01
Regulation of Contractors
The post-2025 Class A, B, and C monetary thresholds, the $45,000 and $15,000 net worth requirements and the $50,000 bond alternative, designated employee rules, exam portions, and fees.
Contractor exam study guide
AvailableVirginia Business and Law Study Guide
Virginia contractor business exams, organized by exam portion.
A 75-page independent study aid for the Virginia Contractor Business (Designated Employee) Examinations, administered by PSI for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Contractors. It covers all three exam portions across 15 topic chapters, with 150 practice questions and cited explanations. Content was verified against Virginia primary sources in September 2026: the Code of Virginia, 18VAC50-22, the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business Law and Project Management (Virginia 11th Edition), the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 edition), and the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (revised 6/5/2024). Because the exam is open book, the guide includes a tabbing map and an open-book strategy built around finding answers fast under time pressure.
What is inside
Organized the way the exam tests it.
02
Board Rules and Regulations
The 11 minimum items in residential contracts, change-reporting deadlines, and how the Transaction Recovery Fund is funded.
03
Building Codes
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, permit proof requirements, and building official duties.
04
Transaction Recovery Fund
The $30,000 per-claimant and $100,000 aggregate limits, who may claim, and the claim procedure.
05
Erosion and Sediment Control
The 10,000 square foot threshold, the 2,500 square foot Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area rule, and the Responsible Land Disturber.
06
Business Organization
Registered agents, the $50 LLC annual fee, and what each business structure means for liability.
07
Estimating and Bidding
Virginia Public Procurement Act payment clocks: 7 days prime-to-sub, the 60-day rule, and why pay-if-paid is unenforceable on public projects.
08
Contract Management
Residential contract requirements and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, with civil penalties up to $2,500 per willful violation.
09
Project Management
Scheduling, documentation, and managing subcontractors through closeout.
10
Risk Management
Insurance types and minimum coverage amounts, bonds versus insurance, and how contracts allocate risk.
11
Safety
OSHA employer duties, injury reporting windows, and jobsite safety requirements.
12
Labor Laws
Workers' comp coverage triggers, wage payment deadlines, and employer obligations.
13
Financial Management
Financial statements and ratios that show whether a contracting business is solvent, plus job costing.
14
Federal and State Taxes
The tax rates, filing thresholds, and deduction rules Virginia contractors are tested on.
15
Lien Laws
Virginia mechanic's lien deadlines: filing, notice, and enforcement windows, in order.
Fit check
Built for exam day, honest about limits.
A strong fit for
- Designated employees preparing for the Virginia Contractor Business Examinations
- Class A and B firms naming a new designated employee
- Out-of-state contractors learning Virginia-specific requirements
- Anyone who wants cited explanations, not just answer keys
Deliberately not included
- It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Board for Contractors, PSI, or NASCLA
- It does not include trade exam content for any classification
- It does not replace the official statutes, Board regulations, PSI publications, or legal advice
- It does not guarantee a passing score
Delivery
Three steps to your PDF.
- 01
Pay securely
Checkout runs on Stripe. Your card details never touch PixelSunset servers.
- 02
Confirm access
A secure access email arrives at the checkout address. Confirm on this site to prove the link is really yours.
- 03
Download the PDF
Download the full study guide PDF. The link is single-use and expires shortly after it is issued.
Before purchase
Clear answers, up front.
Is this affiliated with the Virginia licensing board or PSI?
No. This is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Board for Contractors, PSI, or NASCLA. Always verify current requirements against the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and official sources before your exam.
Which exam portions does each license class take?
Class A designated employees take all three portions (Virginia, General, and Advanced). Class B takes the Virginia and General portions. Class C takes no business exam. This guide covers all three portions.
Is the exam open book?
Yes. The Virginia business examinations are open book: the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business Law and Project Management (Virginia 11th Edition) is the primary reference, plus the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 edition) for the Virginia Portion. This guide includes a tabbing map and an open-book strategy so you can find answers fast under time pressure.
How was the content verified?
Every factual claim was checked against Virginia primary sources: the Code of Virginia, 18VAC50-22, the NASCLA Virginia 11th Edition guide, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (revised 6/5/2024). Content was verified in September 2026, and where the PSI bulletin conflicts with the Code, the guide teaches the Code.
Does it cover the trade exam for my classification?
No. This guide covers the business (Designated Employee) examinations only. Trade exams are classification-specific and are not included.
How do I receive the guide?
After checkout, you get a secure access email with a sign-in link. Confirm on the site and download the PDF. The download link is single-use and expires shortly after it is issued; if it expires, email support from your checkout address and we will reissue access.
What is the refund policy?
Because this is a digital download, refunds are limited to duplicate purchases or failed delivery. If your download does not work, email support and we will fix it or refund you.
Independence disclosure
Read this before you buy.
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Board for Contractors, PSI, or NASCLA. The practice questions are original questions written in exam style, not real exam questions. Statutes and rules change; verify current requirements against the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and official sources before your exam. This guide does not guarantee a passing score and is not legal advice.