The 1 Package: All-Inclusive Virginia NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Licensing & Business Setup

Prepare for Virginia commercial building contractor licensing with an all-inclusive solution that combines NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam preparation, Virginia contractor business and law study, a comprehensive construction reference library, licensing Application Service, and essential business setup assistance. The 1 Package is designed for contractors who want one organized path through examination preparation, Virginia licensing requirements, reference-book navigation, and establishing the business entity that will hold the contractor license.

Virginia participates in the NASCLA Accredited Examination Program for Commercial General Building Contractors through the Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Passing the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination can satisfy an accepted trade-examination requirement, but NASCLA is not a contractor license. Applicants must still meet Virginia's requirements for the contractor license class, classification, Qualified Individual, Designated Employee when applicable, pre-license education, financial responsibility, and business application.

Virginia contractor licensing is structured differently from many states because the license consists of both a class and a classification or specialty. Class A, B, or C determines the monetary limits under which the contractor may operate, while the classification determines the type of work the contractor may perform. Contractors pursuing commercial building work may seek the Commercial Building Contractor, or CBC, classification when it matches their intended scope.

The 1 Package combines the listed Virginia and NASCLA references with 1 year of course access, Application Service, Business Formation assistance, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance. All included books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation.

Package Price: $3,674.

Refundable Book Deposit: $1,000. The deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Total Initial Payment: $4,674. All-Inclusive – No Hidden Fees!

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.

Exam Details

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is a standardized commercial construction trade examination accepted by participating state agencies, including the Virginia Board for Contractors. The examination provides a way for qualifying contractors to satisfy an accepted commercial trade-examination requirement while still completing Virginia's state-specific licensing process.

The NASCLA examination covers broad commercial construction knowledge, including planning and estimating, project management, construction safety, site construction, concrete, masonry, metals, wood construction, thermal and moisture protection, doors and glazing, finishes, and other commercial building subjects.

Virginia also has separate business examination requirements for Class A and Class B contractor firms. A Virginia Class B applicant must designate an employee who has successfully completed the General and Virginia portions of the contractor business examination. A Class A applicant must designate an employee who has successfully completed the Advanced, General, and Virginia portions.

The Designated Employee must be either a full-time employee of the business or a member of Responsible Management. Virginia uses these business examination portions to evaluate knowledge of contractor laws, regulations, general administration, and business practices appropriate to the license class.

Virginia also requires successful completion of applicable examinations before the contractor license application is submitted. Candidates should therefore coordinate NASCLA trade preparation with the Virginia business examination requirements that apply to the class of license being pursued.

Open Book Test

The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors is an open book test. Candidates may use the permitted reference materials identified for the examination under the testing provider's rules.

Because the NASCLA commercial examination uses a substantial construction reference library, candidates should prepare for more than subject knowledge alone. Efficient reference navigation is an important part of open-book testing. A candidate should be able to recognize the subject of a question, identify the correct reference, locate the relevant chapter or section, and interpret the information under timed conditions.

All included books are highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation. Candidates can use the prepared references during study sessions to become familiar with indexes, technical tables, code chapters, safety regulations, construction standards, management concepts, and specialized building topics.

A useful preparation method is to identify the topic first and then select the book most likely to contain the answer. Candidates can use the index, table of contents, chapter structure, and prepared tabs to narrow the search. Repeating this process with practice questions can make a large commercial construction library easier to use.

Virginia's separate contractor business examinations should be prepared for according to the current Virginia examination requirements for the license class being requested.

Licensing Steps

Virginia contractor licenses are issued to business entities and sole proprietors rather than to individuals acting independently from the licensed business. Applicants must select the appropriate license class and classification and identify the individuals who satisfy Virginia's management and qualification requirements.

