Check if there's already an “active” class on element on jQuery.validate()

Question

I have two "< li >" elements and I'm adding an "active" class on click using jQuery, however, I don't want user to proceed without picking any of the two options. Here is the element I'm using:

<ul class="register-tabs">
    <li class="am_va" data-account-type="one" data-description="one"><a href="javascript:void(0);">One</a></li>
    <li class="need_va" data-account-type="two" data-description="two"><a href="javascript:void(0);">Two</a></li>
</ul>

I want to know how I can validate this using jQuery.validate?

My current fixed for this is the button validate is disabled until user is not clicking on the options I provided. But I found if irritating on user experience. So I want to show an error instead if they didn't choose any of the options.

Answer 1

So I found a solution for my problem and I'm posting it so if someone needs a solutions this is my fixed.

New HTML Structure:

<ul class="register-tabs">
    <li class="am_va" data-account-type="job-seeker" data-description="I'm a virtual assistant looking for work."><a href="javascript:void(0);">I WANT TO WORK</a></li>
    <li class="need_va" data-account-type="job-offer" data-description="I need to hire a virtual assistant."><a href="javascript:void(0);">I WANT TO HIRE</a></li>
    <input type="hidden" name="accountType" id="accountType" value=""  />
    <label for="accountType" class="error"></label>
</ul>

So, I've added a hidden input box with a blank value so later on the jQuery Validate can check if it's blank and show the label error I provided.

Here is the jQuery.validate() code.

jQuery('#form').validate({
    ignore: ".ignore",
    rules: {
        last_name: {
            required: true
        }
    },
    messages: {
         accountType: {
              required: "<?php _e( 'Please choose account type', 'themesdojo' ); ?>"
    }
    }).......;

For the final result, I used jQuery when one of the two options is clicked, I'm adding a value on the hidden textbox I provided for it to validate properly :)