What You Should Know Before Submitting Your DPOR Contractor Licence Application
As a contractor, you must have all the necessary certifications and licences before offering your services. In Virginia, you typically need a Contractor’s Licence from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Not everyone requires this license, however, since it’s only necessary when the construction work exceeds a value of $1,000.
Either way, if you’re in the contracting business, you can’t make it without this license, and despite the challenges of acquiring it, there is no other way around that. So, here’s everything you want to know so you can have a smooth license acquisition process:
Process of Submitting Your Application to the DPOR
In Virginia, there are three classes of contractor licenses from which you can choose. The least advanced is Class C, which only requires you to take a pre-licensing course. For this one, you’ll only take an exam if the specialty you want to attach to your license requires it.
Class A and B license applicants, by contrast, must take an exam before submitting their application to the DPOR. Class A applicants take all three portions of the exam, while Class B applicants are only mandated to take two portions. The process should be quite straightforward, especially if you engage a top-rated Virginia Class A Contractor License prep course provider like RocketCert. That’s in consideration that in addition to providing the material you need to prepare for your exam, they also give you all the information and guidance you need to make your application a success.
Exploring the Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection
Though the Virginia contractor’s license application process isn’t sophisticated, DPOR estimates that they reject approximately 60% of the total number of initial application attempts. This high rejection rate is typically a result of the following mistakes:
Applicants Failing to Disclose Conviction for Any Crime
According to the law, you are supposed to provide information on any conviction you may have for crimes like misdemeanor or felony. What’s more, the regulatory board will automatically review your criminal history during the application review. As such, failing to provide the documents that show your criminal history will mostly result in a rejection.
Bear in mind that submitting the criminal records doesn’t guarantee your application will be accepted. In some cases, you can submit the documents and still get rejected if your crimes are related to the occupation or professional license you’re trying to acquire. And even if they aren’t, the board can still choose to reject your application if they feel you aren’t suited or fit to become a contractor.
Submitting Erroneous or Discrepant Documents
The application process is usually more stringent than what most applicants expect. The licensing board has a thorough reviewing process meant to catch the slightest mistakes, such as inconsistent names and addresses in the documents you submit. Such errors, though seemingly trivial, can easily lead to a denied application.
If there are any legitimate discrepancies in your documents, such as name changes or conflicting dates, you should provide supporting documents to explain the changes. This is one of the areas that a top course provider can assist you in. Not only will they review your application to point out any issues you want to address, but they will also walk you through the entire application process so you don’t miss any steps.
Sending an Incomplete Application
It’s not uncommon for applicants to rush through the application process simply because they are eager to get their license. However, that’s something you want to be cautious about since leaving any blank fields makes your application incomplete, increasing the chances of rejection. Always go over the application to ensure you’ve not left out any vital details or supporting documents.
Remember that even if your application isn’t rejected and you’re requested to send missing documents, this will cause major inconveniences and significantly delay the license acquisition process.
Don’t Fumble. Apply With Confidence!
Now that you have the main points about applying for your contractor’s license in Virginia, it’s time to get to work. While there are lots of ways to increase your chances of success, the easiest one – by far – is to engage a reliable prep and continuing education provider like RocketCert.
Thanks to the vast assortment of preparation materials they have and the expertise of their tutors, you can apply with as little friction as possible. So, are you ready to start your career? Visit rocketcert.com to learn more about how they can make your journey to licensing easier.
