- The company needs a contractor license with the HVAC classification when the whole project is $5,000 or more residential or $25,000 or more commercial.
- HVAC Technician: at least 2,000 hours of HVAC work, training and experience, shown by documentation or sworn affidavit.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A wage bond status affidavit with the contractor license application.
- Certification renewal fees match the initial fees, and notices go out about 45 days ahead. The contractor license renews every 12 months.
Do you need a state license in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses HVAC work at the state level through the West Virginia Division of Labor, HVAC Technician Certification. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The company needs a contractor license with the HVAC classification when the whole project is $5,000 or more residential or $25,000 or more commercial.
West Virginia license types for HVAC work
West Virginia splits the work into 4 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 |
|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | Residential and nonresidential systems. Needs at least 2,000 hours of HVAC work, training and experience |
| HVAC Residential Technician | Residential systems |
| Technician in Training | Works only under direct supervision of an HVAC Technician |
| HVAC contractor license classification | The company license for HVAC projects at or above the dollar thresholds |
Steps to get licensed in West Virginia
- Log HVAC hours; start as a Technician in Training if you need supervised time.
- Apply to the Division of Labor and pass the written technician exam with ProV.
- For your own company, email the Contractor Licensing Board your scope of work.
- Pass the Contractor Licensing Act and HVAC contractor exams.
- Register with the State Tax Department and set up workers' comp and unemployment coverage.
- Apply for the contractor license and renew it every 12 months.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. HVAC Technician: at least 2,000 hours of HVAC work, training and experience, shown by documentation or sworn affidavit.
The license to apply for. HVAC Technician certification, plus an HVAC contractor license.
West Virginia HVAC exams
Trade exam. Technician and Residential Technician applicants take a written exam with ProV, Inc. Technicians in Training do not test. The company license adds the Heating, Ventilating and Cooling contractor exam.
Business and law exam. For the contractor license, the WV Contractor Licensing Act exam.
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in West Virginia
The board lists 5 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 |
|---|---|
| HVAC Technician certification | $75 |
| HVAC Residential Technician certification | $50 |
| Technician in Training | $25 |
| Each contractor exam (ProV) | $59.95 |
| Late renewal of certification (past 15 days) | $25 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. For the contractor license: workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for all employees working in West Virginia.
Bond. A wage bond status affidavit with the contractor license application.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Certification renewal fees match the initial fees, and notices go out about 45 days ahead. The contractor license renews every 12 months.
Reciprocity. For the HVAC contractor classification, West Virginia has reciprocity with Alabama, Ohio (including its business and law exam) and Tennessee. Workers still need West Virginia HVAC certification.
Good to know in West Virginia
- Anyone handling refrigerant also needs federal EPA Section 608 certification.
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 HVAC repair 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 Division of Labor, HVAC Technician Certification and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.