- The plumber certification is needed for every job, whatever the dollar amount. The contractor license with the Plumbing classification is needed for residential projects of $5,000 or more or commercial projects of $25,000 or more, counting the whole contract.
- Master and journeyman applicants must certify their experience. The master exam can only be taken one year after passing the journeyman exam.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A wage bond status affidavit is required with the contractor license application.
- The plumber certification renewal date is on your card, and the Division sends a renewal form about 45 days before. A contractor license expires 12 months after it is issued.
Do you need a state license in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses plumbing work at the state level through the West Virginia Division of Labor, Plumber Certification (contractor licenses by the WV Contractor Licensing Board). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The plumber certification is needed for every job, whatever the dollar amount. The contractor license with the Plumbing classification is needed for residential projects of $5,000 or more or commercial projects of $25,000 or more, counting the whole contract.
West Virginia license types for plumbing 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 |
|---|---|
| Master plumber | Can design plumbing systems and supervise journeymen and plumbers in training |
| Journeyman plumber | Can supervise the work of a plumber in training |
| Plumber in training | Not yet passed the journeyman exam |
| Contractor license, Plumbing classification | Business license from the Contractor Licensing Board for jobs at or above the dollar limits |
Steps to get licensed in West Virginia
- Register as a plumber in training with the Division of Labor and work under licensed plumbers.
- Pass the journeyman written exam with ProV, Inc.
- Wait at least one year, then pass the master plumber exam.
- For jobs at or above $5,000 residential or $25,000 commercial, pass the Plumbing exam and the WV Business and Law exam for a contractor license.
- Register the business with the WV State Tax Department, set up workers' comp and unemployment coverage, and apply to the Contractor Licensing Board.
- Renew the plumber certification by the date on your card and the contractor license every 12 months.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master and journeyman applicants must certify their experience. The master exam can only be taken one year after passing the journeyman exam.
The license to apply for. Master plumber certification, plus a contractor license with the Plumbing classification.
West Virginia plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. Master and journeyman applicants must pass a written exam with a score of at least 70 percent. ProV, Inc. gives the test.
Business and law exam. For the contractor license you also pass the WV Business and Law exam.
What it costs in West Virginia
The board lists 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Master or journeyman certification, initial or renewal | $75.00 |
| Plumber in training, initial or renewal | $25.00 |
| Late fee | $25.00 |
| Contractor Licensing Board exams (ProV), each | $59.95 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. For the contractor license, proof of workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for all employees working in West Virginia.
Bond. A wage bond status affidavit is required with the contractor license application.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The plumber certification renewal date is on your card, and the Division sends a renewal form about 45 days before. A contractor license expires 12 months after it is issued.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in West Virginia
- A plumber certification is issued only to a person, not to a company.
- No certification is needed for plumbing on your own single-family home or one owned by your immediate family.
- Replacing faucets or washers, unclogging sinks and installing dishwashers is not counted as plumbing work.
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 plumber 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, Plumber Certification (contractor licenses by the WV Contractor Licensing Board) 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.