United States · Licensing examWhich exams does the WV board want?
Email your scope of work to the board at CLBoard@wv.gov. It replies in writing with the classifications and exams you need. The tested classifications are concrete, electrical, excavation, general building, general engineering, HVAC, manufactured home installation, masonry, multi-family, piping, plumbing, remodeling and repair, residential, sprinkler and fire protection, structural steel erection, and water and sewer utilities. A specialty contractor license is for work that doesn't mostly fall in one of those.
The person who tests must be a full-time employee, working at least 30 hours a week, or part of the company's responsible management, such as an owner, officer or member. Scores don't expire, but one person's scores can qualify at most three licenses.
What's on the WV contractor license exam?
The Contractor Licensing Act exam is 90 questions in 3 hours, all from the Contractor Licensing Act Study Guide sold by Prov:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Contractor Licensing Act (W.Va. Code 30‑42) | 37 |
| Written contracts rule (28 CSR 4) | 24 |
| Notice and opportunity to cure defects (W.Va. Code 21‑11A) | 19 |
| Licensing Act legislative rule (28 CSR 2) | 10 |
Trade exams also run 3 hours. General Building and General Engineering have 80 questions each, Electrical 75 and Concrete 50; HVAC and Residential are on their own pages. Only the book editions in the current bulletin are allowed, and books allowed before September 2024 no longer are. One exception: if you already own the West Virginia Business and Law Study Guide, 6th Edition, Prov's bulletin lets you use it on the Contractor Licensing Act exam.
Booking with Prov, results and retakes
- Book at provexam.com/scheduler or call Prov at 866-720-7768.
- Prov's West Virginia test centers are in Charleston, Martinsburg, Morgantown and Wheeling. You can also test at home through Examroom.ai.
- Exams are scored against a 70% cut score, and you get your result at the end.
- You can retake a failed exam as often as needed, with no waiting period, at the same $59.95.
- After failing an exam twice, you can pay for a review if you scored within 10 points of 70%. A hand score check costs $25.
After the exams
The board is the last step. First get a Business Registration Tax Number from the State Tax Department, register with the Secretary of State if your business type requires it, and show workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for employees in the state. Every application also needs a wage bond status affidavit.
Once a complete application reaches the board, it issues and mails the license within 24 hours. The license lasts 12 months, and renewing more than 15 days late costs a $25 late fee. The board doesn't issue handyman or temporary licenses.
Sources: WV Contractor Licensing Board · Prov and 3 more. Checked October 2026.
- WV Contractor Licensing Board: Apply for a license ↗
- WV Contractor Licensing Board: Tested classifications notice ↗
- WV Contractor Licensing Board: Step-by-step guide (revised 7.7.2025) ↗
- WV Contractor Licensing Board: FAQs ↗
- Prov: West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board Candidate Bulletin (2026.05.07) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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