Virginia Class B Designated Employee Examination

Under Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100, a Class B contractor may perform or manage a single contract or project when the total value is which of the following?

• AOver USD 1,000 but less than USD 30,000
• BUSD 30,000 or more but less than USD 150,000
• CUSD 150,000 or more with no upper single-project limit
• DAny amount under USD 250,000 regardless of the single-project value

A Virginia firm’s total construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in a 12-month period is USD 400,000, and no single contract reaches USD 150,000. Which license class is required?

• ANo license, because no single job is USD 150,000
• BClass C, because every job is under USD 150,000
• CClass B, because 12-month volume is USD 250,000 or more but less than USD 1 million
• DClass A, because any volume over USD 250,000 requires Class A

Which single-contract value requires a Virginia Class A contractor license rather than Class B?

• AUSD 29,500
• BUSD 75,000
• CUSD 149,999
• DUSD 150,000

For a Virginia Class B license, the qualified individual named for each classification or specialty must have at least how much experience in that classification or specialty?

• A1 year
• B3 years
• C5 years
• D8 years, matching the pre-license course length in years

A Class B applicant cannot document the required net worth. Under 18VAC50-22-50, what financial alternative may the firm use?

• AA USD 15,000 cashier’s check deposited with DPOR
• BA USD 50,000 surety bond on the Board’s bond form
• CA USD 45,000 net-worth affidavit signed by the designated employee
• DA personal guarantee from every member of responsible management with no dollar floor

Who may serve as the designated employee on a Virginia Class B contractor license?

• AAny part-time bookkeeper who is at least 16 years old
• BA person who is at least 18 and is either a full-time employee of the firm or a member of…
• COnly a Virginia-licensed professional engineer who is not affiliated with the firm
• DAny stockholder, even if the person never works for the firm

Under 18VAC50-22-10, which statement correctly describes a full-time employee for Board for Contractors purposes?

• AAnyone paid on a 1099 who works any hours in a week
• BAn employee who spends a minimum of 30 hours a week carrying out the work of the licensed…
• COnly a person who works 40 hours and is covered by a union agreement
• DA family member who is available by phone, regardless of hours or payroll form

A person bids a USD 80,000 Virginia residential remodel with no contractor license. Besides a Class 1 misdemeanor, what additional civil fine does § 54.1-1115 authorize for each day of unlicensed work?

• AUSD 50 per day
• BUSD 150 per day
• CAn amount not to exceed USD 500 per day
• DUSD 5,000 per day, matching the Recovery Fund assessment

A Virginia Board for Contractors license is issued to which of the following?

• AThe individual who passed the PSI examination, in that person’s personal name only
• BThe firm, meaning the business entity recognized under Virginia law
• CAny employee who carries a wallet card printed by PSI
• DThe locality that issued the building permit

What Board fees are due with a Class B initial license application under 18VAC50-22-100, not counting the separate PSI exam fee?

• AUSD 235 only
• BUSD 380 only, with no Recovery Fund charge on an initial application
• CUSD 380 plus a USD 25 Recovery Fund assessment
• DUSD 400 plus a USD 25 Recovery Fund assessment

When must a Virginia residential contracting contract be signed by both the consumer and the licensee or the licensee’s agent?

• AWithin 30 days after the final punch list
• BOnly if the contract price exceeds USD 150,000
• CPrior to commencement of work or acceptance of payments
• DOnly when the owner requests a written agreement

How long must a Virginia contractor keep a complete, legible copy of a contract and its addenda and change orders?

• A90 days after final payment
• B1 year from substantial completion
• C5 years from the date of contract
• D7 years from the date the building permit is closed

A Class B firm’s qualified individual resigns. Within what period must the change be reported on a Board form under 18VAC50-22-220?

• A10 days of the change
• B60 days of the change
• C120 days of the change
• DAt the next biennial renewal only

A Class B designated employee leaves the firm. Within what period must that change be reported on a Board form?

• A30 days of the change
• B60 days of the change
• C120 days of the change
• D18 months, matching PSI score validity

Under 18VAC50-22-260, abandonment of a Virginia contracting job is defined as which of the following?

• AAny one-day absence of the superintendent
• BThe unjustified cessation of work under the contract for a period of 30 days or more
• CA weather delay disclosed in the contract’s exculpatory clause
• DThe owner’s failure to approve a color selection within 48 hours

Who must complete the Board-approved basic business / pre-license course for a Class B applicant?

• AEvery field laborer on the first job
• BThe designated employee or a member of responsible management
• COnly the bookkeeper who will file payroll taxes
• DThe local building official who will issue permits

The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is comprised of which three parts?

• AZoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, and historic overlay
• BVirginia Construction Code, Virginia Existing Building Code, and Virginia Maintenance Code
• CNEC, IPC, and IMC only, with no administrative chapter
• DOSHA 1926, EPA stormwater, and VDOT road and bridge specifications

Who is responsible for enforcing the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code on a typical private construction project?

• AThe Virginia Board for Contractors, through PSI test-site proctors
• BThe local government’s building inspections department / building official
• CThe Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund administrator
• DOSHA’s Richmond area office

Under USBC administration, when must a building permit generally be obtained relative to starting work?

• AAfter the first inspection, if the work is residential
• BPrior to commencement of the regulated work, except that emergency work applications are…
• COnly at certificate-of-occupancy application
• DNever, if the contractor is Class B rather than Class A

Before a Virginia building official may issue a permit, § 54.1-1111 and the USBC require the applicant to do which of the following?

• APost a USD 1 million statewide blanket bond with DHCD
• BFurnish proof of a proper contractor license or a written statement that the person is no…
• CObtain Board for Contractors approval of the construction drawings
• DFile a Recovery Fund claim in advance of any possible defect

A new building generally may not be occupied until the local building official has issued which document?

