West Virginia General Contractor License

Who Needs a General Contractor License

West Virginia requires a state contractor license for any residential construction project valued at $2,500 or more and any commercial project at $5,000 or more. These thresholds apply to total contract value — labor plus materials combined — not just the contractor's individual scope. Even subcontractors whose portion of work falls below the threshold need a license if the overall project exceeds it.

The general contractor classification in West Virginia is the Class B (General Building) license, which authorizes both commercial and residential construction with no dollar cap on project value. There's also a Class B-2 (Residential) license limited to one- and two-family dwellings, and a Class B-3 (Multi-Family) for apartment and condo construction.

Experience and Education Requirements

Class B applicants need five years of verifiable construction experience. Class B-2 residential applicants need three years. A construction management degree from an accredited program can substitute for up to two years of that requirement, but you'll still need hands-on field experience to cover the remainder.

The experience must be documented — the Contractor Licensing Board verifies employment history, and vague references won't satisfy the requirement. Your application needs specific employer names, dates, and a description of the work performed.

The Two Exams

Every general contractor applicant must designate a "qualifying party" — this can be the owner, an officer, a member, or a full-time employee — who sits for two exams:

1. West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act (Business and Law) — covers state contracting statutes, lien laws, contract requirements, and licensing regulations
2. Trade-specific exam — for Class B applicants, this is the General Building exam

Both exams are administered by Prov Inc. (the state's testing vendor since September 2024), cost $59.95 each, and require a passing score of 70%. They're open-book and delivered by computer at physical testing centers or through Prov's Examroom remote proctoring platform.

Class B commercial applicants have an alternative: the nationally recognized NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors. Passing NASCLA satisfies the trade exam requirement, though you still need to pass the West Virginia Business and Law exam separately.

Application and Fees

After passing both exams, submit the Contractor License Application/Affidavit to the WVCLB in Charleston. The packet includes:

• Completed and notarized application form
• $90 fee (check, money order, or credit card)
• Prov exam score reports
• Proof of Business Registration Tax Number
• Certificate of general liability insurance
• Workers' compensation and unemployment compensation account numbers (if you have employees)
• Wage bond or approved Wage Bond Status Affidavit
• Secretary of State business registration

The application is paper-based and mailed — there's no online submission option for initial applications.

What the License Doesn't Cover

A general contractor license does not authorize specialized trade work. Electrical installations require a separate license through the State Fire Marshal. Plumbing requires certification through the Division of Labor. HVAC work requires both an HVAC Technician Certification and a contractor license with an HVAC endorsement. If your projects include these trades, you'll need to subcontract to properly licensed specialists or obtain the additional credentials yourself.

The state license also doesn't replace municipal business licenses. Most cities require separate local registration, a municipal business license, and compliance with local B&O taxes before you can pull permits within their borders.

For the complete step-by-step walkthrough — from entity registration through municipal compliance — the West Virginia General Contractor License Guide covers every stage of the process.

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