This guide walks you through the whole remote check-in in the order you will meet it, and it is upfront about the places where the official sources say nothing. Read the books question in the first Exam Tip before you book.
Table of Contents
How This Exam Is Delivered
The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) sets the rules and licenses contractors. It contracts PSI to deliver the exam, and PSI offers two formats at booking: a test center or remote proctoring from your own computer. PSI’s Virginia contractor page describes remote proctoring as available “when applicable,” so confirm the option appears when you schedule (confirm on the official page).
Before you can book at all, you apply to the Board for Contractors and wait for approval. The PSI bulletin says eligibility is good for one year, and that you can retest as often as you like during that year.
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Exam | RBC, Residential Building Contractor (Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors) |
| Delivery platform | PSI (test centers and remote proctoring) |
| Questions | 80 multiple-choice questions |
| Passing score | 70% (56 correct) |
| Time allowed | 160 minutes |
| Format | Open-book; you supply your own bound references |
| Exam fee | $85, non-refundable and non-transferable, valid for one year from payment |
| When you can launch (remote) | Within 30 minutes of your booked time |
| Late limit (remote) | Not started within 15 minutes after your booked time means you forfeit the fee or eligibility |
| Cancel or reschedule | At least 2 days before the appointment, through the PSI website or by phone |
The question count, passing score and time come from PSI’s RBC content outline, which carries a January 2023 date and a note about code editions updated for 2025. The fee and scheduling rules come from PSI’s contractor bulletin, last dated May 2024. Check both against the current versions before you rely on them (confirm on the official page).
Two regional points matter if you are not in Virginia. First, the bulletin says Virginia candidates may test only at its listed centers, which are in Virginia plus Salisbury, Maryland and Johnson City, Tennessee, and not at other out-of-state centers.
Pre-Exam Preparation
Hardware and Network Requirements
PSI runs remote exams on either a downloaded Secure Browser or a Chrome extension. Your booking confirmation says which one applies. The requirements below come from PSI’s system requirements page and apply to both unless noted.
- Operating system: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a macOS version on PSI’s supported list (15 and 26 are named, and so is 27), or Ubuntu LTS 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04. Windows in S-mode, Windows on Snapdragon, and Windows Education or Enterprise editions are not supported.
- Chromebooks: supported with the Chrome extension only, not the Secure Browser.
- Memory and disk: 8 GB of RAM minimum and 16 GB recommended, with at least half of it free at launch. The Secure Browser needs about 500 MB of free disk space.
- Screen: 1920 x 1080 recommended, 1024 x 768 minimum.
- Internet: broadband of 3 Mbps or faster in both directions, with 750 kbps as the stated minimum. Wired beats Wi-Fi. Ask the household to stop streaming.
- No VPN and no corporate firewall. Both block the secure connection.
- Not allowed as the exam device: phones, most tablets (a Surface Pro with a front camera is the exception), and virtual machines.
- Webcam: it must do a full 360-degree scan of your room and stay connected for the whole session. Laptop users carry the laptop around the room. Desktop users need an external webcam they can move. A phone can photograph your ID but cannot be your webcam.
- Audio: use the built-in microphone and speakers. PSI says not to use headsets or earbuds, and the bulletin lists both as prohibited items.
- Admin rights: you must be able to install software and close banned applications. Work and school computers often block this.
- Extra gear: unplug extra cameras and microphones, and unplug a second monitor the night before. PSI’s troubleshooting page tells Windows desktop users to disconnect unused monitors (confirm on the official page).
The vendor’s bulletin also says you may not change computers or rooms during the exam, so pick your machine and your room once and stay with them. Run PSI’s System Compatibility Check and its camera, microphone and bandwidth check on the exact computer and in the exact room you will use.
ID Requirements
The rule here is short and strict: your first and last name on the PSI account must match your government-issued ID exactly. The bulletin tells you to register with your legal name as it appears on your ID. It asks for one valid, unexpired, signature-bearing ID with a photo, and its accepted list includes a driver’s license, a passport, a passport card, a national, state or country identification card, and a permanent resident card. It also says military IDs are not accepted for remote testing.
PSI’s general online-proctoring rules are broadly consistent with this. They ask for a government photo ID with your full name and a recent photo, and they reject military IDs, school IDs and credit cards. Where the two sources differ, the bulletin’s one-ID rule governs this exam.