1. Choose the appropriate license class. The business selects Class A, Class B, or Class C according to the monetary level of projects it intends to perform.
2. Select the appropriate classification. Commercial building contractors may pursue the CBC classification when it matches the scope of work the company intends to perform.
3. Identify the Qualified Individual. A Qualified Individual must be designated for each classification or specialty and meet Virginia's applicable experience and examination requirements.
4. Identify a Designated Employee for Class A or B. Class A and Class B businesses must designate an individual who satisfies Virginia's contractor business examination requirements.
5. Complete pre-license education. New Virginia contractor applicants must complete eight hours of Board-approved pre-license education. For Class A and Class B applicants, the education must be completed by a member of Responsible Management or the Designated Employee.
6. Satisfy the trade-examination requirement. Virginia participates in the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination program for accepted commercial trade qualification.
7. Complete the required Virginia business examinations. Class B requires the General and Virginia portions, while Class A requires the Advanced, General, and Virginia portions.
8. Meet financial requirements. Class A and Class B applicants must document the applicable net worth or equity requirement or use an accepted surety bond option.
9. Submit the contractor license application. The business provides the required ownership, Responsible Management, Designated Employee, Qualified Individual, financial, examination, and classification information.

The Application Service included with The 1 Package supports candidates with organizing the Virginia contractor licensing workflow while they continue preparing for examinations and completing business setup.

State Requirements

Virginia contractor licenses are divided into Class A, Class B, and Class C. The class determines the monetary size of work the business may undertake.

Class A applies when a single contract or project is valued at $150,000 or more, or when the total value of construction undertaken during a 12-month period is $1 million or more.

Class B applies when a single contract or project is valued at $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or when the total value of construction during a 12-month period is $250,000 or more but less than $1 million.

Class C applies to covered work valued at more than $1,000 but less than $30,000 for a single contract or project and within the applicable annual limitation established by Virginia law.

Class A and Class B applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility. A Class A applicant must document at least $45,000 in net worth or equity, while a Class B applicant must document at least $15,000. Virginia permits applicants to satisfy the financial verification requirement using the applicable financial statement or an accepted surety bond option.

The Qualified Individual must meet the minimum experience requirement for the license class. Virginia currently requires at least five years of experience for Class A, three years for Class B, and one year for Class C. The Qualified Individual must be a full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week or a member of Responsible Management.

Virginia also requires eight hours of approved pre-license education for new contractor applicants. This education is separate from the NASCLA commercial trade examination and forms part of Virginia's business licensing process.

Business Formation assistance, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance included with The 1 Package help candidates organize the business entity and administrative requirements that accompany Virginia contractor licensing.

Reference Books

• Included Book: NASCLA Virginia, 11th Edition
  Virginia-specific contractor business, law, licensing, and project-management material for state-focused contractor preparation.
• Included Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2018
  Virginia building regulations addressing statewide construction code requirements and building compliance.
• Included Book: Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, 4th Edition
  Covers mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and related building systems from a construction-management perspective.
• Included Book: ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  Provides technical accessibility requirements for building spaces, routes, facilities, and building components.
• Included Book: BCSI: Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining, and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, 2025
  Addresses practices for handling, installing, restraining, and bracing metal plate connected wood trusses.
• Included Book: Carpentry and Building Construction, 2016
  Covers framing, carpentry, building materials, layout, structural components, and general construction methods.
• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Contains federal construction safety regulations addressing workplace hazards and OSHA requirements.
• Included Book: Construction Jobsite Management, 5th Edition
  Covers field supervision, jobsite planning, coordination, documentation, productivity, and management practices.
• Included Book: Construction Project Management, 5th Edition
  Addresses project planning, scheduling, administration, controls, coordination, and commercial construction management.
• Included Book: NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 14th Edition
  A national contractor reference covering business practices, contracts, financial management, project management, and construction administration.
• Included Book: Erectors' Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of PreCast Concrete Products, 2nd Edition, 1999
  Provides standards and field guidance associated with precast concrete erection.
• Included Book: Green Building Fundamentals, Michael Montoya, 2011, 2nd Edition
  Introduces sustainable construction concepts and green building practices.
• Included Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 7th Edition
  Covers gypsum products, wall and ceiling systems, assemblies, and installation practices.
• Included Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
  Addresses handling and erection procedures for steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Book: International Building Code, 2021
  A commercial building code covering occupancy, construction types, fire protection, means of egress, structural provisions, and related requirements.
• Included Book: ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
  Provides technical requirements for structural and reinforced concrete construction.
• Included Book: Training and Certification of Field Personnel for Unbonded Post-Tensioning - Level 1 Field Fundamentals
  Covers fundamental field concepts involving unbonded post-tensioning systems.
• Included Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 10th Edition
  Covers masonry materials, tools, brick, block, stone, layout, and construction techniques.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Addresses excavation, trenching, underground piping, equipment, and related site-construction practices.
• Included Book: Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 11th Edition
  A comprehensive commercial construction reference covering materials, building systems, construction methods, and field practices.
• Included Book: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Daniel Atcheson, 1995
  Covers roofing systems, materials, methods, measurement, quantities, and estimating concepts.
• Included Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Provides technical guidance for reinforcing-steel placement in concrete construction.
• Included Book: SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck
  Addresses steel deck handling, installation, placement, and construction practices.
• Included Book: The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction - 4th Edition
  Covers concrete materials, placement, finishing, workmanship, and quality construction practices.
• Included Book: ANSI/EIMA 99-A-2017: Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage, 2017
  Addresses exterior insulation and finish systems and EIFS assemblies incorporating drainage.
• Included Book: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A Guide for Construction Sites, United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Provides construction-site guidance for developing and implementing stormwater pollution prevention plans.

