West Virginia Contractor License Requirements

In the state of West Virginia anyone doing construction work has to have a contractor license.

All contractors have to have these in order to do business:

• Unemployment and workers' compensation coverage
• Post a wage bond equal the total of your gross payroll for four weeks at full capacity or production plus 15% for benefits
• Pass both the Business and Law exam plus a trade exam.

Construction Contractor License

The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board uses these contractor classifications. Each category must all have a trade license.

• Electrical
• HVAC
• Piping
• Multifamily Building
• General Building
• Plumbing
• General Engineering
• Residential Building

The Board recognizes these specialty classifications:

• Remodeling And Repair
• Manufactured Home Installation

Electrical Contractor License

The Electrician's License Section under the State Fire Marshal issues master, journeyman, and specialty electrician's licenses. All electrician applicants must pass an open book exam on the National Electrical Code.

Master Electrician License

• Five (5) years in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work

Journeyman Electrician License: One (1) of the following:

• Four (4) years of work experience with a master electrician, or
• An approved apprenticeship program, or
• 1,080 hours of approved vocational education

Specialty Electrician License

• At least two (2) years of experience in the specialty
• Specialty exam

Plumbing Contractor License

The following plumbing services require licensing:

Installation, extension, maintenance and alteration of piping, plumbing fixtures, plumbing appliances, venting systems and public or private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building or structure.

This also includes the installation of gas pipe, cold water piping in connection with refrigeration processes & comfort cooling, hot water pipe work in connection with building heating and piping for stand pipes.

HVAC

The West Virginia HVAC Contractor license is for the business of contracting to install, erect, service, repair or alter heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment or systems to heat, cool or ventilate residential and/or commercial structures or work in conjunction with the installation or repair.

Asbestos and Lead Abatement

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health license contractors for asbestos and lead abatement:

• Workers
• Contractors
• Inspectors
• Supervisors
• Project Designers

The department also provides licensing rules, licensing application forms, lists of approved asbestos training providers, lead abatement project notification information, application forms and instructions and training course notification forms.

Consumers are advised to check for additional local municipal contractor license requirements as contractor laws can differ from county to county. It is also advised to double check with the state's requirements before hiring a contractor.