How to get a general contractor license in West Virginia

Licensing office West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board · (304) 558-7890 [18]

The license pathway in West Virginia

1. 1

   Construction worker or carpenter apprentice

   No state license. The Contractor Licensing Act covers people who contract work for compensation "other than as an employee of another," so working for a licensed contractor needs no license of your own. [1]

2. 2

   Remodeling and repair contractor

   • Remodeling and repair exam (50 questions, 3 hours) plus the Contractor Licensing Act exam
   • $90 a year
   • Yearly

   For general remodeling, additions and repairs to existing structures that use two or more classifications, where the cost doesn't exceed $40,000. [3][7]

3. 3

   Residential contractor

   • Residential exam (60 questions, 3 hours) plus the Contractor Licensing Act exam
   • $90 a year
   • Yearly

   Builds, repairs and improves homes. A residential contractor is considered licensed for all classifications needed on a residential structure (up to three floors above grade), but its workers still need their own state electrician, plumber and HVAC licenses. [1][3][7][20][21]

4. 4

   General building contractor

   • General Building exam (80 questions, 3 hours) plus the Contractor Licensing Act exam
   • $90 a year
   • Yearly

   Commercial, business or industrial buildings that use more than two contractor classifications. Except on residential structures, its scope doesn't include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping or general engineering work, which need their own classifications. [1][3][7]

Who needs a contractor license

West Virginia's Contractor Licensing Act defines a contractor as a person who, for pay and "other than as an employee of another," undertakes or bids to build, alter, repair, improve, move or demolish a building, highway, structure or excavation, "where the cost of the undertaking is $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work." Construction managers count as contractors.

The Board's FAQ (frequently asked questions) says the dollar amount is based on the entire project, including all labor and materials: a subcontractor paid less than $5,000 on a $200,000 home still needs a license. Building permit offices must see proof of a license (or an affidavit that you're exempt) before issuing a permit.

Exemptions include work on your own property, government employees, material suppliers, regulated utilities, landscaping and painting, and emergency repairs. [1][2][4][5]

Classifications

The Board tests these classifications: concrete, electrical, excavation, general building, general engineering, HVAC, manufactured home installation, masonry, multi-family, piping, plumbing, remodeling and repair, residential, sprinkler and fire protection, structural steel erection, and utilities (water and sewer). A specialty contractor license is for work that doesn't substantially fall within any of them.

• General building: commercial, business or industrial structures needing more than two classifications. Except on residential structures, it doesn't include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping or general engineering work.
• Residential: construction, repair or improvement of residential structures (up to three floors above grade); considered licensed for all classifications needed on them.
• Remodeling and repair: remodeling, additions and repairs to existing structures, up to $40,000.

[1][3][6]

The exams

Every applicant must pass the Contractor Licensing Act exam (90 questions, 3 hours) on the Contractor Licensing Act, the Board's rules, the written-contracts rule and the construction defects notice law. You also pass a trade exam for each classification, for example General Building (80 questions, 3 hours) or Residential (60 questions, 3 hours). ProV gives the exams for $59.95 each, and you need 70%.

There's no experience requirement in the Board's rule: licensing rests on the exams. Exam scores don't expire but can be used at most three times. A NASCLA exam score is accepted. [3][4][7][8]

Fees and business requirements

• License fee: $90 a year (state law caps it at $150).
• Late renewal: $25 penalty if more than 15 days after expiration.
• Duplicate license: $10.
• Initial fee waiver: state law and the Board's 2026 rule waive the first license fee for low-income applicants and military families (service members, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses), who apply by affidavit.

Before the license is issued you certify that you comply with state business franchise tax rules, workers' compensation and unemployment coverage, and wage bond requirements. The Board doesn't issue temporary or handyman licenses. Any contract of $10,000 or more must be in writing. [3][4][5][9][10][11]

Recent changes (2026)

Senate Bill 553, approved March 25, 2026 and in effect June 12, 2026, lets a license holder transfer a license to an immediate family member (spouse, child, sibling or parent). The family member must pass the Board's required exams within one year to keep the license.

A new version of the Board's rule (28 CSR 2) took effect May 4, 2026. It adds the Universal Licensing Act route for licensed newcomers (business and law exam only) and initial fee waivers for low-income applicants and military families. [3][11][12][13][14]

Apprenticeships and getting experience

The state doesn't license construction workers, so experience comes from working for a builder or from an apprenticeship. The West Virginia Building and Construction Trades lists union apprenticeships (carpenters, laborers, bricklayers, ironworkers and more) by county; its STAND (Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Nontraditional Degree) program lets apprentices in registered programs earn a tuition-free associate degree.

West Virginia Invests covers tuition at state community and technical colleges for certificate and associate programs in high-demand fields. See our carpenter apprenticeship guide. [15][16][17]

If you're licensed in another state

State law lets the Board license contractors from other states without the written exam when their qualifications equal West Virginia's, to the extent those states do the same.

The Board has agreements with Tennessee (effective December 17, 2020) covering general building, residential, multifamily, masonry and several trade classifications. Its other agreements (Ohio, North Carolina, Alabama) cover trade classifications only. It accepts NASCLA exam scores and may accept scores from other national testing organizations or other states' business and law exams; send them to CLBoard@wv.gov for review.

If you move to West Virginia, the Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025 is another route. You must establish residence here (or be the spouse of an active-duty service member stationed here), hold a license in good standing in another state at the same level, have met that state's education, experience and exam requirements, and have no unresolved discipline or disqualifying criminal history. The Board's 2026 rule says these applicants take only the West Virginia business and law exam.

See our license reciprocity guide and reciprocity map. [3][8][14][18][19]

Steps to get licensed in West Virginia

1. Confirm your classification

   Email the Board at CLBoard@wv.gov with your scope of work to confirm which classification(s) and exam(s) you need. [4][18]

2. Pass the exams

   Schedule with ProV at (866) 720-7768: the Contractor Licensing Act exam (90 questions, 3 hours) and the trade exam for your classification. Each costs $59.95 and you need 70%. The test taker must be an officer, member, owner or full-time employee. [3][7][18]

3. Register the business

   Get a West Virginia business registration from the State Tax Department, register with the Secretary of State if required, and set up workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for employees. [18]

4. Apply to the Board

   Submit the contractor license application online through the Board's Apply for License page or on paper, with the wage bond status affidavit and the $90 annual fee. [3][4][18]

5. Post your license and renew yearly

   Post the license at every job site and put the license number on advertising and contracts. The license expires 12 months after issue; renewals more than 15 days late cost $25 extra. [2][4][9]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for West Virginia, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• Union

  West Virginia Building and Construction Trades apprenticeship directory

  The council of the state's building trades unions lists apprenticeship programs by county for carpenters, bricklayers, cement masons, ironworkers, laborers and other crafts, with general entry requirements. [15]

• School

  High school and career center Carpentry programs

  The WV Department of Education's Carpentry program covers safety, plan reading, tools and equipment and basic rigging, with chances to earn industry credentials. [22][23]

• School

  West Virginia Invests grant (community and technical colleges)

  A last-dollar grant that covers tuition and mandatory fees at West Virginia community and technical colleges for certificate and associate programs in high-demand fields set by the state's community college council. [17]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask