How to get a plumbing license in West Virginia
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (plumber certification) licenses plumbing contractors in West Virginia. Contractor license needed when the job costs $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work.
Who licenses plumbing work in West Virginia
| Credential | State license |
|---|---|
| Board | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (plumber certification) official statement |
| Official lookup | Search plumbing licenses |
| When a license is needed | Contractor license needed when the job costs $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work. source |
| License types | Plumbing contractor, Master plumber, journeyman plumber, plumber in training (Division of Labor) |
How to get licensed
- Apply to contractor as a Plumbing contractor or Master plumber, journeyman plumber, plumber in training (Division of Labor).
- Written exam in the plumbing contractor classification plus the West Virginia business and law exam, passing score 70% on each. source
- Master and journeyman plumber applicants must certify experience for the individual Division of Labor certification (hours not stated on that page); no experience requirement found for the contractor license. source
- Carry proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage for all employees working in West Virginia. source
- Pay the annual contractor license fee of $90, paid at application: $90. source
- Contractor license expires one year after it is issued and is renewed annually. source
Plumbing requirements in West Virginia
| Exam | Written exam in the plumbing contractor classification plus the West Virginia business and law exam, passing score 70% on each. source (checked May 4, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Experience | Master and journeyman plumber applicants must certify experience for the individual Division of Labor certification (hours not stated on that page); no experience requirement found for the contractor license. source |
| Bond | No contractor license bond found on an official source. |
| Insurance | Proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage for all employees working in West Virginia. source |
| Renewal | Contractor license expires one year after it is issued and is renewed annually. source |
| Reciprocity | No full reciprocity: applicants licensed under the Universal Licensing Act take only the West Virginia business and law exam, and the board may review other states' exam score report. source (checked May 4, 2026) |
| Fees |
|
Hiring a plumbing contractor?
See every official lookup in West Virginia, which board covers which trade, and what to check before you hire.
Questions
- Do you need a plumbing license in West Virginia?
- West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (plumber certification) licenses plumbing contractors in West Virginia. Contractor license needed when the job costs $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work.
- How do I check a plumbing license in West Virginia?
- The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (plumber certification) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in West Virginia. Use the official lookup on this page, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How much does a plumbing license cost in West Virginia?
- Annual contractor license fee of $90, paid at application. Annual renewal fee of $90. Late renewal penalty of $25 when renewal arrives more than 15 days after expiration. Duplicate license fee of $10. Master or journeyman plumber certification fee of $75 (individual, Division of Labor), initial and renewal. Plumber in training certification fee of $25 (individual, Division of Labor), initial and renewal.
- How much experience do you need for a plumbing license in West Virginia?
- Master and journeyman plumber applicants must certify experience for the individual Division of Labor certification (hours not stated on that page); no experience requirement found for the contractor license.
- How often does a plumbing license renew in West Virginia?
- Contractor license expires one year after it is issued and is renewed annually.
Other trades in West Virginia
- General contractor license in West Virginia
- Electrical license in West Virginia
- HVAC license in West Virginia
- Roofing license in West Virginia
- All West Virginia trades
Plumbing license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/plumber-certification
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/verify/
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-42-3/
- https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58823&Format=PDF
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/account/guide.asp
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-42-8/
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/plumber-certification/plumber-certification-fees
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.