Virginia HIC Exam 2026/2027 | Home Improvement Contractor
| Complete Practice Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales
QUESTIONS 1–250
1.
What does the HIC specialty primarily cover in Virginia?
A. Construction of all commercial buildings
B. Repairs or improvements to dwellings, townhouses, and structures
annexed to them
C. Electrical service installations only
D. Industrial process construction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIC is specifically defined for repairs and improvements to
dwellings and townhouses and structures annexed to them. It is not a
general authorization for commercial construction or electrical work.
2.
Which abbreviation identifies the Home Improvement Contracting
specialty?
A. RBC
B. HIC
C. CIC
D. CBC
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIC is the Virginia Board for Contractors abbreviation for
Home Improvement Contracting. RBC is Residential Building Contractor,
CIC is Commercial Improvement Contracting, and CBC is Commercial
Building Contractor
3.
Which type of work is specifically excluded from the HIC specialty?
A. Painting
B. Finish carpentry
C. Electrical work
D. Masonry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The HIC specialty does not provide for electrical, plumbing,
HVAC, or gas-fitting functions. A contractor must have the appropriate
authority for those trades.
4.
A homeowner hires an HIC contractor to replace interior doors and
trim. Which statement is most accurate?
A. The work generally falls within HIC scope
B. Only an electrical contractor may perform the work
C. Only a commercial contractor may perform it
D. The work is automatically outside contractor licensing
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Interior improvement work such as finish carpentry and
related repairs can fall within HIC scope. Virginia specifically recognizes
finish carpentry as a specialty that HIC may perform.
5.
Which classification generally covers construction, remodeling, repair,
improvement, removal, or demolition of dwellings and townhouses?
A. CBC
B. CIC
C. RBC
D. FIC
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: RBC means Residential Building Contractor and covers the
broader residential building scope, including dwellings and townhouses
and related accessory structures.
6.
Which classification generally covers commercial, industrial,
institutional, governmental, and accessory-use buildings?
A. CBC
B. HIC
C. RBC
D. PTC
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CBC is the Commercial Building Contractor classification. Its
scope includes construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal,
and demolition of specified nonresidential structures.
7.
Which Virginia agency administers contractor licensing through the
Board for Contractors?
A. Virginia Department of Transportation
B. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
C. Department of Motor Vehicles
D. Department of Labor and Industry exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Board for Contractors operates under the Virginia
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).
8.
A Virginia contractor license is issued primarily to whom?
A. The individual laborer
B. The project architect
C. The business entity
D. The homeowner
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia DPOR states that contractor licenses are issued to
business entities rather than individuals. Individuals may serve as
| Complete Practice Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales
QUESTIONS 1–250
1.
What does the HIC specialty primarily cover in Virginia?
A. Construction of all commercial buildings
B. Repairs or improvements to dwellings, townhouses, and structures
annexed to them
C. Electrical service installations only
D. Industrial process construction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIC is specifically defined for repairs and improvements to
dwellings and townhouses and structures annexed to them. It is not a
general authorization for commercial construction or electrical work.
2.
Which abbreviation identifies the Home Improvement Contracting
specialty?
A. RBC
B. HIC
C. CIC
D. CBC
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIC is the Virginia Board for Contractors abbreviation for
Home Improvement Contracting. RBC is Residential Building Contractor,
CIC is Commercial Improvement Contracting, and CBC is Commercial
Building Contractor
3.
Which type of work is specifically excluded from the HIC specialty?
A. Painting
B. Finish carpentry
C. Electrical work
D. Masonry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The HIC specialty does not provide for electrical, plumbing,
HVAC, or gas-fitting functions. A contractor must have the appropriate
authority for those trades.
4.
A homeowner hires an HIC contractor to replace interior doors and
trim. Which statement is most accurate?
A. The work generally falls within HIC scope
B. Only an electrical contractor may perform the work
C. Only a commercial contractor may perform it
D. The work is automatically outside contractor licensing
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Interior improvement work such as finish carpentry and
related repairs can fall within HIC scope. Virginia specifically recognizes
finish carpentry as a specialty that HIC may perform.
5.
Which classification generally covers construction, remodeling, repair,
improvement, removal, or demolition of dwellings and townhouses?
A. CBC
B. CIC
C. RBC
D. FIC
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: RBC means Residential Building Contractor and covers the
broader residential building scope, including dwellings and townhouses
and related accessory structures.
6.
Which classification generally covers commercial, industrial,
institutional, governmental, and accessory-use buildings?
A. CBC
B. HIC
C. RBC
D. PTC
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CBC is the Commercial Building Contractor classification. Its
scope includes construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal,
and demolition of specified nonresidential structures.
7.
Which Virginia agency administers contractor licensing through the
Board for Contractors?
A. Virginia Department of Transportation
B. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
C. Department of Motor Vehicles
D. Department of Labor and Industry exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Board for Contractors operates under the Virginia
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).
8.
A Virginia contractor license is issued primarily to whom?
A. The individual laborer
B. The project architect
C. The business entity
D. The homeowner
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia DPOR states that contractor licenses are issued to
business entities rather than individuals. Individuals may serve as
