Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
 
Board
Board for Contractors
 
chapter
Board for Contractors Regulations [18 VAC 50 ‑ 22]
Action Amendments to classifications and specialties
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 7/16/2014
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7/11/14  10:00 am
Commenter: John Tubbs jet enterprises inc.

class c contractor license difficulty
 

attn: Eric Olson,

I have been attempting to obtain a class C floor covering contractor license since 2012. I passed the prelicense application exam on the first attempt. I then took the hic specialty exam as directed and failed. I purchased the reference books suggested which cost over 500.00. I rescheduled a second 85.00 open book hic test and failed, there is not enough time allowed to read the question locate the correct book and research the correct answer.  I'm finding it difficult understanding the need to know roofing, foundation, scaffold safety and other knowledge to demonstrate my ability to correctly install floor covering. As a floor covering professional with over 30 yrs successful experience, never have the questions contained in the hic exam been relevant to my profession of choice. Please advise me what is being done to correct this unreasonable requirement.

thankfully, John Tubbs

CommentID: 32877
 

7/15/14  2:34 pm
Commenter: John Tubbs JET Enterprises Inc.

contractor exam proceedures and classifications
 
Ladies and Gentleman,
I ask for a change in policy allowing a more reasonable and timely approach to obtaining a floor covering contractor license effective as reasonably possible. DPOR is aware of this violation of it's own directives / guidelines, philosophy and quite possibly Virginia code. It should not take an act of the General Assembly to correct a policy interpretation.
Will someone from DPOR Directors office please advise me in writing what is being done to correct this unreasonable requirement and when I may submit an application for a contracting license in Floor covering that may be approved.
respectfully, John Tubbs
Owner/Operator Jet Enterprises Inc
(757) 621-8543
jetenterprisesinc@verizon.net
Eric L. Olson / Executive Director (804) 367 2785,
 
class c contractor license difficulty

attn: Eric Olson,

I have been attempting to obtain a class c floor covering contractor license since 2012. I passed the prelicense application exam on the first attempt. I then took the hic specialty exam as required and failed (no practice test available in HIC category) . I purchased the reference books suggested which cost over 500.00. I rescheduled a second 85.00 open book hic test and failed. (no practice test available in HIC category). There is not enough time allowed to read the question, locate the correct book and research the correct answer. I'm finding it difficult understanding the need to know roofing, foundation, scaffold safety and other knowledge to demonstrate my ability to correctly install floor covering. As a floor covering professional with over 30 yrs successful experience, never have the questions contained in the hic exam been relevant to my profession of choice.

The requirements to obtain a contractors license as they are being implemented are causing myself and I must believe many others, to obtain a specialty certification (HIC) for a specialty classification (Floor Covering) that has no certification of its own. ( That is to say no test available for floor covering ) Floor covering is being grouped not with 60+ similar professions / occupations, rather 60+ completely different industries. Furthermore I must obtain said specialty exam certification before I submit an application for review of qualifications I certainly have obtained in my 30+ years of operating a business. This policy does not seem at all reasonable to me. The following does read clear to me and seems completely reasonable. I am not aware of any indications of any sort that show a clear and present danger from the floor covering industry to the public health, safety or welfare.
 
The Commonwealth’s philosophy on the regulation of professions and occupations is that:
The occupational property rights of the individual may be abridged only to the degree necessary to
protect the public.
 
This tenet is clearly stipulated in statute and serves as the Board’s over-arching philosophy in its approach to all its reviews of professions or occupations:
 
Further more:
 
. . . the right of every person to engage in any lawful profession, trade or occupation of his choice is clearly protected by both the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth cannot abridge such rights except as a reasonable exercise of its police powers when it is clearly found that such abridgement is necessary for the preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the public. (Code of
Virginia
§ 54.100
 
Board for Contractors

Board Executive Director

Eric L. Olson

Board Administrator

Mindy Spruill

Adrienne Mayo

Board Member Roster

H Bailey Dowdy
Second full four-year term ends June 30, 2017
Elevator Contractor
Highland Springs		 Herbert "Jack" Dyer Jr.
Second full four-year term ends June 30, 2017
Commercial Contractor
Ashland
Michael Gelardi
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Plumbing Contractor Class A
Virginia Beach		 David Giesen
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Sub-Contractor Class A
Virginia Beach
Erby G. "Rudy" Middleton
Board Vice Chair
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Electrical Contractor
Newport News		 Doug Murrow
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Building Code Official
Richmond
James Oliver
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2015
Class A Contractor
Christiansburg		 E.C. "Chick" Pace, III
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Utilities Contractor Class A
Roanoke
Troy Smith, Jr.
Board Chair
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2016
Home Improvements Contractor Class B
Newport News		 Goutam Chowdhuri
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2016
Falls Church
Deborah Lynn Tomlin
Second full four-year term ends June 30, 2013
Materials Supplier
Richmond		 D. Todd Vander Pol
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
Certified Water Well System Provider
Glen Allen
Chancey Walker
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2014
HVAC Contractor
Virginia Beach		 Wyatt H. Walton, III
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2012
Citizen Member
Roanoke
A. Bruce Williams
First full four-year term ends June 30, 2012
Norfolk		  

Board members are appointed by the Governor. To learn more about the gubernatorial appointment process, visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website.

 

CommentID: 32977