West Virginia Contractor License Application

Before You Apply: Prerequisites

The application is one of the last steps in the licensing process, not the first. Before you can submit, you need to have already completed:

• Business entity registration with the Secretary of State (LLCs file through the One Stop Business Portal for $25)
• Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Department ($30 fee), which generates your Business Registration Tax Number
• Workers' compensation and unemployment insurance registration (if you employ anyone)
• Wage bond or Wage Bond Status Affidavit filed with the Division of Labor
• Both exams passed through Prov Inc. — the Business and Law exam plus your trade-specific exam

Trying to submit the application before completing these steps will result in an incomplete application that gets returned.

What the Application Packet Requires

The Contractor License Application/Affidavit must be mailed to the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. There is no online submission option for initial applications.

Your packet needs to include:

1. Completed and notarized application form — the form must be signed by the business owner, corporate officer, or managing member, and it requires a notary seal
2. $90 application fee — payable by check, money order, or credit card
3. Prov exam score reports — physical copies showing passing scores on both required exams
4. Proof of Business Registration Tax Number — a copy of your Business Registration Certificate
5. Certificate of Liability Insurance — a current COI demonstrating general liability coverage
6. Workers' compensation policy number and unemployment compensation account number — even sole proprietors without employees need the UC account number
7. Wage bond or approved Wage Bond Status Affidavit — either proof of a posted bond or a notarized affidavit claiming an exemption
8. Secretary of State business registration — a copy of your LLC, corporation, or partnership filing

The Name-Match Problem

The most common reason applications get rejected is a name mismatch between documents. The business name on your application must exactly match the name registered with the Secretary of State, the name on your insurance certificates, the name on your wage bond or affidavit, and the name on your tax registration.

If you formed your LLC as "Smith Construction LLC" but your insurance lists "Smith Construction" without the LLC suffix, the Board will return your application. Check every document for exact consistency before mailing.

Processing Time

The Board does not publish a guaranteed processing timeline. Plan for several weeks between mailing your application and receiving your license. If your application is incomplete or has errors, the back-and-forth adds more time.

Speed up the process by double-checking every document before submission. A complete, error-free packet with all required enclosures processes faster than one that needs follow-up.

After Approval

Once approved, your license authorizes you to contract within the scope of your classification statewide. But you'll still need to register with each municipality where you plan to work — cities like Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown require separate local business licenses and B&O tax registration before you can pull permits within their borders.

The West Virginia General Contractor License Guide includes a pre-submission document checklist and a name-consistency audit sheet to help you avoid rejection delays.

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