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How to get a Journeyman Plumber license in West Virginia

West Virginia licenses plumbers statewide through the West Virginia Division of Labor.1 For the Journeyman Plumber license you need a passing score on the WV Journeyman Plumber examination (Prov, Inc.)2. The board lists $75 for the initial license3. You renew every year3.

Last checked · 14 official sources

Who issues it

West Virginia Division of Labor

Exam

WV Journeyman Plumber examination (Prov, Inc.)2

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $753
Exam fee: $592

Renewal

Every year3

From another state

License by endorsement and Universal license recognition34 Details

On this page
  1. West Virginia plumber licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Journeyman Plumber license
  4. Requirements for a Journeyman Plumber license
  5. How to apply
  6. Renewal and continuing education
  7. Moving to West Virginia with a license from another state
  8. Plumber in Training
  9. Master Plumber
  10. City and county rules
  11. Check a license or report a problem
  12. Laws and rules
  13. Rule changes since January 2024
  14. Common questions
  15. Plumber licenses in other states

West Virginia plumber licenses

West Virginia issues 3 plumber credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversExamApplication or license fee
Plumber in TrainingLearner who has not passed the journeyman exam; works only under the direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman (max three trainees per supervisor).3No5$253
Journeyman PlumberPerforms plumbing and may instruct and supervise plumbers in training (up to three).3Yes5$753
Master PlumberDesigns plumbing systems and instructs and supervises journeyman plumbers and plumbers in training.6Yes5$753

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the West Virginia plumber licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Background check
Criminal convictions: the Commissioner applies W. Va. Code 21-1-6 to decide whether a conviction directly and specifically relates to the license.7
Social Security number
Application asks for the last four digits of the Social Security number and date of birth.8
Also required
Carry proof of the license on every job; licenses are not transferable.3
Also required
Pay by check, certified check, cashier's check or money order to the West Virginia Division of Labor; no cash.8

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Duplicate or replacement license$103West Virginia Division of Labor

How to apply

Application form
labor.wv.gov8

Renewal

How often
Every year3
When it expires
Annual license; renewal date is on the card and a renewal notice arrives about 45 days before.5
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $253 (renewal received or postmarked more than 15 days after expiration)
If it expires
A license expired 90 days or more cannot be renewed.3
Renew online
epay.wvsto.com9

From another state

Route
Universal license recognition
What the board says
Work experience from a state that does not license plumbers: at least two years in the trade, plus WV residency, may qualify for a license without exam at the Commissioner's discretion.4

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Veterans whose military training qualified them for a plumber or utilities-worker rating (honourable service) may apply with copies of the training certificate and discharge and sit the same exams; extra training may be required if more than 30 years have passed.10

2. Every license level except Plumber in Training

Fees

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee$753West Virginia Division of Labor–
Exam fee$592Prov, Inc.Effective October 31, 2026

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. Pass with 70% or better; Prov sends results to the Division of Labor.2
  2. Complete the notarized Plumber License Application/Affidavit, mark the classification, attach the exam score report and a $75 check or money order to the WV Division of Labor.8 labor.wv.gov8
  3. Carry your license on every job and renew each year (late fee after 15 days; no renewal after 90 days expired).3

Renewal

Renewal fee
$753

Who needs a Journeyman Plumber license

Performs plumbing and may instruct and supervise plumbers in training (up to three).3

Work that does not need this license:

  • Exempt: plumbing on your own (or an immediate family member's) single-family home; plant employees at manufacturing/industrial sites; appliance-retailer employees doing incidental plumbing; public-utility employees; work outside the foundation walls (water/sewer lines, treatment systems); HVAC installers; active coal mines; manufacturing, industrial and natural gas facilities.1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Plumbing work means water lines, vents and drains inside a building; replacing faucets or washers, unclogging sinks and installing dishwashers are not plumbing work.5
  • The individual plumber license is separate from the business license: jobs of $5,000+ (residential) or $25,000+ (commercial) also need a WV contractor license with the Plumbing classification (master plumber or plumbing exam plus the WV Business & Law exam).5
  • A license is issued only to a person, never to a business; each plumber on a job needs his or her own license.5

Requirements for a Journeyman Plumber license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Experience
The DOL says journeyman applicants must certify experience, but no hour or year figure is set in statute, rule or on the application.11
Exam
WV Journeyman Plumber examination (Prov, Inc.)2
Given by: Prov, Inc. (computer-based at 6 WV test centers or remote via Examroom.ai)5
Passing score: 70%6
When you can take it: Register with Prov and pass the exam, then send the score report with the application/affidavit.8
80 questions, 180 minutes, open book (2018 IPC, 2018 IFGC, Plumbing Basics for Contractors)2
Retakes: Retake on payment of the exam fee; Prov sets no attempt limit or waiting period.2

How to apply

  1. Register with Prov, Inc. (choose "WV - West Virginia Division of Labor" and Journeyman Plumber), pay the $59 exam fee and schedule at a WV test center or remotely.2 provexam.com5

