1
Virginia HIC Home Improvement Contractor
Exam Practice Questions and Complete Solutions
Updated Study Guide 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: You're a handyman who has been doing small jobs around
Richmond for years. A homeowner asks you to build a deck that
will cost $1,800 in materials and labor combined. Under
Virginia law, do you need a Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) license for this job?
A. No, because the project cost is under $500
B. Yes, because any home improvement work over $1,000
requires an HIC license
C. No, because the threshold for HIC licensing is $2,500 or
more [CORRECT]
D. Yes, because all construction work on residential property
requires some form of DPOR licensing regardless of dollar
amount
Correct Answer: C
,2
Rationale: The best answer is C. Virginia Code § 54.1-1100 sets
the HIC licensing threshold at $2,500 or more for home
improvement contracts, so this $1,800 deck project falls below
that requirement. The other options either set the bar too low or
incorrectly suggest that all residential work needs licensing.
Q2: Your friend Marcus wants to apply for his Class A HIC
license in Virginia. He has five years of experience working as a
foreman for a licensed contractor and wants to know what else
he needs before submitting his application to DPOR. Which of
the following is a mandatory requirement he cannot skip?
A. He must submit at least three letters of recommendation from
previous clients
B. He must pass the Virginia HIC examination administered by
DPOR [CORRECT]
C. He must show proof of a minimum net worth of $50,000
D. He must have been a Virginia resident for at least two years
prior to applying
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This choice is correct because passing the Virginia
HIC examination is a core requirement for licensure under
DPOR regulations. While experience matters—and Marcus has
that—he still needs to demonstrate competency through the
,3
exam. The other options aren't actual DPOR requirements;
there's no minimum net worth rule or residency mandate for
HIC applicants.
Q3: Sarah runs a painting company and holds a valid Class B
HIC license. She recently took on a bathroom remodel that
involves tile work, plumbing fixture replacement, and drywall
repair. The total contract price is $18,000. A competitor tells her
she's operating outside her license classification. Is the
competitor correct?
A. Yes, because bathroom remodeling requires a Class A license
when the contract exceeds $10,000
B. Yes, because plumbing work always requires a separate
tradesman license regardless of scope
C. No, because a Class B HIC license covers home improvement
projects up to $120,000 per project, including multi-trade work
like this [CORRECT]
D. No, but only if she hires a subcontractor with a plumbing
license to handle the fixture replacement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer here is C. A Class B HIC license in
Virginia covers projects from $2,500 up to $120,000 per
contract, and it absolutely includes multi-trade home
, 4
improvement work like bathroom remodeling. The key
distinction between Class A and Class B isn't about trade type—
it's about the dollar volume of projects. Simple fixture
replacement typically doesn't trigger a separate plumbing
tradesman license requirement.
Q4: You receive a notice from DPOR stating that your HIC
license will expire on June 30th of this year. When is the latest
you can submit your renewal application without having to pay
late fees or risk lapsing your license?
A. Up to 30 days after the expiration date
B. Before midnight on June 30th [CORRECT]
C. Up to 60 days after expiration if you include a letter
explaining the delay
D. Anytime within the calendar year, as long as you haven't had
any complaints filed against you
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This aligns with DPOR's standard renewal policy—
your license expires on the date shown, and you need to renew
by that date to stay in good standing. There's no automatic grace
period built into the system like options A and C suggest, and
good standing doesn't grant you unlimited time to renew as
option D implies.
Virginia HIC Home Improvement Contractor
Exam Practice Questions and Complete Solutions
Updated Study Guide 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: You're a handyman who has been doing small jobs around
Richmond for years. A homeowner asks you to build a deck that
will cost $1,800 in materials and labor combined. Under
Virginia law, do you need a Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) license for this job?
A. No, because the project cost is under $500
B. Yes, because any home improvement work over $1,000
requires an HIC license
C. No, because the threshold for HIC licensing is $2,500 or
more [CORRECT]
D. Yes, because all construction work on residential property
requires some form of DPOR licensing regardless of dollar
amount
Correct Answer: C
,2
Rationale: The best answer is C. Virginia Code § 54.1-1100 sets
the HIC licensing threshold at $2,500 or more for home
improvement contracts, so this $1,800 deck project falls below
that requirement. The other options either set the bar too low or
incorrectly suggest that all residential work needs licensing.
Q2: Your friend Marcus wants to apply for his Class A HIC
license in Virginia. He has five years of experience working as a
foreman for a licensed contractor and wants to know what else
he needs before submitting his application to DPOR. Which of
the following is a mandatory requirement he cannot skip?
A. He must submit at least three letters of recommendation from
previous clients
B. He must pass the Virginia HIC examination administered by
DPOR [CORRECT]
C. He must show proof of a minimum net worth of $50,000
D. He must have been a Virginia resident for at least two years
prior to applying
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This choice is correct because passing the Virginia
HIC examination is a core requirement for licensure under
DPOR regulations. While experience matters—and Marcus has
that—he still needs to demonstrate competency through the
,3
exam. The other options aren't actual DPOR requirements;
there's no minimum net worth rule or residency mandate for
HIC applicants.
Q3: Sarah runs a painting company and holds a valid Class B
HIC license. She recently took on a bathroom remodel that
involves tile work, plumbing fixture replacement, and drywall
repair. The total contract price is $18,000. A competitor tells her
she's operating outside her license classification. Is the
competitor correct?
A. Yes, because bathroom remodeling requires a Class A license
when the contract exceeds $10,000
B. Yes, because plumbing work always requires a separate
tradesman license regardless of scope
C. No, because a Class B HIC license covers home improvement
projects up to $120,000 per project, including multi-trade work
like this [CORRECT]
D. No, but only if she hires a subcontractor with a plumbing
license to handle the fixture replacement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer here is C. A Class B HIC license in
Virginia covers projects from $2,500 up to $120,000 per
contract, and it absolutely includes multi-trade home
, 4
improvement work like bathroom remodeling. The key
distinction between Class A and Class B isn't about trade type—
it's about the dollar volume of projects. Simple fixture
replacement typically doesn't trigger a separate plumbing
tradesman license requirement.
Q4: You receive a notice from DPOR stating that your HIC
license will expire on June 30th of this year. When is the latest
you can submit your renewal application without having to pay
late fees or risk lapsing your license?
A. Up to 30 days after the expiration date
B. Before midnight on June 30th [CORRECT]
C. Up to 60 days after expiration if you include a letter
explaining the delay
D. Anytime within the calendar year, as long as you haven't had
any complaints filed against you
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This aligns with DPOR's standard renewal policy—
your license expires on the date shown, and you need to renew
by that date to stay in good standing. There's no automatic grace
period built into the system like options A and C suggest, and
good standing doesn't grant you unlimited time to renew as
option D implies.
