West Virginia Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (within the Division of Labor) issues a Masonry specialty contractor classification under WV Code §21-11 and 42 CSR 5. Any masonry contracting in West Virginia with a cost of $2,500 or more (materials plus labor) requires an active WV Contractor License with the Masonry specialty designation. The qualifying individual must pass the PSI Business and Law and Masonry trade exams, register with the West Virginia Secretary of State, maintain workers compensation through BrickStreet Mutual or an approved carrier, and carry general liability. This page documents the verified path including WVCLB reciprocity with neighboring states, federal OSHA silica enforcement (WV is a federal OSHA state), and TMS 402/602 plus IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by West Virginia Division of Labor — Contractor Licensing Board (WVCLB) pursuant to West Virginia Code Chapter 21 Article 11 (Contractor Licensing Act); WV CSR 42-5. The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, housed in the Division of Labor, licenses general and specialty contractors statewide, administers the PSI examination program, and enforces the $2,500 contracting threshold under WV Code §21-11.

Official portal: https://labor.wv.gov/Licensing/Contractors/Pages/default.aspx
Address: 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, State Capitol Complex, Building 3, Room 200, Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-7890

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No West Virginia residency requirement. Out-of-state contractors must register with the WV Secretary of State and designate a registered agent.

Good moral character

WVCLB reviews prior license discipline and criminal history. Outstanding wage claims with the WV Division of Labor Wage and Hour Section bar issuance.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on the application. WVCLB cross-references Division of Labor wage and hour records.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by no fixed minimum years of experience — WVCLB relies on exam competency and employer-verified trade knowledge, per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Employer verification or signed statements demonstrating masonry work experience
W-2, 1099, or payroll records (where available)
Project list for prior masonry work

Education substitution

Not applicable — WVCLB uses exam-based competency rather than a years-of-experience test.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

West Virginia Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Masonry Specialty Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, brick, CMU, stone, anchored veneer, grouted reinforced masonry — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $63 per PSI exam section ($126 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken by paying a new $63 fee. Application remains valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

WVCLB requires a certificate of insurance on the application. Typical commercial masonry requirements are $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under WV Code §23-2-1 for any employer with one or more employees. West Virginia workers compensation was privatized in 2006; BrickStreet Mutual remains the largest writer of WV policies. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in West Virginia.

Additional financial requirements

No state-level financial statement required, but the surety bond requirement under WV Code §21-11-9 requires a $5,000 wage bond for contractors employing workers within West Virginia for less than five years.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$90
Examination	$126
Initial license	$90
Renewal (every year)	$90

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the West Virginia Masonry Specialty Contractor — Division of Labor Contractor Licensing Board comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $90. West Virginia contractor licenses renew annually on the anniversary date. Late renewal carries a $100 reinstatement fee plus continuous employer registration requirements.

Continuing education: No CE required, but workers comp, GL, and business registration must remain current.

Downloadable Asset

2026 West Virginia Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by West Virginia for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Virginia	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral WV–VA DPOR reciprocity for active masonry contractors.
Ohio	Limited reciprocity	Ohio does not license masonry at the state level; WV accepts Ohio municipal credentials on a case-by-case basis.
Pennsylvania	No reciprocity	Pennsylvania regulates home improvement through the Attorney General; no bilateral agreement for masonry.

West Virginia maintains limited reciprocity with Virginia for active masonry contractors under bilateral agreement between DPOR and WVCLB.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Masonry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Register with the WV Secretary of State. Form a WV business entity or register a foreign entity with the Secretary of State before filing the WVCLB application.
Obtain a WV State Tax Department Business Registration Certificate. Required under WV Code §11-12 before WVCLB issuance.
Pass the PSI West Virginia Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 50-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI Masonry specialty trade exam. Score 70% or better on the 60-question masonry trade exam covering TMS 402/602 and IBC Chapter 21.
Obtain BrickStreet (or approved carrier) workers comp and general liability. Bind the workers compensation policy and GL coverage, naming WVCLB as certificate holder.
Post the $5,000 wage bond (new or out-of-state employers). WV Code §21-11-9 requires a $5,000 wage bond for any employer operating in WV for less than five years.
Submit the WVCLB Contractor License Application. File with $90 application fee, exam scores, business registration, workers comp certificate, GL certificate, and Masonry specialty election.
Implement federal OSHA silica written exposure control plan. West Virginia is a federal OSHA state. 29 CFR 1926.1153 is enforced directly by federal OSHA Region 3 with mandatory written plan and Table 1 controls.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a West Virginia Masonry application.

Missing the $2,500 threshold

Contracts at or above $2,500 without an active WVCLB license are unregistered contracting under WV Code §21-11-11. Penalties include civil fines, contract voidance, and inability to collect through WV courts.

Wage bond skipped

New or out-of-state masonry employers who skip the $5,000 wage bond have the entire WVCLB application rejected. WV Division of Labor Wage and Hour cross-checks bond filing against payroll.

BrickStreet coverage lapse

Workers comp lapses trigger immediate WVCLB license suspension and a Division of Labor stop-work order. Private market alternatives exist but require advance WVOIC approval.

Anchored veneer ties at wrong spacing

West Virginia SDC B zones and Appalachian wind exposure require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing. Kanawha County and Monongalia County inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Federal OSHA silica plan absent

Federal OSHA Region 3 targets WV masonry sites under 29 CFR 1926.1153. Missing written exposure control plans draw immediate citations averaging $12,000 per masonry site.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

West Virginia Contractor Reference Manual — WV Contractor Licensing Board. Required reference for the WV business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21 and the WV State Building Code.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry — International Code Council. West Virginia adopts IBC through the State Fire Commission for commercial construction.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with WVCLB:

☐ WV Secretary of State entity registration
☐ WV State Tax Department Business Registration Certificate
☐ PSI WV Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ PSI Masonry trade exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ $5,000 wage bond (for employers under 5 years in WV)
☐ Workers compensation certificate (BrickStreet or approved)
☐ General liability certificate
☐ Federal OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Other West Virginia Trade Licenses

Should the Masonry path not apply, these other West Virginia trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does West Virginia have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. The WV Contractor Licensing Board issues a Masonry specialty contractor classification under WV Code §21-11 and 42 CSR 5. Required for any masonry contract at or above $2,500 in materials and labor.

What is the $2,500 threshold?

WV Code §21-11-2 defines "contractor" as any person who contracts for construction work at a cost of $2,500 or more, including materials and labor. Below that, no state license is required.

What is the wage bond?

WV Code §21-11-9 requires a $5,000 wage bond for any contractor employing workers in West Virginia for less than five years. The bond protects unpaid wages and can be released after five years of continuous wage payment.

Is BrickStreet the only workers comp carrier?

No. West Virginia privatized workers compensation in 2006. BrickStreet Mutual is the largest carrier but private market and self-insurance are allowed. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries high premiums regardless of carrier.

Does West Virginia enforce OSHA silica?

Yes via federal OSHA. West Virginia is not a state-plan OSHA state; federal OSHA Region 3 enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 directly with mandatory written exposure control plans for masonry work.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-04