General Building & Specialty Contractor Licenses

General Building Contractor License

For the State of West Virginia, the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board within the Division of Labor issues the General Building Contractor License. PSI© has partnered with West Virginia since November 1st, 2022, to administer the exams required to obtain this license. Both the trade and business examinations are needed to acquire the General Building Contractor license. The application process is also done through the Contractor Licensing Board.

Specialty Contractor Licenses

The specialty licenses are issued by the Division of labor. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is in charge of regulating the Storage Tank Removal (Specialty 061) License, while the Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) regulates the Asbestos Removal (Specialty 062), the Septic & Sewer Systems (Specialty 063), and the Water Well Drilling (Specialty 064) Licenses.

• Find the mandatory exams for each one of the specialty licenses down below:
  • Specialty licenses that require both a trade and Business and Law exam:

    • Concrete (Specialty 007)
    • Excavation (Specialty 002)
    • Manufactured Home Installation (Specialty 013)
    • Masonry (Specialty 004)
    • Remodeling & Repair (Specialty 005)
    • Sprinkler & Fire Protection (Specialty 014)
    • Structural Steel Erection (Specialty 011)
    • Utilities (Sewer & Water) (Specialty 021)
  • Specialty licenses that only require a Business and Law exam:

    • Asbestos Removal (Specialty 062)
    • Asphalt (Specialty 006)
    • Cable (Specialty 020)
    • Cable Television (Specialty 068)
    • Carpet Installation (Specialty 051)
    • Caulking (Specialty 018)
    • Ceilings (Specialty 084)
    • Communication & Sound (Specialty 019)
    • Crane (Specialty 037)
    • Decks (Specialty 083)
    • Demolition (Specialty 016)
    • Doors (Specialty 017)
    • Drilling (Specialty 036)
    • Drywall (Specialty 001)
    • Environmental/Hazardous Waste (Specialty 079)
    • Fencing (Specialty 023)
    • Finished Carpentry (Specialty 058)
    • Floor Covering (Specialty 027)
    • Foundation Support Systems (Specialty 089)
    • Glass & Glazing (Specialty 082)
    • Gutters (Specialty 030)
    • Highway Striping (Specialty 031)
    • Insulation (Specialty 026)
    • Landscaping (Specialty 003)
    • Land Clearing (Specialty 024)
    • Locksmith (Specialty 060)
    • Low Voltage Systems (Under 50 Volts) (Specialty 012)
    • Painting (Specialty 015)
    • Plastering (Specialty 035)
    • Pressure Washing/Sandblasting (Specialty 053)
    • Residential Pools (Specialty 008)
    • Roofing (Specialty 010)
    • Septic & Sewer Systems (Specialty 063)
    • Sheet Metal (Specialty 025)
    • Siding (Specialty 009)
    • Sign Installation (No Electrical) (Specialty 054)
    • Soil Stabilization (Specialty 088)
    • Storage Tank Removal (Specialty 061)
    • Stucco (Specialty 087)
    • Tile Installation (Specialty 086)
    • Water Well Drilling (Specialty 064)
    • Welding (Specialty 071)
    • Window Installation (Specialty 069)

How to get a General Building or a Specialty Contractor License in West Virginia?

1. Contact the West Virginia (WV) Contractor Licensing Board and provide the scope of work to verify the classification(s) and exam(s) required to obtain the General Building or Specialty Contractor Licenses, the request may be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2. Schedule the test(s) with PSI©, you may do this by applying online, or by contacting them at (855) 539-0708
   • For entities, get a Business Registration Tax Number; for more details, call the West Virginia State Tax Department at (304) 558-3333
3. Register with the West Virginia Secretary of State, candidates can contact a Business Specialist at (866) 767-8683 or (304) 55​8-8000​ to determine if the corresponding entity is required to be registered; applicants may register the business online at WV One Stop Business Center, in-person at the office located on the 13 Kanawha Blvd., W., Suite 201, Charleston, WV 25302, or by visiting one of their Business Hubs
4. Present evidence of Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation for all employees in case of being an entity
   • Contact the Workers' Compensation staff at (304) 414-0539, and the Unemployment Compensation personnel at (304) 558-2451
   • Provide proof of General Liability Insurance coverage if it is determined that the candidate’s entity is exempt and WV coverage is not required
5. Send a completed application form and a wage bond status affidavit; a wage bond is a guarantee issued to the Division of Labor to protect employee wages and fringe benefits, if the entity performs commercial construction work with employees, contact the Division of Labor - Wage & Hour Section at (304) 558-7890 or by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to verify the wage bond status
   • Note that West Virginia requires a wage bond for a contractor who has not been actively engaged in construction work in the State for at least one year preceding the completion date of the application/affidavit form
6. Pay the contractor license fee by check, money order, or credit card in the Charleston City Service Center Office, City Collector Department
7. Schedule and take the tests with PSI©, these can be scheduled online or by phone at (855) 539-0708
   • Depending on the scope of work, candidates will need to take both the trade and Business and Law exams or only the Business and Law exam
8. Expect an answer from the Department regarding the license once the process has been completed

Useful Links and Contact Information

Contractor Licensing Board - Division of Labor

Contractor Licensing Board
1900 Kanawha Blvd., ​E.,
State Capitol Complex
Building 3, Room 200
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-7890
Fax: (304) 558-5174
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PSI© Exams Online

PSI© Exams website
3210 East Tropicana Ave.,
Las Vegas, NV-89121
(855) 539-0708
Fax: (702) 932-2666

Offices of the Insurance Commissioner

Insurance Commissioner's Office website
900 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Lottery Building
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 558-5230
Fax: (304) 558-1322
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

West Virginia WorkForce

WorkForce website
1900 Kanawha Blvd., ​E.,
State Capitol Complex
Building 3, Room 300
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-2677
Fax: (304) 558-1979
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wage & Hour Section - Division of Labor

Wage & Hour Section
1900 Kanawha Blvd., ​E.,
State Capitol Complex
Building 3, Room 200
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-7890
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tax Division

West Virginia Tax Division website
1001 Lee St., E.,
The Revenue Center
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 558-3333
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State website
1900 Kanawha Blvd., ​E.,
State Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-6000
Fax: (304) 558-0900

Charleston City Service Center Office

Charleston City Service Center Office
915 Quarrier St.,
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-8000