For a global audience, use a current passport. It carries your photo, your name and your signature, which covers the bulletin’s “signature-bearing” wording.
Name formats are the likely trap for international candidates. The bulletin only mentions first and last name, so I cannot tell you how PSI handles middle names, two surnames, or names written in non-Latin scripts (confirm on the official page). There is a second matching rule on the DPOR side: the bulletin says to use the same Social Security or DMV number when you schedule the exam and when you apply for your license. It does not say what a candidate without either number should do (confirm on the official page).
Exam Tip: Compare the name on your DPOR application, your PSI account and your ID before you pay the fee. The bulletin lists failing to present proper ID as a reason you forfeit your fee, and PSI cannot fix a mismatch for you on camera.
Testing Environment
- Use a private, quiet room. The bulletin says no unauthorized people or activity can appear on video or in audio recordings.
- Light the room so the proctor can see your face and hands for the whole session.
- Place the webcam where the proctor has a clear view, and do not obstruct it at any point.
- Clear the desk. PSI’s guidance is that only the computer and a mouse belong on it, with one exception to settle first: your bound references (see the Exam Tip below).
- Keep phones, notes, tablets, watches and other devices out of reach and out of sight. The bulletin says no prohibited item may be within your reach or line of sight.
- Remove earbuds, headsets and smartwatches. All three are on the bulletin’s prohibited list.
- Go to the bathroom before you launch. The bulletin says breaks are not allowed in remote exams.
Exam Tip: The bulletin says every exam is open-book and that you bring your own references, with strict rules for them: bound or hole-punched in a binder, highlighted or underlined only, permanent tabs only, no writing and no study guides. Every one of those rules is written for a test center.
Step-by-Step Check-in Walkthrough
The exact on-screen order can vary, so treat this as the typical PSI flow (confirm on the official page).
- Run the checks right after booking. What to do: after you confirm your booking, run the compatibility check, which covers audio and video, webcam and system. Sticking point: the check passes in one room and the real exam fails in another. Fix: run it in the room and at the time of day you will test, and run the Secure Browser tutorial in your PSI account if one is offered.
- Prepare the machine 30 minutes before your start. What to do: restart, close everything you do not need, unplug extra cameras, microphones and monitors, and plug in power. Sticking point: antivirus software that blocks the exam. Fix: PSI advises disabling it temporarily and re-enabling it afterwards.
- Launch from your PSI account. What to do: the bulletin says you can launch within 30 minutes of your booked time, so launch early in that window. Sticking point: starting late. Fix: remember that a test not started within 15 minutes after your booked time costs you the fee or your eligibility.
- Install and close banned apps. What to do: let the software load and follow its prompts. Sticking point: a stubborn background program. Fix: restart and relaunch with nothing else open.
- Photograph your ID. What to do: photograph your passport or other accepted ID, using your webcam or your phone if prompted to scan a QR code. Sticking point: glare and blur. Fix: lay the ID flat in even light and retake it until every character is sharp.
- Take your selfie and confirm your details. What to do: look at the camera so it can compare your face to the ID, then confirm your details and consent to monitoring. Sticking point: shadows, hats or a bright window behind you. Fix: face your light source and remove anything covering your face.
- Scan the room and desk. What to do: pan the camera through a full 360 degrees, then show the desk surface, floor, ceiling and your workstation area. Sticking point: a cable too short to reach the corners. Fix: plan the cable run, or use a longer USB extension for an external webcam.
- Show your ears and wrists. What to do: let the proctor see both. Remove watches, earbuds, headphones and decorative jewelry, except items worn for religious or medical reasons. Sticking point: a smartwatch you forgot about. Fix: take it off before you launch.
- Wait for the proctor, then do the tutorial. What to do: a check-in specialist reviews your documents and scans, then a live proctor releases the exam. The bulletin says the on-screen tutorial, up to 15 minutes, does not count against your exam time. Sticking point: the waiting screen feels stuck. Fix: stay seated and in camera view.
What the Proctor Looks for During the Room Scan
The scan is a search for anything that could give you outside help or let you capture questions. Have these cleared before you start:
- Phones, tablets, second laptops, smart speakers and other screens.
- Notes, loose papers, notebooks and anything with writing on it. The bulletin bans scratch paper in remote exams.
- Extra monitors, cameras and microphones that are not part of your setup.
