West Virginia HVAC Exam — ProV Format, References, and Registration
PSI Is Gone — ProV Runs All West Virginia HVAC Exams Now
In September 2024, the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board and Division of Labor moved every mechanical and business licensing examination to ProV, Inc. If you studied using PSI-era guides or showed up with reference editions approved under the old vendor, you need to update — PSI-formatted reference materials are no longer accepted, and candidates arriving with outdated or unapproved books will be turned away at the testing center.
This shift affects three exams relevant to HVAC professionals: the HVAC Technician trade exam, the HVAC Residential Technician exam, and the Business & Law exam.
The Three HVAC-Related ProV Exams
HVAC Technician Exam
- Questions: 80 multiple-choice
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Passing score: 70%
- Fee: $59.95 per attempt
- Prerequisites: WVDOL must approve your 2,000-hour experience documentation before you can schedule
The subject breakdown covers general mechanical knowledge (30 questions), equipment installation and servicing (10), ductwork design and insulation (10), control circuits and electrical schematics (10), piping system mechanics (6), load calculations (6), OSHA and field safety (4), and International Mechanical Code regulations (4).
Approved references: 2021 International Mechanical Code; HVAC Basics for Contractors (2nd Edition, 2013); SMACNA Residential Comfort System Installation Standards Manual (7th Edition).
HVAC Residential Technician Exam
- Questions: 60 multiple-choice
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Passing score: 70%
- Fee: $59.95 per attempt
- Prerequisites: None — no minimum experience required to sit
Covers residential air distribution, low-voltage controls, ductwork and thermal insulation, residential equipment maintenance, basic electrical and thermodynamic principles, residential piping and refrigerant safety, and OSHA standards.
Approved references: 2018 or 2021 International Mechanical Code; Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology; SMACNA Residential Comfort System Installation Standards Manual.
Business & Law Exam
- Questions: 50 multiple-choice
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Passing score: 70%
- Fee: $59.95 per attempt
- Prerequisites: None, but you need this plus a trade exam to apply for a contractor license
Covers business organization and licensing, estimating and bidding, contract management, financial management and tax compliance, labor law, mechanics' lien laws, project management, OSHA, and risk management.
Approved reference: West Virginia Contractors Licensing Act Study Guide (January 2026 Version). This is the only approved book — no IMC or trade manuals are allowed for this exam.
Testing Format and Rules
All exams are computer-based and open-book. You can take them at a physical ProV testing center anywhere in the country or remotely through ProV's "Examroom" online proctoring service, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Remote testing requires a webcam and high-speed internet on your own computer.
What you can bring: Original, bound, professionally published code books and manuals from the approved list. Permanent, self-adhesive pre-printed tabs (like quick-reference indexes) and basic text highlighting are allowed.
What you cannot bring: Photocopied materials, loose-leaf documents, books with handwritten notes, electronic devices, or any reference not on the approved list. Testing centers do not provide books — bring your own.
Results appear on screen immediately after you finish. ProV transmits passing scores to the Division of Labor and Contractor Licensing Board within two business days.
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Failed Exam? What Happens Next
If you fail, you can schedule a retake at the standard $59.95 rate. Specific waiting periods and annual attempt limits vary — confirm with ProV or the licensing board before rebooking.
If you scored within 10% of the passing threshold, ProV allows an official Test Review. During the review, you can see the questions you missed and submit comments if you believe a question was scored incorrectly. ProV reviews all comments within two weeks and adjusts scores where warranted.
ADA Accommodations
ProV provides testing accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. You need to submit a Testing Accommodations request form along with written documentation from a licensed physician or psychologist that describes your disability and the specific accommodation you need (extended time, a reader, etc.).
Scheduling Your Exam
Register through ProV's online portal at provexam.com or call 866-720-7768. ProV does not determine which exam you need — confirm your required classification with the WVDOL (for individual technician exams) or the WVCLB (for contractor exams) before scheduling. Taking the wrong exam means losing $59.95 with no refund.
The West Virginia HVAC License Guide includes the full exam-to-license sequence so you know exactly which exams to schedule, in what order, and what paperwork to have ready before and after each one.
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Download the West Virginia — HVAC License Requirements Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.