Virginia Highway/Heavy Contractor License

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yesterlectric

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PA
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Electrician
Has anyone here taken the Virginia Highway/Heavy contractor exam? It's required for utility electrical contracting and oddly now, it seems solar projects over 100 KW. (See page 4 below). I have experience with substations but I assume the test also covers other types of work that highway/heavy allows, such as bridges and public sewers. Anyone know how much an electrical person has to study outside their normal field of work to be able to pass it? Anyone taken any good pre-test education? I know there's people online that are willing to charge money for prep courses but I wonder if anyone has actual experience both with the level of challenge on the test and if any pre-test programs are good.

 
I guess maybe no one here has had to get this license. However, if you do large scale solar or work on any utility systems, this is the required license. It is comparable to what some states in the west might call "general engineering contractor" license or what NC may call "public utility contractor" license. Anyone here taken that?
 
Josh111 said:
I guess maybe no one here has had to get this license. However, if you do large scale solar or work on any utility systems, this is the required license. It is comparable to what some states in the west might call "general engineering contractor" license or what NC may call "public utility contractor" license. Anyone here taken that?
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I’m a NC public utility contractor. Fairly easy test I thought. Took a pre-test course that explained what to study and highlight. Seems like I was allowed to take in about 8 different books…
I had to go to Richmond to take the Arizona business test for a particular job there. They allowed some reciprocity, but not in the business parts

The H/H requirement is because with sites that large you are clearing large parcels of land. You will be tested on storm drainage, land clearing, silt barriers, etc..
 
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Hv&Lv said:
I’m a NC public utility contractor. Fairly easy test I thought. Took a pre-test course that explained what to study and highlight. Seems like I was allowed to take in about 8 different books…
Click to expand...
Yes Virginia's test has something like 18 books allowed, all covering different subjects. If you bought them all, it would probably be $3000. Just because you can bring them doesn't mean you need all of them. That's what I was trying to figure out. The challenge with this one is it covers a broad amount of work even though it is required for certain electrical work. I'm not sure how hard it is behind the test screen though. And I'm looking at prep courses though based on my experience I have found in the past there is a lot of rather ripoff quality "continuing education" or "exam prep" classes offered. Pay thousands to have someone read the powerpoint to you, etc.

Here is the examination outline:
1638047649911.png
 
I have taken a prep course for every license, and not by the large online companies. I research and find the guy that is a one or two man show that has one job, pre-exam courses. He is the one that asks for the students to give him feedback AFTER they have taken and passed their test (if you know what I mean😉).

I pay, but it’s not to have him read off the power point of tell me what to highlight.
I pay him to know WHAT to read off the PowerPoint or to know WHAT to tell me to highlight and why. I have even had them tell me “This WILL be on the exam”, and it was..

Also, don’t fall for the 2.5 hr classes. Find an 8 hour class.
 
Getting any license in VA is a pain in the rump IMO. I have a NC Unlimited license and using reciprocity to get a VA Class A was not an easy process. Talked to multiple people with the state and I bet I didn’t really get the correct answers until the 5th call.
 
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