Exam requirement for certain contractors

Effective December 1, 2012, many Qualified Individuals must complete written exam

Board for Contractors regulations—effective December 1, 2012—amend the eligibility criteria for Qualified Individuals associated with licensed contractors. 

As always, every licensed contractor must identify a Qualified Individual (QI) for each specialty on its license. Since the 1990s, many specialties (such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC) already required the QI to hold an individual tradesman license or other approved certification, or to pass an exam. 

Effective December 1, 2012, additional requirements for Qualified Individuals—specifically, a board-approved written exam—applied as well to those specialties not already covered. 

The reason for the change is to give the board more information to ensure only properly qualified contractors obtain licensure. The previous QI criteria only involved providing references, which did not give enough verification of competency. The updated regulations will help make sure the Qualified Individual for all contractors, no matter the specialty, demonstrates minimum competency.  

Not sure how this affects you? Contact Board staff at (804) 367-8511 or contractor@dpor.virginia.gov for more details specific to your situation.