3h courseAfter completing this course the participant will be able to apply the changes to the 2020 National Electrical Code in common wiring practice.
This course is intended for Electricians.
1h courseThis one-hour class will bring students up-to-date on key changes to the 2021 IFGC as well as better able to access and apply relevant IFGC codes and standards.
This course is intended for Gas Fitters.
3h courseThis course reviews and highlights essential Code requirements of the first five chapters of the International Mechanical Code (IMC). Included in the review are specific examples of the life safety systems relating to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and exhaust systems. Changes from the previous version of the IMC are identified. This course has no prerequisites.
This course is intended for HVAC technicians.
3h courseThis course reviews and highlights essential code requirements of Sections 6 through 15 of the International Mechanical Code (IMC). Included in the review are specific examples relating to duct systems, combustion air systems, chimneys and vents, fireplaces and solid fuelburning equipment, boilers and water heaters, refrigeration systems, hydronic and fuel oil piping, and solar thermal systems. Changes from the previous version of the IMC are identified.
This course is intended for HVAC technicians.
3h courseThis course teaches Virginia plumbers about the changes found in chapters three through six of the 2021 International Plumbing Code. Lessons cover general regulations, water heaters, fixtures, and more.
This course is intended for Plumbers.
It's not enough to just get your Virginia tradesman license. Even after you accrue the required experience, submit your license application, and pass the exam, you still need to keep working with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to maintain your license.
Specifically, that means renewing your license on a regular basis. Electricians, gas fitters, HVAC tradesmen, and plumbers need to renew every three years. All other tradesmen need to renew every two years.
Luckily, renewing your tradesman license is pretty easy (check out our guide here). It basically just means submitting a form and paying the renewal fee. But there's one key thing all Virginia tradesmen need to do before they can renew: take continuing education.
So, yes, Virginia tradesmen need continuing education if they have an active license. But the number of hours you need depends entirely on the license type you have. And the DPOR website isn't overly forthcoming about the number of hours you need.
State code mandates that during each renewal cycle, you need three hours of continuing education. Count yourself lucky. Some states require 30 hours or more for renewal, so a few hours isn't so bad.
To make your life easy, you can take your continuing education online. Here are links to DPOR-approved courses that meet the three-hour requirement and focus on your specific trade:
Whether you're a liquefied petroleum gas fitter or a natural gas fitter, you've got it the easiest of anyone. You need just one hour of continuing education during each renewal cycle, and you can take it online.
If you have a tradesman license but you're not in any of the above categories, it's fairly safe to assume that you need eight hours of continuing education. That means the following license types need a full workday's worth of continuing education:
The required hours we outlined above are true whether you have a master or journeyman license.
Tradesmen can't just pop into any classroom for the hours they need. The DPOR requires you to take your continuing education with a provider they approve.
What's more, your hours need to relate to the applicable building code. Here's a quick list of the code your hours should hit based on your license type:
Assuming you choose a provider who has the DPOR's green light and you take hours that are relevant to your trade, you shouldn't have any trouble meeting the Virginia tradesman continuing education requirements.