- Accessories on your body: watches, earbuds, headphones and decorative jewelry.
- Any reference material that has not been cleared for remote use. If you are told books are allowed, expect the proctor to look through them for writing, loose papers and removable tabs.
Rules During the Exam
The bulletin’s wording is blunt: PSI may pause or terminate an exam at any time, and anyone seen giving or receiving help, found with prohibited items, or showing prohibited behavior will have the exam terminated and reported to the sponsor, which here is DPOR. PSI’s general guidance adds that minor concerns can draw a warning first.
Tier 1: Behaviors That Can Draw a Warning
- Looking away from the screen. The bulletin lists “not focusing eyes on the screen” as prohibited, and the proctor may tell you to keep your eyes on the monitor.
- Covering your mouth, or keeping your hands near your face.
- Fidgeting or moving your hands off the desktop when the proctor has asked you to keep them there.
- Drifting partly out of camera view.
- Muttering or mouthing words while you think. The bulletin says talking, whispering and mouthing are not allowed.
Tier 2: Behaviors That Can End the Exam and Lead to Disqualification
The bulletin says failing to follow exam protocol can lead to disqualified results, a ban on future exams, and legal action. Assume each of these can end your session:
- Giving or receiving help, or copying or sharing exam content.
- Using a phone, a second computer, instant messaging, the internet, or the computer’s notepad or any app PSI did not provide.
- Reading questions aloud or speaking aloud.
- Leaving the room, or moving to another space or computer, without approval.
- Photographing or recording exam items.
- Blocking the proctor’s view of you or your desk.
- Having prohibited items within reach, including earbuds, headsets and smartwatches.
- Writing in your reference books during the exam.
Breaks, Scratch Paper, Drinks and Calculators
Breaks. There are none. The bulletin tells candidates who cannot get through the exam without a break not to register for remote testing, and it lists stepping out of the camera’s line of sight as a remote protocol violation. At a test center you may leave only for the restroom, with the proctor’s permission, and you get no extra time. Plan for 160 minutes without a break, and ask about accommodations through PSI before you book if you need one. Candidates with approved accommodations must schedule by phone.
Scratch paper and notes. Remote candidates may not have scratch paper. At a test center you are given an LCD writing tablet for notes and return it at check-out. The computer’s notepad is prohibited in both. So for calculations, you work in your head or in the reference books, which you cannot write in.
Calculators. Handheld calculators appear on the prohibited list, and the bulletin says nothing about an on-screen calculator. Practice the math you will meet in the outline, such as quantities and plans, without a calculator.
Food and drink. The bulletin lists drinks and food as prohibited personal items at test centers. For remote exams, PSI’s general guidance is that only water in a clear, label-free container is typically allowed (confirm on the official page). When in doubt, go without.
Exam Tip: Experimental questions may appear in the exam. The 2024 contractor bulletin says they do not count against your time, but PSI’s July 2026 bulletin for the tradesman exams says they do (confirm on the official page). Do not count on spare minutes. 160 minutes for 80 questions is about two minutes each, so do not let one book lookup eat several of them.
Online Proctored vs. Test Center
| Factor | Remote proctored | PSI test center |
|---|---|---|
| When to arrive | Launch within 30 minutes of your booked time | At least 30 minutes early |
| Late limit | Start within 15 minutes after your booked time or forfeit the fee | Late arrival may mean no admission and a forfeited fee |
| ID | One signature-bearing photo ID; military ID not accepted | One signature-bearing photo ID |
| Equipment | Your own computer and webcam | Computer provided |
| Reference books | Not confirmed for remote | Allowed if bound, unmarked and tabbed with permanent tabs |
| Notes | No scratch paper | LCD writing tablet provided |
| Calculator | Not confirmed | Handheld calculators prohibited |
| Breaks | None | Restroom only, with permission and no extra time |
| Main risk | Technical failure and room problems | Travel, limited locations, closures |
Who Remote Proctoring Suits
Choose it if you have a personal computer with admin rights, a private room, reliable broadband, and written confirmation from PSI that your reference books are allowed at your desk.
Who the Test Center Suits
Choose it if you are bringing several books, your only computer belongs to an employer, your home is noisy or shared, or you want the writing tablet for notes. Test centers are in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee, and the bulletin says Virginia candidates cannot test elsewhere out of state.