• AA PSI examination authorization letter
• BA certificate of occupancy
• CA Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund receipt
• DA workers’ compensation experience-modification worksheet

Failure to obtain a required building permit or applicable inspection is which of the following under 18VAC50-22-260?

• AA recommended business practice with no Board consequence
• BA prohibited act that can support Board discipline
• CAllowed whenever the owner signs a waiver
• DRequired only on federal property inside Virginia

A local building official cites a Class B firm for a USBC violation. Which Board rule is triggered if the firm fails to abate that violation?

• AFailure to abate a USBC violation is a prohibited act under 18VAC50-22-260
• BThe firm automatically converts to Class C until the citation is paid
• COnly OSHA, not the Board, may act on a USBC notice
• DAbatement is optional if the Recovery Fund assessment is current

What is the maximum Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund payment to one claimant on one unpaid judgment arising from a single contracting transaction?

• AUSD 10,000
• BUSD 20,000
• CUSD 30,000
• DUSD 100,000

Multiple Recovery Fund claims against the same licensed contractor in one biennium are limited in the aggregate to which amount?

• AUSD 30,000
• BUSD 40,000
• CUSD 100,000
• DUSD 1 million, matching the Class A volume trigger

For Recovery Fund purposes, “improper or dishonest conduct” does NOT include which of the following?

• AFraud or material misrepresentation
• BWrongful taking or conversion of money
• CMere breach of contract
• DIntentional violation of the Uniform Statewide Building Code

After a final Virginia judgment from which no further appeal exists, how long does a qualifying claimant generally have to file a verified Recovery Fund claim with the Director?

• A30 days
• B90 days
• C12 months
• D5 years, matching contract-record retention

A homeowner’s unpaid judgment includes USD 28,000 actual loss, USD 6,000 prejudgment interest, and USD 10,000 punitive damages. What amount is the starting actual-loss figure the Recovery Fund may consider before applying the USD 30,000 cap?

• AUSD 44,000, because the entire judgment is payable
• BUSD 28,000, because interest and punitive damages are excluded from the unpaid judgment u…
• CUSD 38,000, because only interest is excluded
• DUSD 16,000, because only punitive damages may be claimed

Which person is generally eligible to be a Recovery Fund claimant under § 54.1-1120?

• AA material supplier unpaid by the licensed contractor
• BAnother licensed contractor who subcontracted to the judgment debtor
• CAn individual whose contract involved contracting for that individual’s Virginia residence
• DThe judgment debtor’s employee seeking unpaid wages

Outside a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area, Virginia erosion-and-sediment rules generally begin to apply when a land-disturbing activity reaches which area?

• A100 square feet
• B1,000 square feet
• C10,000 square feet
• D10 acres

In an area designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area, the default land-disturbance threshold for erosion-and-sediment control is which of the following?

• A500 square feet
• B2,500 square feet
• C10,000 square feet
• D1 acre, with no smaller CBPA trigger

When land-disturbing activity will be required of a contractor performing work under a construction contract, who is responsible for preparing, submitting, and obtaining approval of the erosion and sediment control plan?

• AThe contractor, in every case, because the contractor holds the Class B license
• BThe owner
• CPSI, as a condition of releasing exam scores
• DThe Board for Contractors Recovery Fund staff

Which business form leaves the owner personally liable for all business debts and judgments?

• AA properly formed corporation
• BA limited liability company that observes corporate formalities
• CA sole proprietorship
• DA limited partner who takes no part in control

Under 18VAC50-22-10, which event is a change in controlling financial interest of a licensed firm?

• AHiring a new superintendent who owns no equity
• BDirect or indirect ownership or control of more than 50 percent of the firm
• CBuying a new truck titled to the company
• DAdding a specialty classification without changing owners

Two licensed Virginia contractors want to bid a project together as a joint venture. Under § 54.1-1103, what licensing condition must be met before the joint venture engages in or offers contracting?

• ANo license is required if each firm is already Class B
• BEither each contracting party is licensed, or a license is obtained in the name of the jo…
• COnly the higher-volume partner needs any license
• DA joint venture is illegal in Virginia contracting

A 30-foot by 40-foot slab is 4 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required, ignoring waste?

• A14.8 cubic yards
• B11.1 cubic yards
• C18.5 cubic yards
• D44.4 cubic yards

An estimator needs 14.8 cubic yards of concrete and adds a 10 percent waste factor. How many cubic yards should be ordered?

• A14.8 cubic yards
• B15.5 cubic yards
• C16.3 cubic yards
• D24.8 cubic yards

In a construction estimate, which cost is a direct job cost rather than company overhead?

• AThe owner’s office rent for the home office
• BLumber delivered to and used on this project
• CThe annual premium for the firm’s office liability policy allocated to all jobs
• DThe bookkeeper’s salary for general accounting

Estimated direct cost on a bid is USD 80,000. The contractor applies a 20 percent markup on cost for overhead and profit. What is the bid price?

• AUSD 80,000
• BUSD 88,000
• CUSD 96,000
• DUSD 100,000

Job cost is USD 50,000. The firm adds 12 percent overhead and then 8 percent profit, each applied in sequence to the running total (overhead on cost, profit on cost-plus-overhead). What is the bid?

• AUSD 60,000
• BUSD 60,480
• CUSD 58,000
• DUSD 70,000

After bids are opened, a general contractor discloses a subcontractor’s price to a competitor to force a lower number. That practice is commonly called which of the following?

• AValue engineering
• BBid shopping
• CUnit-price balancing
• DA pre-bid addendum

What is the first estimating step after the contractor decides to bid and has a complete set of documents?

• AOrder the performance bond
• BPerform a quantity takeoff from the drawings and specifications
• CFile a mechanics lien
• DIssue the certificate of occupancy