How to get an electrical contractor license in Virginia (2026)
Checked against DPOR pages, current application forms and 18 VAC 50-22 / 50-30 as amended September 1, 2025. Verified September 2026; tradesman fees re-checked October 9, 2026 against DPOR's current application and the 2026 budget act.
Virginia is a two-part system from one board. The firm license (Class A, B or C with the ELE classification) lets the business contract, and the tradesman license (journeyman or master electrician) qualifies the person. Your ELE qualified individual must hold a Virginia master electrician license. The rules were overhauled in September 2025, so many online summaries are out of date.
Virginia at a glance
| Board | DPOR Board for Contractors, Richmond |
|---|---|
| Firm classes | Class C: jobs $1k to under $30k, under $250k a year. Class B: $30k to under $150k, under $1M a year. Class A: $150k+ / unlimited. |
| Net worth | Class C none, Class B $15,000, Class A $45,000, or a $50,000 surety bond instead (A/B). |
| Qualified individual | Must hold a Virginia master electrician license. Experience 1 year (C), 3 years (B) or 5 years (A). |
| Other firm requirements | Board-approved basic business course. Class A/B: a designated employee passes the PSI business exam. |
| Master electrician | Journeyman license held 1 year, or 9 years of experience. Application $171.75 ($150 plus DPOR's technology fee, $7.25 a year for the 3-year license). PSI master exam: 90 questions, 270 minutes, $125, pass 70%, 2020 NEC. |
| Firm application | Class A $439.50 / B $419.50 / C $274.50, about 30 days average processing. |
| Renewal | Firm: every 2 years. Tradesman: every 3 years, with 3 hours of CE per designation. The tradesman renewal fee is $160 plus the $7.25-a-year technology fee, about $181.75 in total; confirm it on your renewal notice. |
| Reciprocity | Tradesman agreements with AL (master), DC, KY, MD (master), WV and OH (master), plus a contractor-level map with NC. |
Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with Virginia DPOR before you file.
How the process works
- Line up your master electricianThe firm's ELE qualified individual must be a Virginia master. Earn it (journeyman held 1 year or 9 years of experience, then the PSI exam) or transfer it from a reciprocal state.
- Pick your firm classClass C, B or A is set by single-job and annual volume limits. Higher classes need more net worth (or a bond) and a passed PSI business exam.
- Complete the business courseA Board-approved basic business course is required for the firm license.
- File the firm applicationApply with DPOR ($274.50 to $439.50 by class). Processing averages about 30 days.
Want the whole Virginia path on paper?
The Virginia Electrical Roadmap is a 9-page PDF that goes past this summary:
- The September 2025 rule changes, line by line
- Net worth vs bond, and which PSI business exam you need
- The tradesman transfer packet for each reciprocal state
- Printable application checklist and a dated sources page
Instant download · free updated edition for 12 months · 30-day money-back guarantee
Already licensed in another state?
Virginia reciprocates at the tradesman level: your master card transfers, and the firm license then follows the normal Class A/B/C route. Journeyman and master both transfer from DC, Kentucky and West Virginia; master only from Alabama, Maryland and Ohio. Transfers still file the tradesman application ($171.75). North Carolina is a separate contractor-level agreement: NC Unlimited maps to a Virginia Class A and NC Intermediate to Class B. Texas has no Virginia agreement.
Reciprocity lists change often. See every Southeast state side by side in the Southeast electrical reciprocity overview.
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Virginia electrical license FAQ
What are the Virginia contractor license classes for electrical work?
Class C covers single jobs from $1,000 to under $30,000 (under $250,000 a year), Class B covers $30,000 to under $150,000 (under $1 million a year), and Class A covers $150,000 and up with no annual cap. Each needs the ELE classification for electrical work.
Do I need a master electrician license to get a Virginia electrical contractor license?
Yes. The firm's qualified individual for the ELE classification must hold a Virginia master electrician tradesman license.
How much does the Virginia master electrician application cost?
$171.75: the $150 application fee plus DPOR's technology fee of $7.25 per year for the 3-year license ($21.75), charged since July 1, 2026. The PSI master exam is $125. Tradesman renewals are $160 plus the same technology fee, about $181.75.
Which states have electrical license reciprocity with Virginia?
At the tradesman level: DC, Kentucky and West Virginia (journeyman and master), and Alabama, Maryland and Ohio (master only). North Carolina has a separate contractor-level agreement (NC Unlimited to VA Class A, Intermediate to Class B).
Ready to file in Virginia?
Every step in filing order, a printable checklist, and every figure dated and cited to the board. Built by a contractor who holds licenses in 30+ states.
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Informational only, not legal advice. LicenseFootprint is not affiliated with any state agency. The board's current published requirements always control.