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your West Virginia Journeyman Plumber license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to West Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes the West Virginia Division of Labor publishes for the Journeyman Plumber license. The other plumber licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
The Commissioner may, at discretion, license a journeyman plumber licensed in another state with equivalent requirements without exam, if the applicant meets the universal-recognition conditions in W. Va. Code 21-17-3(a) and pays the license fee.3
Conditions
Held the other state's license for at least one year, in good standing everywhere, nothing pending.12
Must have established West Virginia residency (W. Va. Code 11-21-7(a)).12
No disqualifying criminal record; no license revoked or surrendered for negligence or misconduct.12

Plumber in Training

Learner who has not passed the journeyman exam; works only under the direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman (max three trainees per supervisor).3

Requirements

Exam
Not required5
Also required
"Direct supervision" means the master or journeyman instructs, directs and oversees the trainee's work at each separate job site.3

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$253West Virginia Division of Labor

How to apply

  1. Complete the notarized Plumber License Application/Affidavit, tick "Plumber in Training" (no exam) and attach a $25 check or money order to the WV Division of Labor.8 labor.wv.gov8
  2. Work only under the direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman plumber; renew yearly.8
  3. To advance, pass the journeyman plumber exam with Prov.6

Renewal

Renewal fee
$253

From another state

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
The Commissioner may, at discretion, license a plumber in training licensed in another state with equivalent requirements without exam, if the applicant meets the universal-recognition conditions in W. Va. Code 21-17-3(a) and pays the license fee.3
Conditions
Held the other state's license for at least one year, in good standing everywhere, nothing pending.12
Must have established West Virginia residency (W. Va. Code 11-21-7(a)).12
No disqualifying criminal record; no license revoked or surrendered for negligence or misconduct.12

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Master Plumber

Designs plumbing systems and instructs and supervises journeyman plumbers and plumbers in training.6

Requirements

Experience
Pass the journeyman exam first and wait 12 months before the master exam; the DOL says master and journeyman applicants must certify experience, but no hour or year figure is published.6
License you must hold first: Must have passed the journeyman plumber exam at least 12 months earlier.3
Exam
WV Master Plumber examination (Prov, Inc.)2
Given by: Prov, Inc. (computer-based at 6 WV test centers or remote via Examroom.ai)5
Passing score: 70%6
When you can take it: Not until 12 months after passing the journeyman plumber exam.6
100 questions, 180 minutes, open book (2018 IPC, 2018 IFGC, Plumbing Basics for Contractors)2
Retakes: Retake on payment of the exam fee; Prov sets no attempt limit or waiting period.2

How to apply

  1. Register with Prov, Inc. (choose "WV - West Virginia Division of Labor" and Master Plumber), pay the $59 exam fee and schedule at a WV test center or remotely.2 provexam.com5

From another state

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
The Commissioner may, at discretion, license a master plumber licensed in another state with equivalent requirements without exam, if the applicant meets the universal-recognition conditions in W. Va. Code 21-17-3(a) and pays the license fee.3
Conditions
Held the other state's license for at least one year, in good standing everywhere, nothing pending.12
Must have established West Virginia residency (W. Va. Code 11-21-7(a)).12
No disqualifying criminal record; no license revoked or surrendered for negligence or misconduct.12

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Journeyman PlumberState license only: cities and counties may not require a state-licensed plumber to hold any other plumber license or competency card.14

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a plumber 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
labor.wv.gov9
File a complaint
labor.wv.gov13

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • October 31, 2026: New Prov candidate information bulletin (WV CIB 2026.10.31) effective October 31, 2026; exam fee $59.00, remote testing offered.2

Common questions

Can I transfer my plumber license to West Virginia?

The West Virginia Division of Labor publishes these routes for the Journeyman Plumber license: license by endorsement3 and universal license recognition4. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Journeyman Plumber license in West Virginia?

Every year3. The renewal fee is $753.

Plumber licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. W. Va. Code §21-14-3West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  2. Plumber Candidate Information BulletinWest Virginia Division of LaborDated October 31, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  3. Plumber legislative rule (42CSR34) as posted by DOLWest Virginia Division of LaborDated May 1, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
  4. W. Va. Code §21-17-4West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Plumber Certification FAQWest Virginia Division of LaborChecked November 7, 2026
  6. W. Va. Code §21-14-2West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  7. W. Va. Code §21-14-6West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Plumber License ApplicationWest Virginia Division of LaborDated June 16, 2021Checked November 7, 2026
  9. Online Payment | WV Division of LaborWest Virginia Division of LaborChecked November 7, 2026
  10. W. Va. Code §21-14-3aWest Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  11. Plumber CertificationWest Virginia Division of LaborChecked November 7, 2026
  12. W. Va. Code §21-17-3West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  13. Plumber Certification FormsWest Virginia Division of LaborChecked November 7, 2026
  14. W. Va. Code §21-14-8West Virginia LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026