License Renewal in Virginia: Deadlines, Fees, and Continuing Education

by Noah Davis November 23, 2025

Virginia licensing guide

License Renewal in Virginia: Deadlines, Fees, and Continuing Education

Virginia contractors wear a lot of hats. You bid jobs, manage crews, and still find time to hunt down that one missing receipt at the bottom of your truck console. Let this be the part that is easy. Below is your step-by-step playbook to renew a Virginia contractor license on time, pay the right fees, and handle any continuing education without guesswork.

This guide covers both contractor business licenses for Class A, B, and C firms and the individual tradesman certifications like electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and gas fitting. The rules are different, so we will flag what applies to whom.

Quick overview

Renewal cadence: every 2 years Deadline = date received Online payment available

Virginia contractor business licenses expire every two years. The specific expiration date appears on your license.
The clock stops when the agency receives your renewal, not when you drop it in the mail.
There is a 30 day window after expiration to renew without reinstatement, but you cannot contract while expired. After that window, a reinstatement fee kicks in, and after 24 months you must reapply as new.

Need a refresher on exam prep, study guides, or application help for staff moving up to Class A or B? See Virginia contractor exam prep options, browse study guides and books, or explore bundled packages for efficient training.

Deadlines: what “on time” means in Virginia

Virginia uses the date of receipt to decide if a renewal is on time. In plain English, the Board must receive your renewal fee and required details by your expiration date to avoid penalties. The postmark date does not control the outcome. Plan to submit at least a week early if mailing a check, or use online payment to cut out the lag.

Renew up to 60 days before expiration to stay ahead of the rush.
If your license passes its expiration date, you are not authorized to contract until it is renewed or reinstated.
Within 30 days after expiration you can still renew without a reinstatement fee, but you still cannot work during that period.
From day 31 through month 24 after expiration, you must pay a reinstatement fee. Past 24 months, you must meet current entry requirements and apply as a new applicant.

Who needs continuing education

Continuing education in Virginia primarily applies to individual tradesmen. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC tradesmen complete 3 hours of board-approved updates per renewal period. Gas fitters complete 1 hour focused on the International Fuel Gas Code. The course must be approved to count. Contractor firms do not have a general CE requirement for the business license itself.

If your team members need help closing CE gaps or prepping for a new exam tier, point them to Virginia continuing education resources and role-specific Business and Finance exam prep where applicable.

Fees at a glance for contractor business licenses

Renewal fees for contractor firms vary by class. These are the current renewal amounts, and each renewal also includes a required assessment for the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund.

Class A renewal: 270 dollars plus 30 dollars Recovery Fund assessment
Class B renewal: 260 dollars plus 30 dollars Recovery Fund assessment
Class C renewal: 220 dollars plus 30 dollars Recovery Fund assessment

Tip for bookkeepers. When paying by check, make it payable to the Treasurer of Virginia and include your license number and reason for payment. For speed and tracking, many firms use DPOR’s online Quick Pay portal. Keep confirmation numbers with your renewal file.

Tradesman renewals and CE specifics

If you hold an individual tradesman license, you will renew on a cycle that requires a short, code-focused continuing education course each period. The goal is to keep you aligned with current code changes, not to create busywork.

Electricians: 3 hours focused on the latest National Electrical Code updates
Plumbers: 3 hours on current plumbing code updates and impacts on installations
HVAC tradesmen: 3 hours on mechanical code updates affecting design and service
Gas fitters, including LP and natural gas: 1 hour covering the International Fuel Gas Code

Be sure your CE course is board approved before you enroll. If you need flexible options, explore electrical CE, plumbing CE, HVAC CE, or gas fitter CE solutions.

How to renew without stress

Mark your expiration month. Licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued. Put a reminder on your calendar 60, 30, and 14 days out.
Choose your payment path. Use online Quick Pay to renew a license fast, or mail a check with your license number written clearly. Keep a PDF scan of confirmations in your job-costing folder.
Check CE status for tradesmen. If you or your qualifying individuals hold tradesman licenses, make sure the required hours are completed before renewing. Keep certificates on file.
Update contact details. If your address changed, submit the update so renewal notices and license cards reach the right desk.
Document storage. Save a single “Renewal” PDF per cycle with payment confirmation, CE certificates, and any name or address change forms.

Looking to upgrade a qualifier to Class A or add a new classification or specialty to your firm’s license. See Virginia licensing resources and application assistance to streamline the process.

What if you miss the deadline

Missed the expiration date. It happens. Here is what to expect and how to get back on the job quickly.

