- No license is needed when the whole project, labor and materials, is under $5,000 residential or under $25,000 commercial. The board counts the entire project, not just a subcontractor's share.
- The board's step-by-step guide does not list an experience requirement.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A wage bond status affidavit is required with every application. Commercial contractors with employees may need a wage bond, set by the Division of Labor Wage and Hour Section.
- Every year. A license expires 12 months from the date it was issued.
Do you need a state license in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses general contractor work at the state level through the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No license is needed when the whole project, labor and materials, is under $5,000 residential or under $25,000 commercial. The board counts the entire project, not just a subcontractor's share.
West Virginia license types for general contractor work
West Virginia splits the work into 5 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General Building | Tested classification, scope defined in W.Va. Code 30-42-3 and rule 28 CSR 2 |
| Residential | Tested classification for residential construction |
| Multi-Family | Tested classification for multi-family buildings |
| Remodeling and Repair | Tested classification for remodeling and repair work |
| Specialty | Only for work that does not substantially fall in another classification |
Steps to get licensed in West Virginia
- Email the board your scope of work and get a written answer on which exams you need.
- Schedule and pass the Contractor Licensing Act exam and your classification exam with ProV, Inc.
- Get a Business Registration Tax Number from the WV State Tax Department and register with the Secretary of State if required.
- Set up workers' compensation and unemployment coverage if you have employees.
- Fill out the wage bond status affidavit and the license application, and submit them to the board.
- Renew every 12 months.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's step-by-step guide does not list an experience requirement.
The license to apply for. Contractor license, General Building or Residential classification.
West Virginia general contractor exams
Trade exam. A classification exam through ProV, Inc. The board tells you in writing which exam fits your scope of work. Exams are open book.
Business and law exam. Every applicant must pass the WV Contractor Licensing Act exam.
What it costs in West Virginia
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Each exam (ProV) | $59.95 |
| Late renewal (more than 15 days) | $25 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for all employees working in West Virginia. The board's guide does not list a general liability amount.
Bond. A wage bond status affidavit is required with every application. Commercial contractors with employees may need a wage bond, set by the Division of Labor Wage and Hour Section.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. A license expires 12 months from the date it was issued.
Reciprocity. West Virginia has reciprocity with Tennessee for the General Building, Residential and Multi-Family classifications, and the board lists NASCLA exam scores among the exam scores it accepts.
Good to know in West Virginia
- You must register with the WV State Tax Department, and most businesses with the Secretary of State, before the board will process the application.
- The person who tests must be a full-time employee or part of the company's management.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a contractor near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.