Virginia Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Virginia regulates painting through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Board for Contractors under Va. Code §54.1-1100. Any contractor performing $1,000 or more of work — including painters — must hold a Virginia contractor license. Painters obtain the Painting and Wallcovering Contracting (PTC) specialty designation. Three license classes set monetary limits: Class C ($10,000 single project / $150,000 annual), Class B ($120,000 / $750,000), Class A (unlimited). All applicants must complete a pre-license course, pass a Virginia exam, and designate a Qualified Individual. Federal EPA RRP applies for pre-1978 housing.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Whether or not Virginia licenses this trade, any work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing falls under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule nationwide. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

The Licensing Authority

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation — Board for Contractors (DPOR) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Code of Virginia Title 54.1 Chapter 11; 18 VAC 50-22 (Board for Contractors regulations). DPOR Board for Contractors licenses general and specialty contractors statewide, adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Contractors/
Address: 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233
Phone: (804) 367-8511

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Virginia residency requirement.

Good moral character

DPOR reviews criminal history; recent convictions may disqualify.

Background investigation

Disclosure required for all Qualified Individuals.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of 2 years of Class C: 2 years experience for the Qualified Individual. Class B: 3 years. Class A: 5 years. must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Pre-license education course completion certificate (8-hour Class C; longer for B/A)
PSI exam score reports (Business and Trade)
Experience verification letters from prior employers
Financial statement (Class A and B)

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Virginia Contractor Business and Law (Class A or B) — 50 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%
Virginia PTC Painting and Wallcovering Trade — 50 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $85 PSI per part; $385 DPOR application.

Retake policy: Retake after 30 days; application valid one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

No state minimum; $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 market standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under Va. Code §65.2-101 for any employer with two or more employees (construction industry rule).

Additional financial requirements

Class A requires $45,000 net worth; Class B requires $15,000 net worth; Class C has no financial requirement.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$385
Examination	$170
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every 2 years)	$385

License Renewal

The Virginia Class A/B/C Contractor License — Painting and Wallcovering Specialty (PTC) must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $385. Biennial renewal. Insurance and Qualified Individual designation must remain current.

Continuing education: 3 hours of CE required per renewal cycle covering Virginia contractor law.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Virginia Painting License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Virginia honors the NASCLA Accredited Examination toward this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
	—
	—
	—

Virginia accepts NASCLA Commercial exam in lieu of trade exam for Class A applicants. Limited reciprocity with MD, NC, WV on Business and Law.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Painting license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Form business entity with VA SCC. Register LLC/corporation and obtain EIN.
Choose license class A/B/C. Class C up to $10K project / $150K annual; Class B to $120K / $750K; Class A unlimited.
Designate a Qualified Individual with required experience. 2/3/5 years for C/B/A respectively.
Complete the pre-license course. 8-hour for Class C; longer for Class B and A.
Pass PSI Business and Law plus PTC trade exam. Score 70% on each (or NASCLA in lieu of trade for Class A).
Submit DPOR application with PTC specialty. $385 fee; financial statement for Class A and B.
Procure GL and workers compensation. $1M/$2M GL standard; WC at 2+ employees in construction.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Virginia Painting applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Bidding above license class limit

DPOR enforces class limits — Class C at $11,000 single project is unlicensed contracting.

Working without designating a Qualified Individual

Every license requires a designated QI with passing exam scores; losing the QI suspends the license.

Working at $1K+ unlicensed

Va. Code §54.1-1115 makes unlicensed contracting a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Ignoring EPA Lead RRP

Richmond and Norfolk have extensive pre-1978 housing.

Missing the 3-hour CE

Biennial renewal requires 3 hours of Virginia contractor law CE.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to DPOR:

☐ VA SCC business registration
☐ DPOR Class A/B/C contractor license with PTC specialty
☐ Qualified Individual with required experience
☐ Pre-license course certificate
☐ PSI Business and Law plus PTC Trade exam (or NASCLA)
☐ Financial statement (Class A and B)
☐ General liability insurance ($1M/$2M typical)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Virginia Contractor Reference Manual — Virginia DPOR. Primary exam reference.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — NASCLA. Class A alternative reference.
EPA Lead-Safe Work Practices Student Manual — US EPA. Required for RRP Renovator course.

Other Virginia Trade Licenses

For a different Virginia credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Virginia require a state painting license?

Yes. DPOR requires a contractor license at $1,000 or above under Va. Code §54.1-1100. Painters obtain the PTC (Painting and Wallcovering Contracting) specialty.

What are the three license classes?

Class C: up to $10,000 single project and $150,000 annual. Class B: $120,000 / $750,000. Class A: unlimited.

Is NASCLA accepted?

Yes. NASCLA Commercial exam is accepted in lieu of the VA trade exam for Class A applicants.

When is workers comp required?

At two or more employees in the construction industry under Va. Code §65.2-101.

Is EPA Lead RRP required?

Yes. Richmond, Norfolk, and Alexandria have substantial pre-1978 housing.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-05 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-03