Days 1 to 30 after expiration. You can still renew without a reinstatement fee, but you cannot contract until the renewal is processed.
Day 31 to month 24. You must pay a reinstatement fee to reactivate the license. Work only after you are reinstated.
After 24 months. The license cannot be reinstated. You must apply again and meet current requirements, which may include updated exams and documentation.

Failure to receive a renewal notice does not remove your obligation to renew. Build your own reminders and keep a single point person responsible for licensing compliance.

Virginia masonry pros: book package and helpful walkthrough

If masonry is your bread and butter, a solid library of code and reference materials will save you time and callbacks. For a ready-to-go set of titles, see the Virginia Masonry Contracting Book Package. It is a straightforward way to equip your team with the right references before renewal season ramps up.

Prefer to watch a quick explainer while you eat lunch. Check out this short video overview: License Renewal in Virginia: Deadlines, Fees, and CE. Then share it with your office manager or qualifying individual so everyone is aligned.

If you need additional books, study guides, or exam prep for staff stepping into new roles, 1ExamPrep offers flexible options that pair well with busy job schedules.

Business and Finance essentials for Virginia contractors

Virginia expects contractor firms to run professionally. Even when CE is not required for the business license, your qualifying individual must pass the right portions of the exam and your company needs reliable financial controls. If your team is growing or your scope is expanding, a refresher in Business and Finance can boost estimating accuracy, lien compliance, and cash flow discipline.

Use a standard internal checklist for each renewal cycle
Verify that your responsible management and qualifiers are still in place and eligible
Keep your registered agent, address, and entity filings current with the state

For bundled curricula that combine exam prep, books, and packages, browse 1ExamPrep’s Virginia catalog. Build the plan once, then repeat it every two years.

How to pay the renewal fee

Most contractors choose online payment because it is fast, trackable, and eliminates mail delays. If you prefer paper, include your license number and reason for payment on the check. Keep a scanned copy for your records.

Confirm your license number and expiration date
Complete any required CE if you are a tradesman
Pay online and save the confirmation, or mail a check early enough to be received before your expiration date

Payment troubleshooting. If a payment instrument is not honored by the bank, you will need to cover the original fee plus a processing charge. Avoid this delay by using a card with plenty of headroom and verifying details before you submit.

Common pitfalls that cause renewal delays

Mailing a check too close to the deadline and missing the date of receipt
Assuming the 30 day window means you can keep working. You cannot perform regulated contracting while expired
Taking a CE class that is not board approved, which does not count toward tradesman renewal
Letting an address change slip, so your license card or renewal notice goes to the wrong place

Need a sanity check on requirements, exams, or applications. A quick review of Virginia contractor resources can save you a headache later.

Ready to breeze through renewal

Set your 60 day reminder now, finish any tradesman CE, and keep a single PDF record of each renewal. If you are expanding services, pair this cycle with targeted exam prep, up-to-date books, and curated packages.

Pro tip Save your payment confirmation as PDF and name it like this: VA-License-Renewal-YYYY-MM.pdf

Recap: the five rules to remember

Renew every two years and watch the date printed on your license
On time means received by the agency, not postmarked
Contractor firms do not have a general CE requirement, but tradesmen do
Do not work while expired, even during the 30 day grace window
If more than 24 months pass after expiration, you must reapply under current rules

Need materials or prep help for new classifications. Start with Virginia licensing resources and make a simple renewal checklist for your office.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Virginia contractor business licenses expire?

Does the postmark date count for on-time renewal?

Do contractor businesses have continuing education requirements?

How many CE hours do tradesmen need in Virginia?

Can I keep working during the 30 day period after my license expires?

What happens if I miss the deadline by more than 30 days?

How do I prove I completed my CE for tradesman renewal?

Where can I find books and study guides for Virginia masonry or other specialties?

I want to upgrade to Class A or add a specialty. Any resources?

Is there a quick video overview I can share with my office?

Any pro tips to keep renewals painless each cycle?

Conclusion: a simple, repeatable plan for Virginia license renewal

Renewing your Virginia contractor credentials does not have to feel like chasing a moving target. The rules are consistent, the timeline is predictable, and with a little upfront organization you can keep your license current without interrupting a single job. The most important mindset shift is this: on time means received. That one detail influences everything else. If you build your internal process around the date of receipt, you will avoid last-minute stress, late fees, and awkward pauses in your schedule.

