VA ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEM
CONTRACTING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
TEST BANK WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES |ALL
CHAPTERS COVERED |LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: VIRGINIA AES SPECIALTY — REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK AND LICENSING (QUESTIONS 1–60)
1. In Virginia, what is the legal nature of the Alternative Energy System
Contracting (AES) designation?
A) A standalone contractor's license
B) A specialty designation declared by licensed contractors
C) A federal certification
D) An electrical license subcategory
Answer: B
Rationale: The AES is not a license; it is a specialty that Class A, B, or C licensed
contractors may declare as defined by the Board for Contractors.
2. Which Virginia agency administers the AES specialty?
A) Virginia Department of Energy
B) Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
C) State Corporation Commission
D) Virginia Department of Transportation
,Answer: B
Rationale: DPOR, through the Board for Contractors, defines and regulates the
AES specialty.
3. The AES specialty defines work as beginning from which point?
A) The utility transformer
B) The customer's meter
C) The service panel
D) The generation source
Answer: B
Rationale: DPOR defines AES as work "from the customer's meter" for alternative
energy generation systems.
4. Which of the following functions is explicitly excluded from the AES
specialty scope?
A) Solar panel mounting
B) Wind turbine installation
C) Electrical wiring
D) Geothermal loop installation
Answer: C
Rationale: The AES specialty "does not provide for electrical, plumbing, gas
fitting, or HVAC functions".
5. Before scheduling the Virginia AES specialty exam, an applicant must
obtain approval from:
A) NABCEP
B) PSI
C) DPOR
D) The local building department
Answer: C
Rationale: DPOR pre-approval is mandatory; the exam cannot be scheduled with
PSI without it.
6. The Virginia AES specialty exam is administered by which entity?
,A) DPOR directly
B) PSI
C) NABCEP
D) The Board for Contractors directly
Answer: B
Rationale: PSI administers the AES specialty exam on behalf of DPOR and the
Board for Contractors.
7. As of September 1, 2025, AES applicants must also obtain which additional
specialty?
A) Electrical (ELE)
B) Roofing (ROC)
C) HVAC
D) Plumbing (PLB)
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective September 1, 2025, AES applicants must also pass the
Roofing (ROC) specialty exam as a prerequisite.
8. In addition to the ROC specialty, AES applicants must complete:
A) LEED certification
B) NABCEP certification or a Board-approved equivalent
C) A PE license
D) OSHA 30-hour training
Answer: B
Rationale: AES applicants must complete NABCEP certification or an equivalent
approved by the Board.
9. Which energy system falls within the AES specialty scope?
A) Diesel emergency generator
B) Solar photovoltaic system
C) Natural gas generator
D) Coal-fired boiler
, Answer: B
Rationale: AES covers alternative energy generation systems such as solar; fossil
fuel emergency generators are outside this definition.
10. Does the AES specialty authorize a contractor to perform the electrical
interconnection of a photovoltaic system?
A) Yes, fully
B) No, a separate electrical license is required
C) Yes, but only for residential systems
D) Only for systems under 10 kW
Answer: B
Rationale: AES excludes electrical functions; an electrical license is required for
PV system electrical work.
11. What is the foundational credential required before a contractor may
declare the AES specialty?
A) Any individual may apply
B) A Class A, B, or C contractor license
C) NABCEP certification alone
D) An electrical journeyman license
Answer: B
Rationale: AES is a specialty designation available only to holders of Class A, B,
or C contractor licenses.
12. Which of the following is NOT an alternative energy system covered by the
AES specialty?
A) Solar
B) Wind
C) Nuclear
D) Geothermal
Answer: C
Rationale: AES covers renewable energy generation systems; nuclear energy is
not within this category.
CONTRACTING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
TEST BANK WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES |ALL
CHAPTERS COVERED |LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: VIRGINIA AES SPECIALTY — REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK AND LICENSING (QUESTIONS 1–60)
1. In Virginia, what is the legal nature of the Alternative Energy System
Contracting (AES) designation?
A) A standalone contractor's license
B) A specialty designation declared by licensed contractors
C) A federal certification
D) An electrical license subcategory
Answer: B
Rationale: The AES is not a license; it is a specialty that Class A, B, or C licensed
contractors may declare as defined by the Board for Contractors.
2. Which Virginia agency administers the AES specialty?
A) Virginia Department of Energy
B) Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
C) State Corporation Commission
D) Virginia Department of Transportation
,Answer: B
Rationale: DPOR, through the Board for Contractors, defines and regulates the
AES specialty.
3. The AES specialty defines work as beginning from which point?
A) The utility transformer
B) The customer's meter
C) The service panel
D) The generation source
Answer: B
Rationale: DPOR defines AES as work "from the customer's meter" for alternative
energy generation systems.
4. Which of the following functions is explicitly excluded from the AES
specialty scope?
A) Solar panel mounting
B) Wind turbine installation
C) Electrical wiring
D) Geothermal loop installation
Answer: C
Rationale: The AES specialty "does not provide for electrical, plumbing, gas
fitting, or HVAC functions".
5. Before scheduling the Virginia AES specialty exam, an applicant must
obtain approval from:
A) NABCEP
B) PSI
C) DPOR
D) The local building department
Answer: C
Rationale: DPOR pre-approval is mandatory; the exam cannot be scheduled with
PSI without it.
6. The Virginia AES specialty exam is administered by which entity?
,A) DPOR directly
B) PSI
C) NABCEP
D) The Board for Contractors directly
Answer: B
Rationale: PSI administers the AES specialty exam on behalf of DPOR and the
Board for Contractors.
7. As of September 1, 2025, AES applicants must also obtain which additional
specialty?
A) Electrical (ELE)
B) Roofing (ROC)
C) HVAC
D) Plumbing (PLB)
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective September 1, 2025, AES applicants must also pass the
Roofing (ROC) specialty exam as a prerequisite.
8. In addition to the ROC specialty, AES applicants must complete:
A) LEED certification
B) NABCEP certification or a Board-approved equivalent
C) A PE license
D) OSHA 30-hour training
Answer: B
Rationale: AES applicants must complete NABCEP certification or an equivalent
approved by the Board.
9. Which energy system falls within the AES specialty scope?
A) Diesel emergency generator
B) Solar photovoltaic system
C) Natural gas generator
D) Coal-fired boiler
, Answer: B
Rationale: AES covers alternative energy generation systems such as solar; fossil
fuel emergency generators are outside this definition.
10. Does the AES specialty authorize a contractor to perform the electrical
interconnection of a photovoltaic system?
A) Yes, fully
B) No, a separate electrical license is required
C) Yes, but only for residential systems
D) Only for systems under 10 kW
Answer: B
Rationale: AES excludes electrical functions; an electrical license is required for
PV system electrical work.
11. What is the foundational credential required before a contractor may
declare the AES specialty?
A) Any individual may apply
B) A Class A, B, or C contractor license
C) NABCEP certification alone
D) An electrical journeyman license
Answer: B
Rationale: AES is a specialty designation available only to holders of Class A, B,
or C contractor licenses.
12. Which of the following is NOT an alternative energy system covered by the
AES specialty?
A) Solar
B) Wind
C) Nuclear
D) Geothermal
Answer: C
Rationale: AES covers renewable energy generation systems; nuclear energy is
not within this category.
