State guide
The NASCLA Route to a Virginia Contractor License
Updated August 2026
Virginia is one of the 17 states (plus the US Virgin Islands) that accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam - pass it once and the trade-exam box is checked here and in every other participating state, no retesting.
Here is exactly what the NASCLA covers with the Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR), and what Virginia still asks of you on top of it.
What the NASCLA covers in Virginia
Comparable to the Commercial Building (CBC) classification (accepted since January 2016). NASCLA itself confirms Virginia's participation, and scores flow to the state electronically (details below).
What Virginia still requires
Virginia's Class A/B/C license structure adds its own steps - pre-license education and Virginia-specific exam requirements depending on your class. The NASCLA pass covers the commercial building specialty side; DPOR's checklist for your class covers the rest.
Every state also runs its own application - experience or financial documentation, references, and fees - so treat the board's current checklist as the source of truth: requirements change, and this page was last verified against official sources in August 2026.
How your NASCLA score reaches Virginia
After you pass, your score lands in NASCLA's National Examination Database within about 48 hours. You then request an electronic transcript to the Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) - and to any other participating state you ever apply to. One exam, seventeen states.
Official source for current requirements: dpor.virginia.gov
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