Start by mapping your two year cycle. Set calendar reminders 60, 30, and 14 days before the expiration printed on your license card. Decide now whether you will pay online or by check. If you prefer paper, plan for mail time and include your license number and reason for payment on the check. If you pay online, download and save the confirmation immediately. Either way, keep a standard folder that holds each cycle’s confirmation, any CE certificates, and any address or name changes you filed. Consistent filing makes future audits painless and gives new office staff a clear trail to follow.

Remember the distinction between contractor business licenses and tradesman renewals. Contractor firms generally do not have a continuing education requirement tied to the business license itself, while tradesmen do. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC tradesmen complete three hours of code-update training per renewal cycle; gas fitters complete one hour. Verify that each course is board approved before enrolling and store completion certificates with your renewal records. If your team needs quick options that fit real jobsite schedules, browse Virginia-specific continuing education and role-focused Business and Finance materials.

What if you miss your date. Do not compound the problem by working while expired. Within the first 30 days after expiration you can still renew without a reinstatement fee, but you cannot contract until your license is active again. From day 31 through month 24 you will owe a reinstatement fee. After 24 months, you are starting over as a new applicant under current requirements. The cleanest solution is to renew early and keep proof of payment handy in case anyone asks.

If your company is growing or adding specialties, pair renewal season with professional development. Upgrading a qualifier, adding classifications, or training a new estimator is easier when your study tools are organized. Explore targeted exam prep, up-to-date books, and curated packages that align with Virginia requirements. Masonry crews can stock their shelves quickly with the Virginia Masonry Contracting Book Package, so the right references are within arm’s reach when questions pop up on site.

Finally, protect your time. Make one person in your office the point lead for licensing tasks. Give them the checklist, the calendar reminders, and authority to nudge the team for CE completions. Standardize filenames for confirmations, such as VA-License-Renewal-YYYY-MM.pdf, and keep everything in a shared, backed-up folder. These tiny habits add up to fewer surprises, faster approvals, and more steady weeks of productive work.

Renew early, document well, and separate business license needs from tradesman CE needs. With that approach, your license stays active, your crews stay scheduled, and your customers stay happy. If you want a quick refresher for your staff, share this short video overview: License Renewal in Virginia: Deadlines, Fees, and CE. When you build this system once and repeat it every two years, renewal becomes just another tidy line on your operations checklist.

Here is a standalone 500-word summary you can place on the page or use for marketing, email, or social posts. After you review, I can move on to the SEO title and description. Sound good? Virginia contractor license renewal is straightforward when you follow a clear plan. The big idea is simple. On time means received. Your renewal is considered on time only when the Board actually receives your payment and required details by your expiration date. The postmark does not control. That detail shapes everything you do. Set calendar reminders 60, 30, and 14 days out, decide whether you will pay online or by check, and keep proof of payment in a single renewal folder. Contractor business licenses in Virginia renew every two years. The expiration date appears on your license and ties to the last day of the month shown. There is a 30 day period after expiration when you can still renew without a reinstatement fee, but you cannot perform regulated contracting during that window. From day 31 through month 24 after expiration, you will owe a reinstatement fee to reactivate. After 24 months you must apply again under current rules. The easiest way to avoid all of this is to renew early and save your confirmation. Continuing education mostly affects individual tradesmen, not the contractor business license itself. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC tradesmen complete 3 hours of approved code update training each cycle. Gas fitters complete 1 hour. Verify courses are board approved before enrolling. Save the completion certificates as PDFs and store them with your renewal records. If your shop is upgrading roles or adding specialties, combine renewal season with targeted training and up to date reference materials. A smooth process follows five steps. Mark your expiration month and set reminders. Choose your payment method and give mail enough time if you use a check. Confirm CE completion for any tradesman licenses on your team. Update contact information so notices and license cards reach the right address. Store everything in a single folder named by year and month. This repeatable workflow keeps your license active and your jobs on schedule. Fees vary by license class and include a required assessment for the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund. Pay online when possible for faster processing and better tracking. If a payment instrument fails, you will need to cover the original fee plus a processing charge. Avoid hiccups by verifying information and using a reliable card. If you miss your date, pause any regulated work until the license is active again. Renew within 30 days to avoid reinstatement fees. Past 30 days, expect a reinstatement fee through month 24. Beyond 24 months, start again as a new applicant. None of this is fun, which is why early renewal is your best friend. Finally, protect your time with simple habits. Assign one person as the licensing lead. Use standard filenames for confirmations. Keep CE proof alongside payment records. If your team needs new books, study guides, or exam prep, organize those now so growth plans match your licensing status. Build the system once, follow it every two years, and renewal becomes a routine box you can check with confidence. Proceed to the SEO title and description?