Plumber License Requirements in West Virginia
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $134.95
- Exam
- Journeyman Plumber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- West Virginia Division of Labor
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age is stated in West Virginia Code §21-14, in 42CSR32, or on the official License Application/Affidavit (which collects date of birth but sets no age threshold). The application form does not request criminal-history information or a background-check authorization; however, W. Va. Code §21-14-6(a) allows the Commissioner of Labor to deny a license where a prior criminal conviction bears a 'rational nexus' to the license sought (per the general licensing-review standard in §21-1-6), so criminal history can be a factor in a denial even though it is not a proactive application-time background check. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. West Virginia Code §21-14-2(b) defines a 'journeyman plumber' simply as a person who has passed the journeyman plumber written examination (70% or higher) and is competent to instruct and supervise a plumber-in-training — the statute and its implementing legislative rule (42CSR32) do not state a minimum number of documented work-experience hours or a mandatory classroom program as a precondition to sit the journeyman exam. (Several third-party licensing-guide sites cite an '8,000 hours' figure, but that number does not appear in the West Virginia Code, 42CSR32, or the Prov candidate bulletin reviewed for this record, so it is not used here.) In practice, most candidates gain experience as a licensed Plumber-in-Training (no exam required, works only under direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or master plumber) before sitting the journeyman exam, but no fixed hour threshold is codified. [1]
- 3
Journeyman Plumber Examination
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination (fee: $59.95). 80 questions, 3 hours, open-book with approved references; 70% or higher required to pass. Retake fees are the same as the original exam fee ($59.95). A hand-scored review of a failed exam costs $25. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to West Virginia Division of Labor with the $75 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, West Virginia Division of Labor issues your Journeyman Plumber License for West Virginia.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $75 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $75 |
| Journeyman Plumber Examination [2] | $59.95 |
| Late renewal fee (postmarked more than 15 days after expiration) [3] | $25 |
| Duplicate license [3] | $10 |
Per the official Plumber License Application/Affidavit and 42CSR32 §9.1, both the initial and renewal Journeyman Plumber license carry the same $75 annual fee — there is no separate itemized post-exam 'license' fee distinct from this $75 figure, so license is left null. The $59.95 exam fee is paid separately to Prov and is recorded under exams. A license expired 90 days or more cannot be renewed and must be reapplied for from scratch.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Master and journeyman plumber licenses are valid for up to one year and must be renewed annually (42CSR32 §6.4, §9.1); the Division mails a renewal notice at least 45 days before expiration. No continuing-education hour requirement is stated in 42CSR32 or on the Division's plumber certification FAQ page, so ceHours is left null.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
42CSR32 §14 gives the Commissioner discretion to grant a West Virginia license of the same classification, without examination, to an applicant already licensed/authorized as a master, journeyman, or plumber-in-training by another state with requirements equivalent to West Virginia's, upon satisfactory proof of qualifications and payment of the standard license fee. A separate discretionary work-experience route (§14.2) allows licensure without exam for applicants whose relevant work experience was in a state that does not license plumbers at all. No interstate plumbing licensure compact exists for this occupation.
1 state-approved training provider in West Virginia — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $75
- $59.95
Frequently asked questions
What does West Virginia require to become a licensed Journeyman Plumber?
State law defines a journeyman plumber as someone who has passed the journeyman plumber written examination with a score of 70% or higher and is competent to instruct and supervise a plumber-in-training. No specific number of work-experience hours is codified in the statute or rule.
Who administers the West Virginia Journeyman Plumber exam and what does it cost?
Prov, Inc., under contract with the Division of Labor: 80 questions, 3 hours, open-book, 70% to pass, for a $59.95 fee (the same for retakes).
How often does a West Virginia Journeyman Plumber license need to be renewed?
Annually — the license is valid for up to one year, with a $75 renewal fee and a $25 late fee if the renewal is postmarked more than 15 days after expiration. A license expired 90 or more days cannot be renewed and requires reapplying.
How much does a West Virginia Journeyman Plumber license cost?
$75 for the annual license (same fee for initial application and renewal), plus a separate $59.95 exam fee paid to Prov.
Can an out-of-state plumber transfer their license to West Virginia?
The Commissioner of Labor has discretion to issue a West Virginia license without a new exam to applicants already licensed in another state with equivalent requirements, upon proof of qualifications and payment of the license fee.
Sources
- [1] labor.wv.gov/media/234/download — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WVDOL_CIB-2025.01.06.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] labor.wv.gov/media/25/download — accessed 2026-07-12
- [4] labor.wv.gov/media/233/download — accessed 2026-07-12