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Professional painters and wallpaper installers in Virginia have a clear path to scoring more high-paying opportunities: getting licensed. 

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation requires anyone undertaking a construction or home improvement project valued at more than $1,000 to hold a valid contractor license. You can’t legally bid on or perform these jobs without one, and not having one could be holding you back. Here’s how to change that. 

Select Your License Class 

First, decide which license class is most appropriate for your business. Virginia separates contractor licenses into three classes: Class A, Class B, and Class C. These classifications are based on the maximum value of the projects the license holder intends to take on. 

Class A 

This is the highest tier and will allow you to work on projects of any value. However, it also has the strictest qualifications. You’ll need to demonstrate at least five years of trade experience and show a minimum business net worth of $45,000. There’s no revenue cap with a Class A license. 

Class B 

This tier allows you to work on individual projects valued up to $150,000. It’s the perfect middle ground, but still comes with a barrier to entry: a minimum of three years of experience and a net worth of $15,000. Class B-licensed contractors can’t exceed $1,000,000 in annual revenue. 

Class C 

This license is best for smaller jobs, enabling you to bid on projects up to $30,000. It’s the most lenient in terms of requirements, with no minimum net worth requirement and only one year of experience. Class C licenses come with a cap of $250,000 in total annual revenue. 

Assign the Required Roles 

Each license application has two roles you’ll need to assign either to yourself or to someone else in the business. 

The first is the designated employee. This is the person responsible for your administrative oversight, like filling out the application. The second is the qualified individual. This is the person who does the actual hands-on painting and wall covering.  

You can designate both of these roles to the same person, which is common for a sole proprietorship. For example, if you’re the business owner and have the painting experience, you can assign yourself both roles, even if you have other qualified individuals on staff. 

Meet the Educational and Testing Requirements 

Both the designated employee and the qualified individual will need to prove their expertise through a series of tests. 

The designated employee must complete a mandatory eight-hour pre-licensing course, which is a requirement for all new Virginia contractors. Fortunately, once you’re done, the qualification is valid for life. 

If you’re applying for a Class A or Class B license, the designated employee must also pass the Virginia Contractor Business/Law Exam. This test covers various topics, including estimating and bidding, project management, labor laws, and contracts.  

While the exam is being graded and processed, the qualified individual must send an experience-verification form to the state for pre-approval. They’ll then take a specific trade exam for the painting and wall-covering license. 

Licensing Done Right 

The big jobs are out there — all you need to do is prove you’re ready for them. Start growing your business by obtaining your Virginia contractor’s license with preparation help from RocketCert.