West Virginia Plumber Licensing FAQs

Who needs to be licensed for plumbing in West Virginia?

Individuals who preform plumbing work must have a plumber certification. Plumbing work consists of installing water lines, vents, and drains inside a building. It does not include replacing faucets, washers, installing dishwashers, unclogging sinks, etc.

What are the types of plumbing licenses available in West Virginia?

• Plumber in Training
• Journeyman
• Master

What is the difference between the Plumber Certification and a Contractor License with the Plumbing classification?

Everyone who performs plumbing work in the State of West Virginia is required to have one (1) of the three (3) plumber certifications, regardless of the dollar amount of the job or the individual's affiliation with a licensed company.

Plumbing work performed over the amount of $2,500.00 (total contract amount, not just the plumbing work) requires the individual/company to obtain a Contractor License with the Plumbing classification. This requires taking the Master Plumber and WV Business & Law exams.

What fees are associated with becoming a plumber in West Virginia?

• Exam: $51.95
• Application: $75
• Renewal: $75

When do I need to renew my West Virginia plumbing license?

You will need to renew every year.

You need to renew your West Virginia Plumbing license by the date that is on the certification card.

How do I renew my plumbing license in West Virginia?

You will be mailed a renewal form 45 days before the license would expire. Complete and return the renewal form along with the $75 renewal fee.

Do I need continuing education to renew my plumbing license in West Virginia?

No, you do not need continuing education to renew your license.

1. Meet the minimum requirements:
   1. Have completed at least 8,000 hours of plumbing or related experience
2. Take and pass the required exam
3. Submit an application with a $75 application fee

• Exam: $51.95
• Application: $75
• Renewal: $75

80 questions, 3 hours to complete, with the following subjects and number of questions:

• General Knowledge – 8
• Fixtures and Fittings – 5
• Storm Drainage – 5
• Fuel Gas Systems – 8
• Safety – 6
• Isometrics – 7
• Water Supply and Distribution – 11
• Water Heaters – 6
• Draining Waste and Vents Systems – 11
• Plumbing Math – 8
• Plumbing Tools – 5

• West Virginia Plumber Trades Exam Prep Program
• West Virginia Business Law
• West Virginia Fuel Gas Exam Prep
• Comprehensive Code Review
• Basic & Advanced Plumbing Math
• Isometric Theory & Plan Review
• West Virginia Exam Bulletin Breakdown
• Guide to Effective Study Techniques
• Video: Hands-On Practical Copper Project

You may take your exam at any Prov testing center.

Prov has four West Virginia testing locations:

• Charleston
• Martinsburg
• Morgantown
• Wheeling

Exam results are available at the testing center once you complete your exam.

You may retake a failed exam as often as is necessary. There is no waiting period between testing attempts. You may not, however, retake an exam once you have received a passing score unless required by the State of West Virginia.

The retake fee is $51.95.

1. Meet the minimum requirements:
   1. Have completed at least 12,000 hours of plumbing or related experience
2. Take and pass the required exam
3. Submit an application with a $75 application fee

• Exam: $51.95
• Application: $75
• Renewal: $75

100 questions, 3 hours to complete, with the following subjects and number of questions:

• General Knowledge – 10
• Fixtures and Fittings – 6
• Storm Drainage – 5
• Fuel Gas Systems – 10
• Safety – 7
• Isometrics – 13
• Water Supply and Distribution – 14
• Water Heaters – 6
• Draining Waste and Vents Systems – 14
• Plumbing Math – 9
• Plumbing Tools – 5

• West Virginia Plumber Trades Exam Prep Program
• West Virginia Business Law
• West Virginia Fuel Gas Exam Prep
• Comprehensive Code Review
• Basic & Advanced Plumbing Math
• Isometric Theory & Plan Review
• West Virginia Exam Bulletin Breakdown
• Guide to Effective Study Techniques
• Video: Hands-On Practical Copper Project

You may take your exam at any Prov testing center.

Prov has four West Virginia testing locations:

• Charleston
• Martinsburg
• Morgantown
• Wheeling

Exam results are available at the testing center once you complete your exam.

You may retake a failed exam as often as is necessary. There is no waiting period between testing attempts. You may not, however, retake an exam once you have received a passing score unless required by the State of West Virginia.

The retake fee is $51.95.

The plumbing industry is often changing. As a professional plumber, it is important to keep your industry knowledge up to date so you can make practical decisions for your business. Professional development courses are designed to help you sustain and improve your plumbing industry knowledge.

Whether you are looking for information on new avenues for your business, want to brush up on best practices, or are just interested in learning about a particular topic, professional development is for you!

No. Unlike continuing education, which is required by your licensing body to maintain your license, professional development is not required and is considered supplemental learning.

You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you've entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!

Our courses are available online, 24/7, and you can log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10–15 minutes, we recommend that you log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.

It depends on your learning style and comfort level with the topics we cover. There is no set time for completing exam prep courses — you go at your own pace!

Many plumbers like to re-watch materials, while others like to re-take the practice tests. Our recommendation is to go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!

After you purchase a course, you have unlimited access for six months. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).

It depends on course type and location. Most continuing education courses include quizzes.

Exam prep courses have a short quiz at the end of each lesson and a longer practice test at the end of the course. These quizzes and tests are there to help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to review more.

No. Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don't pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.

You can review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you have access to the courses.