West Virginia splits contractor licensing across three agencies. Individual trade workers are credentialed by the Fire Marshal (electricians) and the Division of Labor (plumbers, HVAC technicians). Contracting businesses hold contractor licenses from the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. WV Contractor Licensing Board. Issues contractor licenses in classifications including General Building (residential or commercial), Residential, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and others. Applicants pay $90 application fee, pass a Business and Law exam ($59.95) and a classification-specific trade exam ($59.95). West Virginia does not impose statewide minimum experience requirements on the contractor license itself. Annual renewal fee $90. WV State Fire Marshal — Electricians (W. Va. Code 29-3B). - Helper: no license required; supervised. - Journeyman: 2,000 hours of hands-on electrical experience. - Master: 4,000 hours. - Single Family Dwelling Electrician: separate classification. - Exam (Prov): 50 multiple-choice + 5 calculation questions, open book, 2020 NEC. - License fee $50 per year; renewal for 1, 2, or 3 years. Expires June 30. No CE required. WV Division of Labor — HVAC Technician Certification. - HVAC Technician: 2,000 hours. $75 initial cert. - HVAC Residential Technician: $50 initial cert. - HVAC Technician in Training: $25 initial cert. - Exam (Prov): 80 questions, 3 hours, 70 percent passing, $59.95 exam fee. No CE required. WV Division of Labor — Plumber Certification (W. Va. Code 21-14; Series 42-32). - Plumber in Training: under 8,000 hours experience; $25 cert fee. - Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours experience; $75 cert fee; 80-question exam. - Master Plumber: Journeyman for at least 1 year; $75 cert fee; 100-question exam. - Exam fee $59.95 per exam via Prov. No CE required. Business registration. LLCs and corporations register with the WV Secretary of State. LLC formation fee $100. Annual report fee $25 (waived for veteran-owned entities for 4 years after formation). West Virginia does not impose a franchise tax; the only recurring state fee for LLCs is the $25 annual report.
WV · Contractor licensing
Contractor licensing in West Virginia
State contractor license requirements, bond, and insurance minimums.
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