How to get a West Virginia contractor license
West Virginia requires a license from the Contractor Licensing Board, housed in the Division of Labor, for construction work valued at $2,500 or more including labor and materials. Qualifying means passing two PSI-administered exams, a trade exam for your classification and the open book West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act exam, with 70 percent needed on each. The person who tests must be an owner, officer, member, or full-time employee of the company, proven by payroll records if employed.
Licensing authority
West Virginia Division of Labor, Contractor Licensing Board: https://labor.wv.gov/Licensing/Contractor_License/
When a license is required
A West Virginia contractor license is required for any construction work valued at $2,500 or more, counting labor and materials together, which sweeps in nearly all full-time contracting. Below the line, work is unlicensed at the state level, though trade rules and local permits still apply.
License classes in West Virginia
General building contractor
The classification for contractors building and remodeling structures, the closest thing to a standard GC license in West Virginia.
General engineering contractor
Covers heavy and civil work such as excavation, roads, and utilities.
Specialty classifications
Trade-specific classifications for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping, and other scopes. Electrical and plumbing work also require the individual state trade licenses West Virginia issues separately.
What you need before you apply
- License before contracting any work of $2,500 or more, labor and materials included
- Pass the trade exam for your classification with at least 70 percent
- Pass the open book West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act exam with at least 70 percent
- The exam taker must be an owner, officer, member, or full-time employee, with payroll records as proof for employees
- Hold a West Virginia business registration certificate from the Tax Division
- Carry workers compensation coverage and unemployment compensation registration as applicable
- Newer construction employers may need to post a wage bond with the state; confirm your status with the Division of Labor
- Verify current classification rules and fees with the board before applying
How to get licensed in West Virginia
- Choose your classification. Match the license classification to the work you sell, because the trade exam follows the classification. Multiple classifications are possible with multiple exams.
- Schedule the two PSI exams. Book the trade exam and the Contractor Licensing Act exam. The Act exam is open book, so bring the reference materials and know your way around the licensing statute, contract rules, and lien law it covers.
- Register the business with the state. Get the West Virginia business registration certificate from the Tax Division and set up workers compensation and unemployment accounts if you have employees.
- File the license application. Submit to the Contractor Licensing Board with passing scores, business registration, insurance documentation, and fees. Address any wage bond requirement if it applies to your company.
- Renew annually and keep classifications current. The license renews yearly. Add classifications as your work expands rather than contracting outside your scope, and confirm current requirements with the Division of Labor each renewal.
Reciprocity with other states
West Virginia accepts the NASCLA commercial exam for the general building trade exam, and it participates in exam-waiver arrangements recognized by neighboring states such as Tennessee and Ohio. The Contractor Licensing Act exam and the West Virginia application are yours to complete regardless of where else you hold licenses.
Working without a license
Contracting without a license at or above $2,500 draws cease and desist orders from the Division of Labor and misdemeanor-level fines through the courts, and inspectors check licenses at permit and job-site level. Unlicensed contractors also struggle to enforce payment, which on a $40,000 job hurts far more than the fine does.
Frequently asked questions
What is the licensing threshold in West Virginia?
$2,500, counting labor and materials together, which is among the lower thresholds in the country. Practically every working contractor in West Virginia needs the license, since even a modest kitchen or roofing job clears $2,500.
What exams does West Virginia require?
Two, both through PSI: a trade exam for your classification and the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act exam, which is open book and covers the licensing law, written contract rules, construction defect procedures, and lien law. Both require 70 percent to pass.
Who is allowed to take the exams for my company?
An owner, officer, member, or full-time employee of the business. If the exam taker is an employee rather than an owner, the board wants payroll records proving full-time status, which prevents companies from renting a passing score from an outsider.
Does West Virginia accept out-of-state credentials?
It accepts the NASCLA commercial exam for the general building trade portion, and West Virginia licensees in good standing get trade-exam waivers in several nearby states. The Act exam and the full West Virginia application always apply, so plan for those.
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