Blog

Carpentry is a noble and necessary profession that contributes substantially to the construction industry. As a Finish Carpentry Contractor, you’ll be involved in the installation, repair, replacement, and finishing of a range of household surfaces and structures, including the following:

• Wooden flooring and baseboards
• Window and door casings
• Cabinets and countertops
• Millwork

Finish carpentry work is essential to many residential and commercial repair and improvement projects. And there is always considerable demand for capable, licensed contractors.

In the state of Virginia, you must obtain a license from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations (DPOR) in order to operate as a professional. Without a license, you are limited to jobs valued at $1,000 or less. But how do you go about obtaining a suitable license?

Start with a General Contractor License

Before you can obtain a Finish Carpentry license, you’ll first need to have a general contractor license. There are three Classes to choose from: A, B, and C.

All of them require that you be 18 years of age or older and complete an approved, 8-hour pre-licensing course and a specialty trade exam. From there, the requirements and outcomes differ.

Class A

A Class A license requires five years of experience, and you must pass the Virginia, General, and Advanced exams. That said, there are no limits to the value of jobs you can bid on.

Class B

To obtain a Class B license, you need three years of experience and must pass the Virginia and General exams. However, job opportunities are limited to individual projects valued at less than $120,000, with a total value of work for a 12-month period of less than $750,000.

Class C

A Class C license comes with no additional testing requirements, but you’ll need two years of experience, and the value for an individual contract is limited to less than $10,000, with contracts totaling less than $150,000 over a 12-month period.

Add a Finish Carpentry License

Depending on your experience, you may start with a Class C license and work your way up to Class B or A in time as you gain more experience in your field. However, you need not wait to get your finish carpentry add-on. You can test for it with any level of General Contractor license. This 60-minute open-book test covers topics like:

• Fabrication
• Installation
• Materials
• Finishing
• Hand Tools
• Safety
• Machines
• Plans and estimating

You must get a minimum of 21 out of 30 questions right to pass the exam and obtain your license. With the right test prep, you have the best chance for success on the first try.

Prepare to Pass Exams the First Time

Passing exams is a priority if you want to advance in your career and take on high-value contracts. The right exam prep course will not only offer the convenience of online, self-paced learning but lifetime access to course materials so you can refresh your knowledge as needed.

At RocketCert, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for and pass your Virginia Finish Carpentry Contractor exam and obtain your license. Contact us today to find the right courses and get started.