshold by chopping the job into pieces or
pushing work downstream.
Q3: How many years of documented experience must a qualified individual show to
support a Class B contractor license application in Virginia?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years [CORRECT]
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Class B requires three years of experience for the
qualified individual. Five years is the Class A standard, and one year is for Class C, so it's
easy to mix these up if you're not paying attention.
Q4: A contractor's license has been expired for six weeks, but he continues to bid on
residential remodeling jobs. A homeowner files a complaint with DPOR. Which
statement best describes the Board's likely response?
,A. The Board cannot take action because the complaint came from a consumer, not
another licensee.
B. The Board may impose civil penalties and treat the activity as unlicensed contracting.
[CORRECT]
C. The Board will only issue a warning letter since the lapse was less than 90 days.
D. The Board must refer all cases to the local police immediately.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Operating with an expired license is essentially the same
as working without one in DPOR's eyes. The Board can levy fines up to $2,500 per
violation for licensed contractors and higher penalties for unlicensed activity, plus it can
refer matters for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Q5: Which of the following best describes the net worth or bonding requirement for a
Class A contractor in Virginia?
A. No minimum net worth is required; only a $10,000 bond.
B. $15,000 net worth or a $25,000 surety bond.
C. $45,000 net worth or a $50,000 surety bond. [CORRECT]
D. $100,000 net worth and a $100,000 surety bond.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Class A contractors need to show either $45,000 in net
worth or post a $50,000 surety bond. Class B drops to $15,000 net worth or the same
$50,000 bond option, while Class C has no net worth minimum at all.
, Q6: Before a designated employee can sit for the Virginia contractor licensing exam,
what pre-license education requirement must be satisfied?
A. A 4-hour online ethics course approved by DPOR.
B. An 8-hour pre-license education course. [CORRECT]
C. A 16-hour business law seminar.
D. No pre-license education is required for the designated employee.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Virginia requires every designated employee to
complete an 8-hour pre-license education course before taking the PSI exam. This
applies across Class A and B; Class C follows a different path where the qualified
individual is generally exam-exempt.
Q7: Sarah is the sole owner of a Class B home improvement company. She completed
the 8-hour course and passed the law exam. Her lead carpenter, Mike, has 4 years of
hands-on experience and will oversee all fieldwork. Which statement accurately
describes their licensing roles?
A. Sarah is the qualified individual and Mike is the designated employee.
B. Sarah is the designated employee and Mike can serve as the qualified individual.
[CORRECT]
C. Both Sarah and Mike must pass the trade exam to activate the license.
D. Mike cannot be the qualified individual because he is not the business owner.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. The designated employee is the person who completes
the pre-license course and passes the business/law exam, while the qualified individual
is the person with the verified trade experience. They can be the same person, but they