Test Information and Study Materials

A strong Virginia NASCLA study strategy should divide preparation between national commercial construction subjects and Virginia-specific contractor business requirements. Candidates can group the technical references by subject and practice choosing the correct book before searching for an answer.

Building-code study should include regular navigation through the International Building Code and applicable Virginia material. OSHA preparation should focus on 29 CFR Part 1926. Specialized references address concrete, masonry, steel, roofing, excavation, accessibility, gypsum construction, post-tensioning, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and project management.

The included 1 year of course access provides time for organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and a consistent preparation schedule.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps Virginia contractor candidates combine exam preparation, licensing assistance, reference organization, and business setup within one structured package. The program supports both the NASCLA commercial construction component and the Virginia-specific requirements that accompany contractor licensing.

The highlighted and tabbed books support reference-navigation practice, while the course provides organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, and confidence-building study structure. With 1 year of course access, candidates can revisit complex construction topics and build familiarity with the extensive reference library.

Application Service supports the Virginia contractor licensing workflow. Business Formation assistance helps establish an LLC or corporation, while EIN Filing with the IRS supports business banking, tax administration, hiring employees, and professional business operations.

Contractor Compliance Guidance adds assistance understanding Virginia licensing and business responsibilities. Together, these services provide a comprehensive contractor preparation solution beyond exam preparation alone.

FAQ Section

Does Virginia accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor examination?

Yes. The Virginia Board for Contractors participates in the NASCLA Accredited Examination Program for Commercial General Building Contractors.

Does passing NASCLA automatically give me a Virginia contractor license?

No. NASCLA is an examination credential. The business must still complete Virginia's contractor licensing requirements.

What are Virginia's contractor license classes?

Virginia issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses. The class determines the monetary level of projects the contractor may undertake.

What business exams are required for a Virginia Class A contractor?

The Designated Employee for a Class A contractor must complete the Advanced, General, and Virginia examination portions.

What business exams are required for Class B?

The Designated Employee for a Class B contractor must complete the General and Virginia examination portions.

Does Virginia require pre-license education?

Yes. New Class A, B, and C contractor applicants must complete eight hours of approved pre-license education.

How long is course access included?

The 1 Package includes 1 year of course access.

Is Application Service included?

Yes. Application Service is included with The 1 Package.

Does the package include business formation?

Yes. Business Formation assistance for an LLC or corporation, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance are included.

What is the total initial payment?

The package price is $3,674. With the $1,000 refundable book deposit, the total initial payment is $4,674.

When is the refundable book deposit returned?

The $1,000 deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

How long should I allow for The 1 Package book order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.