How to get a General Building license in West Virginia

West Virginia general contractor licenses

West Virginia issues 5 general contractor credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every West Virginia general contractor license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Exam

Contractor Licensing Act Exam (West Virginia business and law exam)²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%³
90 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Failed exams may be retaken as often as necessary with no waiting period; retake fee equals the exam fee.²
Time limit: Exam scores do not expire, but can be used at most three times.⁶
Exam waived: Reciprocity states, NASCLA scores and other accredited national exam scores may be accepted in place of trade exams.⁶

Social Security number

Social Security number required on the application.¹⁰

Insurance

Proof of workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation coverage for employees working in West Virginia.¹¹

Insurance

General liability insurance is listed on the Board’s apply page.⁹

Business requirements

An officer of a firm must hold the license; the license is held on behalf of one business entity at a time.¹

Business requirements

The qualifier who passes the exams must be in responsible management or a full-time employee (30+ hours/week).³

Business requirements

If a qualifier leaves, a replacement must be named within 45 calendar days.³

Business requirements

WV Business Registration Tax Number required (8-digit account number on the application).¹²

Business requirements

Corporations, LLCs, LLPs, LPs and PLLCs submit their WV Secretary of State certificate of authority.¹²

Also required

Adding a classification to an existing license costs nothing beyond the exam fee: pass the exam and send the score report to the Board.⁶

Also required

A written contract is required for work of $10,000 or more.¹³

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Email the Board ([email protected]) a description of your scope of work; the Board replies in writing with the classification(s) and exam(s) you need.¹¹
2. Have a qualifier (an owner/officer/member/manager or a full-time employee) pass the Contractor Licensing Act exam and the trade exam(s) with Prov, Inc.; full-time employees need proof of employment.¹¹
3. Get a West Virginia Business Registration Tax Number from the State Tax Department.¹¹
4. Register the business with the WV Secretary of State if required.¹¹
5. Obtain workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation coverage (or proof of your home-state coverage if exempt).¹¹
6. Complete the Wage Bond Status Affidavit; commercial contractors with employees confirm wage bond status with the Division of Labor.¹¹
7. Submit the notarized application/affidavit online or on paper with the $90 fee.¹¹ wvclboard.wv.gov⁹

Apply online

wvclboard.wv.gov⁹

Application form

wvclboard.wv.gov⁹

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary licenses; a conditional bid-only license exists for out-of-state contractors.⁶

Processing time

Fully completed applications are processed and the license issued and mailed within 24 hours (immediately for walk-ins).⁶

Renewal

How often

Every year⁴

When it expires

Expires 12 months from the date of issuance; renewal notices are mailed about 45 days before expiration.⁶

Renewal fee

$90³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25³ (renewal received more than 15 calendar days after expiration)

If it expires

A license lapsed 90 days or more cannot be renewed; it may qualify for re-application/reactivation, and grandfathered licenses may need re-examination.⁶
Renewal requires good standing with the WV Tax Department, Secretary of State, workers’ compensation and unemployment.⁶

Renew online

wvclboard.wv.gov¹⁴

From another state

Who needs a General Building license

Commercial, business or industrial structures requiring more than two contractor classifications, or supervising all or part of the construction; does not include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping or general engineering work except on residential structures.³

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• A license is required when the whole undertaking costs $5,000 or more (residential) or $25,000 or more (commercial).⁸
• Work personally performed on a structure by its owner or occupant is exempt.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Thresholds are measured on the entire project (all labour and materials), not the subcontract.⁶
• Landscaping and painting services are not contracting.⁸
• The Board does not issue handyman licenses.⁶

Requirements for a General Building license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Exam

General Building Contractor exam²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%²
80 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Retake as often as necessary; same fee.²

Renewal and continuing education

Moving to West Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes CLB publishes for the General Building license. The other general contractor licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

General Engineering

Public or private works projects such as water supply, drainage, highways, bridges, tunnels, sewers, pipelines, refineries and industrial plants requiring specialized engineering knowledge.⁸

Requirements

Exam

General Engineering Contractor exam²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%²
80 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Retake as often as necessary; same fee.²

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Multi-Family

Construction, repair or improvement of multifamily residential structures (two or more contiguous residential units).⁸

Requirements

Exam

Multifamily Contractor exam²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%²
75 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Retake as often as necessary; same fee.²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Remodeling & Repair

General remodeling, additions and repairs to existing structures needing two or more classifications, limited to undertakings that do not exceed $40,000.³

Requirements

Exam

Remodeling & Repair Contractor exam²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%²
50 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Retake as often as necessary; same fee.²

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Residential

Construction, repair or improvement of residential property; licensed for all classifications needed on a residential structure (not more than three floors above grade), except crafts that other law requires to be licensed separately, such as the electrician’s license issued by the State Fire Marshal.³

Requirements

Exam

Residential Contractor exam²
Given by: Prov, Inc. (ProV)⁹
Passing score: 70%²
60 questions, 3 hours, open book²
Retakes: Retake as often as necessary; same fee.²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

General BuildingCities and counties may not require an additional contractor competency license from a state licensee, but building permit offices must see proof of the state license (or an affidavit of exemption) before issuing a permit.¹³

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a general contractor in West Virginia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in West Virginia is on the West Virginia license lookup page.

Look up a license

wvclboard.wv.gov¹⁵

File a complaint

wvclboard.wv.gov¹⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• W. Va. Code ch. 30, art. 42 (West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act)
• W. Va. Code §30-42-3 (definitions, thresholds)
• W. Va. Code §30-42-7, §30-42-8
• W. Va. Code §30-42-18 (reciprocity)
• W. Va. Code §30-42-20 (local licenses preempted)
• W. Va. Code St. R. §28-2 (28CSR2), eff. May 1, 2022

Common questions

General contractor licenses in other states

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