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These days, a four-year degree is extremely expensive, and paying off student loan debt comes with a lot of stress. It’s no surprise, then, that many young adults are turning to skilled trades.

Professions like contracting, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC offer livable wages and the opportunity to work for oneself. Contractors in particular enjoy the opportunity to take on a wide range of construction jobs, depending on the type of license they hold.

In the state of Virginia, skilled tradespeople are required to obtain a license from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations (DPOR). While you can work without one, you cannot legally perform jobs valued at over $1,000 without a license, which makes it impractical to forgo licensure.

Perhaps you’re interested in a specialization like drywall. This includes the installation, repair, replacement, and finishing of materials such as:

• Drywall
• Gypsum wallboard
• Sheathing
• Cementitious board
• Sheet metal
• Nonstructural partitioning

If so, you’ll need to obtain both a General Contractor license and a drywall classification. But how do you go about reaching these goals?

Requirements for a General Contractor License

A General Contractor license is a prerequisite for all types of specializations within the construction industry. You can choose from Class A, B, or C licenses, depending on your experience and the work you prefer to do.

First, you must be at least 18 years old to obtain any license. From there, you’ll have to complete an eight-hour pre-licensing course, pass associated exams, and meet other criteria particular to each class.

A Class A license, which has no limitations on the value of projects you may bid on, requires five years of experience. You must also pass the Virginia, General, Advanced, and specialty trade exams.

With a Class B license, you may perform single contracts valued at less than $120,000 and jobs totaling less than $750,000 over a 12-month period. However, you need only three years of experience to apply, and you’ll have to pass the Virginia, General, and specialty trade exams.

A Class C license is the most restrictive, with single contracts limited to less than $10,000 and total revenue for a 12-month period restricted to less than $150,000. That said, you only need two years of experience and a passing grade on the specialty trade exam for this license.

Requirements for a Drywall Classification

The drywall classification is an add-on to your existing General Contractor license. To obtain it, you’ll take the Drywall Contracting exam, a 90-minute open-book test consisting of topics like:

• Estimating and plan reading
• Materials and installation
• Taping
• Special applications
• Safety

Passing the exam requires answering 28 out of 40 questions correctly. If you want to pass the first time, reliable exam prep is vital.

Exam Prep Geared Toward Working Professionals

First, you’ll want to find a program approved by the DPOR, and courses that offer convenient, self-paced, online learning are ideal for working professionals. With lifetime access to materials, courses prepared by industry experts, and a no pass, no pay policy, you have everything you need to pass your exam and obtain your license.

RocketCert is committed to helping skilled tradespeople in Virginia obtain the licenses needed to advance their careers. If you’re ready to get started, contact us today.