Exam Day Checklist
The Night Before
- Confirm your appointment date, time and time zone in your PSI account.
- Check that your PSI name matches your ID, and put the ID where you can reach it.
- Check your books against the rules: bound, no writing, permanent tabs, no study guides.
- Unplug your second monitor and any extra webcams or microphones.
- Run the compatibility check again if anything has changed on your computer.
- Clear the desk and the wall around it.
60 Minutes Before
- Switch off your VPN and stay off corporate networks.
- Take off your watch, earbuds and decorative jewelry.
- Move phones and notes out of the room.
- Use the bathroom.
30 Minutes Before
- Restart the computer and close every program you do not need.
- Check your connection at 3 Mbps or better.
- Sign in to your PSI account and wait for the launch button, which the bulletin says opens within 30 minutes of your booked time.
During the Exam
- Launch early, and be checked in by your start time.
- Follow each check-in prompt in order, and do not rush the room scan.
- Stay seated, in camera view, with your eyes on the screen.
- Keep your hands on the desktop if the proctor asks, and keep them away from your face.
- Do not speak, whisper or read questions aloud.
- Answer every question before you finish, and use the comment key if a question looks wrong.
- If something breaks, call PSI technical support at (866) 395-0907.
FAQ
Technical Problems
What happens if my internet drops during the exam?
PSI’s general guidance says the system tries to reconnect you, and you can usually resume where you left off. Long or repeated drops can close the software, and you must relaunch and repeat check-in. The Virginia bulletin has no specific policy on interruptions, including whether lost time is restored (confirm on the official page). Call PSI technical support at (866) 395-0907 right away.
Can I use my laptop’s built-in webcam?
Yes. PSI recommends the built-in microphone on a laptop, and you will carry the whole laptop around the room for the scan. Desktop users need an external webcam that can be moved. Do not unplug the camera while the exam is open, because PSI says that ends the session immediately.
Can I use my work laptop, a VPN or a virtual machine?
No. Virtual machines are not supported, a VPN or corporate firewall blocks the secure connection, and Windows Enterprise and Education editions are unsupported. PSI recommends a personal computer because work machines often block the software. If a work laptop is your only option, the test center is the safer choice.
ID, Timing and Rescheduling
What if I am late or check-in times out?
The bulletin is not consistent here. One passage says a test not started within 15 minutes after your booked time costs you the fee or eligibility. The missed-appointment passage says you forfeit if you are not checked in by your scheduled start time. Treat the start time as the deadline. The bulletin does not cover a stalled check-in (confirm on the official page), so contact PSI at (866) 395-0907 immediately.
My ID name does not match my registration. Can I still test?
Not safely. The bulletin requires an exact match on first and last name and lists improper ID as a reason to lose your fee. Contact PSI at (855) 340-3910 or DPORSupport@psionline.com before your exam day, and get the registration corrected.
Can I reschedule or switch to a test center?
You can cancel or reschedule without losing your fee if PSI receives notice at least two days before the exam date, through the PSI website or by phone. The bulletin says voicemail and email do not count.
Rules and Retakes
What if I fail?
You cannot book a new appointment on the same day. The bulletin says that, depending on space, you may be able to retest within two business days, and each attempt needs a new fee. Your eligibility stays valid for one year, with unlimited attempts in that period, according to the bulletin.
References and Sources
Where the Facts in This Guide Come From
Exam facts come from PSI’s RBC content outline. Scheduling, ID, fees and security rules come from PSI’s Virginia contractor candidate bulletin for DPOR. Equipment and check-in steps come from PSI’s own help pages. Where PSI’s general rules differ from the Virginia bulletin, the bulletin is treated as the governing policy.
References
- PSI: Virginia DPOR Contractor Specialty Examination Candidate Information Bulletin
- PSI: Virginia Residential Building Contractor examination content outline and references
- PSI: Virginia Contractor License (DPOR) Exam page
- PSI: Online proctoring system requirements
- PSI: How to prepare for your remote online proctored exam at home
- PSI: Your questions answered about online exam ID checks
- PSI: Proctored exam rules and what to expect
- PSI: Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification Bulletin, July 2026 (used only for the experimental-question comparison)
- PSI: System Compatibility Check
- PSI: Hardware and connection check (camera, microphone, bandwidth)
- PSI: Virginia DPOR registration site
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