Contractors License Overview
- As of March 31, 2008 the State of West Virginia will have new exams and reference materials provided by a new testing company, Prov. The following licensing information is for exams starting April 1, 2008.
- All contractor classifications are required to pass both the Business and Law exam and a trade exam. The first step in the licensing process is to pass all required exams. Once the exams are passed, then you submit an application to the State Licensing Board.
- There are no State mandated minimum experience requirements for Contractors license. (Electrician’s have experience requirements) There are no State mandated financial requirements, though a Wage Bond may be required, if individuals have not been actively engaged in business for the last 5 years.
- For additional licensing requirements including experience, financial and bonding requirements, exam information and reciprocity, please select the License link below.
West Virginia Residential
West Virginia Remodeling and Repair Contractor
West Virginia Residential Contractor
Residential Contractor means a person whose principal business is in connection with the construction; repair or improvement of real property used as, or intended to be used for, residential occupancy or work incidental to the construction or repair. A residential contractor is considered licensed for all crafts required in the construction, repair or improvement of a residential structure.
West Virginia Commercial
West Virginia General Building Contractor
A General Building Contractor is a person who's principal business is in connection with any structures built or being built, to be used for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, or moveable property of any kind, requiring in the construction the use of more than two contractor classifications, or a person who supervises the whole or any part of construction. The "General Building Contractor" classification applies to work on both commercial & residential properties.
West Virginia Multifamily Building Contractor
The Multifamily License is for any person who is engaged in the construction, repair or improvement of a multifamily residential structure or work incidental thereto. A multifamily residential structure means a structure containing two or more residential units.
West Virginia Business and Law
West Virginia Business and Law
The Business and Law exam can stand alone for those specialty licenses that only require this exam to be taken. Only 3 designated specialties may be listed for a Specialty Contractor license.
The Business and Law exam is required for all major classifications in addition to the specific trade exam.
West Virginia Electrical
West Virginia Electrical Contractor
The Electrical Contractor is for those engaged in the business of contracting to install, erect, repair or alter electrical equipment for the generation, transmission or utilization of electrical energy.
West Virginia Electrician Journeyman
A Journeyman may perform all types of electrical work EXCEPT design of electrical systems (commercial and industrial design).
Journeymen are qualified to perform work in all sub-classified specialty areas such as HVAC, Elevator, Electric Sign and so forth. Each Journeyman may supervise up to 3 licensed Apprentice Electricians.
Journeyman may also pull permits in many areas. (Check with your local Inspectors Office)
West Virginia Master Electrician
A Master Electrician may perform all types of electrical work including layout and the design of electrical blue prints. A Master may supervise and/or instruct Journeyman and Apprentices on the job or in a vocational course. A Master can perform work in all sub-classifications and pull permits
West Virginia HVAC and Mechanical
West Virginia HVAC Contractor
"Heating, Ventilating and Cooling Technician" means a person who engages in the business of contracting to install, erect, repair, service or alter heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment or systems to heat, cool or ventilate residential and commercial structures or work incidental to the installation or repair.
All persons performing HVAC work in the State of West Virginia are required to have an HVAC Technician Certification, regardless of the dollar amount of the job or the individual’s affiliation with a licensed contractor.
HVAC work which is $5,000 or more on a residential project or $25,000 or more on a commercial project (material & labor for entire project, not just the HVAC work) requires the entity to obtain a Contractor License with a classification that covers HVAC work.
West Virginia Plumbing
West Virginia Plumbing Contractor License
West Virginia law requires that each individual that works in the installation, repair and maintenance of plumbing fixtures, piping and equipment within West Virginia to be certified. To become Certified, each individual working as a Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber or Plumber in Training must demonstrate competency both by experience and by passing exams in the field of plumbing at the level of certification being sought.
Everyone who performs plumbing work in the State of West Virginia is required to have one (1) of the three (3) plumber certifications, regardless of the dollar amount of the job or the individual's affiliation with a licensed company. Plumbing work performed on a residential project $5,000 or more or on a commercial project $25,000 or more (total contract amount, not just the plumbing work) requires the individual/company to obtain a contractor license with the Plumbing classification. This requires taking the master Plumber or Plumbing exam and the WV Business & Law exam.
Plumbing work consists of installing water lines, vents and drains inside a building. It does not include replacing faucets, washers, unclogging sinks, installing dishwasher, etc
West Virginia Low Voltage and Fire
West Virginia Sprinkler and Fire Protection Contractor
Plumbing work consists of installing water lines, vents and drains inside a building. It does not include replacing faucets, washers, unclogging sinks, installing dishwasher, etc
West Virginia Specialty Trades
West Virginia Concrete Contractor
A Concrete Contractor is allowed to install and repair concrete, concrete reinforcing materials, concrete products and accessories common to the industry, including the forming, pouring, and finishing of concrete structures such as footings, foundations, slabs, basements, sidewalks and walkways, driveways and parking areas, fence footings, decorative concrete walls not to exceed four feet in height and retaining walls not to exceed five feet in height and the excavation incidental to the performance of that work.
West Virginia Excavation Contractor
Excavating Contractor means a contractor whose primary business is the installation, alteration, and repair of earthen material by digging, trenching, grading, or compacting the material for a cut, fill, grade, or trench and work incidental to the undertaking, including the installation, alteration, and repairing of crib walls, gabion walls, and other devices not to exceed six (6) feet in height for the purpose of controlling the movement of earthen materials.
West Virginia General Engineering Contractor
General Engineering Contractor means a person whose principal business is in connection with public or private works project, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: Irrigation, drainage and water supply projects, including, electrical generation projects, swimming pools, flood control, harbors, railroads, highways, tunnels, airports and airways, sewers and sewage disposal systems, bridges, inland waterways, pipelines for transmission of petroleum and other liquid or gaseous substances, refineries, chemical plants and other industrial plants requiring a specialized engineering knowledge and skill, piers and foundations, and structures or work incidental thereto.
“Swimming pools†means a public swimming pool as defined by the Building Officials and Code Administrators B.O.C.A. National Building Code/1990, Article 6, Section 623.2.A.
West Virginia Manufactured Home Installation
West Virginia Piping Contractor
West Virginia Structural Steel Erection Contractor